University of Virginia Library

CCCXXVI. Christopher Davison. Letter to John Ferrar
April 14, 1623

Sr

If I shall not giue you such satisfaction, by these, as you expect, & I
desire, my long sicknes, & absence from the §most of the§ busines, since
my arriuall, may somewhat excuse me, in your fauourable construction;
& I doubt not, but you shall receaue information, touching the most
matters of greatest importance, from others, whose acquaintance hath
beene more, with the late proceedings, then myne. I had sent a list,
of the names of all the people, that dyed or were slayne, by the Indyans,
since the massacre, & of all that remayne aliue, but since I could not
in tyme procure the bills, from many perticular plantations; I thought it
better, to send you a perfect catalogue, by the next ship, then a lame &
imperfect one by this. My earnest desire, & endevour, haue not beene want-
ing, for the sending the Tobaco, by this ship, to pay Mr Bland his 30li;
but I could not as yett receaue that poore quantitye of Tobaco, due to me
from my 5 tenants (which are all I haue remayning aliue) nor one grayne
of corn, to help us, in this tyme of scarcitye; by reason, they are seated
so farre of, as the eastern shore, & other meanes to rayse it, I could not
yett possibly finde any; but by the next oportunity of shipping, after it
cometh to my hands, you shall not fayle to receaue it; with 3li more also
due to Mr Bland, for the transport of my brother Thomas Fynch (who
dyed soone after his arriuall) in the stead of my my little daughter; about
which you were pleased to send a few lines to Captayne Eache. Sr The
benefitt of my place is so meane, hauing so few tenants remayning, & so
little proffitt by them in this troublesome & chargeable tyme, that if the
§Company§ be not pleased to consider & repayre my greate losse by the
want of the 14 or 15 tenants & §certayne§ cowes (promised) this two
yeare. I shall haue small cause to rejoyce by these imployments in their
service; but I presume I shall alwaies finde you (as you haue euer been)
ready to afford mee your §fauour &§ furtherance, in any thing that shalbe
just & reasonable. [2] The Margett & John accounted a loss ship (after
a long & tedious passage, much distressed for want of sufficient provisions)

arriued heere about the 7th or 8th of Aprill. Not long after (about the 10th
day) the ship sent by Mr Gookin, called (I think) the Prouidence, came
also to Newports newes. But the Seaflowre is not as yett arriued, though
shee haue beene long expected, whose supplyes of corn & other provisions,
oure greate necessity, at this tyme, make to §be§ extraordinarily desired.
I haue sent you answer to as many of the Petitions as haue been ordered
& shalbe very carefull to call upon those that haue not yett been deter-
mined, & to send you (how they are ordered) by the next shipping. Thus
rememembring my loue & service to your self & Mr Deputy, I rest