CCCLIII. Governor in Virginia. Warrant
May 13, 1623
Manuscript Records Virginia Company, III, pt. ii, p. 51a
Document in Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
List of Records No. 504
By the Governor and Capt generall of Virginia.
Forasmuch as nothing can be more acceptable to the Counsell and Com-
pany in England, or tend more to the safetie and reputation of this Colony,
then to fortifie some place vppon this River to defend the same against
the invasion of any forraine enemy: The Governor (wth the advise of the
Counsell of State) doth order and appoint, that every twentieth man
through the whole Colony, shalbe employed about the building of a Forte
at Wariscoyack, vndr the Com̃and of Capt Roger Smith: These are there-
fore to require and Com̃and Capt Jabez Whittakers, that throughout all
the Plantations vndr his Com̃and, he do imediatly leavy every 20th man
and send them to Wariscoyack, to the said Capt Smith furnished wth
armes and tooles, and sufficient provision of victuallℯ and apparell for
for [sic] six months, and that he send not any new comers, but able and
sufficient seasoned men, from twentie yeares old and vpward to fortie fiue
and not aboue. And if it shall so hapen yt diurs families must be faine to
ioyne for the setting forth of one man, that then he make choise of 2, 3,
or more of such sufficient men as aforesaid, as indifferently as may be, and
they to cast lottℯ wch of them shalbe sent to the said fort, and the rest to
be equally contributing to ye charge, And we further require and Com̃and,
all p̱sons whatsoeu9 vndr the charge of ye said Capt Jabez Whittaker
that they yeeld vnto him ready obedience, touching all or abouesaid
Com̃andℯ, as they will answer the contrary at theire vttermost p̱illℯ.
Given at James Cittie the 13th of May. 1623.
A warrant for
sendinge every
20
th man to y
e
Forte.
The like (mutatis mutandis) to the Comander of eu9y Plantation.
