<P> The island fit the criteria as it had excellent visibility up and down the James River, and it was far enough inland to minimize the potential of contact and conflict with enemy ships . The water immediately adjacent to the land was deep enough to permit the colonists to anchor their ships, yet have an easy and quick departure if necessary . An additional benefit of the site was that the land was not occupied by the Virginia Indians, most of whom were affiliated with the Powhatan Confederacy . Largely cut off from the mainland, the shallow harbor afforded the earliest settlers docking of their ships . This was its greatest attraction, but it also created a number of challenging problems for the settlers . </P> <P> King James I had outlined the members of the Council to govern the settlement in the sealed orders which left London with the colonists in 1606 . </P> <P> Those named for the initial Council were: </P> <Ul> <Li> Bartholomew Gosnold, Captain of Godspeed </Li> <Li> Christopher Newport, Captain of Susan Constant, later of Sea Venture </Li> <Li> George Kendall, later executed by capital punishment in Jamestown </Li> <Li> John Martin, later founder of Martin's Brandon Plantation </Li> <Li> George Percy, twice president of the council </Li> <Li> John Ratcliffe, Captain of Discovery, second President of the Council </Li> <Li> John Smith, third President of the Council, and author of many books from the period . </Li> <Li> Edward Maria Wingfield, first President of the Council at Jamestown </Li> </Ul>

Who were the settlers in the jamestown colony