USA > Virginia > The generall historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer isles: with the names of the adventurers, planters, and governours, from their first beginning, an. 1584. To this present 1626. With the proceedings of those severall colonies > Part 13
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This mans moneth thus ended, begins Master Carter, which was altogether spent in quietnesse, and then Captaine Miles Kend'all had the rule, whose moneth was also as quietly spent as his Predecessors. Then Captaine Mansfield begins his second moneth, when the ship called the Edicin arriued with good supplies. About this time diuers Boats going to sea were lost, and some men drowned; and many of the Company repaired to Master Hues, that there might bee a Councell according to Master Hores order of six Gouemnours, and twelue Assistants, whereupon grew as many more such silly brawles as before, which at last concluded with as sim. ple a reconciliation. In the interim happened to a certaine number of priuate persoas as miserable and latectable an accident as euer was read or heard of, and thus it was:
134 The wonderfull deliverance of Andrew Hilliard.
In the month of March, a time most subiect of all others to such tempests; on a Friday there went seuen in a boat of two or three tunnes to fish. The morning being faire, so eager they were of their journey, some went fasting: nei- ther carried they either meate or drinke with them, but a few Palineta berries, but being at their fishing place some foure leagues from the shoare, such a tempest arose, they were quickly driuen from the sight of land in an overgrowne Sea, despairing of all hope, onely committing themselues to Gods merey, let the boat drive which way shee would. On Sunday the storme being somewhat abated, they hovsted saile as they thought towards the Island. In the euening it grew starke calme: so that being too weake to vse their oares, they lay a drift that night. The next morning da- drew Hilliard, for now all his companions were past strength either to helpe him or themselues, before a small gale of wind spread his saile againe. On Tuesday one died, whom they threw over board. On Wednesday three. And on Thursday at night the sixt. All these but the last were bu- ried by Hilliard in the Sea, for so weake hee was growne hee could not turne him ouer as the rest, whereupon hee stripped him, ripping his belly with his knife, throwing his bowels into the water, hee spread his body abroad tilted open with a sticke, and so lets it lie as a cisterne to receive some lucky raine-water, and this God sent him presently after, so that in one small shoure hee recouered about foure spoonsfals of raine water to his vnspeakable refreshment; he also pre- serued neere balfe a pint of blood in a shoe, which he did sparingly drinke of to moist his mouth: two senerall daies he fed on his flesh, to the quantity of a pound, on the eleventh day from his losing the sight of land, two flying fishes fals in his boat, whose warme juiste blood hee sucked to his great comfort. But within an houre after to his greater comfort you will not doubt, he once againe descried the land, and within foure houres after was cast vpon a rocke neere to Port rovall, where his boat was presently split in pieces, but him- selfe, though extreamly weake, made shift to clamber vp so steepe and high a rocke, as would haue troubled the ablest man in the Ile to haue done that by day hee did by night.
Being thus astride on a rocke, the tumbling Sea had got- ten such possession in his braines, that a good while i was before his giddy head would suffer him to venture vpon the
135
Treasure found in the Summer Iles.
forsaking it: towards the morning he craules a shore, and then to his accomplished joy descernes where hee is, and trauels halfo a day without any refreshment then water, whereof wisely and temperately he stinted himselfe, other- wise certainely bee bad drunke his last. In which case hee attaines a friends house: where at the first they tooke him for a ghost, but at last acknowledged and received him with iov, his story after some houres of recouery of strength to tell it, heard out with admiration: he was not long after conueved to the towne. where he received his former health, and was Jiuing in the yeore 1692.
The next newes that happened in this time of case, was, that a merry fellow haning found some few Dollars against the Flemish wracke, the bruit went currant the treasure was found, and they all made men. Much adoe there was to preuent the purloining of it, before they had it: where after they had tvred themselues with searching, that they found, amounted not to aboue twenty pounds starling, which is not ynlike but to be the remainder of some greater store, washed from some wracke not farre from the shore.
