CCCLXXII. Notes taken from Letters which came from Virginia
in the "Abigail"[251]
June 19, 1623
Manchester Papers, Nos. 338, 339
Document in Public Record Office, London
List of Records No. 523
June. 19. 1623. 36 ors rec' by * * * Jones.[252]
1.
The lady Wyatts ɫre to her Mother] that she is recouered of her sicknes
&c That they[253]
prouisions there at unreasonable rates and not good. This
yeare we liue hard by reason of the Indians and gett little or no meate for
we cañot send out vnder 4 or 5 and they be out 2 or 3 dayes and gett so
little it is not worth their labour. We lack about§e§ halfe or kine and
most of these are dead this Winter. Here hath ben a generall death of
men and Cattle but now I thanke god it is ceased. We want all almost
three partes of or men: And if we receaue not or due of them how can they
looke for any thing from him[254]
: or kine are all we haue to liue on and or
garden wch we haue none but I am about one: All the last Sum̃er Mr Wyatt
lay sick &c
2.
Sr Francis Wyatts ɫre to his father George Wyatt Esqre dat 4 Ap. 1623
Jams City sayes, Mrs Boyse reporteth of a great deale of miserie that or
people endure and not least Hunger in wch th' Indians also suffer extreame.
The Company agreed wth Capt Each (Mr of th' Abigaile) for erecting of
a Fort vpon the Oister bankes: but it pleased God to call him away pres-
ently after his coming and I feare he vnderstood not the place where the
intent was to build it: for vpon triall it prooued a loose false grounde,
besidℯ the Capt beeing dead there was none left that would certainlie
vndertake it or couenant to p̱forme it in any reasonable tyme. So we
resolued to dismiss the Ship (lying at 160li a month) and wth or land men
(leauying euery xxth man towardℯ the Worke) vnder the Comd of Capt
Roger Smyth who liued 12 or 13 yeares in the Warrs in the low Countreyes
to build a blockhouse vpon the Shoare where we might as well com̃and
shipping and wthall haue a strong Plantac̃on the ground beeing rich and
good: This will at least giue a begiñing to what may be done hereafter
of greater consequence.
3.
George Sandys to Mr John Tradesicant at my Lord Wottons house.
4.
Wyll͠m Hobart to his father §12 Ap§] He found at his landing out of
the Abigaile, The Gouernor & his lady at Mr Gookins Plantac̃on: But of
all Mr Gookin's men wch he sent ou9 the last yeare we found but 7: beeing
all killd by th' Indians and his plantac̃on ready to fall to decay: The
Countrey at this tyme standeth in as bad an estate as it hath done many a
day for we cañot goe to or labour wthout armed men to garde vs wch will hin-
der vs very much: There is very little Tobacco in the Countrey by reason
of the troublesome tym that hath been here fo here hath ben another
Massacre since that the last yeare they tooke & killed between 20 & 30
Here is very little Corne or p̳uision for the same reason.
14 Ap
[2] 5.
P. Arundle his ɫre to Mr Cañing. [§from Buckrowe§] The Gouernor
& Treasurer haue seene §my new silke house & also§ my small store of
Prouision wch was only a bushell of Meale to keepe me and my familie
from this tyme till Haruest but could haue no releife, only the Thrẽar bad
me pray for the speedie arriuall of the Seaflower, & if she bring in any Meale
I shall haue some paying for it All my Son in lawes corne was brought
vp to James Towne & I cannot gett a grayne of it to releiue my need
though I produced a Bill of 18li sterɫ wch he owed me: Great men are
payed, but poore men must bide the loss: yet I dare not complaine for feare of
worse, seeing Virginia is gouerned whollie by Sr Edwyn Sandys his faction:
I desire therefore to come to London to shew how all thingℯ are carryed,
whereby I hope to procure Reformac̃on: You are both wise & charitable
wch will make you to shew these lines but to those that you know vnpartiall
and speciallie to Sr Jo Worsenholme: The last cutting of Of Capt Spillman
hath giuen vs a great check: The most euident hope from altogether staruing
is Oysters and for the easier getting of them I haue agreed for a Canow wch
will cost me vjli ster9: My hope for silke is greater then eu9 if I can
bring it home.
