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 5

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893. cn
Publication date: 1856
Publisher: Charleston, S. C. : Wm. R. Babcock
Number of Pages: 1148

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 5

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" But had that unhappy blast not happened, he would quickly have qualified the heat of those humors and factions, had the ships but once left them and us to our fortunes; and have made the provision from among the savages, as we neither feared Spaniard, savage, nor famine ; nor would have left Virginia nor our lawful authority, but at as dear a price as we had bought it and paid for it. What shall I say but thus : we left him, that in all his proceed- ings, made justice his first guide, and experience his second, even hating baseness, sloth, pride, and indignity, more than any danger, --- that never allowed more for himself, than his soldiers with bim that upon no danger would send them where he would not lead them himself ;- that would never see us want what he either had, or could by any means get us ;- that would rather want than bor- row, or starve than not pay ;- that loved action more than words. and hated falsehood and covetousness worse than death ; whose adventures were our lives, and whose loss our deaths."

CHAPTER III.

PROGRESS OF THE COLONY-MASSACRE OF 1622-DISSOLUTION OF THE LONDON COMPANY.

State of the colony at Smith's departure -- its conduct and consequent sufferings .-- Arri .. val of Gates-of Lord De La Ware-his departure .- Arrival of Dale .- Martial Law. -Gates Governor .- Grants of land to individuals .- New charter .- Marriage of Pocahontas .- Friendly relations with the Indians, -- Cultivation of Tobacco .- Tenure of lands .-- Tyranny of Argall .-- Propriety of Reform in the government .--- Yeardiey Governor .- First colonial assembly in 1619 .- Introduction of women .- - Introduction of negres by the Dutch in 1620 .- Constitution brought over by Sir Francis Wyatt. -Relations with the Indians .- Massucre of the End of March, 1622-its canse- yuences .-- Struggles between the king and the company .---- Commissioners sent to Vir ginia .- Firmness of the Virginians .~ Dissolution of the company.

WHEN Smith left the colony, it contained four hundred and ninety odd persons. The harvest was newly gathered, and thero

OUTLINE HISTORY.

was provision for ten weeks in the stores. The savages were in a good state of subjection, and readily yielded at a reasonable price whatever they could spare, All things were in such a condition that prudent management might have ensured the most brilliant success, but the wildest confusion and anarchy prevailed, The new president was so ill that he could not attend to business, and twenty others endeavored to hold the reins of government. When the savages found that Smith was gone, they speedily attacked and broke up the establishments at Powhatan and Nansemond, driving in the remnant of the men their butcheries left, to subsist upon the rapidly wasting provisions of Jamestown. Ratcliffe with a ves- sel and thirty men attempting to trade with Powhatan, was by his carelessness cut off, and he himself with all his company perished except two, who were saved by the humanity of Pocahontas. West with a crew of thirty escaped in a ship to become pirates,* The miserable company, now left without control or authority. and composed with a few exceptions of " gentlemen, tradesmen, serv- ing-men, libertines, and such-like, ten times more fit to spoil a com- monwealth, than either begin one. or but help to maintain one," now gave free rein to all their evil dispositions. Each one sought only to gratify his passions or preserve his own life, without regard to the wants or sufferings of the rest. There was no union, no concert, no harmony. Vice stalked abroad in her naked deformity, and her handmaids, misery and famine, followed in her train. The savages attacked and slew the whites upon every occasion, and forming a systematic plan to starve the remainder, they would supply no further provisions ; after they had bought every disposa- ble article at the fort, even to most of their arms, at such a price as they chose to exact. The corn was speedily consumed ; next followed the domestic animals, poultry, hogs, goats, sheep. and finally the horses ; all were consumed, even to their skins. The only resource was in roots, acorns, berries, and such other unwhole- some stuff as could be found ; nay, so pinching was the hunger, that savages who had been slain and buried were disinterred to be consumed, and even some of the whites who had perished were used to preserve life by the rest. Of nearly five hundred that Smith left, in six months only sixty emaciated beings remained alive ; and these were without the possibility of support for longer than ten days.