The company by the Edwin receiving newes of the reuels were kept in Sommer les, resolved to make choice of a new Governour; called Master Daniel Tucker, that a long time had bin a planter in Virginia in the gouernment of Captaine Smith. All things being furnished for his voyage: hee set saile in the. George, cousorted with the Edwin, with many passengers, which being discouered by them in those Hes, they supposed them the Frigot sent to the West-Indies: but when they understood what they were, much preparation they made to resist the new Gouernour. Many great osten- tations appeared on both sides, but when the quandam Gio- uernour did see his men for most part forsake bito: all was very well and quietly compounded, and with much kinderse received and welcomed a shore, where his Commission was no sooner read, then they accepted and acknowledged him for their Gouernour,
136 The accidents and proceedings of Daniel Tuckar.
The Government of Captaine Daniel Tuckar. 1616
ABocr the midst of May arriued this Gouernor, where finding the Inhabitants both abhorring all exacted labour, as also in a manner disdaining and grudging much to be com- manded by him ; it could not but passionate any man liuing. But at last according to the Virginia order, hee set euery one was with him at Saint Georges, to histaske, to cleere grounds, fell trees, set corne, square timber, plant vines and other fruits brought out of England. These by their taske Mas- ters by breake a day repaired to the wharfe, from thence to be employed to the place of their employment, till nine of the clocke, and then in the after-noone from three till Sunne-set. Beside meat, drinke and cloaths, they had for a time a cer- taine kind of brasse money with a hogge on the one side, in memory of the abundance of hogges was found at their first landing.
This course thus squared, imitating diuers orders vsed in Virginia, by Sir Tho. Dale: he began by them to looke inte his instructions given by the Company. Whereupon by one Mr. Richard Norwood a Suruayor, sent ouer for that. pur- pose, in the time of Master Moore, hee began to lay out the eight tribes in the maine, which were to consist of fifty shares to a tribe : and twenty fue aeres to cury share. He also begun to plant some Colony men. on some of the especiall shares. He swore also certaine of the chiefe men of euery tribe to bee Bailiffes thereof ; and appointed as many men as hee was able for all supplied shares. The goods landed in the store houses hee sent from thence, and dispersed it to his workemen in generall : some Boats also began to be builded; but the pinace called the Thomas suspected might reake an escape, was laid vp in a docke, were shee yet remaineth.
In the beginning of the second moneth of his government, he directed warrants to all the Bailiffes, for the holding of a general Assise at Saint Georges, and appointed Master Stokes Lieutenant of the Kings Castle at the Garnets head. The Edwin came with him he sent to the West Indies by directi- ous from England, co trade with the natines, for cattell, corne, plants, and other commodities. A course of great im- portance, which had it been pursued, would certainly haue produced more hopefull effects for the good of the Colonv.
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Five men in a boat of 3. tuns suite over the maine Ocean. 137
then all the supplies and Magusines from England hath or will in a long time.
Presently after her departure began the Assises, executed by his Deputy. The Chiefe matter handled was the hang- ing one John Wood a French man, for speaking many dis- tastefull and mutinous speeches against the Governour, to shew the rest by that example, the power of his authority, which after with his owne hands be so oft executed with a bastinado amongst the poorer sort; many tearmed it a cruel- ty, not much lesse then tyranny: but the sequell is more then strange.
So it was that fiue of them, seeing by no meanes they could get passage for England, resolued to undergoe all ha- zards but they would make an escape from such seruitude. The chiefe mariner and plotter of this businesse, was Rich- mil Sanders, and his confederates, William Goodicin, a ship Carpenter, Thomas Harison, a Iovner, James Barker a Gen - tleman, and Henry Puet. These repairing to the Governour. and with pleasing insinuations told him, if bec would but allow them but things necessary, they would build him a boat of two or three tunnes, with a close "decke, should goe a fishing all weathers. The Gouernour halfe proud he had brought his men to so good a passe, as ho conceited, to of- fer themselues to so necessary a worke; instantly with all willingnesse furnished them with all things they could de- sire, and many faire promises to incourage them to performe it with all expedition. Hauing made choise of a place most fit from molestation, they went forward with that expedition, that in a short time she was brought to perfection. By this time, the ship that brought the Gouerpour, being ready to depart, he sends a lusty gange to goe fetch his new beat to carry him aboard, but arriving at the place where she was . built, they could heare no more of her, but she was gone the last euening to Sea, to try how shee would saile. Much search and dispute was where this boat should be: but at let they found ditters letters in the cabbin, to this . wien, direct- ed to the Gouernour, and other their friends: that their hard and bad vsage was so intolerable, and their hope so small euer againe to see their Courtrey, or be delivered from such servitude, they did rather chuse to put themselves to that des- perate hazard to goe for England, in which if they miscari- ed as it was much to be mistrusted, their lives and bloods Vol. 2-T