6.
Idem 15 Ap. 1623 to Mr Jo: Farrar) Since my last, there is hapned
some quarrells betweene Capt Whitakers chiefe man and Mr Anthony
Bannall who went to gather Mulberrye leafes vpon the sd̴ Capt ground.
Who is in the fault I know not for I was not there but I will tell you once
more that vnles strict Orders be sent from Engɫ f̴or preseruac̃on of Mul-
berry Trees the silke worke will whollie be lost for a great while in Virginia:
Our Wormes are well hatched & very hopefull: if I liue I will bring home
some silke: My com̃ing into Engɫ will doe great good for this Contrey,
as well by my good report thereof as for some small & easie meanes wch
I will shew the Companie for the easier hatching of the wormes then yet
hath ben found here or in England & for very small charges: I say if I
liue for I haue not at this tyme to maynteine me & my people till Haruest
but a little more then halfe a bushell of English Meale all my Prouision beeing
spent by workemen to build the silkehouse. If I dye my eldest Son John
Arundle will follow the silke worke for I find him very fitt for it, therefore
I entreate you if I dye before I see you to take notice of him & to deale
charitablie wth my yong Children: All th' euident meanes we haue to liue
till Haruest is by Oisters: I haue shewed the cheife Com̃anders (who came
to see my silke workehouse) of my great wants, & I can gett no releife though
I offer to pay for it: Notwithstanding I referr myselfe to the Lordℯ will
And beseech you still to doe in charitie for me according to my Requests
in my other ɫres whereof I craue a speedie answere And so I rest
Yor serut to be Com̃anded.
[3] 7.
Idem to Mr Thom̃s Wheatly: 25 M9che §1623§. I pray God good
order may be taken for Rates of thingℯ for the poorer sort are not able to
liue: xijli ster: I haue p̃d for a hogshead of Meale & that in good silu9
Plate, cheifelie to feed the men that make my house. A Bushell of Indian
Corne is sold for xxs
12 for a q
r of
Meale
xx
s a bushell of
India
9 Corne
8.
Idem to Mr Cañing. 25 M9ch 1623] I haue ben forced to buy a hogs-
head of Meale wch cost me xijli sterɫ: A faire guilt silu9 bowle wth a Couer
payed for part of it. Our oldest Planters doe dye daylie
9.
Tho: Niccolls to Sr Jo. Worsenholme 2d Ap 1623] If the Company
would allow to each man a pound of butter and a po. of Cheese weekely
they would find more comfort therein then by all the Deere, Fish & Fowle
is so talked of in England of wch I can assure you yor poore seruantℯ haue
not had since their com̃ing into the Contrey so much as the sent: Where-
fore it must needℯ follow that Oatemeale and Pease and bread & water
haue ben their food in sicknes & in health. It may appeare to be want
of comforts and no way through the ill disposic̃on of the Clymate or ayre
of the Contrey.[264]
Women are necessary members for the Colonye, but
the poore men are neu9 the nearer for them they are so well sould, for I
myselfe haue eu9 since my com̃ing payd 3li ster p̱ Añ for my washing &
find sope. A hard case not hauing had for all the seruice I haue done the
Company not one pipe of Tobacco considerac̃on. I am am sure for all
these women yor poore Tenantℯ that haue nothing dye miserablie through
nastines & many dep̱te the World in their owne dung for want of help in
their sicknes Wherefore for preuention I could wish women might be sent
ou9 to serue the Company for that purpose for certayne yeares whether
they marry or no. For all that I can find that the multitude of women doe
is nothing but to deuoure the food of the land without dooing any dayes
deed whereby any benefitt may arise either to ye Company or Countrey
Im to shew S
r
Jo Worselms 2
ɫres to y
e Hd.
A poore releife in
sickness is y
e
cause of Death
not y
e unwhole-
somnes of y
e Cly-
mate
As for the Incouraging men to come ouer in my opinion better meanes may
be vsed then by putting them in vayne hopes wch some lying Virginians
vse to doe thinking they doe much good thereby when indeed if rightly
considered they are not only the cheife causers of their deathes thereby
but also is one mayne cause no doubt to bring downe Godℯ Judgmtℯ
vpon vs, who would not haue any thing that is for his glory aduanced by
lying or other vnlawfull meanes &cℯ. more to this effect.