When Gates and Sumner were shipwrecked on the Bermuda rocks. their good man- agement saved the life of every individual. and a large proportion of their provision and stores. On this island, although uninhabited, nature was so bountiful, and presented spontaneously such a rich variety of productions suitable to the sustenance of man, that three hundred and fifty men lived in case and abundance for nearly ten months. The disagrecable idea of remaining thus upon an island, cut off' from all intercourse with the Test of the world, stimulated them to the exertion necessary to build two barks, with sach rude instruments as they possessed, from the wreck of their old ship and the cedars of the island. In these they embarked for Virginia, expecting to find, in the comforts

* Smith in book 4, p. 2, says, "sailed for England." -- Bancroft, 156, says, on the authority of Stith, " became pirates."

1625423

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and plenty of a fourishing colony, ample solace for all their toils and difficulties. What, May 23. then, was their astonishunent, when they reached Jamestown, (after a more prosperous voyage than they could have expected in their crazy vessels.) to meet, instead of the warm and joyful welcome of their countrymed. in the full fruition of health and plenty, only the greedy cravings of a few miserable wretches, begging for a sufficiency of food to preserve their existence. Not anticipating this melancholy site. ation, they had only provided themselves with enough provision for their voyage, and were unable to relieve the necessities of their fellow-creatures, whose sufferings it was so painful to witness. It was impossible, in this situation, to remain longer in the colony. All were embarked on board the vessels, Jamestown was abandoned, and it wax wuh difficulty that its departing citizens could be prevented from setting fire to the habitations in which they had suffered so much misery. All the provisions which could be raised did not amount to more than would support them for 16 days, at the most limited allow. nnee ; yet with this they set out with the hope to reach Newfoundland, where they expected to be relieved by the British fishing-vessels.

But although it had been the will of Heaven to permit the colo. nists to receive an awful chastisement for their misconduct, yet it was not decreed by the Ruler of all human affairs that the colony should be entirely abandoned, und so much labor and suffering be useless to mankind, or so fine a country left in its original wild and unimproved condition. Before Gates and his associates had reached the mouth of James River, they were met by Lord De La Ware, with three ships, having on board a number of new settlers, an ample stock of provisions, and every thing requisite for defence or cultivation. By persuasion and authority he prevailed upon June 10, 1610. them to return to Jamestown, where they found their fort and houses and magazines in the same situation in which they had been left. A society with so bad a constitution, and such a weak and disordered frame. required skilful and tender nursing to restore it to vigor. Lord De La Ware was fully competent to his station, He beld a long consultation to ascertain the cause of the previous difficulties, and concluded, after listening to their mutual accusations, by a speech full of' wholesome advice, recommending the course they should pursue, and assuring them that he should not hesitate to exercise his law- ful authority in punishing the insubordinate, dissolute, and idle. By unwearied assiduity, by the respect due to an amiable and beneficent character, by knowing how to mingle severity with indulgence, and when to assume the dignity of his office. as well as when to display the gentleness natural to his own temper, hc gradually reconciled men corrupted by anarchy to subordination and discipline, he turned the attention of the idle and profligate to industry, and taught the Indians again to reverence and dread the English name. Under such an administration, the colony began March 28, 1611. once more to assume a promising appearance. when, unhappily for it, a complication of diseases brought on by the climate obliged Lord De La Ware to quit the country, the government of which he committed to Mr. Percy, The colony at this time consisted of about two hundred men ; but the departure of the governor was a disastrous event. which pro- duced not only a despondency at Jamestown, but chilled the zeal- ous warmth of the London company, and caused a decided reac-

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tion in the popular mind in England, which was exhibited in the manner in which popular feeling delights to display itself --- by exhibiting the Virginia colony as a subject of derision upon the stage.

Before the departure of Lord De La Ware, the company in England had dispatched Sir Thomas Dale with supplies ; and it, May 10. was well he arrived so soon, for the company were al-

ready fast relapsing to their former state of idleness and improvidence, and had neglected to plant corn, which he caused to be done immediately. The company having found all their previous systems of government inefficient, granted to Sir Thomas Dale more absolute authority than had been granted to any of his predecessors, -- impowering him to rule by martial law, a short code of which, founded on the practice of the armies in the Low Countries. (the most rigid school at that time in Europe,) they sent out with him. This system of violent and arbitrary government was recommended by Sir Francis Bacon, the most enlightened phi- losopher, and one of the most eminent lawyers of his age. It proves the depth of his sagacity ; for it would have been absurd to apply the refined speculative theories of civil government to a set of mutinous, undisciplined, idle, ignorant creatures, shut up in a fort, surrounded by hostile nations, and dependent upon their own exertions for support. Surely, in such a case a strong government was as necessary as in a ship at sea, and more so than in ordinary military stations, where habitual discipline preserves order and ensures respect to the officers.

