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 23
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1
1 Great Copper Kettle.
2
2 Small Kettles.
2
2 Frying-Pans. 3 .4
Platters, Ladles and Cans. 1
A paire of Bellowes for the Cooke. 2 6
Taps, Boriors and Funnels. 2
Locks for the Bread roomes. 6
100 weight of Candles. 2 10
130 quarters of Salt at 28. the Bushell. 10 4
Mats and dinnage to lie vnder it. 2 10
Salt Shouels. 10
Particulars for the 40. persons to keepe 8. fishing boats at Sea, with 3. men in euery boat, im- ploies 24. and 500, foot of Elme boords of an inch thicke, 8s. each one. 2
2000 Nailes for the 8. Boats, at 18s. J.d. a 1000. 1 6
4000 Nailes at 6%. 84. 1000.
1 6 3
3000 Nailes at 5d. 100.
500 weight of pitch at 8s. 100. 2
2000 of good orlop nailes.
5
More for other small necessaries. 3
A barrell of Tar. 10
200 weight of black Ocome.
I
Terums for pitch Maps.
1 6
5
Wood to dresse meat withall.
218
The charge of setting forth a ship.
£ -s. d.
Bolls, Buckets and Pumps, 1
2 brazen Crocks. 2
Cannas tomake Boat sailes and small ropes, at 25s. for each saile. 12 10
10 rode Ropes which containe 600. weight at 30s. the 100. 10
12 dozen of fishing lines. 6
24 dozen of fishing hookes.
2
For Squid line. 3
For Pots and liuer maunds.
18
Iron works for the boats ruthers,
2
10 Kipnet Irons. 10
Twine to make kipnets and gagging hooks. 10 good Nets at 26s. a. net.
6
13
2 Saynes, a great and a lesse. 12
200 weight of Sow-lead. 1
2 couple of ropes for the Saynes. 1
Dry-fats to keepe them in. 6
, Twine for store.
Flaskets and bread Baskets.
For haire cloth. 15
10
3 Tuns of vinegar caske for water. 1 6 8
1 douzen of Deale Bourds. 10
2 Barrels of Oatmeale. 1 6
100 weight of Spikes. 2
5
2 good Axes, 4. hand Hatchets, 4. Drawers, 2. drawing Irons. 16
3 yards of wollen cloth for cuffs. 10
8 yards of good Canuasse. 10
A grind-stone or two. 6
2000 of poore Tohu to spend in going. 6 10
1 Hogshead of Aquauitæ. 4
4 arme Sawes, 4. Handsawes, 4. thwart Sawes.
3. Augers, 2. Crowes of Iron, 3. Sledges. 4. shod Shouels, 2. Pickaves, 4. Matocks. and 4. Hammers. 5
The totall summe is $ 420 11
5
-
The observations of Cuptaine Charles Whitborne. 249
All these prouisions the Master or Purser is to be accoun- table what is spent and what is left, with those which shall continue there to plant, and of the 40. thus prouided for the voyage, ten, may well be spared to leave behind them, with 500. weight of Bisket, 5. hogsheads of Sider or beere, halfe a hogsnead of Beefe, 4. sides of dry Bakon, 4. bushell of Pease, halfe a ferkin of Butter, halfe 100. weight of Cheese, a pecke of Mustard-seed, a barrell of Vinegar, 12. pound of Candles, 2. pecks of Oatmeale, halfe a hogshead of Aquaui- tre, Q. copper Kettles, 1 brasse Crock, 1. Fryingpan, a Grindstone; and all the Hatchets, Woodhooks, Sawes, Au- gers, &c. and all other iron tooles, with the 8. Boats and their imploiments, and spare salt, and what else they vse not in a readinesse from yeere to yeere, and in the meane time serued them to helpe to build their houses, cleanse land, and further their fishing whilst the ships are wanting.
