What trades/occupations did Virginia's settlers pursue?

Virginia's early settlers were engaged in various trades and occupations essential for establishing the colony and sustaining its growth:

1. Farming and Agriculture: Agriculture was the primary occupation. Settlers cultivated tobacco, corn, wheat and other crops for sustenance and trade. Plantations emerged, often relying on indentured servants or later enslaved labor.
2. Tradesmen and Craftsmen: Carpenters, blacksmiths, coopers, and other craftsmen were crucial for constructing buildings, making tools and crafting various goods necessary for daily life.
3. Merchants and Traders: Some settlers engaged in trade, importing and exporting goods between Virginia and England or other colonies, contributing to the colony's economy.
4. Indentured Servants and Laborers: Many newcomers served as indentured servants, working for a set number of years in exchange for passage to the New World and land at the end of their term.
5. Slaves and Labor Force: The use of enslaved Africans became widespread in Virginia's economy, primarily on plantations, particularly for labor-intensive cash crop cultivation like tobacco.
6. Professions and Administration: Some settlers held positions as lawyers, clergy, government officials and administrators, contributing to the colony's governance and legal system.

These occupations formed the economic backbone of early Virginia, with agriculture, trade and labor (both indentured and enslaved) playing central roles in the colony's development and prosperity.