University of Virginia Library

At a Quarter Court held for
Virginia the 30th of Ianuar 1621

∥Present∥

                                                                                                               

mr Deputy.	Ea: of Warwicke.
mr Gibbs.	Lo: Padgett.
mr Wrote.	Lo: Warwicke.
mr Io: Smith.	Lo: Cauendish.
mr Ro: Smith.	Sr ffranc Leigh.
mr Keightley.	Sr Edwin Sandys.
mr Nich: ffarrar.	Sr Phil: Carey.
mr Tomlins.
mr Rogers.	After the readinge of the former Quarter Court mr Deputy signified of diuers Patentℯ wch beinge read in the Præparatiue Court were well ap- proued of and recom̃ended to this generall Court for confirmac̃on namely
mr Barbor.
mr Ayres.
mr Caswell.
mr Wiseman.
mr Swinhow.
mr ffaucet.	A Patent graunted to Sr Geo Yeardley an Aduenturer who vn- dertakℯ to transport & plant .....} 300 Persons
mr Iadwin.
mr Waterhowse.
mr Elkington.
mr Meuerell.	A Patent to Tho: Leueson an Ad- uenturer for ..... 100
mr Bromfeild.
mr Berblocke.	To Capt: Nath: Basse and his As- sociatℯ ..... 100
mr Binge.
mr Grey.
mr Gardiner.	Patent to Capt: Wm Welden a Planter vndertakinge for .....} 100
mr Widdowes.
mr Viner.
mr Shipton.	A Patent to Henry Southey of Rimpton in the County of in Som̃ersett sheire a Planter for ..... } 100
mr Weston.
mr Mellinge.
mr Hart.
mr Taylor.	Patent to William Caps for ..... 100
mr Newport.	—
mr Man.	In all 800 p̱sons
mr Martin.
mr Stubbℯ.	Wch Patentℯ were all put to the question and ordered to be sealed.
mr Brewer.
mr Wheatley.
mr Edw: Rogers.	A Patent likewise for Martins Hundred hauing bin examined by this morningℯ Court called on purpose for it accordinge to the former Corts appointement and by it approued as beinge drawne accordinge to Southampton Patent, It was nowe put to the question and ordered to be sealed.
mr fflaxton.
mr Geo: Smith.
mr Boothby.
mr Harrison.
mr Hacket.
mr ffelgate.
mr Copland.
mr Balmford.
mr Woodall.
mr Barker.
mr Moorr.
mr Matson.
mr Lilly.
mr Bull.
mr Couell.
mr Bagwell.
wth diuers others.
	[312]

The Letter subscribed D and A was brought to the former Court by
an vnknowne Messenger was nowe againe ∥presented∥ to be read the
Contentℯ whereof are as followeth.[1051]

This letter beinge referred to the considerac̃on of this Court for
somuch as it did require an Account of the Companie howe they haue
expended the saide money vizt the 550li in gold for the bringinge vp
of the Infidellℯ Children in true religion and christianity, Sr Edwin
Sandys declared that the said money cominge vnto him enclosed in a
box in the time of his beinge Treasuror, not longe after a letter sub-
scribed Dust and Ashes had bin directed vnto him in §the§ quality of
Treasuror, and Deliuered in the Court and there openly read he
brought the money also vnto the next Court and there openly read in
the Box vnopened: Wherevpon the Court after a large and serious
deliberac̃on howe the said money might be best imployed to the vse
intended, at length resolued that it was fittest to be entertayned by
the Societies of Southampton Hundred and Martins Hundred and
each to vndertake for a certaine number of the Infidellℯ Children to
be brought vp by them, and amonngst them in Christian Religion and
some good Trade to lyue by accordinge to the Donors religious desire;
But Martins Hundred desired to be excused by reason their Plantac̃on
was sorely weakened and as then in much confusion: Wherevpon it
being pressed that Southampton Hundred should vndertake the whole
they also consideringe together with the waight the difficulty also and
hazard of the buissines were likewise verie vnwillinge to vndertake
the managinge thereof and offered an addic̃on of 100li more vnto the
former some of 550li that it might not be put vpon them. But beinge
earnestly pressed therevnto by the Court and findinge no other meanes
howe to sett forward that great worke yealded in fine to accept
thereof: Wherevpon soone after at an Assembly of that Society the
Aduenturers entred into §carefull§ a considerac̃on howe this great
and [314] and waightie buissines might with most speed and great
aduantag be effected: Wherevpon it was agreed and resolued by them
to imploy the said money together with an Addic̃on (out of the said
Societies purse) of a farr greater Som̃e toward the furnishinge out of
Captaine Bluett and his Companie beinge 80 verie able and sufficient
workmen wth all manner of prouisions for the settinge vp of an Iron
worke in Virginia, whereof the proffittℯ accruinge were intended and
ordered in a ratable proporc̃on to be faithfully imployed for the
educatinge of 30 of the Infidellℯ Children in Christian Religion and