By his estimation and calculation these 8, Boats with 22. men in a Summer doe vsually kill 25000. fish for euery Boat, which may amount to 200000. allowing 120. fishes to the 100. sometimes they have taken aboue 35000. for a Boat, so that they load not onely their owne ship, but pronide great quantities for sacks, or other spare ships which come thither onely to buy the ouerplus: if such ships come not, they gine ouer taking any more, when sometimes there hath beene. great abundance, because there is no fit houses to lay them in till another yeere, now most of those sacks goeth empty thither, which might as well transport mens provision and cattle at an easie rate as nothing, either to New- England or New-found land, but either to transport them for nothing or par any great matter for their liberty to fish, will hardly effect so much as freedome as yet; not can this put in practice as before I said, till there be a power there well planted and setled to entertaine and defend them, assist and releeue them as occasion shall require, otherwaies those small divisions will effect little, but such miserable conclusions as both the French and wee too long haue tried to our costs. Now com- monly 200000. fish will load a ship of 100. tunnes in New- found land, but halfe so many will heere doe it in Ver- En- gland, which carried to Tolane or Merselus, where the. custome is small, and the Kint ill lesse then 90. English pounds. weight, and the prise when least, 12. shillings the Kintall, which at that rate amoins to E 1320. starling; and the ship
Vol. 2-H H
250 The obstruations of Captaine Charles Whitborne.
may either there be discharged or imployed as hath bene said to refraught for Englund, so that the next yeere she may Le ready to goe her fishing voyage agame, at a farre cheaper rate then before.
To this adde but 12. tons of traine oile, which delivered in New-found land, is C 10. the tun, makes £ 120. then it is hard if there be not 10000. of Cor-fish, which.also sold there at £ 5. the. 1000. makes £ 50. which brought to England, in somes places yeeld neere halfe so much more; but if at Mersclus it be sold for 16s. the Kentall, as commonly it is, and much dearer, it amounts to £ 1760. and if the Boats fol- low the fishing till the 15. of October, they may take 80000. more, which with their traine in New-found land at £ 4. the 1000. will amount to £ 320. which added to £ 1320. with £ 120. for Oile, and 10050. of Cor-fish £ 50. and the over- plus at Merselus, which will be C 440. make the totall £ 2250. which divided in three parts according to their custome, the Vieraaler hath for the former particulars, amounting to 2 420. £ 751. so all the charge defraied, hee gaines £ 331. 11s. then for the fraught of the ship there is £ 751. and so much for the Master and his company, which comparing with the volages hath beene made to New- England, you may easily finde which is the better though both bee good. But now experience hath taught them at New-Plimoth, that in Aprill there is a fish much like a Herring that comes vp into the stell Brookes to spawne, and where the water is not kace deone, they will presse vp through your hands, yea though you beat at them with Cudgels, and in such abundance as is incredible, which they take with that facility they manure their land with them when they hau occasion; after those the Cod also presseth in such plenty, even into the very Har- bours, they haue caught some in their armes, and hooke them so fast, three men oft loadeth a Boat of two tuns in two houres, where before they vsed most to fish in deepe water.
251
The present estate of New-Plimoth.
'The present estate of New-Plimoth.
Ar New-Plimoth there is about 180 persons, some cattell and gonts, but many swing and poultry, 32 dwelling houses, whereof 7 were burnt the last winter, and the value of fiue hundred pounds in other goods: the Towne is impailed about balfe a mile compasso. In the towne vpon a high Mount they haue a Fort well built with wood, lome. and stone, where is planted their Ordnance: Also a faire Watch tower, partly framed for the Sentinell, the place it seemes is health- full, for in these last three yeeres, notwithstanding their great want of most necessaries, there hath not one died of the first planters, they hauc made a saltworke, and with that salt preserue the fish they take, and this veere bath fraughted a ship of 180. tunnes. The Goucrnour is one Alr. William Bradford, their Captaine Miles Standish, a bred Souldier in Holland; the chiefe men for their assistance is Master Isaak Aldenton, and diners others as occasion serueth; their Preach- ers are Master William Bruster and Master John Lanford.