190 Fine men in a boat of 3. tans saile ouer the maine Ocean.
should be required at their hands was the cause. A. com- passe Diall Barker bad borrowed of Master Hues, to whom be writ that as hee had oft perswaded them to patience, and that God would pay them though none did: hee must now be contented with the losse of his Diall, with his owne doe- trine. Such leasure they found to bee merry when in the eve of reason they were marching into a most certaine raine. 'The Gouernour being thus satisfied of their escape, extream - ly threatened them no less then a hanging, but the stormes of the Ocean they now more feared then him; good prouisi - on by bartering they had got from the ship, where Goodwin in a brauado told the Mariners, though he could not be per- mitted to goe with them, yet peraduenture hee might be in England before them, whereat the Master and his Mate laughed merrily. But having beene now vnder saile three weckes, the winds so fauoured them, they felt nothing of what they had cause to feare : then a blustering gale blow- ing in their teeth, put them to much extremity for divers dayes, then becomming more gentle, away they past prospe- rously some eight or ten daves more, till meeting a French Piccaroune of whom they desired succour, hee like himselfe tooke from them what hee liked, leauing them not so much as a crosse-staffe to obserue withall, and so cast them off: their course still they continued till their victuall began to fall to the lowest ebbe ; and the very knees of their small yessell were halfe hewed away for firewood. At last to their infinite ioy they arrived in Ireland, where the Earle of To- mund honorably entertained them, and caused the boat to be hung op for a Monument, and well she might, for shee had sailed more then 3300 miles by a right line thorow the maine Sea, without any sight of land, and I thinke since God . made the world, the like nauigation was neuer done, nor heard of. This fortunate Sanders going to the East Indies. in the rifling some ships there tooke, it was his chance to bay an old chest, for three or foure shillings, but because it want- ed a key hee repented his bargaine, and would gladly hane sold it againe for less. A certaine time it lay tossed to and fro as a thing hee little regarded, but at last having little to doe, hee broke it open, where he found a thousand pounds staring, or so much gold as bought him in England a good estate, which leaving with his wife he returned againe to the .East Indies.
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139
The proceedings of Captaine Daniel Tuckar.
The George setting saile three daves after this escape, the Goucrnour seazed and confiscated all that those fugitives left behinde them. Within a weeke after returned the Ed zein from the West Indies. furnished with figues, pynes, su- gar-canes, plantaines. papanes and diuers other plants, which were presently replanted, and since increased into greater numbers, also an Indian and a Negor, and so much ligna vitæ as defraved all the charge. The Gouernor thus busied amongst his plants, making hedges of Figtrees, and Pomgra- nets, and seuerall diuisions by Palizadoes for the defence of their guarding and keeping their cattell, for in such husban- dry qualities he well deserned great commendations. The Adventurers to supply him sont with all speed they could the Hopewell, a small Barke, but an excellent sailer, and in her one Captaine Powell an excellent Mariner, and well ac- quainted in the Indies where he was to goe trade, after ho had landed his passengers in the Summer Isles: but in his journey at the Westerne Isles meeting a Brasile man, hee liked the suger and passengers so well, hee mau'd the Carvill with his owne men, and continued his course, but bethinking himself how this would be entertained at the Summer Istes, hee found such doubts, hee went directly for the West Indies to take time to resolue what to doe : arriuing there bee met a French rouer, one enery way as cunning as himselfe, but much more treacherous. A great league of kindnesse is soone made betweene them. spon confidence whereof. Por- elland some of the chiefe with him being innited aboord him, is easily entised, and in the midst of their cups both bee and his company treacherously made prisoners ; and thus vas forced to giue him their prise, or hang at the yards arme with all his company. Hauing set them a shore, away goes the Freack man ; Porela ship being but hard by. presently flight them all a board, but finding his viemall neere spent, and no hope at all to recover his prize, ser his Portugales on there, and set saile for the Summer Isles; where safely arriving, hee declared the whole passage to the Gouernour, lest some other in telling might make it worse, of which the Gourr- pour seemed well enough to approue.