otherwise as the Donor had required: To wch end they writt verie
effectuall letters vnto Sr Geo: Yeardley then Gouernor of Virginia
and Capt: also of Southampton Plantation: not onely recom̃endinge
the excellencie of that worke, but also furnishinge him at large with
aduise & direcc̃on howe to proceed therein with a most earnest adiura-
c̃on (and that often itterated in all their succeedinge Letters) so to
imploy his best care and industrie therein, as a worke whereon the
eyes of God, Angellℯ, and men were fixed: The Coppie of wch letter
and Direcc̃on through some omission of their Officer was not entred
in their booke, but a course should be taken to haue it recouered.

In aunsweare of this letter they receaued a letter from Sr George
Yeardley; shewinge howe difficult a thinge it was at that time to
obtaine any of their Children wth the consent and good likinge of
their Parentℯ by reason of their tendernes of them & feare of hard
vsage by the English vnlesse it might be by a Treaty with Opachan-
kano the Kinge wch Treaty was appointed to be that Sum̃er wherein
he would not faile to do his vttermost endeauors.

But Capt: Bluett dyinge shortly after his arriuall, it was a great set-
tinge backe of the Iron worke intended; yet since that time, care had
bin taken to restore that buissines with a fresh Supplie: So as he
hoped well, the gentleman that gaue this guift should receaue good
satisfacc̃on by ye faithfull Account wch they should be able and at all
times should be ready to giue touchinge the imployment of the said money.

Concerninge wch, Sr Edwin Sandys farther said that as he could not
but highly com̃end the gentleman for this his worthie & most Chris-
tian Act, So he had obserued so great inconvenience by his modestie
and eschewinge of shewe of vaine glorie by concealinge his name,
whereby they were depriued of the mutuall helpe and aduise wch
they might haue had by conference wth him and whereby also he
might haue receaued more cleare satisfacc̃on wth what integrity care
& industrie they had managed that buissines the successe whereof
must be submitted to the pleasure of God as it had bin comended to
his blessinge. [315]

Hee concluded that if the gentleman would either vouchsafe himselfe
to §or§ send any of his frendℯ to conferr with the said Society they
would be glad to apply themselues to giue him all good satisfacc̃on
But for his owne p̱ticuler iudgement, he doubted that neither of the
two courses p̱ticularised in this last letter, nowe read in Court would
attaine the effect so much desired: ffor to send for them into Eng-
land and to haue them educated here, he feared (vpon experience of
those brought by Sr Tho: Dale) might be farr from the Christian
worke intended, Againe to begin wth buildinge of a ffreeschoole for
them in Virginia he doubted (consideringe that none of the buildinges
there there intended had as yet prospered,) by reason that as yet
through their dotinge so much vpon Tobacco no such workmen could
be had but at intollerable ratℯ, it might rather tend to the exhausting
of this sacred Treasure in some smale fabricke then to accomplish
such a foundac̃on, as might satisfie mens expectac̃ons wherevpon he
wished againe some meetinge between the Gentlemen or his frendℯ
and Southampton Society that all thingℯ beinge debated at full and
iudiciously so wayed some constant cours might be resolued on and
pursued for the p̳ceeding in and p̱fectinge of this most pious worke
for wch he praid the blessinge of God to be vpon the Author thereof;
And all the Companie said Amen.

In the middest of this narrac̃on a stranger stept in presentinge 4
books fairely bound sent from a p̱son refusinge to be named who had
bestowed them vpon the Colledge in Virginia being from the same
man that gaue heretofore fower other great bookℯ the names of these
he nowe sent were these vizt a large Church Bible, the Com̃on prayer
booke, Vrsinus[1052] Catichisme and a smale Bible richly imbroydered:
The Court desired the Messengr to returne the gent̃. that gaue them
their generall acknowledgmt of much respect and thankℯ due vnto
him.