The most of them live together as one family or hous- hold, yet query man followeth his trade and profession both by sca and land, and all for a generall stocke, out of which they hane all their maintenance, vntill there be a disident betwixt the Planters and the Aduenturers. Those Planters are not seruants to the Adventurers here, but haue onely councells of directions from them. but no infunctions or com- mand, and all the masters of families are partners in land or whatsocuer, setting their labours against the stocke, till cer- taine yeeres be expired for the division: they haue young men and boies for their Apprentises and seraants, and some of them speciall families, as Ship-carpenters, Salt-makers. Fish-masters, yet as sertants vpon great wages. The Ad- uenturers which raised the stocke to begin and supply this Plantation were about 70. some Geertmen, some Merebaats, some handy-crafts men, some aduenturing grest summes. some small, as their estates and affection serued. The sen- . erall stocke already imploicd is abo it @ 7000, by reason of which charge and many crosses, many of them would ad- uenture no more, but others that knowes, so great a designe cannot bee effected w thout both charge, losse and crosses. are resolued to goe forward with it to their powers: which
252
The present estate of New-Plimoth.
+ 5-49
deserne no small commendations and encouragement. These dwell most about London, they are not a corporation, but knit together by a voluntary combination in a society with- out constraint or penalty, aiming to doe good and to plant Religion; they baue a President and Treasurer, euery yeere newly chosen by the most voices, who ordereth the affaires of their Courts and meetings, and with the assent of the most of them, vndertaketh all ordinary businesses, but in more weighty affaires, the assent of the whole Company is re- quired. There bath beene a fishing this yeere vpon the Coast about 50. English ships: and by Cape Anne, there is a Plantation a beginning by the Dorchester men, which they hold of those of New-Plimoth, who also by them haue set vp a fishing worke: some talke there is some other pretended Plantations, all whose good proceedings the eternal God pro- tect and preserue. And these hsue beene the true proceed- ings and accidents in those Plantations.
. Now to make a particular relation of all the acts and or- ders in the Courts belonging unto them, of the anihilating old Patents and procuring new; with the charge, paines and arguments, the reasons of such changes, all the treaties, con- sultations, orations, and dissentions about the sharing and diuiding those large territories, confirming of Counsailers, electing all sorts of Officers, directions, Letters of aduice, and their answers, disputations about the Magazines and Im- positions, suters for Patents, positions for Freedomes, and confirmations with complaints of injuries here, and also the mutinies, examinations, arraiguements, executions, and the cause of the so oft reuolt of the Saluages at large, as many would haue had, and it may be some doe expect it would make more quarrels then any of them would willingly an- swer, and such a volume as would tire any wise man but to read the contents; for my owne part I rather feare the vn- partiall Reader wil thinke this rather more tedious then He- cessary: but he that would be a practitioner in those affaires, I hope will allow them not only needfull but expedient: but how ener, if you please to beare with those errors I have committed, if God please I Hue, my care and paines shall endeuour to be thankfull: if I die, accept my good will: 10 any desire to be further satisfied, what defect is found in this, they shall finde supplied in me, that thus freely haue throw ne my selfe with my mite into the Treasury of in Countries
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The present estate of New-Plimoth.
253- 54
good, not doubting but God will stirre vp some noble spirits to consider and examine if worthy Columbus could give the Spaniards any such certainties for his desigue, when Queene Isabel of Spaine set him forth with 15. saile, and though I "promise no Mines of gold, yet the warlike Hollanders let vs imitate but not hate, whose wealth and strength are good testimonies of their treasury gotten by fishing; and New- England bath yeelded already by generall computation one hundred thousand pounds at the least. Therefore honoura- ble and worthy Country men, let not the meannesse of the word fish distaste you, for it will afford as good gold as the Mines of Guiana or Potassie, with lesse hazard and charge, and more certainty and facility. I. S.