This Gouernour still spent his time in good husbandry, al. though some of the starling sort here in Enghomnl. when no . thing will please, writ to him he was fitter to be a Gardiner then a Governour: some time he spent in digging of a great
140
The proceedings of Cuptaine Daniel Tuckar.
pond, but that worke proved altogether vnprofitable: abont that time was held the second Assise. The greatest matter passed, was a Proclamation against the spoile of Cahowes, but it came too late, for they were most destroyed before: a. platforme hec caused to be erected by Pagits Fort, where a good Fort were very necessary. Captaine Powell not having performed his service in the West Indies, he conditioned with the Company, is sent thither againe by this Gouernour, and thirteene or fourteene of his best men, furnished with all things necessary. In the meane time the Company vnder- standing, that in January. February and March, there are ma- ny Whales, for which fishing they sent the Neptune, a tall ship well prouided with cuery thing fitting for that purpose. But before she arrived, Captaine Tucker who had brought also with him most provisions for that imployment, sent three good Sbalops to try what could be done, but whether it was the swiftness of the Whale in swimming, or the condition of the place, certaine it is for all their labour and hazard, they could kill none, though they strucke many.
To begin his second yeere, he called the third Assise. where diners were punished as their faults descrued: three were condemned to die: two wore reprined. bat the third nas hanged: the next day there was also a louy for the repairing two Forts: but that labour tooke not such effect as was in- tended, for want of good directions.
But the great God of heaven being angry at somewhat happened in those proceedings, caused such an increase of. silly rats, in the space of two veeres so to abound, before they regarded them, that they filled not onely those places where they were first lauded, but swimming from place to place, spread themselues into all parts of the Countrey, inso- much that there was no lland but it was pestered with them; and some fishes haue beene taken with rars in their bellies, which they caught in swimming from Ile to Hle: their nests they had almost in cuery tree, and in most places their bur- rowes in the ground like conies: they spared not the fruits of the plants, or trees, nor the very plants themselues, but ate them vp. When they had set their corne, the rats would come by troupes in the night and scratch it out of the ground. If by diligent watch any escaped till it came to earing. i. should then very hardly escape them; and they became noy. some euen to the very persons of men. They vsed all the
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The wonderfull increase and confusion of Rats. 141
diligence they could for the destroying of them, nourishing cats both wilde and tame, for that purpose; they used cars- bane, and many times set fire on the woods, that oft ran halfe a mile before it was extinct; eucry man was enjoyned to set twelve traps, and some of their owne accord hane set neore an hundred. which they euer visited twice or thrice in a night: they also trained vp their dogges to hunt them, where- in they became so expert, that a good dog in two or three houres would kil forty or fifty. Many other deuices they vsed to destroy them, but could not preualle, finding theux still increasing against them: nay they so deuoured the fruits of the earth, that they were destitute of bread for a yeere or two: so that when they had it afterwards, they were so wained from it, they easily neglected to eat it with their meat. Besides they endeuoured so much for the planting Tobacco for present gaine, that they neglected many things might more hane prouailed for their good. which caused amongst them much weaknesse and mortality, since the be- ginning of this uermine.
At last it pleased God, but by what meanes it is not well knowne, to take them away: in so much that the wilde cats and niany dogs that liued on them, were famished, and ma- ny of them leaning the woods, came downe to their houses, and to such places where they vse to garbish their fish, and became tame. Some haue attributed the destruction of them to the increase of wild cats, but that is not likely they should be so suddenly encreased rather at that time, then foure veeres before: and the chiefe occasion of this supposition was, because they saw some companies of them leaue the woods, and slew themselues for want of food. Others by the coldnesse of winter, which notwithstanding is neuer so great there, as with vs in March, except it be in the wind: besides the rats wanted not the fethers of young birds and chickins, which they daily killed, and Palmeta mosse to build themselues warme nests ont of the wind; as vsually they did; neither doth it appeare that the colde was so mortall to them, seeing they would ordinarily swimme from place to place, and bee very fat cuen in the midst of winter. It romaineth then, that as God doth sometimes cheet bis will without sub- ordinate and secondary causes, so wee need not doubt, but that in the speedy encrease of this vermine: as also by the preseruation of so many of them by such weake meanes as
142 The returne of M. Powel from the Indies.
they then enioved, and especially in the so sudden remoualt of this great annoyance, there was iovned with and besides the ordinary and manifest meanes, a more mediate and secret worke of God.
