EXTRACTS RELATING TO VIRGINIA FROM WINTHROP'S "HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND"; Wm. and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. 12, No. 1 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 *********************************************************************** Pages 54-59 EXTRACTS RELATING TO VIRGINIA FROM WINTHROP'S "HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND" The following extracts, taken from Governor John Winthrop's contemporary History of New England, furnish interesting information regarding Colonial Virginia: SHIPS FROM VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND April 27, 1631. There came from Virginia into Salem a pinnace of eighteen tons, laden with corn and tobacco. She was bound to the north, Page 55. and put in there by foul weather. She sold her corn at ten shillings the bushel*. March 14, 1632-'33. The bark Warwick arrived at Natascott, having been at Pascataquack and at Salem to sell corn, which she brought from Virginia. At her coming into Natascott, with a S.E. wind, she was in great danger, by a sudden gust, to be cast away upon the rocks. April 16, 1633. A Dutch ship brought from Virginia two thousand bushels of corn, which sold at four shillings sixpence the bushel. June 1, 1634. The Thunder, which went to Bermuda, the 17th October, now returned, bringing corn and goats from Virginia (for the weavils had taken the corn at Bermuda before they came there). Ensign Jennyson went in her for pilot, and related, at his return, that there was a very great change in Bermuda since he dwelt there, divers lewd persons being become good Christians. They have three ministers (one a Scotchman), who take great pains among them, and had lately (by prayer and fasting) dispossessed one possessed with a devil. They obtained his recovery while the congregation were assembled. He brought news, also, of a great ship arrived in Patomack River, in Virginia, with a governour and colony sent by Lord Baltimore, who was expected there shortly himself, and that they resisted those of Virginia, who came to trade in that river. It appeared after, that the king had written to Sir John Harvy, knight, governour of Virginia, to give all assistance to that new plantation, which was called Maryland by the queen of England; and those who came over were many of them Papists, and did set up mass openly. August 29, 1634. The Dove, a pinnace of about fifty tons, came from Maryland upon Potomack River, with corn, to exchange for fish and other commodities. The governour, Leonard Calvert, and two of the commissioners, wrote to the governour here, to make offer of trade of corn, etc., and the governour of Virginia wrote also on ________________________________________ *The price of this corn, ten shillings, were equal to $12.50 in our money. Page 56. their behalf, and one Capt. Young wrote to make offer to deliver cattle here. Near all their company came sick hither, and the merchant died within one week after. August 3, 1636. Samuel Maverick, who had been in Virginia near twelve months, now returned with two pinnaces, and brought some fourteen heifers and about eight goats (having lost about twenty goats by the way). One of his pinnaces was about forty tons, of cedar, built at Barbathes, and brought to Virginia by Capt. Powell, who there dying, she was sold for a small matter. There died in Virginia (by his relation) this last year, above eighteen hundred, and corn was there at twenty shillings the bushel, the most of the people having lived a great time of nothing but purslain, etc. It is very strange, what was related by him and many others, that above sixty miles up James River, they dig nowhere, but find the ground full of oyster shells and fishes' bones, etc., yea, he affirmed that he saw the bone of a whale taken out of the earth (where they digged for a well) eighteen feet deep. MINISTERS SENT TO VIRGINIA. September 6, 1642. There arrived in a small pinnace one Mr. Bennet*, a gentleman of Virginia, with letters from many well- disposed people of the upper new farms in Virginia to the elders here, bewailing their sad condition for want of the means of salvation, and earnestly entreating a supply of faithful ministers, whom, upon ex- perience of their gifts and godliness, they might call to office, etc. Upon these letters (which were openly read in Boston upon a lecture day), the elders met, and set a day apart to seek God in it, and agreed upon three who might most likely be spared, viz., Mr. Philips, of Watertown, Mr. Tompson, of Braintree, and Mr. Miller, of Rowley, for these churches had each of them two. Having designed these men, they acquainted the general court herewith, who did approve thereof, and ordered that the governour should commend them to the governour and council of Virginia, which was done accordingly. But Mr. Philips being not willing to go, Mr. Knolles, his fellow elder, and Mr. Tompson, with the consent of their churches, were sent away, and de- _______________________________________________________ *Philip Bennett, of Nansemond county, Va. Page 57. parted on their way 8ber 7, to Taunton, to meet the bark at Narragansett. Mr. Miller did not accept the call. The main argument, which prevailed with the churches to dismiss them to that work, and with the court to allow and further it, was the advancement of the kingdom of Christ in those parts, and the confidence they had in the promise, that whosoever shall part with father, etc., for my sake and the gospel's, shall receive an hundred fold. We were so far from fearing any loss by parting with such desirable men, as we looked at them as seed sown, which would bring us in a plentiful harvest, and we accounted it no small honor that God had put upon his poor churches here, that other parts of the world should seek to us for help in this kind. For about the same time two of our vessels, which had been gone near a year, and