FINIS
THE CONTINUATION
OF THE GENERALL HISTORIE OF
Virginia; the Summer Iles; and New-Englands
WITH THEIR PRESENT ESTATE FROM 1321. TO THIS PRESENT 1829.
The following Chapters, to the end of the Volume, were annexed to the Tree Travels, Adventures and. Observations of Captaine John Smith, prefixed to a copy of the History which the publisher was so fortunate as to find. As a number of particulars mentioned in them refer to the history, it was thought advisa- · ble to transpose them from the beginning of the first volume to the end of the last; that the reader might have the history in chronological order. And this is the only change which the publisher has ventured to make.]
CHAPTER XXI.
CONCERNING these Countreyes, I would be sortie to trou -- ble you with repeating one thing twice, as with their Maps, Commodities, People, Government and Religion yet knowen, . the beginning of those plantations, their numbers and names, with the names of the Aduenturers, the yeerely proceedings of euerie Governour both here and there. As for the mis- prisions, neglect, grievances, aud the causes of all those ru- mours, losses and crosses that have happened; I referre you to the Generall Historie, where you shall find all this at large; especially to those pages, where you may read my letter of advice to the Councell and Company, what of ne- cessitie must be done, or lose all and Leave the Countrey, pag. 70. what commodities I sent home, pag. 103. my opinion and offer to the Company, to feed and defend the Columnies, pag. 150. my account to them here of my actions there. pag. 163. my seven answers to his Magosties Commissioners: se- Vei questions that brith lindered Vi gone, and the remedie,
255
-
1
256
The Travells and Observations of
pag. 165. How those noble Gentlemen spent neere two yeares in perusing all letters came from thence; and the dif- ferences betwixt many factions, both here and there, with. their complaints; especially about the Sallerie, which should have beene a new office in London, for the well ordering the sale of Tobacco, that 2500. pounds should yearely have beene raised out of it, to pay foure or five hundred pounds yearly to the Governor of that Companie; two or three hun- dred to his Deputie; the rest into stipends of thirtie or fiftie pounds yearely for their Clerks and under Officers which were never there, pag. 153. but not one hundred pounds for all them in Virginie, nor any thing for the most part of the Adventurers in England, except the undertakers for the Lot- teries, Setters out of ships. Adventurers of commodities, also their Factors and many other Officers, there imployed only by friendship to raise their fortunes out of the labours of the true industrious planters by the tide of their office, who under the colour of sinceritie, did pillage and deceive all the rest most cunningly: For more than 150000. pounds have beene spent out of the common stocke, besides many thousands have beene there consumed, and neere 7000. people that there died, only for want of good order and government, otherwise long ere this there would have beene more than 20000. people, where after twontie yeeeres spent onely in complement, and trying new conclusions, was remaining scarce 1500. with some few cattell.
Then the Company dissolved, but no account of any thing; so that his Majestie appointed Commissioners to oversce and give order for their proceedings. Being thus in a manner left to themselves, since then within these foure yeeres, you shall see how wonderfully they Have increased beyond ex- pectation; but so exactly as I desired, I cannot relate vnto you: For although I bade tired iny selfe in seeking; and dis- coursing with those returned thence, more then would a voy- age to Fugini: Pow can tell in . any thing, bat of that place or places they have inhabited, and he is a great traveller that hath gone up and downe the river of James Towne, been at Pumaunke, Smiths les, or de omack wherein for the most part they keepe one time of their now particular abundance, and their former wants, having beene there, some sixteene veeres, some twelve, some six, some neere twentie, de. Bat
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257
Capt. John Smith.
of their generall estate, or any thing of worth, the most of them doth know verie little to any purpose.