The governor who was now intrusted with this great but neces sary power, exercised it with prudence and moderation. By the vigor which the summary mode of military punishment gave to his administration, he introduced into the colony more perfect order than had ever been established there ; and at the same time he tempered its vigor with so much discretion, that no alarm seems to have been given by this innovation.

In May, Sir Thomas Dale wrote to England full information of the weakness of the colony, but recommending in strong terms the importance of the place. His favorable representations were fully confirmed by Lord De La Ware and Sir Thomas Gates. The hopes of the company were resuscitated, and in August, Gates arrived at Jamestown with six ships and three hundred emigrants. The colony, which now consisted of seven hundred men, was sur- rendered into the hands of Gates ; and Dale, by his permission, made a settlement with three hundred and fifty chosen men upon a neck nearly surrounded by the river, which, in honor of Prince Henry, he called Henrico.

One of the greatest checks to industry which had hitherto existed in the colony was the community of property in the provisions and stores. The adle and dissipated. seeing that they were to have a full share, had no stimulus to exertion, and the industrious were disheartened by seeing the larger portion of the fruits of their industry consumed by the idle members of the little society. So discouraging was this state of things to exertion, that frequently, in the best times, the labor of thirty did not accomplish more

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than was done under a different system by three. Gates perceived the evil and applied the remedy. He distributed a certain portion of land to each individual to be worked for his own benefit, still paying, however, a small portion of his produce to the general store to provide against contingencies. This policy was found so advantageous that every encouragement was afforded to individual enterprise in the acquisition of wealth. That livle respect was paid to the rights of the Indians ; for some depredation or injury from the tribe of Apamatuck, they were dispossessed of their corn and their cabins, which, " considering the position commodious," were unceremoniously appropriated by the English to their own benefit.

The colony now having extended considerably, assumed a more regular form, by pur- March 12, 1612. suing a more consistent system of policy ; and beginning to promise permanency, a new charter was granted by James. This confirmed and enlarged all the privileges and immunities which had been previously granted, extended the time of exemption from duties, and enlarged their territory and jurisdiction to all islands and seats within three hundred miles of the coast. This included the newly discovered, fertile Bermudas, which were soon after sold by the company to one hundred and twenty of its members.

This new charter made some changes in the constitution of the company, by giving more power to the company itself and less to the council; it also conferred the power of raising money by lottery for the benefit of the colony, which was the first introduc- March, 1621. tion of this pernicious system of taxation into England, and which was soon after prohibited by act of Parliament, but not until the company had raised nearly thirty thousand pounds by the privilege.

As the new system of policy nad increased the independence and preserved the num- bers of the colony, so had it increased its strength and the respect of the savages. One · owerful tribe now voluntarily sought British protection, and became British subjects ; nother was brought to a close and friendly alliance by a tenderer tie than fear could afford.

Captain Argall, in a voyage to the Potomac for the purpose of purchasing corn, fell in with an old chief named lapazaws, to whom Powhatan had intrusted Pocahontas, which he disclosed to Argall, and offered to sell her to him for a copper kettle. The bargain was made, and Pocahontas being enticed on board by the cunning of her guardian, was carried off without once suspecting the treachery of the old hypocrite. The authorities at Jamestown availed themselves of the possession of this lucky prize to endeavor to extort from Powhatan a high ransom; but the old emperor, though be really loved his daughter, seemed to be so highly af- fronted at the indignity offered him, that he preferred fighting those who had robbed him of his daughter to purchasing her free- dom. But while this matter was in agitation, a treaty of a ditfer- ent character was going forward between the young princess her- self and Mr. Rolie, a highly respectable young gentleman of Jamestown, who, struck by her beauty, and fascinated by her man- ners, so far superior to the rest of her race, wobed and won her affections, and obtained a promise of her hand. The news of this amicable adjustment of all difficulties soon reached the cars of' Powhatan, and met with his cordial approbation. He sent the uncle and two brothers of Pocahontas to witness the nuptial cere- monies at Jamestown, which were solemnized with great pomp, according to the rites of the English church. From this marriage several of the most highly respected families in Virginia trace their descent. Happy would it have been for both races, if this amalgamation had been promoted by other instances, but this is the only case upon record. This marriage secured the permanent