were much feared to be lost, returned home with a good supply of cotton, and brought home letters with them from Barbadoes, and other islands in those parts, intreating us to supply them with ministers. But, understanding that these people were much infected with familism, etc., the elders did nothing about it, intending to inquire further by another vessel, which was preparing for those parts. March 30, 1643. The three ministers which were sent to Virginia, viz., Mr. Tompson, Mr. Knolles, and Mr. James, from New Haven, departed (8) 7, and were eleven weeks before they arrived. They lay windbound some time at Aquiday; then as they passed Hellgate, between Long Island and the Dutch, their pinnace was bilged upon the rocks, so as she was near foundered before they could run on the next shore. The Dutch governour gave them slender entertainment; but mr. Allerton of New Haven, being there, took great pains and care for them, and procured them a very good pinnace, and all things necessary. So they set sail in the dead of winter, and had much foul weather, so as with great difficulty and danger they arrived safe in Virginia. Here they found very loving and liberal entertainment, and were bestowed in several places, not by the governour, but by some well-disposed people who desired their company. In their way the difficulties and dangers, which they were continually exercised with, put them to some question whether their call were of God or not; but so soon as they arrived there, and had been somewhat re- Page 58. freshed, Mr. Tompson wrote back, that being a very melancholic man and of a crazy body, he found his health so repaired, and his spirit so enlarged, etc., as he had not been in the like condition since he came to New England. But this was to strengthen him for a greter trial, for his wife, a godly young woman, and a comfortable help to him, being left behind with a company of small children, was taken away by death, and all his children scattered, but well disposed of among his godly friends. UNHEALTHY CLIMATE IN VIRGINIA. March 21, 1639. Many men began to inquire after the southern parts; and the great advantages supposed to be had in Virginia and the West Indies, etc., made this country to be disesteemed of many; and yet those countries (for all their great wealth) have sent hither, both this year and formerly, for supply of clothes and other necessaries; and some families have forsaken both Providence and other the Caribbee Islands and Virginia to come and live here. And though our people saw what meagre, unhealthful countenances they brought hither, and how fat and well liking they became soon, yet they were so taken with the ease and plenty of those countries, as many of them sold their estates here to transport themselves to Providence; among whom the chief was John Humfrey, Esq., a gentleman of special parts of learning and activity, and a godly man, who had been one of the first beginners in the promoting of this plantation, and had labored very much therein. MASSACRE OF 1644. May 20, 1644. A ship coming from Virginia certified us of a great massacre lately committed by the natives upon the English there, to the number of 300 at least, and that an Indian whom they had since taken confessed that they did it because they saw the English took up all their lands from them, and would drive them out of the country, and they took this season, for that they understood that they were at war in England, and began to go to war among themselves, for they had seen a fight in the river between a London ship, which was for the parliament, and a Bristol ship, which was for the king. He confessed further that all the In- Page 59. dians with 600 miles were confederate together to root all strangers out of the country. It was very observable that this massacre came upon them soon after they had driven out the godly ministers we had sent to them, and had made an order that all such as would not conform to the discipline of the Church of England should depart the country by a certain day, which the massacre now prevented; and the governor (one Sir Robert Berkeley*, a courtier, and very malignant towards the way of our churches here) and council had appointed a fast to be kept through the country upon good Friday (as they call it) for the good success of the king, etc., and a day before, this massacre began in the outparts of the country round about, and continued two days, for they killed all, by sudden surprisal, living amongst them, and as familiar in their houses as those of the family. This massacre was accompanied with a great mortality. Upon these troubles divers godly disposed persons+ came from thence to New England, and many of the rest were forced to give glory to God in acknowledging that this evil was sent upon them from God for their reviling the gospel and those faithful ministers he had sent among them. SURRENDER TO PARLIAMENT, 1652. The Earl of Warwick and other lords, etc., being appointed by the Parliament commissioners for regulating the West Indies and all other English plantations in America, sent commission to Virginia to free them from all former taxations and all other charges but such as should be needful for their own occasions, and gave them liberty to choose their own governour; and sent command to all English ships there (which were then to the number of sixteen, most of them great ships) to assist them if need were. But the king sending a countermand to Sir Robert Berkeley, the governour, he withstood the Parliament's commissioners, and drew most of the other magistrates to take oath upon the sacrament to maintain the king's authority, etc., so that the whole country was like to rise in parties, some for the king, and others for the Parliament. ___________________________________________________________ *Sir William Berkeley is intended. +Among these was Daniel Gookin, of Newort News, who became a major-general in New England.