Now .i most [ could understand in generall, was from the relation of Mr. Nathaniel Carscy. that lived there with mes. and returned Anno Dom. 1627. and some others affirme, Sir George Verley was Governonr, Captaine Francis West, Doctor John Poot, Captaine Roger Smith, Captaine Mat- thewes, Captaine Tucker, Mr. Clabourne, and Mr. Farrer of the Councell: their habitations many. The Governour, with two or three of the Councell, are for most part at lames Towne, the rest repaire thither as there is occasion; but eve- rie three moneths they have a generall meeting, to consider of their publike affaires.
Their numbers then were about 1500. some say rather 2000. divided into seventcene or eighteene severall Planta- tions; the greatest part thereof towards the falls, are so in- closed with Pallizadoes they "regard not the Salvages; and amongst those Plantations above Iones Towne, they have now found meanes to take plentie of fish, as well with lines, as nets, and where the waters are the largest, having meanes, they need not want.
Upon this River they seldome see any Salvages, but in the woods, many times their fires: yet some few there are, that upon their opportunitie have slaine some few stragglers, which have beene revenged with the death of so many of themselves; but no other attempt hath beene made upon them this two or three yeares.
Their Cattle, namely Oxen, Kine, Buls, they imagine to be about 2000. Goats great store and great increase; the wilde Hogs, which were infinite, are destroyed and eaten by the Salvages: but no family is so poore, that hath not tame Swine sufficient; and for Poultrie, he is a verie bad husband breedeth not an hundred in a yeere, and the richer sort doth daily feed on them.
For bread they have plentic, and so good, that those that make it well, better cannot be: divers have much English corne, especially Mr. Abraham Perce, witch prepared this yeere to sow two hundred acres of English wheat, and as much with barley, feeding daily about the number of sixtie persons at his owne charges.
For drinke, some malt the Indian corne, others barley, of which they raake good Ale, both strong and small, and such
Vol. 2-1. .
2258
The Travells and Observations of
plentie thereof, few of the upper Planters drinke any water: but the better sort are well furnished with Sacke, Aquavita, and good English Beere.
Their servants commonly feed upon Milke Homini, which is braized Indian corne pounded, and boiled thicke, and milke for the sauce: but boiled with milke, the best of all will. oft fed on it, and leave their flesh; with milke, butter and cheese; with fish, Bulls flesh, for they seldome kill any other, &c. And everie one is so applyed to his labour about Tobacco and Corne, which doth yeeld them such profit, they never regard any food from the Salvages, nor have they any trade or conference with them, but upon meere accidents and de- frances: and now the Merchants have left it: there have gone so many voluntario ships within this two veeres, as have furnished them with Apparell, Sacke, Aquacite, and all to- cessaries, much better than ever before.
For Armes. there is scarce any man but he is furnished with a Porce, a lack, a Come of Maile, a Sword, or Rapier; and ruerie Holy-day, everie Plantation doth exercise their men in Armes, by which meanes; hunting and fowling, the most part of them are most excellent markmen.
For Discoveries they have made none, nor any other com- moditie than Tobacco doe they apply themselves unto. though never any was planted at first. And whereas he Countrey was heretofore hold most intemperate and conta- gious by many, now they have houses, lodgings and vietuall. and the Sunne bath power to exhale up the mnoyst vapours of the earth, where they have cut downe the wood, which before it could not, being covered with spreading tops of Mizi trets; they finde it much more healthfull than before: alot for their numbers, few Countreyes are lesse troubled with death, sicknesse, or any other disease, nor where over- growne women become more fruitfull.
Since this, Sir George Verley died 1628. Captaine West succeeded him; but about a veere after returned for Englund: Now Doctor Poet is Goverpour, and the rest of the Councel! as before: James Towne is yet their chiefe seat, most of the wood destroyed, little corne there planted, but all converted Info pasture Fud gardens, wherein doth grow all manner of herbs and roots we have in England in abundance, and a good grasse a can be. Here most of their Cattle doe for ' their Owners being most some one way, some another, abon
.