19 §English§ p̱sons retayned by Opechanekano in great slauery.
Idem eidem 2 March] very much to ye poynt aforesayd: describing the
misery of or people when they come into Virginia. They end their day most
miserably som [4] of them at their last cursing them most bitterly that
sent them ou9, & p̱swading them of the plenty aforesd̴ wch they should
find. For all this plenty the poore Tenantℯ would think themselues happy
if they had but Butter & Cheese vppon Festiuall dayes.
I need not certifie in what nombers the Companyes Teñantℯ dye, the
proffittℯ that come in to them may sufficiently testifie: Yet thus much vppon
my knowledg of 56 Teñantℯ in one Company wher I was though not
accounted one in one yeare & a halfe but 14 of thẽ left. Of 97 another
Capt had wthin two yeares but xx left: Capt Nuce his people dying in such
nombers that it is thought it was the breaking of his hart &c
10.
The Lady Wyatt to her Sister Sandys 4 Ap. 1623] Deare Sister eare
this you should haue heard from me, had not th'extremitie of sicknes
till now hindered me. For or Shipp was so pesterd wth people & goodℯ
that we were so full of infection that after a while we saw little but throwing
folkes ouer boord: It pleased god to send me my helth till I came to shoare
and 3 dayes after I fell sick but I thank god am well recouered Few els
are left aliue that came in that Shipp: for here haue dyed the Husband, wife,
children & seruantℯ: They tould me they sent the Shipp less pestered for
me, but there neu9 came Shipp so full to Virginia as ours. I had not so
much as my Cabin free to my selfe Our Capt seemed to be troubled at it,
and layed all the fault on the two Mr Farrars and to make the people
amendℯ dyed himselfe. Our Beare stunke so I could not endure the
deck for it: This was or fortune at the Sea, and the land little better, for as
well our people as our Cattle haue dyed, that we are all vndone, especially
we that are new com̃ers, and except or Freindℯ help vs it will goe hard
wth vs next Wynter, and who besidℯ yor selfe to send to, I know not: my
Mother beeing so farr of that she could giue me none when I came away:
Yors did me a great pleasure so did my Sisters: butter & Bacon wch if she
talke of sending me a token, desire her from yor selfe it may be Butter &
Cheese, for since th'Indyans & we fell out we dare not send a hunting but
wth so many men as it is not worth their labour: pray whatsoeu9 you
send, haue a Bill of Lading for it: If my Mother talke of sending me any
thing lett it be Mault putt in very good Caskes it must not be ground:
If I should take vpon me to thank you for yor loue to me when I was in
England, I haue not left roome, or had I, I could not express my loue but
in beeing
Yor Sister & Serut
Mar. Wyatt.
11.
Richard Norwood to his Father Aprill 8. 1623: It was the first of Aprill
before we came to Virginia, & we were halfe starued for want of Victualls:
for we were kept wth stinking Beare & water: One po. of Bread & a quart
of peace porridge was th'allowance for 5 men a day: wch caused 9 or 10
of or Passengers to leaue the Shipp and to stay in the West Indies §at St.
Vincents§ and xx dyed and all sick except 3 or 4. But we came well to
or Journeyes end where we find victualls scarce & deare a Hen 15s: a
Hogg xli Meale xvli a hogshead: It was or fortune to meete wth the
Abigaile &c
Price of victualls
at S
t Vincents
[5] 12.
Idem to Mr Marshall at the signe of ye Tobacco Rowle in Tower
street. He relates the same p̱portion of dyett by Sea adding one pound of
Biskett to 5 men a day: Also that in Virginia victualls are scarce & deare
for a Hogshead of Meale 15li a Hogg xli and a Hen xvs Also that Paul
Jones & Jo: Lyngwood are dead I think for want of sustenance.
13.
