Washington:Published by Peter Force.1837.
1 That there are in Virginia about fifteene thousand English, and of Negroes brought thither three hundred good servants.
2 That of Kine, Oxen, Bulls, Calves, twenty thousand, large and good, and they make plenty of Butter and very good Cheese.
3 That there are of an excellent raise, about two hundred Horse and Mares.
4 That of Asses for burthen and use, there is fifty but daily increase.
5 That for Sheepe they have about three thousand, good wooll.
6 That for Goates there number is five thousand, thrive well.
7 That for Swine both tame and wilde (in the Woods) innumerable; the flesh pure and good, and Bacon none better.
8 That for Poultry, Hens, Turkies, Ducks, Geese, without number.
9 That they yearly plow and sow many hundred Acres of Wheat, as good, and faire, as any in the world, and great increase.
10 That they have plenty of Barley, make excellent Mault.
11 That they have Six publike Brewhouses, and most brew their owne Beere, strong and good.
12 That their Hopps are faire and large, thrive well.
13 That they sell their Beefe at two pence halfe penny a pound, Pork at three pence a pound, plentifully.
14 That their Cattell are about the prices in England, and most of the Ships that come yearly hither, are there Victuall'd.
15 That they have thirty several sorts of Fish, River and Sea, very excellent good in their kinds, plentifull and large.
16 That they have five and twenty sundry sorts of Birds and Fowles, Land and Water abundance, and for food not amisse.
17 That they have twenty kinde of Beasts, whereof Deere abundance, most sorts eaten; creeping Creaturs many also.
18 That they have fifteene kinds of Fruits, pleasant and good, and with Italy they will compare for delicate Fruits.
19 That they have five and twenty sorts of Trees, large, good and fit for Shipping, Housing, and other uses.
20 That they have Roots of severall kindes, Potatoes, Sparagus, Carrets, Turnips, Parsnips, Onions, and Hartichokes.
22 For Herbes they have of all kinds for Garden, and Physicke Flowers.
23 That their Maize or Virginia Corne, it yields them five hundred for one, incease, ('its set as we doe garden Pease) it makes good Bread and Furmitie, will keep seven years, and maults well for Beere, and ripe in five Moneths, set in April or May.
24 That they have store of Indian Pease, better then ours, Beans, Lupines, and the like.
25 They have store of Bees in their Woods, make plenty of honey and way, and also tame Bees in hives about their Houses.
26 Indico begins to be planted, and thrives wonderfully well, growes up to a little tree, and rich Indico made of the leaves of it, all men begins to get some of the seeds, and know it will be of ten-times the gaine to them as Tobacco (and gaine now carries the Bell;) their hopes are great to gaine the Trade of it from the Mogulls Countrey, and to supply all Christendome, and this will be many Thousands of pounds in the yeare.
27 Their Tobacco is much vented and esteemed in all places, yet the quantities so great that's made, that the price there is but three pence a pound. A man can plant two Thousand waight a yeare of it, and also Corne and Rootes, and other provisions for himselfe.
28 They begin to plant much Hempe and Flax which they find growes well and good, onely hands are wanting to this and other workes.
29 Iron Ore and rich Mine are in abundance in the Land, fit streams and waters to erect Iron Mills, woods never to be destroy'd to burn Coale, and all this lye on great Rivers bankes, easie for transportation of Wood and Ore, and there is Stone fit to build the Furnaces with; triall hath been made of this Iron Ore, and not better and richer in the World; his work Erected would be as much worth as a Silver Mine, all things considered: not onely to make all Instruments of Iron for the Plantations Uses, but for Building, Shipping, there being wanting in that Countrey no other Materialls to that Worke; Then the casting of Ordnance, and making them, will abound to serve all the World; so of Mussquets, Armour, all kinde of Tooles, and Manufacture of Iron Workes will be produced in abundance, so that it would become speedily the Magazine of Iron Instruments in every kinde, and at cheape rates; so that no Nation could afford them halfe so cheape, and all men know, that Iron will command better Mines.
29 Skilfull Iron-men for the Works sent out of England, with the assistance of as many more able labourers there in Virginia, housing and victual ready provided for them; (fitting places for Erecting, the Mills found out already, and Oxen for draught at hand,) the Worke in sixe Moneths time would be effected, and foure hundred pound charge to transport the twenty men to Virginia, with all tooles and necessaries for the Worke would doe it: and these Men for their incouragement to have halfe the gaine made of the Iron to be yearly divided betwixt the Undertakers and Workemen, the profit and gaine would be to the inriching of all.
