Clues from Capt. Smith’s Map and Journals: Where did Smith Leave Crosses?

Legend of Capt. John Smith’s 1612 map, Virginia Discovered and Discribed. (The figure 1691 is a page number.)

In his journal, Smith states that real crosses were left at each location, either made of brass or carved in tree bark. We drove over Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, eastern shore, western shore, and began to discover the discoverer.

Phase One of the cross project had begun.

The clues were in Smith’s journals, his map, other early maps, modern topo maps, lunar cycles of the years 1607 to 1609 for tides.

It called for a baccalaureate in the so-called capture route, the eventful voyages of the shallop that Smith calls a barge, and various and sundry comings and goings on the James River. There have been adjustments in location over the years in preparation for each placement as it came about, but the trip if nothing else demonstrated the feasibility of a reasonable historic accuracy.