Virginia Threads for the Future Historian; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 2, No. 1, 1893 Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Virginia Threads for the Future Historian Edward D. Neill William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Papers, Vol. 2, No. 1. (Jul., 1893), pp. 61-62. VIRGINIA THREADS FOR THE FUTURE HISTORIAN NO. V. From Middlesex, (Eng.) County Records, 9 August, 15 year, reign of James First. "Recognizance taken before Sir William Smith, Kn't, J.P. of Richard Ball of St. Clement Danes, in the county of Middlesex, taylor, in the sum of Twenty pounds; For the said Richard Ball's appearance to the next Session of the Peace, to answer for not allowing a maintenance to his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, she being great with child, and for sending his son, Richard Ball, Jr., away from her, into Virginia". 3 April, 15 James I. Stephen Rogers for killing George Watkins against the form of Statute of the first year of King James, convicted of manslaughter, was sentenced to be hung, but at the instance of Sir Thomas Smith, Kn't was reprieved in the interest of Virginia, because he was a carpenter. 6 August, 16 James I. On his conviction of incorrigible vagabondage Ralph Rookes was reprieved at Sheriff(1) Johnson's order so that he should be sent to Virginia. 28 April, 18 James I. ___________________________________________ (1) Robert Johnson, grocer, was an enterprising citizen and deputy Treasurer of the Virginia Company of London, under Sir Thomas Smith. Page 62. On her conviction by a Jury of stealing divers goods of Mary Payne, Elizabeth Handsley was reprieved for Virginia. 31st May, 18 James I. On his conviction of stealing Richard Atkinson's bull, William Hill asked for the book, and was respited, for Virginia. An indictment was preferred against Joseph Johnson for vagrancy, at Clerkenwell, being found guilty he was sent to Virginia. 17 September, 24 Charles I. Recognizance taken before Thomas Hubbert, Esq., J.P. of Anthony Kempe, tailor, of Golding Lane in the parish of S. Giles without Cripplegate in the sum of twenty pounds to answer for bieng accused by his master, John Cowper, for having run away and deserted his service, he being bound apprentice unto him, and fled to Virginia beyond the seas(1). St. Paul, Min., EDWARD D. NEILL. May, 1883. __________________________________ (1) Vagabonds, of course, were found in both Virginia and Massachusetts, during the Colonial times. There was a white servant class in both Colonies during the 17th century. In Virginia these were largely composed of children not yet hardened in evil. John Adams said in 1776, that the fishermen of New England were "more degraded than slaves." Were these people descendants of the imported convicts and servants of Massachusetts? The South for 120 years has been free of convict immigration; in the North it appears greater now than ever, and Congress has deemed the danger so great as to pass laws vainly attempting to prevent the entrance of contract labor as well as of paupers and criminals who still pour in - Editor.