30 They have 4 Wind-mills, and 5 Water-mills to grind their Corn; besides many Horse-mills of severall kinds, and Hand-mills for severall uses: A Sawing mill for Boards is much wanted; one mill driven by water, will do as much as 20 Sawyers, &c.
31 There comes yearly to trade with them above 30 saile of ships, and in these not so little as seven or eight hundred Mariners employed, (some say above a thousand, this is a considerable thing) and they return laden home in March, (this is a good seminary for Mariners.)
32 The Commodity these ships bring, is Linnen Cloth of all sorts, and so of Woollen Cloth, Stockins, Shooes, and the like things.
33 Most of the Masters of ships and chief Mariners have also there Plantations, and houses, and servants, &c. in Virginia; and so are every way great gainers by Fraight, by Merchandize, and by Plantation and Pipe-staves, Clap-board, choice Walnut-tree-wood, Ceader-tree-timber and the like, is transported by them if Tobacco is not their full lading.
34 They have in their Colony pinnaces, Barkes, great and small Boats many hundreds, for most of their Plantations stand upon the Rivers sides or up little Creeks, and but a small way into the Land so that for transportation and fishing they use many Boates.
35 They make Pitch and Tarre, (and there is materials in the Woods for abundance.) Also for Pot and Sope-ashes, Woods most proper and store: hands want.
36 That for Mulberry-trees, the natural and proper food for Silk-wormes, they have abundance in the woods, and some so large that one tree contains as many leaves as will feed Silke-wormes that will make as much Silk as may be worth five pounds sterling money, this some French men affirme. And now they desire Silk-wormes-seed which is sent them, and their hopes are good of the thriving of it: A Commodity that may soon enrich them all with little labour, care or pains; all Materials so plentifull and at hand, the food in abundance, the Climate warm, and the work done in five weeks time, and within doors, by women and children as well as men, and at that time of the year in May, that is hinders not any other work or planting, sowing or the like employments; such an advantage, that had the Dutch the like in any of their Plantations, they would improve it to the certaine gaine in the trade of Silke from Persia and China, which we fetch with great charge and expence and hazard, and inrich Heathen and Mahumetans greatly; but to these things lack Publick and State encouragements to begin the work: but more of this in an other place, it deserves a full handling.
37 Vines in abundance and variety, do grow naturally over all the land, but by the birds and beasts, most devouted before they come to perfection and ripenesse; but this testifies and declares, That the Ground, and the Climate is most proper, and the Commodity of Wine is not a contemptible Merchandize; but some men of worth and estate must give in these things example to the inferiour inhabitants and ordinary sort of men, to shew them the gain and Commodity by it, which they will not believe but by experience before their faces: And in Tobacco they can make 20l. sterling a man, at 3d a pound per annum; and this they find and know, and the present gain is that, that puts out all endeavours from the attempting of others more Staple, and Sollid, and rich Commodities, out of the heads and hands of the Common people: So as I say, the wealthier sort of men must begin and give the example, and make the gain of other Commodities as apparent to them, by the effecting them to perfection, or it will not (as it hath not hither unto) go forward.
38 That they have health very well, and fewer die in a yeer there, according to the proportion, then in any place of England; since that men are provided with all necessaries, have plenty of victual, bread, and good beer, and houseing, all which the Englishmen loves full dearly.
39 That the Passengers also come safe and well: the seamen of late years having found a way, that now in 5, 6, and 7 weeks they saile to Virginia free from all Rocks, Sands, and Pirats; and that they return home again in 20 dayes sometimes, and 30 at most: the Winds commonly serving more constantly, being Westerly homeward, the Easterly outward bound.
40 That the mouth of the two Capes of Land, Cape Henry on the South, and Cape Charles on the North; the entrance in is in 37 degrees: that the first River up the West is James River, where most of the Plantations are setled and Towns: the second is Charles river on the North of it; and the third called by the Indian name Tapahanuke, the 4 river Patawoenicke, the 5 river Patuxant, the 6 Bolus, the 7 Saquisahanuke: at the head of the great Bay of Chespiacke, into which Bay these 7 rivers from the West side of it do all enter and run into, and so the mouth of the Bay issueth out due East into the main Sea between the two aforesaid Capes: the Bay lies North and South, and hath a Channel in draught of 140 miles, and in depth between 5, 6, and 15 fathomes in some places. The widenesse of the Bay is from the West side which is the great Land, to the East side of the Land which joynes upon the Sea called the Acamake-shore; the widenesse and breadth of this Bay I say, is about 9, 10, and 14 miles broad in some places of it; and these 7 Rivers have their mouths into the Bay, not above 20 miles, each River is distant from the other: But this in Smiths Map is more at large described.
