<P> Once in Federal hands, Jamestown became a meeting place for runaway slaves, who burned the Ambler house, an eighteenth - century plantation house, which along with the old church was one of the few remaining signs of old Jamestown . When Allen sent men to assess the damage in late 1862, they were killed by the former slaves . Following the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, the oath of allegiance was administered to former Confederate soldiers at Jamestown . </P> <P> In the years after the Civil War, Jamestown became quiet and peaceful once again . In 1892, Jamestown was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Barney . The following year, the Barneys donated 221⁄2 acres of land, including the ruined church tower, to the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (now known as Preservation Virginia). </P> <P> By this time, erosion from the river had eaten away the island's western shore . Visitors began to conclude that the site of James Fort lay completely underwater . With federal assistance, a sea wall was constructed in 1900 to protect the area from further erosion . The archaeological remains of the original 1607 fort, which had been protected by the sea wall, were discovered in 1994 . </P> <P> In 1932, George Craghead Gregory of Richmond was credited with discovering the foundation of the first brick statehouse (capitol) building, circa 1646, at Jamestown on the land owned by Preservation Virginia . Around 1936, Gregory, who was active with the Virginia Historical Society, founded the Jamestowne Society for descendants of stockholders in the Virginia Company of London and the descendants of those who owned land or who had domiciles in Jamestown or on Jamestown Island prior to 1700 . </P>

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