Indian Slaves; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 8, No. 3

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Indian Slaves

   William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 8, No. 3.
   (Jan., 1900), p. 165.

                             INDIAN SLAVES.

   As further proof that Hening is wrong in his idea that Bacon was the first to
make slaves of the Indians (see Hening's Statutes at large of Virginia, Vol. II,
Preface) I adduce the following correspondence, extracted from the records of
Old Rappahannock county.  The first is a letter, about 1868, from Gov. Berkeley
to Major General Robert Smith, who commanded the militia in the district of
which Rappahannock county was a part.  The second is a letter from the justices
of Rappahannock to General Smith, who submitted Berkeley's instructions to the
court for approval.  (See QUARTERLY, VI., p. 214).

   Sir, I wrote my first Lettr to you in haste the moment I recd yours, but
since I have collected myselfe I thinke it is necessary to Destroy all these
Norhtern Indians for they must needs be conscious of the coming of the other
Indians.  Twill be a great Terror and exemple and Instruction to all other
Indians.

   If ye Councell here and the Councell of Warr be of this opinion it may be done
without charge for the women and children will defay it, lett me heare from yu
wt yu thinke of it and if the first impulse of or first resentment doe not 
Deceive me and Leade me too much I thinke this Resolution to be of absolute
necessity; if yr young men will not undertake it alone, there will be enou from
hence will undertake it for their share of the Booty.

   Your most Affectionate Humble Servant,          WILLIAM BERKELEY.

   To my most Honor'd Friend Majr Genll Smyth.  These -- Hast Post Hast for the
service of his Mtie and the Country.
                                ___________________

Honble Sir.
   Uppon Serious Consideration of the Honble Governrs Letters and yr Honors
desire or opinion of them wee are by many circumstances convinced and tis or
opinion that the Lage Execrable murders are and have bin committed by a com-
bination of our Northern Indians prticularly the Doagges conjunct with our
neighboring Indians above, all wch with their complices wee doubt not wth as-
sistance of Almighty God by the strength of or Northern Part utterly to Destroy
and eradicate without Further Incroachment then the Spoyles of or Enymies.
     JOHN CATLETT,                    THO. GOODRICH,
     JOHN WEIRE,                      HUM BOOTH.