Samuel Sharp 24 M9ch §1622§: ]Ignet] To write of all crosses & miseries
wch haue befallen vs at this tyme we are not able: The Lord hath crossed vs by
stricking most of vs wth sicknes and death: Now it beeing full tyme to pre-
pare for a Cropp and no man among vs able to sett forward any business
I desired Sr George his ayde who entertayned George Paule but wthin 3
weekes he dyed &c. There hath ben much sicknes and death amongst yor
people and it is generall in all places: The Lordℯ hand hath ben more heauie
by sicknes & death then by the sword of or Enemyes God grant the cause
may be found out and amended: Of the 7 men you sent in the Abigaile there
is but two liuing.
Sicknes hath gone thorough all and very few escaping and at this tyme we
are a very weake Companye. Then he adds the names of all the men of
note that haue dyed
14.
Edward Hill to §his Brother§ Mr Jo. Hill mercer in Lumbarstreet:
dat' 14 Ap. 1623] Now for the state of this Contrey, There was the first
Massacre killd of or English 400 and odd p̱sons: since at tymes there haue
ben killd̴ XX and odd And in this last Massacre there was cutt off by
th'Indians a Pinnace, a Shallopp, and a small Boate wth 26 men all in
compleat Armour the 27 of M9ch 1623 So the truth is we lyue in the feare-
fullest age that euer christians lyued in: And to speake the truth I stay to gett
what I haue lost and then god willing I will leaue the Contrey: for this is
the worst yeare here that eu9 I saw like to bee. We are all like to haue the
greatest famine in the land that euer was: Now I protest I and myne are like
to p̴ish: Corne is at xxx s. a bushell and not any scarce to be gott: Meale
is at 12li a Hogshead, but there is none to be soulde, yet if I gett not 40 buz I am
like to doe ill: yet I had not wanted proiusion but that we might not be suffered
to plant as much Corne as we would: And indeed, we dare scarce stepp out of
or dores neither for wood nor water the last yere The last yeare I had a
very hard yeare of it by reason of th'Indians and I feare this wilbe as bad:
I lost the last yeare as many Cattle as were worth a 100ɫi: yet if we saue
but or liues god willing the next yeare I will see you &c
How many per-
ished in y
e seu-
erall Massacres.
they might not be
sufferd to plant
as much Corne as
they would
15.
Idem to his father in law Mr Richard Boyle in blackfryars: dat' from
Elizabeth City vt supra] For my part I care not for any proffitt, indeed
it is as much as we can doe to saue or liues A hogshead of Meale is here
at xijli Corne is xxx s a bushell and but a little buz neither: I haue a
great many people to keep and if I can but saue their liues I hope I doe not
amiss.
Price of victuall
§Corne§
16.
Phoebus Can̄er to Mr Lawrence Ley m9cht] Gods heauie hand hath ben
here a mongst vs for we haue had the sword, Famine and great mortalitye.
[6] I beseech god to giue me life & health that I may this yeare end this trouble-
some voyage. I am quite out of hart to liue in this land god send me well out
of it: But my trust is in the Lord and in his appointed tyme I shall gett out of it.
17.
Thom̄s Best to his brother and Cosen 12 Ap] My Master and all his house-
hold is like to be starued for want of Food be a meanes to send me 2 or 3 barrells
of Meale and some Butter & Cheese &c for I am in great danger of staruinge.
My Master Atkins hath sold me for a 150li ster9 like a damnd slaue as he
is for vsing me so baselie.
18.
Wylɫm Capps to Mr Jo: Farrar 31 March 1623] Right worthy Sr I
according to my promise I now beginn to write vnto you in folio And
thus first You would make all men to forsweare yor dealingℯ &c take a
Coppy of this at large.
19.
Wilɫm Rowlsley from James City 3 Ap. to his Brother] As you know
this land hath felt the afflication of Warr, sense of sicknes and death of a great
nomber of men, likewise among the Cattle for doggℯ haue eaten m this winter
more flesh then the men: And he that had 40 hoggℯ about his house hath one or two:
and a hundredth henns hath now 3 or 4: I haue about a 1000 wt of Tobacco
owing me at this tyme but for p̳uision of victualls he that hath it keepes it
and will part wth none for they all feare want: The Contrey is fullie
determyned this Som̃er to sett mainly[280]
vpon th'Indians wch if it please God
to prosp̱ we shall haue againe a plentifull Contrey; but in the meane tyme
we shall want if or Frendℯ in England doe not stand to vs. If it be possible
send me a Hoggeshead of Beife, & some Neates Tongues for here is not a bitt
of flesh to be had at any Rate For the woodℯ are so dangerous we dare not goe
abroad: And for tame Cattle there haue so many died and ben killd otherwayes
that there is no more to be had: I bought me one Cowe at xviijli price &c I
haue offered xs for a Hen and gone wthout. My wife and I haue the best
Company and the best fare therefore we are contented we fare as well as any
people in the land but my wife doth nothing but talke of gooing home.
not a bitt of flesh
no not at James
City
20.
