USA > Virginia > Historical collections of Virginia : containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c. relating to its history and antiquities ; together with geographical and statistical descriptions ; to which is appended, an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia. > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
The little colony, finding no gold, and receiving no supplies from England, had begun to despond, when most unexpectedly Sir Francis Drake arrived, on his return from his expedition against the Spaniards in South America, with a fleet of three and twenty ships. The sagacity of Drake perceived in a moment what was necessary for the colony, and his generosity supplied them with provisions, vessels, and other things necessary to maintain their position, extend their researches, and, if necessary, to return to England ; but the accomplishment of his purpose was defeated by a violent storm which suddenly arose, and nearly wrecked his whole fleet, driving the vessel of provision's intended for the colony to sea, and destroying the vessels which had been set apart to be left for their use. He would have supplied others ; but the colony, with their governor at their head, earnestly requesting
June 19. permission to return to England, he complied with their wishes. Thus terminated the first English settlement in America.
This little colony, during its sojourn with the Indians, had ac- quired something of their fondness for the use of tobacco, and , learned to regard it with almost the same superstitious reverence. as a powerful medicinal agent. Upon their return, they introduced the use of this plant into England ; and a weed at first disgusting and nauseating to all who use it, has become gradually the favor- ite luxury (and indeed with many a necessary of life) of all classes of society, and of both the young and the old throughout the world, --- and this, after experience has proved that in most cases it is an injury rather than a benefit to the healthu.
A few days after Lane's departure, an English vessel arrived on the coast with every necessary for the colony, but finding it de-
20
OUTLINE HISTORY.
serted, returned home. Sir Richard Grenville arrived soon after with three ships, well furnished with stores for the colony ; but not finding it, he also returned, leaving fifteen men on Roanoke Island, to keep possession in the name of Great Britain.
The genius of Sir Walter Raleigh was not of a nature to suc- 1587. cumb to slight failures, or ordinary difficulties. The suc- ceeding year another colony was dispatched to settle in Virginia ; and that they might consider their settlement perma- nont, and Virginia their home, many persons with wives and fami- lies were sent.
Jan. 7. A charter of incorporation was granted for a town, to be called the City of Raleigh, a name revived in after times in the present metropolis of North Carolina. John White was appointed governor, and, with eleven assistants, constituted the administration for the control of the colony. Ample provision was made by the noble and liberal proprietor for the comfort of the colonists, and a plentiful stock of instruments of husbandry pro- vided, to enable them to supply their own future wants, and estab- lish themselves on the only footing which could possibly be expected to be permanent.
April 26. The company embarked in April, and arrived in July at the place where they expected to find the fifteen nin- fortunate men whom Grenville had left. But their grounds were grown up in weeds, their tenantless dwellings had become the abode of the wild animals of the forest, and their scattered bones, blanching in the sun, were the last sad memorials which told their fate to their anxious countrymen. Whether they fell by civil dis- sensions among themselves, by famine or disease, or were yet more miserably cut off by the overpowering numbers of a savage host, taking advantage of their desolate situation, (deprived of sympa- thy, and destitute of the hope of succor.) is one of the mysteries of history which the keh of man may not unravel.
The sagacity of Raleigh had directed the new settlement to be made on the shores of the magnificent Chesapeake. and there was the new city to be built ; but the naval officer. preferring trade July 23. Roanoke Island, and compelled him to establish himself with the West Indies to exploring the coast, left White on there.
The colony soon became involved in difficulties with the natives, July 28. partly from accident, and partly from the previously en -.
gendered hostility of some of the tribes. Indeed, it would seem impossible a priori, (even if we had not, unfortunately, too much experience of the fact,) that two nations of such different degrees of civilization, manners, and habits, with such different designs, could long remain together in peace, harmony, and on the footing of equals. It would seem to be the nature of man that the ignorant tribe should be jealous, treacherous. and vindictive ---- that the more civilized should be greedy, rapacious, and overbearing. And when a spirit of suspicion is once excited. the imprudence of'
--
----
--- - 1.11 0 CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH. From a portrait showing him in the fashionalle diess of the period in which he lived. -----
2
21
. OUTLINE HISTORY.