41 That some English about a thousand are seated upon the Acamake-shore by Cape Charles, (where Captaine Yeardly is chief Commander) now called the County of Northampton.
42 That they have Lime in abundance made for their houses, store of Bricks made, and House and Chimnies built of Brick, and some Wood high and fair, covered with Shingell for Tyle, yet they have none that make them, wanting workmen; in that trade the Brickmakers have not the art to do it, it shrinketh.
43 That since the Massacree, the Savages have been driven far away, many destroyed of them, their Towns and houses ruinated, their cleer grounds possessed by the English to sow Wheat in: and their great King Opechaukenow (that bloody Monster upon 100 years old) was taken by Sir William Berkely the Governour.
44 All kinds of Trades-men may live well there, and do gaine much by their labours and arts, as Turners, Potters, Coopers; to make all kind of earthen and wooden Vessels, Sawyers, Carpenters, Tyle-makers, Boat-wrights, Taylors, Shoemakers, Tanners, Fishermen, and the like.
45 Young youths from 16 yeers and upward, for Apprentises and Servants for some yeers, then to have Land given them, and Cattel to set them up. Thousands of these kinds of young boyes and maydens wanting.
46 That the Government is after the Lawes of England, (that is well for men before they go, to know under what Lawes they shall live:) A Governour and Councel of State; and yearly general Assemblies, men chosen and sent out of each County, (there being 12 in Virginia;) these men Vote, and by the major part all things are concluded; and they are Elected to those places by the most voices in the County for whom they are chosen, and by whom sent.
47 They have 20 Churches in Virginia, and Ministers to each, and the Doctrine and Orders after the Church of England: the Ministers Livings are esteemed worth at least 100l. per annum. they are paid by each planter so much Tobacco per Pole, and so many bushels of Corn: they live all in peace and love.
48 That for matter of their better knowledge of the Land they dwell in, the Planters resolve to make a further Discovery into the Country West and by South up above the Fall, and over the Hills, and are confident upon what they have learned from the Indians, to find a way to a West or South Sea by land or rivers, and to discover a way to China and East Indies or unto some other Sea that shall carry them thither; For Sir Francis Drake was on the back side of Virginia in his voyage about the World in 37 degrees just opposite to Virginia, and called Nova Albion, and by the Natives kindly used: And now all the question is only how broad the Land may be to that place from the head of James River above the Falls, but all men conclude if it be not narrow, yet that there is and will be found the like rivers issuing into a South Sea or a West sea on the other side of those Hills, as there is on this side when they run from the West down into a East Sea after a course of 150 miles: but of this certainty M. Hen. Brigs that most judicious and learned Mathematician wrote a small Tractate, and presented it to that most noble Earle of Southampton then Governour of the Virginia Company in England, Ann. 1623. to which I referr for a full information.
And by such a Discovery the Planters in Virginia, shall gain the rich trade of the East India, and so cause it to be driven through the Continent of Virginia, part by Land and part by Water, and in a most gainfull way and safe, and far lesse expenceful and dangerous, then now it is.
And they doubt not to find some rich and beneficiall Country, and commodities not yet known to the world that lies West and by South now from their present Plantation.
49 That the Swedes have come and crept into a River called Delawar, that is, within the limits of Virginia in 38 degrees and 30 min. it lies, and are there planted, 100 of them drive a great and secret trade of Furs, which they trade for with the Natives: it is but 2 dayes journey by land from our Plantations, and a dayes sail by Sea from Cape Charles.
50 And again, the Hollanders have stolen into a River called Hudsons river in the limits also of Virginia (and about 39 degrees) they have built a strong Fort there, and call it Prince Maurice and New Netherlands, they drive a trade of Furres there with the Natives for above ten thousand pounds a yeer.
These two Plantations are between Virginia and New England on our side of Cape Cood which parts us and New England.
Thus are the English nosed in all places, and out-traded by the Dutch, they would not suffer the English to use them so: But they have vigilant Statesmen, and advance all they call for a Common good, and will not spare any incouragements to their people to discover.