Henry Brigg to his Brother Thoms Brigg m9chant at ye Custome house
key] My Master Atkins hath sould me & the rest of my Fellowes: If
you remember he tould me that for my Diett the worst day in the weeke
should be better then the Sonday, & also he swore vnto you that I should
neu9 serue any man but himselfe: And also he tould vs that here they
paled out their groundℯ from Deare & Hoggs But in stead of them we
paled out or Enemyes and yet cañot keepe them of vs, but they kill vp
or men continually & we goe continually in danger of or liues But to lett
you understand how I liue it is very miserable, for here we haue but a wyne
quart of Corne for a day and nothing els but Water, and worke hard from
Suñ rising to Suñ sett at felling of Trees and we haue not victualls not
past for xx dayes. I pray you send p̢uision for a yeare: And send me a
Peice Powder & Shott for I goe in danger of my life euery day for lack of
one: If you [7] please to venture any Com̃odities I will vndertake to make
two for one cleare and pay all charges if it be Prouision as Meale, Oate-
meale, Pease, butter, Cheese, Oyle, Vinigar or Aquauitoe: Or linnen Cloth
or Woollen Cloth or Apparrell for men or women, Shoes & Stockingℯ,
pointℯ, gloues, Garters, or kniues, or any such thing &c
nothing but a lit-
tle bread and wa-
ter
21.
Sr Francis Wyatt to his Father 4 Ap: 1623] The Contract wth Capt
Each is made voyd by his death all in the Shipp pretending vtter disabilitie
to vndertake it and it seemes he did but coniecture hauing neu9 veiwed
the place, wch is a Shoale of Oyster bankes, vnderneath loose and false
ground, betweene that and the Shoare a Muskett may well shoote, so as
I conceaue it wilbe of as good effect vpon the land where we know it may
be done, the other (at least wth or meanes) was impossible, as if there had
ben in the Shipp men of Skill sufficient, the great charge of the Shipp
would haue eaten vs vp to the bone (being 160li a month) It pleased
the Company to propose the fraight of the Shipp to be made by transport-
ing 64,000 weight §pound§ of Tobacco at iijd. the po: 800li ster9. whereas
intruth there was not made so much throughout the whole Colony And
not less than 7 or 8 Shipps belonging to Planters or Hundredℯ or to such
Aduenturers in Engɫ as were required to haue all fauor shewed them all
wch must haue gone home emptie to their great discontentment & dis-
couragemt of others if the Abigaile alone had ben freighted, not to speake
of hindering all men from making their best m9ett wth speedie sending
home. They proposed euery 5th man to be allotted for erecting the Fort,
alleadging the consent of Southampton & Martyns Hundredℯ and other
Aduenturers at home present at the Court not knowing that Martyns
Hundred and Wariscoyacque are inforced (wthout itt) to draw in old
Planters, or els were in no sort to maynteine their plantac̃ons so much
hath this Sum̃er sicknes (renewed by the Shipps this Winter) weakened
them: yet are we blamed if thingℯ be not executed iust as they proiect,
of wch the Contrey is so iealous as the gathering of Sassafras (66 pound
for euery labouring man) was as much repined at as if it had ben a
matter tending to their vtter vndooing & not executed saue by some aboue
Jams Cittie, the others resoluing to stand to the penaltie of ten poundℯ
of Tobago for euery 100 hundred pound of Sassafras not gathered though
indeed it was a very trifle not a dayes labour: As great a greiuance is
this xx [th] man and must be peremptorilie compelld from the most:
Such an Antipathy is there betweene theyr vast Com̃ands and or grumb-
ling Obedience: They talke of an Army of 500 to issue out vpon th' Indians
in all parts and after a ruñing Armye of 150 to vex them in all places: This
ioyned wth the 5th man for the Fort would leaue some xx men to guard 40
Plantac̃ons, halfe a man to each counting any that were tolerable shott for a
man I know what I say and to whom I speake it: I wish the Company