a single individual too often involves in a quarrel all of the citizens of the little communities : nothing is extenuated, and nothing is attributed to accident ; but suspicion in the injured party supplies the place of malice in the aggressor. These difficulties made the colonists feel more anxiously their dependence upon England, and forced upon them a melancholy foreboding, that without frequent and effectual assistance from the mother country, they could not Jong sustain themselves in a strange and distant land, the natives of which had become bitterly hostile. Under this impression, when their last ship was about to depart from England, they forced their reluctant governor, by excessive importunity, to desert his charge, in order that he might lend his personal aid and influence Aug. 27. in sending them succor from home. He sailed with the ship, but not until after his daughter, Eleanor Dare, the wife of one of the assistant governors, had presented him with the Aug. 18. This child was christened Virginia Dare, and, with her first white child born on the continent of North America. mother, was esteemed a sufficient pledge of the exertions of the governor in aid of the colony. and of his speedy return.
White found all England engaged in anxious preparation to 1588. meet the threatened Spanish invasion, but this did not pre- vent the generous Raleigh from dispatching him with two ships of supplies for the relief of the colony. But the spirit of gain overcame the spirit of humanity, and even the tender ties of April 22. parental affection : instead of going at once to the colo- ny, he employed himself in taking Spanish prizes, and was at last himself overcome and rifled, which compelled him to return to England, much to the chagrin of the noble proprietor, and probably the destruction of the neglected colony.
The Invincible Armada of Spain had to be overcome, and the safety of England herself to be secured, before another effort could be made to succor the little colony at Roanoke ; and when this was accomplished, leisure found the noble patron of the en- terprise too much impoverished by his previous unprofitable exer- tions to fit out, at his own expense, another expedition. He was obliged to assign an extensive portion of his powers to a company of merchants and others who might carry his schemes into execu- tion ; but with his profuse liberality, the active spring which had quickened previous expeditions was gone, the spirit of gain rather than of glory presided over the destinies of infant America, and it was not until another year had elapsed, that White was 1590. sent in quest of his subjects and his daughter.
When he arrived the colony was gone ; an inscription on the bark of a tree, indicating Creatan' as the place whither they had gone, was the last record of their existence scen by a civilized eve. Conjecture has pointed to ab amalgamation with the tribe of llat- teras Indians as the history of their destiny, and old Indian tradi- tions and the physical characteristics of that tribe are said to confirm the idea ; but while humanity may indulge a hope,
22
OUTLINE HISTORY.
credulity itself must entertain a doubt of the truth of the hy- pothesis.
White returned to England as soon as he found out that the colony was gone, and Raleigh is said to have sent five several times in vain, to search for his liege-men, but no tidings were ever received of their existence or their fate. Thus terminated the attempts at settlement on the coast of North Carolina, then called Virginia ; the scene next opens upon the broad bosom of the "mother of the waters."*
CHAPTER II.
SETTLEMENT AT JAMESTOWN-SUFFERINGS OF THE COLONISTS-ADVEN- TURES OF SMITH.
Nor Company raised-its charter .- Jamestown .- Machinations against Smith .- Dif- ficulties of the colony .- Smith taken prisoner-his release .- Arrival of Newport .-- Discovery of earth believed to be gold .- Departure of Newport .- Survey of the Chesa- peake and its waters by Smith .- Smith made president .- Second arrival of New port .-- Judicious conduct of Smith .-- New charter .- New arrival of emigrants .- Badness of the selection .- New settlements .- Accident to Smith-his departure-his character.
WE have now approached the period in which the British were destined to make a permanent settlement in America. England already possessed a population considered redundant, in couse- quence of the inadequate means of support afforded by ber limvired commerce and inefficient agriculture. The pacific and timid character of James I. threw out of employment many of the brave spirits who had served under Elizabeth, and left them the choice of only two means of acquiring wealth or distinction, -- and these were either to draw a mercenary sword in the quarrels of stran- gers, or to serve their king and country by transplanting their energy and enterprise to a new world.