About this time Henry Long, with seauen others in an ex- treame storme were cast away, but three of them escaped .-- One of them being asked what he thought in the worst of that extremity, answered, he thought nothing but, gallowes claime thy right! and it seemes God well heard his prayer, and rewarded his ingratitude; for he was hanged within halle a yeere after. In that March also fue men went to Sea, but as yet was never heard of, and three more drowned in a boat, By Hilliards house grew a very faire Cedar, which by a thunder clap was rent almost to small shivers, aad a man stood by him, and Noeud! Tantor, most fearfully blasted, yet neither they, the house, nor a little childe, yet a paire of racks in the house was all torne to fitters. The Neptune not long after arriving to fish for whale, her fortune proued no better then the Governours, yet some are of opinion, pro- fit might be made by them.
In May they discried foure saile, so that manning all their Forts, they stood two daies in Armes, expecting what they were; at last they found it Master Powell returned from the West-Jadies in the Hopewell, where missing such trade as he expected, these three Frigots comming in his way, he could not chuse but take them: Meale, Hides and Munition was their lading: Faire weather the Governor made with Powell, till he had got all the goods into his owne possession, and then called Powell to a strict account for doing such an vi- warrantable act: much a doe theu was betwist the taker and receiver; but Powell was glad to be excused to answer it in England, leauing all hee had taken behinde him in the lles: The Neptune also returned with him, but noble Powell lost all his pay and pillage for this veeres worke. For which the Company sent for to Tucker, so that he also lost his part as well as Powell: Notwithstanding, the Gonernour by this meanes being strong in shipping, fitted the Caruill with twelue men, vnder the command of Edward Waters formeris spoken of, and sent them to Virginia about such businessa as hee had conceived. Arriving there, they obtained some goates, and hogs, and what they could spare, and so returned for the Summer Hes; but whether they could not finde th
The division of the Hes by M. Richard Norwood. 113
Iles for want of skill, or beaten off by ill weather, or the ill will they bare the Governor, it matters not much: . but they bare vp again for Virginie, where they all remained, and would returne no more to Summer Hes.
The Gosernour thinking to make some vse of the hides, set some that professed themselues Tanners, to make tryall of their skill; but ther lost their labours and spoiled the hides. Also he called another Assise concerning a poore fellow called Gabriel, for concealing some speeches M. Pol- lard and M. Nich should vse, tending to the dis-reputation of the Gouernour, and his iniastice and cruelties: which being brought within the compasse of sedition and matiny, though a yeere agoe; many were called in question about it, although euery one ordinarily had spoke as much. Yet Gabriel for example sake was condemned to be hanged, and was vpon the ladder, but reprieued. The other two M. Pollard, and M. Rich were imprisoned, but vpon better consideration, the fact seemed so small and ridiculous, vpon their submission they were pardoned and restored to their places.
The division of the Summer Iles into Tribes, by Master Richard Norwood, Surgegor. 16:8.
ACCORDING to the directions of the Councell and Compa- av, as they had determined by lot, M. Noricood tooke a plot of the Ile, and divided it with as much faithfulnes as he could, assigning to euery Adventurer his share of proportion, as namely, to lay out a large proportion, to bee called the general lan 1, and hoployed for publike vses as for the m date . nance of the Governour, Shiaisters, Commanders of Forts, souldiers, and such like: and to this end was assigned .s. Georges Hand, S. Davids fland, Longbridge Island, Smiths Iland, Coopers Hand. Comy Hand. Nonserch land. part of the maine, and sundry other small les. The rest was to be divided into eight parts, each part to be called a tribe, and to hane his denomination of some principall person that was Aduenturer therein: and accordingly the first Tribe to bee Eastward, was then called Bedfords Tribe, now Hamiltons: the second, Smiths: Tribe the third, Cavendish, now De- vonshire: the fourth, Pembrooks: the aft, Paris: the sixt,
144
The names of the Adventurers:
Mansils. now Warwicks : the seventh, Southampton : the eighth, Sands : in the honours of the Right honorable the Marquis Hamilton, Sir Thomas Smith, the Earle of Deuon- shire, the Earle of Pembrooke, the Lord Pugit, the Earle of Warwicke, the Earle of Southampton, and Sir Edwin Sands. Againe each of those Tribes were to be bee divided into fif- ty parts, called shares; and euery Aduenturer to haue his shares in these tribes as was determined, by casting lots in England, the manner of it appeares by the Map, and more largely by his Booke of the Suruay of the Countrey, which is in the Records of the Colony. And then began this which was before as you have heard; but as an vnsettled and confused Chaos, to receive a disposition, forme, and order. and become indeed a Plantation
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