Cover of Richard of Jamestown by James Otis Coming Soon
Otis Colonial Series

Richard of Jamestown

by James Otis

3h 12m
Duration
1910
Published
This title is in production and will be available to all active subscribers the day it is released.
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About This Audiobook

Richard of Jamestown: A Story of the Virginia Colony is a children's historical narrative told from the perspective of young Richard Mutton, a poor, orphaned London boy in the early 1600s. Left homeless after losing his family, Richard seizes an opportunity to join Captain John Smith and the expedition of the London Company, working his way aboard one of the ships bound for the New World in 1606–1607. The story follows the perilous Atlantic voyage, encounters with storms and islands, the arrival at Chesapeake Bay, and the founding of Jamestown. Through Richard's eyes, readers witness the immediate struggles of the settlers: building fortifications, foraging for food, facing attacks from Indigenous peoples, internal conflicts among the colonists, and the harsh realities of disease, hunger, and unequal labor in the swampy settlement.

As the colony takes root, Richard serves alongside Captain Smith, experiencing key events such as explorations of the region, interactions with Powhatan and the visit of Pocahontas, Smith's capture and dramatic rescue, supply arrivals from England, and the leadership challenges that nearly doom the fledgling outpost. Otis emphasizes everyday pioneer life—baking without ovens, constructing log homes, hunting, and maintaining discipline—while staying close to historical accounts. Written in a straightforward, engaging style for young readers, the book highlights perseverance, resourcefulness, and the human side of America's earliest permanent English settlement, making it a classic living book for colonial history studies.

Meet the Author
Portrait of James Otis
James OtisAmerican journalist and author · 1848 – 1912

James Otis Kaler, better known by his pen name James Otis, was a prolific American journalist and author of children's historical fiction. Born in Winterport, Maine, he began his career as a journalist and later turned to writing engaging stories for young readers that brought American history to life. Under the pseudonym James Otis, he authored nearly 100 books, many of which were part of educational series designed for school use, emphasizing themes of adventure, resilience, virtue, and patriotism.

His most enduring works are the Colonial and Pioneer Children of America books, including titles like Hannah of Kentucky, Martha of California, Richard of Jamestown, Mary of Plymouth, and others. These first-person narratives follow young protagonists during key periods of American settlement—from the Jamestown and Plymouth colonies to westward expansion along the Oregon and California Trails. Otis's stories remain valued for their accessible style, historical detail, and wholesome portrayal of American heritage.

In This Volume
  1. Paideia Introduction2:46
  2. Who I Am1:42
  3. Left Alone in the World1:38
  4. An Idle Boy1:11
  5. Captain John Smith Comes to London3:09
  6. Meeting Captain Smith2:20
  7. Captain Smith Speaks to Me1:25
  8. The Plans of the London Company1:43
  9. The Vessels of the Fleet1:24
  10. How I Earned My Passage1:40
  11. When the Fleet Set Sail1:39
  12. The Voyage Delayed1:44
  13. Nathaniel's Story3:20
  14. We Make Sail Again1:45
  15. The First Island0:53
  16. Captain Smith Accused1:10
  17. Captain Smith a Prisoner1:55
  18. I Attend My Master1:34
  19. Several Islands Visited2:57
  20. A Variety of Wild Game2:05
  21. The Tempest1:01
  22. The New Country Sighted1:13
  23. The Leader Not Known1:48
  24. Arrival at Chesapeake Bay2:23
  25. An Attack by the Savages2:04
  26. Reading the London Company's Orders1:47
  27. Captain Smith a Member of the Council2:02
  28. Captain Smith Forced to Remain Aboard1:59
  29. Exploring the Country3:20
  30. The People Land from the Ships1:35
  31. Captain Smith Proven Innocent1:00
  32. We Who Were Left Behind1:54
  33. Baking Bread Without Ovens1:37
  34. An Unequal Division of Labor2:12
  35. Building a House of Logs2:48
  36. Keeping House1:31
  37. Lack of Cleanliness in the Village1:33
  38. Cave Homes1:06
  39. The Golden Fever1:54
  40. Ducks and Oysters1:25
  41. Roasting Oysters2:21
  42. Learning to Cook Other Things2:20
  43. The Sweet Potato Root1:52
  44. A Touch of Homesickness1:29
  45. Master Hunt's Preaching1:27
  46. Neglecting to Provide for the Future1:54
  47. Surprised by Savages1:32
  48. Strengthening the Fort1:27
  49. A Time of Sickness and Death2:42
  50. Captain Smith Gains Authority2:22
  51. Disagreeable Measures of Discipline2:41
  52. Signs of Rebellion1:35
  53. The Second Proclamation2:00
  54. Building a Fortified Village1:33
  55. Trapping Turkeys2:47
  56. A Crude Kind of Chimney1:45
  57. Cooking a Turkey2:38
  58. Candles or Rushlights2:05
  59. The Visit of Pocahontas2:44
  60. Captain Kendall's Plot2:23
  61. The Death of Captain Kendall1:33
  62. Captain Smith's Expedition and Return1:58
  63. An Exciting Adventure2:35
  64. Taken Before Powhatan1:28
  65. Pocahontas Begs for Smith's Life1:15
  66. The Effect of Captain Smith's Return3:50
  67. A New Church1:10
  68. Captain Newport's Return2:19
  69. Gold Seekers2:12
  70. A Worthless Cargo2:19
  71. The Condition of the Colony1:50
  72. Tobacco1:58
  73. Captain Newport's Return2:04
  74. Gazing at the Women1:06
  75. Master Hunt Brings Great News2:33
  76. Captain Newport's Instructions1:59
  77. The Story of Roanoke3:16
  78. The Crowning of Powhatan1:42
  79. Preparing for the Future1:47
  80. Stealing the Company's Goods1:46
  81. What the Thieving Led to2:01
  82. Fear of Famine in a Land of Plenty2:17
  83. The Unhealthful Location1:20
  84. Gathering Oysters1:30
  85. Preparing Sturgeon for Food1:07
  86. Turpentine and Tar2:03
  87. The Making of Clapboards1:44
  88. Providing for the Children2:03
  89. Dreams of the Future1:18
  90. A Plague of Rats1:23
  91. Treachery During Captain Smith's Absence1:50
  92. Captain Smith's Speech2:12
  93. The New Laws1:18
  94. The Accident2:48
  95. Captain Smith's Departure1:46
  96. The "Starving Time"2:22
  97. Our Courage Gives Out1:55
  98. Abandoning Jamestown1:13
  99. Lord de La Warr's Arrival1:39
  100. The Young Planters2:24

Chapter-by-chapter navigation and listening progress are available in the member library.

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