Final answer:
None of the colonists died on the voyage to Jamestown; all fatalities occurred after their arrival due to severe conditions and inadequate supplies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jamestown Colonists' Voyage and Survival Rate
The voyage to establish what would become the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown was fraught with hardship, challenges, and loss. When the settlers arrived, they had only a brief period to construct a fort and embed themselves, and within six months, more than half of the colonists had died, mainly due to hunger as a result of inadequate farming knowledge. The historical account of their survival indicates that none of the colonists died during the voyage itself; however, the situation deteriorated rapidly once they tried to settle. The winter of 1609-1610, known as the 'Starving Time,' was particularly brutal, with too many dying from lack of food, leading to acts of desperation such as cannibalism. By the spring of 1610, out of an initial 500, only about 60 colonists remained alive, illustrating the incredibly high mortality rate after their arrival in Jamestown.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question - How many of the colonists of Jamestown died before they made it to shore, due to the difficult voyage - is none. All the deaths occurred after the colonists had landed and were struggling to establish the colony.