BARTHOLOMEW GOSNOLD chose the latter. He was a person of rank and intelligence, and had already acquired distinction by his courage and skill in arms. He solicited his friends for aid for many years in vain, but at length attracted the attention of the distinguished adventurer Capt. JOHN SMITH, EDWARD MARIA WING- FIELD, a merchant, and ROBERT HUNT, a clergyman, who, after tak- ing a year for reflection. entered zealously into his projects.
Nothing, however, could be effected until persons of wealth and distinction could be found to patronise by their favor and aid by
This is the translation usually given of the Indian name " Chesapeake," but Chilly Mcintosh, the celebrated Georgia Creek chief, now removed west of the Mississippi with his tribe, told the writer another meaning, which he said was the true one, but which the writer has forgotten ; but which was, however, not so unlike the one girl above but that the same word might well convey the two different impressions, in dif rent idioms of the same language.
23
OUTLINE HISTORY.
their capital the enthusiasm of the adventurers. Sir FERDINAND GORGES, a man of wealth. rank, and influence, bad been informing himself, by conversation with several American Indians who had been carried to England by previous voyages, and by every other means in his power, of the nature of the country; and from the information he obtained became exceedingly anxious to possess a domain on the western side of the Atlantic. Hle persuaded Sir JOHN POPHAM, lord chief-justice of England, to unite in his views. RICHARD HACKLYT, the distinguished compiler of narratives of mari- time adventures, and one of the assignees of Raleigh, had not yet relinquished his hopes of a permanent settlement in America, not- - withstanding the frequent previous discouraging failures, and cheerfully joined in this new scheme of American colonization. The exertions of these energetic and distinguished individuals speedily raised a company, and procured a charter from King James.
As this was the first charter under which a permanent settlement was made, it may be worth attention to notice some of its prominent features. The charter bears date on the tenth of April, sixteen hundred and six .* It grants all the country from four-and- thirty to five-and-forty degrees of north latitude, and all islands within one hundred miles of the coast. This immense extent of country was divided by the charter between two companies, for the more speedy accomplishment of their purpose,-which have been ever since designated as the London and the Plymouth companies. The London com- pany wished to establish a colony between the 34th and 41st degrees of latitude, and the Plymouth between the 38th and 45th, and the grants were made in conformity to their wishes. But as there was room for collision between the 38th and 4let degrees of latitude, the colony which first, settled was to possess the land for fifty miles north and south of its location, and the other colony was forbidden to settle within one hundred miles of the colony first planted. Each of the colonies was to be governed by a council of thirteent persons, under the management and direction of a council of thirteen in England, which was to regulate both colonies. The council in the colonies were to govern according to laws, ordinances, and instructions prescribed by the king himself. The colonies had full power given to search for and work mines, paying to the king a fifth part of the gold and silver obtained, and a fifteenth of the copper ; and they were further allowed to coin money to pass current in the colonies. They were also empow- ered to levy a duty of two and a half per cent. upon the property of the king's subjects trading within their limits, and five per cent. upon all others so trading, for the use of the colony for twenty-one years, and afterwards for the use of the king.
Certain articles of necessity were allowed to be carried to the colonies from any part of the king's dominions free of duty for the first seven years ; and the colonists and their descendants were to have forever the privileges, franchises, and immunities of native-born Englishmen.
The English council was to have power to name the persons who were to compose the colonial council, and the latter elected their own president, and supplied vacancies in their own body. The religion of the church of England was established ; lands were to descend as at common law ; manslaughter, adultery, and dangerous tumults and seditions, were to be punished with death. The president and council constituted the supreme tribunal in all cases. The property of the colonists was to continue in joint stock for five years.
.One hundred and nine years from the discovery of the North Dec. 19, 1606. American continent by Cabot, three small vessels, whose joint tonnage amounted to only one hundred
* See this charter preserved in Stith,-Henning's Stat. at Large, p. 00, and in T. Rynier.
+ It appears afterwards that only seven were appointed ; no reason is assigned for the change.
24
OUTLINE HISTORY.
and sixty tons burden, sailed for the coast of Virginia with a colony of one hundred and five men. They were detained for six weeks in sight of England by adverse winds. The voyage was prosecuted under the command of Captain Newport, who sailed by the old route of the Canaries and the West India islands ; thus consuming the valuable time and provisions of the colonists, in a voyage unnecessarily long and circuitous. He did not arrive in the Chesapeake until the 26th of April.
