William Wyatt (settler)

William Wyatt (c. 1600 – 1643) was an early English settler in the Virginia Colony. He is best known for his involvement in the 1622 Powhatan attack and subsequent accounts of the event, and his subsequent role in the colony's development.

Wyatt arrived in Virginia sometime before 1622. He was living at a settlement along the James River when the Powhatan Confederacy, led by Opchanacanough, launched a coordinated attack on English settlements on March 22, 1622, also known as the Jamestown Massacre. The attack resulted in the deaths of hundreds of colonists. Wyatt survived the attack and provided firsthand accounts of the events, offering valuable insight into the experiences of the colonists during this tumultuous period.

Following the massacre, Wyatt remained in Virginia and became a landowner. He participated in the ongoing conflicts with the Powhatan and contributed to the rebuilding of the colony. He married and had children, establishing a lineage that would become prominent in Virginia's history.

Wyatt's significance lies primarily in his survival of and testimony regarding the 1622 attack, offering a crucial historical record. His subsequent contributions to the Virginia Colony, including his role as a landowner and participant in its defense, further cement his place in the history of early colonial America. His descendants continued to be active in Virginia affairs for generations.