OUTLINE HISTORY.

friendship of Powhatan, and all under his influence; and the Chickahominies, his next neighbors, when they heard of it, sent deputies, and submitted by solemn treaty to become subjects to King James, and to submit to his governor in the colony, -- to pay tribute, --- and furnish men to fight against whatever enemies should attack the colony ; only stipulating that at home they should con- tinue to be governed by their own laws.

We have already mentioned a partial distribution of lands by Sir Thomas Dale, for the purpose of encouraging individual indus- try ; it may be well to explain more in detail the tenure by which lands were held by individuals. At the favored Bermudas plan- tation, near the mouth of the Appomattox, either on account of the greater merit, longer service, or some favorable circumstances attending the expense of the emigration of the tenants, the lands were held by a rent of two and a half barrels of corn annually to the general stock, and one month's service, which was not to be in time of sowing or of harvest. Those who had been brought over at the expense of the company, had three geres of land allot- ted them, and two bushels of corn from the public store, and with this scanty allowance were required to support themselves by one month's labor ; the other eleven being required by the company. This species of laborers had decreased in 1617 to fifty-four, includ- ing all classes ; and these were finally released entirely from their vassalage by Sir George Yeardley, in 1617. The original bounty to emigrants coming at their own expense, or that of others than the company, had been one hundred acres of land; but after the colony became better settled, it was reduced to fifty. the actual occupancy of which gave a right to as many more. The payment of twelve pounds and ten shillings to the treasurer of the company, entitled the adventurer to a grant of one hundred acres, the occu- pancy of which also secured a right to as many more.

The labor of the colony, which had been for a long time misdirected in the manufac- ture of ashes, soap, glass, and tar, in which they could by no means compete with Sweden and Russia, and also in planting vines which require infinite labor and atten- tion, and for which subsequent experiments have indicated the climate to be uafit, was at length directed, by the extended use of tobacco in England,t almost exclusively to the cultivation of that article. This commodity always finding a ready price, and af-

fairs 'being now so regulated that each one could enjoy the fruits of his labor,

1615. was cultivated so assiduously, as to take off the attention of the planters too much from raising corn, so that it became scarce, and supplies had again to be looked for from England, or purchased of the Indians. The fields, gardens, public squares, and.

* Smith, Book IV. p. 18. Bancroft, I. p. 167. Burke.

t Note by Robertson, -- " It is a matter of some curiosity, to trace the progress of the consumption of this unnecessary commodity. The use of tobacco seems to have been first introduced into England whoat the year 1500. Possibly a few seafading press may have acquired a relish for it, by their intercourse with the Spaniards, previous to that period ; but it could by no means be denominated a national habit anterior to that date. Upon an average of the seven years immediately preceding the year 1022, the whole import of tobacco into England amounted to a hundred and forty-twee thesand and eighty-tive pounds weight. Stith, p. 216. From this it appears that ine taste #16 spread with a rapidity which is remarkable. But how inconsiderable is that quantity to what is consumed now in Great Britain !" or pow ! !

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even the streets of Jamestown, were planted with tobacco, and thus becoming an ar- ticle of universal desire, it became, to a great extent, the circulating medium of the col- ony. Not only private debts, but salaries and officers' fees were paid in tobacco ; and the statute-book to this day rarely mentions the payment of money, that it does not add, as an equivalent, "or tobacco "

Early in the year 1614, Sir Thomas Gates had returned to Eng- land, leaving the colony, which then consisted of about four hun- dred men, under the command of Sir Thomas Dale, who in his turn desiring to visit England and his family, left the colony in 1616, under the protection and control of Sir Thomas Yeardley.