Dissensions had sprung up in the course of the voyage, which there was no competent authority to quell, as the absurd affecta- tion of diplomatic mystery on the part of King James had sealed up his instructions, and the names of those who were to constitute the council, in a box which was not to be opened until after they arrived in Virginia.
The southern cape of the Chesapeake received the name of Henry, and the northern that of Charles, after the names of the sons of James. After landing on Cape Henry, the box of instruc- tions was opened, and Smith* was found to be named as one of the council, but he was excluded by the jealous malignity of the rest. Wingfield was chosen president.
Soon after passing the capes, they reached the mouth of a large and beautiful river, which they named after their sovereign James, but which the natives called Powhatan. About fifty miles from the mouth of this river, they selected a spot for their settlement, May 13. to which they gave the name of James Town. There could not, perhaps, be a company more unfitted for the duty which it had to perform, than that which now commenced the foundation of the British empire in America. The colonists were in a wilderness, surrounded by savages, without a fortifica- tion to repel their incursions, possessed of a scanty supply of pro- visions, without means of planting,-and without a habitation to protect them from the weather, save such as they might them- selves erect ; yet in the whole company there were but four car- penters, and twelve laborers, to fifty-four gentlemen. At first, how- ever, this rare collection of pioneers fell to work with spirit, cach to his appropriate duty. The president, who seems to have been a very weak man, and ill-suited for his station, was too jealous of his own men to allow exercises at arms, or a fortification to be erected ; and the only protection provided, was a sort of halt- moon formed of the boughs of trees, by the exertions of Kendall. Newport, Smith, and twenty others were sent to discover the head of the river. In six days they arrived at a town called Powhatan, belonging to King Powhatan, situated at the falls of the river, near the site of the present city of Richmond. They were kindly treated by the Indiaus. When the expedition returned, they found that Jamestown had been attacked by the savages, and seventeen
* The council named, was Bart. Gosnold, John Smith, Edward Wingfield, Christo- pher Newport, John Ratcliffe, John Martin, and George Kendall.
OUTLINE HISTORY.
men wounded, and a boy killed. They were attacked while at work, and their arms out of order; so that the whole were ouly saved from destruction by the timely aid of the vessels. After this experience of' his folly, the president permitted the place to be fortified ; and the labor necessary to effect this, with so small : force, while it was necessary, at the same time, to guard their workmen by day, to watch by night, to prepare ground for corn. and lumber to relade the ships, may be better conceived than de- scribed. After a stay of six weeks, Newport prepared to depart, and the council affecting a tender regard for the character of Sinbl, whom they had falsely accused of a treacherous design to usurp royal authority in the colony, and kept out of his seat in the council under these charges, now proposed, that he might not be utterly ruined by a trial, to send him home to the council, to be disposed of as they might think proper. Bat Smith. conscious of innocence of the absurd charge, boldly defied them, and demanded a trial. Ilis accusers suborned witnesses, who, instead of answering the exper- tations of their employers. only exposed the subornation. The company were so incensed at the infamous conduct of his accu- sers, that they condemned the president to pay him £300, which, when received, he generously threw into the common stock. Newport sailed on the 15th of June, leaving one hundred men in Virginia.
The condition of the men thus left, was the most melancholy that can well be im- agined. They consisted, for the most part, of men entirely unused to labor or hard- ship ; who were doomed to encounter every kind of difficulty, in the midst of summer, in a hot and sickly climore. In ten days from the departure of Newport. scarce tra men could stand, from sickness and weakness. The food was scanty in quantity, and of the most unwholesome quality. The allowance of each man was half a pat of wheat, and as much barley, boiled in water, which was served out from a common kettle, and which having been closely stowed in the ship's hold for twenty-six weeks, in a warm and moist atmosphere, was reduced to a condition any thing but tempting. Smith, the narrator of these sufferings, humorously remarks: " If we bed been as free from all sins, as from gluttony and drunkenness, we might have been canonized for saints." As might be supposed in such an unfortunate state of affairs, great mortality prevailed, and fifty were buried between May and September ; and those that survived relied principally for their subsistence upon sturgeon and spa-crabs. The suffering, in this state of affairs, must have been greatly aggravated by the knowledge that the president was indulging himself in every luxury which the stores afforded-and his de- tection in an attempt to escape in the pinnace, from the suffering colony. This last act of treachery was more than the little colony could erdure ; and weak as it was, it deposed him, and Kendall, his accomplice. Ratcliffe was made president. The coun- cil do not seem to have exercised the power granted them in their chartsr. of tilling uy vacancies, and it was now reduced to three-Ratcliffe, Smith, and Martin ; Gowmed had perished, Newport sailed for England, and Wingfield and Kendall had been deposed.
