Transcript:Introduction to the History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia/p63

Citation

Campbell, Charles. Introduction to the history of the colony and ancient dominion of Virginia. (Richmond: B.B. Minor, 1847).

Transcript of p 63

At Christmas, 1647, there were in the James river ten vessels from London, two from Bristol, twelve from Holland, and seven from New England. [1648.] "Mr. Richard Bennet had this yeer out of his Orchard, as many Apples, as he made 20 Butts of excellent Cider." Sir William Berkley, "in his New Orchard, hath 15 hundred fruit-trees, besides his Apricocks, Peaches, Mellicotons, Quinces, Wardens and such like fruit." "Worthy Captaine Matthews, an old Planter of above thirty yeers standing, one of the Counsell and a most deserving Commonwealths-man," "hath a fine house and all things answerable to it ; he sowes yeerly store of Hempe and Flax, and causes it to be spun ; he keeps Weavers and hath a Tan-house, causes Leather to be dressed ; hath eight Shoemakers employed in their trade ; hath forty Negroe servants, brings them up to Trades in his house. He yeerly sowes abundance of Wheat, Barley, &c. The Weat he selleth at four Shillings the bushell ; kills store of Beeves and sells them to victuall the ships, when they come thither ; hath abundance of Kine, a brave Dairy, Swine, great store and Poltery. He married the Daughter of Sir Tho. Hinton, and in a word, keeps a good house, lives bravely and a true lover of Virginia ; he is worthy of much honour." *

There was, in 1648, a Free-school in Virginia, with 200 acres of land appurtenant, a good house upon it, forty milch cows, &c. It was founded by Mr. Benjamin Symes. It is a pleasure to record the names of such public benefactors. "Other petty schools also we have" -- probably such as now are known in Virginis as "old field schools." (Hening, vol. 1, p. 353.)

"March 1648, Nickotowance came to James town, to our noble Governour, Sir William Bearkley, with five more petty kings attending him and brought twenty Beaver-skinnes, to be sent to king Charles, as he said, for Tribute." About this time the Indians reported to Sir William Berkley, "that within five days journey to the WEstward and by South, there is a hgh mountaine and at foot thereof great Rivers, that run into a great sea ' and that there are men that come hither in ships (but not the same as ours be) they weare apparrell and have red caps on their heads and ride on Beasts like our Horses, but have much longer ears." These were probably the Spaniards. Sir William Berkley now prepared to make an exploration with fifty horse and as many foot (Hening, vol. 1, p. 353), but he was disappointed in this enterprise.

At this period the settlement of all the New England States had been commenced. The Dutch possessed the present States of New York, New Jersey and part of Connecticut and they had already pushed their settlements above Albany. The Swedes occupied the shores of Pennsylvania and Delaware. Maryland was still in her infancy. Virginia was prosperous. The country now known as the Carolinas, belonged to the assignees of Sir Robert Heath, but as yet no advances had been made towards the occupation of it. (Martin's Hist. N.C., vol. 1, p. 105-6.)

[1648.] Upon complaint of the necessities of the people, occasaioned by barren and over-wrought land and want of range for cattle and hogs, permission was granted to remove during the following year to the north side of Charles (York) and Rappahannock rivers. ("A New Description of Virginia," Force, vol. 2.)

[30th of January, 1649,] King Charles I. was beheaded. The commonwealth of England now continued till the restoration of Charles II., [1660.] Upon the dissolution of the monarchy there were not wanting those in Virginia, who held that the colonial

• "A New Description of Virginia," Force's Hist. Tracts, vol. 2. There was published in 1648, "A Description of the Province of New Albion," the writer styling himself "Beauchamp Plantagenet of Belvil, in New Albion, Esquire." A royalist, flying from the fury of intestine war, he visited America, on behalf of a company of Adventurers, in quest of a place of settlement. In the course of his wanderings, he visited Virginia. At "Newport's News" he received "kind entertainment at Captain Matthews, at Master Fontleroys and free quarter in all places, finding the Indian war ended, first by the valour, courage and hot charge of Captain Marshall and valiant Stilwel, and finished by the personall and resolute March and Victory of sir William Berkley Governour, there taking the old King Ope Chankino prisoner." "I went to Chicaoen the North part of Virginia, on Pawtomeck river, avoiding it and Maryland, which I found healthier and better than Virginia, for then it was in war both with she [sic] Sasquehannocks and all the Eastern Bay Indians and a civill war between some revolters, protestants, assisted by 50 plundered Virginians, by whom M. Leonard Calvert, Governour under his brother the Lord Baltamore, was taken prisoner and expelled : and the Isle of Kent taken from him also by Captain Clayborn of Virginia ; yet I viewed Kent Isle, too wet and plashy having bad water." -- See Description of New Albion, in 2 Force's Hist. Tracts.