What killed the settlers? How did all the settlers die in Jamestown? There were a lot of factors that contributed to the death of the settlers. Factors include drought and cold winter, useless people, native Americans, and location. Let's start with the basics. Jamestown was known as the first permanent settlement. It was located in Virginia, and most people were 17-35 and poor. There were about 300 people who came first to the new land. People on the ship said Jamestown had “fair meadows and godly trees”. But Jamestown was in a swamp. You can see where this is going. By the time they arrived freshwater was very scarce, meaning you couldn't get any. Getting rid of waste was also a problem, as it tended to fester instead of flushing away.