A lre also was presented from one that desired not as yet to be
named wth 25li in gold to be imployed by waye of Addic̃on vnto the
former contribuc̃on towardℯ the buildinge of a ffree schoole in Vir-

ginia to make vp the other some 125li for wch the Companie desired
the messenger to returne him their hearty thankℯ.

Mr Waterhowse hauinge two shares of land bestowed vpon him for
the great paines he had taken in solicitinge such as stand indebted
unto the Companie vpon their subscription whereof he had giuen a
verie good Account, the said shares beinge put to the question were
ratified & confirmed and vnto them him.

Mr Balmeford hauinge also two shares of land giuen him in considera-
c̃on of his often attendance at Courtℯ and readines to doe the Com-
panie seruice, being nowe put to the question were confirmed.

And whereas mr Hugh Euans made request yt he might passe 2 of his
shares to mr Tho: Newton beinge allowed of by the Auditors &
approued of by ye former Court they were put to the question & con-
firmed vnto him, wch Shares were due vnto him vpon paymt of his 4th
and fifth Supply as by Acquittances may appeare.[1053] [316]

Intelligence beinge giuen of diuers that complained they were sett
downe lesse in the printed §booke§ then they had bills of Aduenture
to shewe: The Court herevpon hath ordered that such Billℯ should
be deliuered to the Secretary (takinge a note of receipt vnder his
hand) whereby the said Billℯ might be in a readines to be exam̃ined
by the Auditors who are to amend those defectℯ and errors and thereby
rectifie the booke against the next Publicac̃on and to this end mr
Waterhowse is desired to giue knowledge of this order to such as ∥he∥
shall solicite and finde to be wronged in that kinde.

Herevpon Sr Edwin Sandys tooke occasion to report what paines he
had taken in reveiwing the seuerall Somes sett downe in the printed
booke by comparinge Sr Thomas Smiths Leger and Cash booke
together, wch beinge carelesly kept by his Officers who had sett downe
diuers Som̃es of money vnder mistaken names, he found thereby such
variance and disagreement between the saide Bookℯ as he had much
adoe to reconcile them, yet he said he had nowe found out a meanes

to excuse some exceptions that were formerly taken thereat, but
Some others, the Auditors for Sr Tho: Smith desired some time to
consider of.

Mr Copland the preacher hauinge three shares of land old Aduen-
ture bestowed vpon him by the last Quarter Court in reward and
gratificac̃on of his good Desertℯ did nowe humbly desire the same
might be confirmed vnder the Companies Seale wth allowance of fiftie
acres the p̱son more for so many as he and his Associatℯ should
Vndertake to transport at their owne propper costℯ and charges Wch
request was thought verie reasonable, and hauinge a Deed to this
purpose ready drawne (accordinge to the order of the former Court)
wch was nowe presented and read the Court approued thereof and
ordered it to be sealed. [317]

Mr Deputy signified that mr Leat the Minister beinge appointed to
preach this last Sundy in St Scyths Church vpon a Text the Comp
gaue him had p̱formed the same with good approbac̃on and beinge
still Desirous to goe to Virginia rec̃omended to the Gouernor and
Counsell there to remayne in expectañce till some place in the m̃istery
become voide, did therefore praye the Companie would please to fur-
nish them §him§ with some smale allowance for bookℯ and other
necessaries: wch request hauinge bin formerly taken into considerac̃on
it was thought fitt to allowe him 20li to furnish §him§ with bookℯ and
apparrell, and to paye for his transportac̃on: Wch allowance the Court
did well approue of.

Mr Deputy signified that one Henry mansell in his petic̃on to my Lo:
Keeper, amongst other his grevances he complained that the Virginia
Companie stood indebted vnto him in 60li aboue these six or seauen
yeares for wch cause beinge present at the Sum̃er Ilandℯ Court held
on Monday last in the morninge he was willed by the whole Court to
attend the Præparatiue Court held for Virginia in the afternoone,
where if he could make the said Debt appeare to be due vnto him
they doubted not but order would be taken to giue him satisfacc̃on
but he neither appeared then nor nowe:

Wherevpon the Court thought fitt the Com̃ittee appointed to certifie
my Lo: Keeper touchinge this and some other his complaintℯ should
let his lp: knowe that Mansell neuer acquainted the Auditors wth
this his pretended Debt as he ought to haue donne, nor did he euer
Dem̃and it before of the Companie and yet he alledgeth in his petic̃on
the said Debt to be due to him aboue six yeares since in the time of
Sr Tho: Smithes beinge Tr̃er And further that beinge lately warned
to two seuerall Virginia Courtℯ to make his said Debt appeare to be
due vnto him, he had notwithstandinge contemptuously as it seemeth
refused to come.