259
Capt. John Smith.
their plantations, and returne againe when they please, or auy shipping comes in to trade. Here in winter they have hay for their Cattell, but in other places they browze upou wood, and the great huskes of their corne, with some corne in theus, doth keepe them well. Mr. Hutchins saith, they have 2000, Cattle, and about 5000. people; but Master Floud, John Da- vis, William Emerson, and divers others, say, about five thousand people, and five thousand kine, calves, oxen. and bulls: for goats, hogs, and poultry; corne, fish, deere, and ma- ny sorts of other wilde beasts; and forle in their sea-ou, they have so much more than they spend, they are able to feed three or foure hundred men more than they have: and doe oft much releeve many ships, both there, and for their returne; and this last veare was there at least two or three and twenty saile. They have oft much salt fish from New England, but fresh fish enough, when they will take it; Peaches in abundance at Kecoughtun, Apples, Poares, Apri- cocks, Vines, figges, and other fruits some have planted, that prospered exceedingly, but their diligence about Tobacco, left them to be spoiled by the cattell, vet now they beginne to revive; Mistresse Pearce, an honest industrious woman, hath beene there neere twentic yeares, and now returned, saith, shee hath a Garden at lames towne, containing three or foure acres, where in one yeare shee bath gathered neere an hundred bushels of excellent figges; and that of her owne provision she can keepe a better house in Virginia, than here in London for $. or 100. pounds a yeare, yet went thither with little or nothing. They have some tame geese, ducks, and turkies. The masters now do so traine up their servants and youth in shooting deere and fowle, that the youths will Kill them as well as their Masters. They have two brew- houses, but they finde the Indian corne so much better than ours, they beginne to leave sowing it. Their Cities and Townes are onely scattered houses, they call plantations, as are our Country Villages, but no Ordnance mounted. The Forts Captaine Smith left a building, so ruined, there is scarce mention where they were; no discoveries of any thing more, than the curing of Tobacco, by which hitherto, being so pre- sent a commodity of gaine, it hath brought them to this abundance; but that they are so disjovnted, and every one commander of himselfe, ro plant what he will: they are non so well provided, that they are able to subsist: and if they
*@60
The Travells and Adventures of
would joyne together now to worke upon Sope-ashes, Iron, Rape-oile, Mader, Pitch and Tarre, Flax and Hempe; as for their Tobacco, there comes from many places such abun- dance, and the charge so great, it is not worth the bringing home.
There is gone, and now a going, divers Ships, as Cap- taine Perse, Captaine Prine, with Sir John Harry to be their governour, with two or three hundred people; there is also some from Bristow, and other parts of the West Country a preparing, which I heartily pray to God to blesse, and send them happy and prosperous voyage.
Nathaniel Causie, Master Hutchins, Master Floud, John Davis, William Emerson, Master William Barnet, Master Cooper, ar I others.
CHAP. XXII.
The proceedings and present estate of the Summer Iles, from An. Dom. 1624. to this present 1629.
FROM the Summer Iles, Master Ireland. and divers others report, their Forts, Ordnance, and proceedings, are much as they were in the veere 1622. as you may read in the gene- rall History, page 199. Captaine . Woodhouse governour .- There are few sorts of any fruits in the West Indies but they grow there in abundance; vet the fertility of the soile in ma- ny places decaveth, being planted every veare: for their Plan- taines, which is a most delicate fruit, they have lately found a way, by pickling or drying them, to bring them over into England, there being no such fruit in Europe, and wonder- full for increase. For fish, flesh, figs, wine, and all sorts of most excellent hearbs, fruits, and rootes they have an abun- dance. In this Governours time, a kinde of Whale, or ra- ther a lubarta, was driven on shore in Southampton tribe, frozen the west. over an infinite number of rocks, so bruised that the water in the Bay where she lav was all oily. the rocks about it all bedasht with Parmacitty, congealeu
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