would distinguish betweene those who desire to follow their Instructions
exactlie where they disagree not too much wth our estate and condic̃on,
and them who hauing done & suffered much here thinke themselues
Emeritos milites and free from publiq̢ dutyes The truth is Those great
workes and first in Order as Fortification Discouery of the Southsea and
Mines and the like should haue ben done when all were Colony Seruantℯ
and vnder absolute Com̃and but all that huge expence was meerly cast
away, & all thingℯ left to vs as if we were to begin a new: Mingling [8]
matters of honor and proffitt often ouerthrow both: They expect great
retournes to pay the Companies Debts, and wthall great Proiectℯ that
are meerly charge to be effected: For me I haue not a third part of my
men to inable me to either, and Contrey bare wth the troubles of the last
yeare, and the charge of guarding robbs a 4th of their proffitt: Besidℯ
Godℯ hand hath layed heauie vppon vs for sicknes, and the diuilishnes of
the Brewers for the Abigaile encreased itt: I often wish little Mr Farrar
here, that to his zeale he would add knowledge of this Contrey: I haue made
bould to trouble you wth thus much because if by occasion you be wth
them you may p̱happs heare vs bitterlie censured and yor Authoritie may
demand reason for it, wch I know they cañot giue wthout dissembling our
Condicon and Nombers here: But to my power I will giue them satis-
faction, pray God they be as carefull of my priuate & conscionable of
their promises &c
The fort directed
to be buylt im-
possible
not 64000
wt of
Tobacco made
last yeare
By this account
not 700 men in y
e
Plantac̃on
22.
Chr. Best to Mr Jo: Woodall 1 Aprill 1623] Hauing no p̢nt newse
but that we doe want Corne & other good nourishmt for to support vs
wthall [blank]. There is one Rousley a Surgeon that came ou9 in the
James and brought ten men ou9 wth him to Virginia but all his seruants
are dead. There are none but women in Captiuitie wth th'Indians for
the men that they tooke they putt them to death: Many of yor yong Cattle
are dead for there hath ben a generall mortalitie both of man & beast this yeare
& the last: Two or 3 freemen that wanted flesh must needℯ goe into the woodℯ to
kill a deere but in stead of the deere they shott yor Calfe, but they are confined
to serue the Colony 7 yeares for it.
23.
Wm Capps to Doctor Winston 1623] the whole copied out
[Endorsed:]
Notes taken out of the ɫres wch came from Virginia in the Abigail & were
deɫ the Comrs in June 1623
Md̴ that Among them there were none found directed either
To the Counsell of or
To the Company of Virginia or
To my Lo: Southampton Thrẽar or
To Sr Edwyn Sandys or
To Mr Nicholas Farrar Depte of the Company.
[The hand writing throughout the memorandum and the endorsement is
by Sir Nathaniel Rich.]
[Manchester Papers 339.]
An abstract of the L̃res receaued latest from Virginia conducing to the
discouery of the true estat of the Colony in or about Aprill 1623
[There follow extracts from some only of the same letters as in Manchester
Papers 338, arranged differently, and not at such length, with the following
additional extracts:]
[3] 11.
Mr George Sandys to Mr Wrott] It is not a small proporc̃on of
Corne that will feed a man when that is his only sustenance: Had you no
other prouisions in England p̱haps the land were too little to susteyne her
Inhabitantℯ.[287]
Corne theyr only
sustenance
[4] 19.
Mr George Sandys to his Brother Sr Miles Sandys] A hopefull
begiñing we had in this Contrey, yet seconded wth all the Calamities
wherewith god vseth to scourge a disobedient people, as murther, deadlie
diseases, & scarcetie almost vnto famyne * * * And had not I
hired in good tyme the sixth p̱te of a ship * * * hardly escaped the
p̱ishing by famine.[289]
[5]
Richard Frethorne to Mr Bateman] I am in a most miserable and
pitifull case[290]
[6]
Richard Frethorne to his Father[291]