With Dale, Mr. Rolfe and his interesting bride, Pocahontas, sailed. By a communication from Smith, her amiable and valua- ble conduct was made known at court, and every attention was shown her, both by the queen and many of the nobility. This ex- cellent princess, whose deportment was so far superior to that which the condition of her race would authorize one to expect, that it won for her universal admiration and esteem, was destined never more to behold her father or her native land. She died at Gravesend, where she was preparing to embark with her husband and child for Virginia. Peace to her gentle spirit ! Her memory will not perish while the commonwealth of Virginia endures, or noble and generous actions are valued by her sons.

Yeardley's administration was similar to that of his predeces- sors, enforcing obedience from his own men, and the respect of the savages. Ile was succeeded, in 1617, by Captain Argall, who was a rough seaman, accustomed to the despotie sway of his own ship, naturally tyrannical in his disposition, cruel and covetous, in short, a person utterly unfit to be trusted with the administration of the arbitrary government which then existed in Virginia. For al- though we have considered such a government the only practica- ble one which could have been then established, yet it required the utmost firmness in the governor, tempered by mildness, prudence, and discretion, to make it tolerable. Such had been the case under the administration of Gates, Dale, and Yeardley, and under them the colony had prospered more than it had ever done before ; but such was not the disposition of this new governor. Instead of holding the severity of the laws in terrorem over them, and not actually resorting to the extent of his power, except in cases of extreme necessity, he sought to bring innocent actions within the letter of the law, which indeed was not very difficult with the bloody military code which then existed. These arbitrary exer- tions of power were principally used in the gratification of his inordinate rapacity, which, in its indiscriminate grasp, sought not only to clutel: the property of the colonists, but also trespassed upon the profits of the company. Not satisfied with perverting the labor of the free colonists to his own use or pleasures, he con- sumed the time of the servants of the company upon his own plantations. At length his conduct was so flugitious, in the case of one Brewster, who was left by Lord Delaware to manage his

POCAHONTAS.

The above is copied from an engraving said to be an exact copy of an original draw- ing of the " LADY REBECCA," or Pocahontas, as she is usually called. It shows her in the fashionable English dress of the time in which she lived. The following is in- scribed around and underneath the original portrait.

" MATOAKA ALS REBECCA FILIA POTENTISS PRINC : POWHATANI IMP : VIRGINIA."

"Matooks als Rebecka, daughter to the mighty Prince Powhatan Emperour of Atten- oughkomouck al's Virginia, converted and baptized in the Christian faith, and wife to the wor" Mr. Joh Rolf." " Etstis sue el A. D. 1616."

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estate, and who only sought to prevent Argall from viterly despoil- ing it, that neither the colony nor company could bear his tyranny longer, but he was deposed and Sir George Yeardley sent in his place. Yet he contrived to escape punishment, by the misman- agement of some and the connivance of others, and preserved all of his ill-gotten booty.

One of the first acts of Yeardley was to emancipate the remaining servants of the colony. The labor now being free, cach man enjoying the fruits of his own industry,

1619.

and anxious to increase his store, there was no fear of scarcity, and no time or

opportunity for mutiny among the scattered and industrious planters. With the increasing strength and independence* of the colony, all fear of the savages had vanished. It is manifest that in these altered circumstances, a modification of the de. spotic government ought to have been made, because its severity was no longer neces- sary, and while the power existed it might be abused, as the colony seriously experien- ced in the case of Argall. The only use of government is to ensure the safety of the state from external foes, to secure justice and the free disposition of person and property to each individual, and sometimes to aid in the prosecution of such objects of general utility as individual enterprise cannot accomplish. The moment the colonists began to take an interest in the country, by the enjoyment of their own labor, and the possession of property, it was right that they should have some share in that government, in the prudent conduct of which they were most interested. Yeardley was aware of this, for without any authority from home which we can trace, ho called together a General As. sembly consisting of two members from every town, borough, or hundred, besides the governor and council, which met at Jamestown, near the end of June, 1619. In this assembly seven corporations were represented, and four more were laid off in the course of the same summer.

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Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893. cn Publication date: 1856 Publisher: Charleston, S. C. : Wm. R. Babcock Number of Pages: 1148

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893. cn
Publication date: 1856
Publisher: Charleston, S. C. : Wm. R. Babcock
Number of Pages: 1148