JAMESTOWN ABANDONED.
The few survivors had, however, resolved to abandon Jamestown at
the first opportunity, and thus forever bid adieu to a place which promised
nothing but death. In vain did the governor remonstrate. Four
pinnaces lay at anchor in the river. It was the intention to sail for
Newfoundland, and there the remnant of the Virginia colony should
remain among the fishermen until some vessel would carry them to
England. Thus, the efforts of the London Company, as had those of
Raleigh and Gosnold before, ended in failure. The colonists crowded on
board the pinnaces, and on the 8th of June dropped down the river.
But Lord Delaware was already within the bay, and ere the disheartened
colonists had reached the mouth of the James, his ships hove in sight,
bearing new emigrants, plentiful supplies, and a governor who gave a
promise of better things. The hitherto discouraged but now rejoicing
colonists were taken on board and all returned to the deserted village,
where, before nightfall, all was happiness and contentment.
Lord Delaware's administration was characterized by justice and mildness;
he endeared himself to the colonists and inspired them with hope,
but he did not long remain; in the early autumn his health failed, and
he delegated his authority to Percy—the same who had relieved Smith—
and sailed for England.
Sir Thomas Dale was already under sail to Virginia bearing a governor's
commission, and upon his arrival he assumed the government and
made martial law the basis of his administration. He was a soldier by
profession, and had served with distinction in the Danish wars. Jamestown
needed a strong government, and there was, therefore, very little
complaint against his military rule. During his administration the population
was augmented by the arrival of three hundred emigrants from
England.
The last act of Governor Dale marks an era in the history of Virginia.
This was nothing less than a division of property. Ever since
the founding of the colony, all property had been held in common, after
the manner of the primitive eastern nations; the colonists had worked
together and the products of the harvest had been deposited in one common
store-house, where all was under the control of the council. Governor
Dale changed all this, and caused the lands to be laid out into lots
of three acres each, one of which was to be given to each of the colonists—to
hold forever—upon which he might plant orchards and cultivate
grain with the understanding that no one had the right to gather
but himself. Thus the right of property in land was, for the first time,
recognized in the New World. The colonists saw the advantage of individual
labor, and the good results were soon apparent in the general
improvement of the colony.
Dale now surrendered the government to Sir Thomas Gates, and by
his (Gates') permission selected three hundred men and began a settlement
on a narrow neck of land, nearly surrounded by water, which
he called Henrico in honor of Prince Henry. Other settlements were
made on both sides of the river at considerable distances from the
parent town, and the foundation of the first American State was thus
securely laid.