And for somuch as it was nowe §likewise§ reported vnto the Court
that he hath giuen out, he was a free Brother of this Company (wch
must either be by purchase of some shares of land or by fauor of the
Court vpon his Desertℯ:) It was thought fitt he should bee required to
make it appeare howe he came by his pretended freedome: And for
this cause the Court gaue order that he should be p̱emptorily warned
to be present at the next Court. [318]

And forsomuch as mr Caninge challenged also much money to be due
to him vpon seuerall Accountℯ he was likewise entreated by the said
Sum̃er Ilandℯ Court to make his Debt appeare at the Præparatiue
Court held for Virginia or at the Quarter Court held this present
morninge but he came not at all The Auditors did also report that
mr Caninge had bin often called vpon to bringe in his Accountℯ vnto
them to be audited but he neuer came, the Court hath therefore
ordered that he shalbe perremptorily warned to be present at the next
Court for Virginia to exhibite his Accounts.

The Aduenturers of the glasseworke desired that they might haue a
Patent prepared against the next Quarter Court conteyninge a graunt
of such landℯ as shall become due vnto them aswell for transport of
p̱sons as for the aduenture of their ioynt Stocke in that buissines wch
request the Court assented vnto.

Mr Barbor hauinge had his Accountℯ touchinge the runinge Lotteries
examined and approued by the Auditors and lying here at sundrie
times in open Court to be seen whereat forsomuch as noe exception

was taken he therefore praid he might accordinge to iustice and equity
haue his Quietus est vnder the Legall Seale of the Companie wch
request in respect mr Barbor had Deliuered vpon his corporall oath so
iust and faithfull Account: and had an authenticall Certifecates to
shewe from the Magistratℯ and other of principall qualety of the places
where he had bin imployed of the true and honest carriage of that
buissines whereby he had honoured both the Companie and Acc̃on
it selfe The Court did willingly assent therevnto and caused his
quietus est nowe presented in Court to be read and hauing approued
thereof ordered the Seale to be affixed therevnto.

Sr Edwin Sandys beinge respited till this Quarter Court to exhibite
the remayne of his Accountℯ did nowe declare that at his last beinge
in the Country he was not able to finde out such writingℯ as did con-
cerne his said Accountℯ by reason all his papers had bin confusedly
cast together and quite out of order, he therefore moued for some
longer time for the p̱fectinge of them, and in the meane while he
desired no quietus est neither for this last nor his former Accountℯ
wch had bin audited and allowed of wherevpon the Court graunted him
his owne time to exhibite the same.

Mr Deputy likewise presented his Account to be audited whensoeuer
the Auditors would please to appointe. [319]

Whereas the Companie for Virginia by a former order of Court made
staye of 44li vpon Capt: Weldens Tobacco out of 1200 waight he
brought home this last Som̃er vpon his owne Account in respect he
stood charged for so much due vnto the Companie for his first set-
tinge out whome he was to haue serued seauen yeares according to
his couenantℯ, contrary to wch he was nowe come home wth out any
direcc̃on at all from the Companie and besidℯ had as yet yealded no
Account of one penny proffittℯ of Their Tenantℯ labors for these two
last yeares for wch respect he had also sealed a bond to the Gouernor
to answeare whatsoeuer the Companie could charge him withall, as
also to make his returne or send a sufficient man in his place: Wch
Obiecc̃ons the said Captaine Welden seemed to excuse with this aun-
sweare: That touchinge the first he conceaued himselfe to be dis-

charged by the Companies appointing of mr Thorp Deputy ouer the
Colledge landℯ: And for the second he saith the Tenantℯ made him
beleiue they were not to paye any thinge for the first yeare, but if the
Companie did require it of them they would be accountable for it:
And as for the Tobacco he nowe brought home he saith, he partly
bought it with prouision of Apparrell and other Comodities he car-
ried thither with him and partly gott it by his labor and good Hus-
bandrie, and therefore praied the Companie would please to remitt
vnto him the said 44li staid vpon his Tobacco as afore said: But the
Court conceauing this tollerac̃on might proue an ill President vnto
other their Officers sett out at their charge, and this money beinge
also the Colledge Stocke that sett him out wch they haue noe power to
giue awaye, but are to make good and to be accoũtable they therefore
thought fitt to recom̃end the further considerac̃on hereof to the Com̃-
ittee appointed for the Colledge who are entreated to examine the
equity of Capt: Weldens case, and takinge into considerac̃on his
Demaũnd and to certifie their opinions what they thinke fitt to be
donne therein.

