University of Virginia Library

CCCXXXIX. [Sir Nathaniel Rich.] Notes of Letters from
Virginia[151]
May—June, 1623

§Thus appeares theire miserye now§ that the people §now there§ remayning
in the Colony in Virginia §are few are few§ we gather, it thus.

The Catalogue of the peoples names wch was dulye duelye §in the Colony
is appointed to bee sent ouer euery yeare to the Company here§ sent ou9
euery §of these last§ yeare §s§ heretofore, and for wch there is &

1

• The Catalogue of all the peoples names residing in the Colony is appointed
  by order from hence to be sent ouer d euery yeare, that so the Company
  here may discerne of the strength of the Colony. This is either omitted
  this yeare or concealed from vs. And no reason can be §is§ alleadged,
  for the omittal of it but on the contrarye it was easier this yeare to haue
  taken euery mans name in the Colony, because they were by reason of the
  Massacre they were driuen from their s seuerall Plantac̃ons and forced to
  inhabitt neare together

2ly

• By the last Muster Rowle of the people there taken §the last Sum̄er§
  much about the tyme of the Massacre there were in all of men women &
  Children §in Virginia§ but 1240: and except only the people remayning at
  Warasquiack wch were but 3 households. Since wch tyme their letters
  make menc̃on of 5 or 600 that haue p̱ished wth sicknes and famine. And
  many after that tyme perished by the handℯ of th'Indians.

And here we doe obserue that when this Muster Roule of the yeare 1622
was taken it appeareth §by the printed bookes of the Companye§ that t in
the 3 yeares before vzt 1619. 1620. 1621: there had ben 3570 people trans-

ported: And there was not less then 800 at least left in the Colony when
Sr Thomas Smith left the Gouermt: wch makes 4370 p̱sons. So that it is
playne by those Muster Roules that §euen§ in those 3 yeares before the
Massacre there were lost aboue three thowsand soules §wch needℯ proceed
from much negligence & want of good gou9nt:§ besidℯ those that haue
p̱ished by t since by th'Indians and by sicknes: And so consequently that
the people remayning in the Colony are but few. wch likewise appeares
by some of their ɫres.

3: Mr George Sandys in his ɫre to Mr Wrott hath these wordℯ The
lyuing haue ben hardlie able to bury the dead thorough their Imbecillitie
We haue lost not less then 500 by sicknes (wth a generall weakenes of the
rest) wch taken out of so small a nomber forth §farr§ short of yor Coniec-
tures I belieue haue not left behind them so many able men in the Contrey:
And more expressly he saieth that out of the whole Colony the we could
rayse but 180 whereof 80 were fitt only to carry burthens.

Againe the Gouernor Sr Francis Wyatt 4 Aprill last writes to [sic] §in§ his
father sayeth thus: They (meaninge the Company here) talke [2] of an
Armye 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 te
keepe for the ffort 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 speak it.

Againe we find besidℯ diuerse passages in their ɫres from thence by wch
we may discerne the paucitie of the people we find that one Will͠m Capps
beeing generallie approued as a fitt man to be imployed against th'Indians
he demanding but 40 30 small shott and 10 men to secure the Boates was
as it seemes putt of wth §by§ this Reason giuen in their Counsell there.
That if theis men should be slayne then their whole state were ouerthrowne.
By all wch we conceaue that in truth their nombers are very small and
weake: And in great danger either to be vtterlie ruyned either by th Enemy
or by ffamine or both.

The §generall§ causes of this misery for ought appeares to vs seemes to be
theis may amongst diuerse others saue be theis

1

• §Ffirst & principally§ The sending of so many people b ill furnished
  before the Contrey was fitt to receaue them both either for lodging or
  Prouisions: a thing wch to vs seemes vnexcusable.

2

• Ffor b By stuffing of their Shipps in their passages wth too great a
  nomber, for the lucre & gayne it seemes of the owners of the Shipps.

3

• Ffor want of able Com̃anders and directors in the Contrey, so that

4

• By tying the

4

• By tying the Col Com̃anders there too strictlie to obserue the direcc̃ons
  of the Companie here; who (as is conceaued) could not possiblie

These may be gathered, not only. And these [sic.]

All wch (besidℯ some p̱sonall taxations vpon p̱ticular p̱sons may be
collected f euen out of their owne ɫres lately receaued from thence Vzt.

Mr George Sandys: to Mr Wrott 28 March last] So many come ou9
wthout any prouision, and those yor sett out yor selues (meaning the Com-
pany) so furnished to halues (a mayne cause of their deathes) that they
make a dearth of a plentifull Haruest.

Mr Niccolls to Sr Jo. Worselnham 2 Ap: last][152]

It may appeare to be want of comfortt & no way the ill disposic̃on of the
Clymate or ayre of the Contrey that men dye so fast. Those that
incourage men to come ou9 by vayne hopes of plenty are the cheife causers
of their death:

§The Lady Wyatt to her sister Sandys: 4 Ap. 1623.][152]

Few in the Shipp that I came in are left aliue. They tould me they sent
the Shipp less pesterd for me but I had not so much as myne owne Cabbin
free to myselfe: Our Capt seemed to be troubled at it and layed all the
fault on the two Mr Farrars: And he to make the people amendℯ dyed
himselfe.§

Richard Norwood Ap. 8.] It was the first of Aprill before we came to
Virginia and were halfe starued for want of victualls by the way &c.

Wyll͠m Capps to Mr Jo: Farrar: 31 M9ch last.] saieth it must need
writes large instructions §saieth§ I haue here taken some paynes for yor
Instruction ... dyed this wynter & a little before.

The first cause hereof is * * * care had by you. 2ly the dogged
vsage ... instead of Beare. Next for Sir Wm Newce Mum
4 Lastly want of guesthouses. Now if the Company will send me ...
the building of a sconce for defence &c.[154]

Mr George Sandys to Sr. Samuel Sandys 30 M9ch last.] How well wee
began to build ... [4] ... The Massacre beeing seconded wth a
generall sicknes &c and had I not had a share in a Shipp both I and myne
had famished.[155]

Mr George Sandys to Mr Farrar, xj Ap. last.] One thing I haue forgott to
informe you of: We haue a very weake Counsell. ... how we can be
supplyed in this Contrey.[156]

[5] And to the same purpose§ Wm Capps to Mr Jo: Ffarrar 31 M9ch last.]
I tould you sayes I tould you of entertayning new ... euen this
brought all to naught.[157]

And thus it appeareth euen by their owne letters: 1 That those §the§
people now remayning in the Colony are but few: 2ly That they are most
weake and miserable §beeing§ in danger to be ruyned §both§ by famine
and by the handℯ of th' Indians. And thirdlie That this misery is befallen
them p̱tlie through want of good gou9ment and direcc̃ons both here and
there.

[Indorsed:] An Abstract of the ɫres from Virginia all but Frethornes wch
must be added out of the Coppy at large.