Thomas Studley

Thomas Studley (b. circa 1580, d. August 28, 1607), sometimes spelled Thomas Stoodie, was an English-born early American settler who served as the first treasurer of Jamestown Colony. Studley wrote a portion of The Proceedings of the English Colonie in Virginia and his writings were credited in John Smith's 1612 A map of Virginia, including the now infamous chapter regarding Pocahontas.

Biography

Studley was born around the 1580s in England. Studley arrived to Jamestown in May 1607 and was listed as one of the "gentlemen" colonists.[1][2] Little is recorded about Studley's family, but he did have at least one daughter, Amy.[3][4]

In May 1607, Studley was selected as the first cape merchant (treasurer) of the colony.[5][6][7] In the role, he was responsible for financial and material oversight as the colony's chief merchant, and in written accounts he was quoted as giving observations of the supply situation, living conditions, and hardships of the colony.[5][8][9] Studley's records reflect how dire conditions were during his time as treasurer, a period that directly preceded the Starving Time.[10][11][12]

Death

Studley died on August 28, 1607.[13][14][15] After Studley's death, he was succeeded in the post of treasurer by Daniel Tucker.[5][6] Studley is interred at the Fort James Cemetery at the Jamestown Settlement.[16]

Works

  • A map of Virginia (1612) - credited posthumously as co-author of chapters 1-4.[17][18][19] His contribution included the chapter regarding Pocahontas.[20][21]

References

  1. ^ "The Original Jamestown Settlers; an excerpt from The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles by John Smith (1624)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  2. ^ "Virtual Jamestown". www.virtualjamestown.org. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  3. ^ Tyler, Lyon Gardiner (1915). Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Under the Editorial Supervision of Lyon Gardiner Tyler. Lewis historical publishing Company.
  4. ^ Debrett, John (1819). The Baronetage of England: Containing Their Descent and Present State, Their Collateral Branches, Births, Marriages, and Issue, from the Institution of the Order in 1611. F.C. and J. Rivington.
  5. ^ a b c Stith, William (1747). The history of the first discovery and settlement of Virginia: being an essay towards a general history of this colony.
  6. ^ a b "The Colonial Virginia Register – New River Notes". Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  7. ^ McDonald, James Joseph (1907). Life in Old Virginia. Old Virginia Publishing Company.
  8. ^ "Early Trials of Jamestown | TOTA". www.tota.world. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  9. ^ Tyler, Lyon Gardiner (1907). Narratives of Early Virginia, 1606-1625. C. Scribner's Sons.
  10. ^ "John Smith: Virginia, June, 1607 · Colonial America: The Age of Sodomitical Sin, 1607-1783, by Jonathan Ned Katz · OutHistory". outhistory.org. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  11. ^ Anecdotes of eminent persons. 1813.
  12. ^ Hutchinson, Dale L. (2016). Disease and Discrimination: Poverty and Pestilence in Colonial Atlantic America. University Press of Florida. doi:10.2307/j.ctvx1hsvh. JSTOR j.ctvx1hsvh.
  13. ^ Brown, Alexander (1898). The First Republic in America: An Account of the Origin of this Nation, Written from the Records Then (1624) Concealed by the Council, Rather Than from the Histories Then Licensed by the Crown. Houghton. ISBN 978-0-7222-6545-1. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  14. ^ "Jamestown". www.chroniclesofamerica.com. Archived from the original on 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  15. ^ "August - September 1607". Jamestown 1607: The First Months (PDF). National Humanities Center. 2006. p. 5.
  16. ^ "Colonial National Historical Park | 1607 BURIAL GROUND AT JAMESTOWN". National Park Planner. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  17. ^ Smith, John (1612). A map of Virginia with a description of the countrey, the commodities, people, government and religion. VVritten by Captaine Smith, sometimes governour of the countrey. Taken faithfully as they were written out of the writings of Doctor Russell. Tho. Studley. Anas Todkill. And the relations of divers other diligent observers there present then, and now many of them in England.
  18. ^ Smith, John; Symonds, William; Abbay, Thomas; Hole, William (1612). A map of Virginia. : VVith a description of the countrey, the commodities, people, government, and religion. John Carter Brown Library. At Oxford, : Printed by Joseph Barnes.
  19. ^ Smith, John (1890). A History of the Settlement of Virginia. E. Maynard.
  20. ^ Axelrod, Alan (2009). The Complete Idiot's Guide to American History. Penguin. ISBN 978-1-59257-869-6.
  21. ^ Stanard, Mary Newton (1917). Colonial Virginia: Its People and Customs. J.B. Lippincott.
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