The Comittee for the Colledge appointed i4 Iunij 24 i619 are these

       

Sr Edwin Sandys.	Sr Io: Worstham.[1054]
Sr Io: Dauers.	mr Dept: ffarrar.
Sr Dudley Diggℯ.	Dor Anthony.
Sr Nat: Rich.	Dor Gulstone.

One Captaine Hazell came and presented in open Court a Certificate
in the name of Captaine Iohn Martin wch he desired might be read
the Coppie whereof is here inserted vizt. [320]

Plantac̃on vntill this day) hath requested a Certificate and testimony of his
demeanor and Carridge in all things according to our knowledge or otherwise,
wch honest & reasonable requeste wee are willinge to sattisfie and Certifie
accordinge to truth.

Wee doe hereby know and certifie yt by the generall Consent of his Mata: first
Counsell of Virginia here settled in England by his Mata royall order and Com-
ission in the fface of the publique and open Court assembled and mett together
that the said Capt Ino Martin was elected chosen and sworne one of his Mates:
first Councell of Virginia.

Wee know allso yt §in§ the saide Honobl: and open Courte wth ye ffree and
full consent therof hee was thought fitt, chosen and sworne to be Mr of the
Ordnance in Virginia.

Wee doe further Certifie and approue yt notwithstandinge his first Adventure
(wch was verie laudable and good) hee hath ever since to his great charge con-
tinued all manner of supplemts and necessaries of his vttmost power and habil-
itie whatsoeuer And yt allso hee hath constantlie and very worthyly endured
all the misery and great calamytie of fore passed times wth the losse of his owne
blood and the death of his onely sonne the hope and Comforte of his age.
Sicknes Famyne & many other vnexpressed hard and miserable endurances.

And hath allso p̳vidently and very Carefully endeavored all the benifitts and
good vnto the Plantac̃on even to ye vttmost of his habillitie and power and in
all things vpholdinge and lauboringe to mainteyne wth equall Iustice & clem-
encie all his Mats Lawes p̢rogatives and rights what soeuer ffor wch respects
and for his honest and worthy services allredy done and hereafter to be done
for the encourragment of himselfe and others yt may succeed: Wee ye Com-
pany and Counsell for his Maty: here resydent have heretofore graunted him
sundry pryveledges, by Charter vnder our great Seale for the setlinge of a
pryvate Plantation vppon his owne allottment of Land in Virginia wherin
hee hath p̳ceeded wth a great deale of charg and expence for wch wee see and
know no reason to the Contrary butt yt hee should and may enioy ye same
accordinge to the true entent and meaninge of this graunt: In wittness wherof
wee have here vnto subscribed our hands. ∥names∥

           

Pembroak.	Tho: Smith.
Ro: Warwick.	Fra: West.
Leicester.	Wm Stt Iohn.
Mountgomery.	Ro: Iohnson.
Sheiffeilde.	Samuell Argoll.
Ro: Mansell.	Wm Caninge. [321]

This Certificate beinge read the Court thought fitt to referr it to the
former Com̃ittee and some others nowe added vnto them vizt

The former Com̃ittees were these

     

mr Herbert.	mr Brooks.
mr Earle.	mr Gibbs.
mr Iermyn.	mr Wrote.

Wherevnto were nowe added

       

Sr Edwin Sandys.	mr Copland.
Sr Io: Dãuers.	mr Rogers.
mr Wroth.	mr Baynham.
mr Balmeford.	mr Barbor.

who are to examine the seuerall pointℯ of his said Certificate and for
the better satisfacc̃on of the Lordℯ whome Capt Martin had misin-
formed that they would please to take some paines to make a Declara-
c̃on of the Defectℯ of his Patent and p̱ticulerly sett downe the iust
exceptions that are taken thereat and thereof to make report.

Mr Deputy signified that the Rolls of Subscription for the maydℯ
ffurrs and Shippwrightℯ were yet §open &§ left free for any man to
vnderwrite & that the later were nowe goinge to performe that worke
wch carried with it both honor and proffitt: the Director of that buissi-
nes being a verie expert Artist and able to giue good Direcc̃ons for
fortificac̃ons.