In May 1607, Profit left England for the Colony of Virginia as a colonist with thefirst supply.[1][2][3] From June through September 1608, Profit was a crew member and the designated "fisherman/sailor" on captainJohn Smith's boatDiscovery Barge on its two expeditions throughout theChesapeake Bay.[4][5][6] He has also been described as a "soldier" in the writings of Smith.[7][8] During the July 1608 expedition, Profit was put in charge of the pinnace as "master."[2]
Profit worked as a fishmonger in the Jamestown region.[9][10][11] Seafood he likely caught/harvested (through nest-less fishing) and sold included speckled trout, Atlantic croakers, Norfolk spot, flounder, oysters, blue crabs, and rockfish.[12][13][14]
The roadJonas Profit Trail in Jamestown is named for Profit, located near the beach and marina.[15]
Profit is a central character in the 1957 symphonic dramaThe Founders byPaul Green.[16]
The 2006 bookThe Weight of Smoke: A Novel of the Jamestown Colony by George Robert Minkoff is written from the perspective of Profit. The fictionalized version of Profit in the book had accompanied SirFrancis Drake on his voyages in the Caribbean.[17]