The president and Martin being unpopular men, and very defi- cient in judgment and energy, committed the control of affairs nearly entirely to Smith, who, by his example and his skill in managing meu, speedily reduced affairs to order, induced the nich to work, and provided comfortable habitations. His next object was to obtain a supply of corn for the inanediate necessity of the .people, which he did effectually, by frightening the people et
26
OUTLINE HISTORY.
Keconghtan, an Indian village, situated near the site of the present town of Hampton-after first trying every means to purchase their provision. Smith now constituted tue only hope, not only for the existence of the colony, as such, but for the lives of the in- dividuals of whom it consisted. Their recent wretchedness was not a sufficient warning to them to preserve order, and to husband their resources with prudence, now that plenty was provided ; but they lived as wastefully as if they had boundless magazines at command. Smith, seeing this, caused the pinnace to be fitted up for a cruise ; and, in the mean time, availed himself of the oppor- tunity to become acquainted with the country lying on the Chickahominy.
During one of these temporary absences of Smith, Wingfield and Kendall, who had lived in disgrace since they were deposed, laid a plot to carry off the pinnace to England, which the fortu- nate return of Smith, before they had time to effect their purpose, prevented. But not even then were they defeated without firing on the pinnace, by which means Kendall lost his life.
Smith having gained possession of the pinnace, ascended the Chickahominy, and procured an abundance of corn. Winter com- ing on soon after, afforded an amply supply of game and wild fowl, so that plenty was once more restored. and thought no longer en- tertained of going to England.
Little souls cannot look upon the greatest exploits of nobler creatures, without suffering a captious and jealous malignity to detract from their merit. The very beings whom Smith had pre- served by his good conduct, now murmured against him their absurd complaints-because he had not discovered the head of the Chickahominy, although he had returned only to supply them with food. His spirit could not brook reproach, however undeserved, for any thing which was yet possible to be accomplished. He again ascended the Chickahominy as far as was practicable in the pinnace, and leaving it in a position which he supposed to be safe, he advanced yet higher, with two whites and two Indians, in a canoe. He left his men with his little boat, and taking only his Indian guide, advanced into the forest with his gun to procure them provision. Unfortunately, in disobedience to his orders, the men in the pinnace went ashore, and one of them was taken by the Indians, who learned from their prisoner whither the captain had gone. The savages pursued him, and slew the men left with the canoe while they slept. They next sought Smith, but found him no easy prey ; for, tying his guide to his arm as a buckler to keep off their arrows, he defended himself so gallantly that they dared not approach him, until, falling accidentally into a marsh, he was at length forced by cold and fatigue to surrender. The sev- ages conducted him to their chief, Opcebankenough, king of Pamunkee. Smith endeavored to impress the king with a high idica of his powers, by presenting him with a mariner's compass, explaining its uses, and instructing him in the rudiments of astron
.
27
OUTLINE HISTORY.
omy, by explaining the motion of the earth, its shape, and the motion of the sun, moon, and planets; truths which it is difficult to believe he could make the savage comprehend, especially as he had but little knowledge of their language. It is more probable that the king was pleased with the ivory case of the compass, and the mysterious play of the needle, which he could see but not touch, and which moved without an apparent cause. Accord- ingly, we find when his men had tied Smith to a tree and were about to slay him, the king did not attempt to prevent it by explaining the motion of the earth around the sun, but merely held up the compass, the sight of which seems to have been sufficient to disarm their wrath.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.