But it is well known, that our English Plantations have had little countenances, nay, that our Statesmen (when time was) had store of Gondemores gold to destroy and discountenance the Plantation of Virginia, and he effected it in a great part, by dissolving the Company, wherein most of the Nobility, Gentry, Corporate Cities, and most Merchants of England, were Interested and Engaged; after the expence of some hundred of thousands of pounds: For Gundemore did affirme to his Friends, that hee had Commission from his Master to mine that Plantation. For, said he, should they thrive and goe on increasing, as they have done under the Government of that Popular L. of Southampton, my masters West-Indies, and his Mexico would shortly be visited by Sea and by Land, from those Planters in Virginia. And Marquis Hambleton told the Earle of Southampton, that Gundemore said to King James, that the Virginia Courts, was but a Seminarie to a Seditious Parliament. But this is but a touch by the way, for a future Item to our Countrey not to despise Plantations.
51 The Land in Virginia is most fruitfull, and produceth with very great increase, whatsoever is committed into the Bowells of it, Planted, Sowed. A fat rich Soile every where watered with many fine Springs, small Rivolets, and wholesome Waters.
52 The Countrey is with pleasant rising small Ascents and Descents, Valleys, Hills, Meadowes, and some levell Upland: Its Woody all over, but where labour hath cleared the ground from Trees, and this truely is the great labour in Virginia, to fell Trees, and to get up the Roots, and so make cleare ground for the Plow.
53 Stones, and Rocks, and Quarries of severall kinds, and very fit for the Iron Furnaces (as triall hath been made to endure fire) are in divers places found in Virginia.
54 There is divers skins of Beasts for Merchandize and uses, as Beavers, Otters, Squirrels, wild Cats, and Christall is there found.
55 Divers kinds of Druggs, Gummes, Dyes, Paints, that the Indians use.
56 There is a kind of Flax the Indians use to make threeds of and strings, we call it silke grasse, i'ts fine to make both Linnen and Stuffe of it; abundance in many places of it groweth.
57 To the Southward of James River, some fiftie miles by Land, and eighty by Sea, lyes the River Chawanok: whither Master Porey went by Land, and reported, the King there told him, that within ten days Journey Westward towards Sun setting there were a people that did gather out of a River sand, the which they washed in Sives, and had a thing out of it, that they then put into the Fire, which melted and became like to our Copper, and offered to send some of his People to guide him to that place. But master Porey being not provided with men as he would have had of English, he returned to Sir George Yearly, and acquainted him with the Relation. But before they could prepare for the Journey, and Discovery, the first Massacre happened, and so to this day it hath beene unattempted. The Company also in England was dissolved, their Patent most unjustly, against all Law and Conscience, taken from them. Procured by the Spanish Gold and Faction, and the Colony never looked after, whether sinke or swimme ; and hath now these twenty foure yeares since, laboured for life, and onely to subsist, with much adoe; The Cattell then left, increased to what you heare, and in all these many years no more People in it, and they having little Incouragement, and great uncertainties, whether ever to be continued a Colony, whereby men have had no heart to Plant for Posterity, but every man for the present, Planted Tobacco to get a livelyhood by it.
And had not this present Govenour beene sent as hee was, and continued, who hath done all a Gentleman could doe to mainetaine it alive: It had upon this second Massacre beene utterly deserted and ruinated; as things stand in our owne Land. If any demand the cause of this late Massacre, all having been forgiven and forgotton, what the Indians did the first time; Those that are Planters there, write the occasion of the Indians doing so wicked an Act, was. That some of them confessed, That their great King was by some English Informed, that all was under the Sword in England, in their Native Countrey, and such divisions in our Land; That now was his time or never, to roote out all the English; For those that they could not surprize and kill under the feigned masque of Friendship and feasting, and the rest would be by wants; and having no supplyes from their own Countrey which could not helpe them, be suddenly Consumed and Famished. The Indians Allaruming them night and day, and killing all their Cattell, as with ease they might doe, and by destroying in the nights, all their Corne Fields, which the English could not defend. All this had (as they write) taken full effect, if God had not abated the Courages of the Savages in that moment of time, they so treacherously slew the English; who were presently (the Act done) so affrighted in their owne minds, that they had not the heart to follow the Counsells their King had commanded: but to the admiration of the English, prosecuted not their opportunitie, nor were constant to their owne Principles, But fled away and retyred themselves many miles distant off the Colony: which little space of time gave the English opportunity to gather themselves together, call an Assembly, secure their Cattell, and to thinke upon some way to defend themselves, if need were and then to offend their Enemies; which by the great mercy of God was done and effected; And the particulars of all is worthy in some other place to be remembred and manifested to the World, that the great God may have his due Glory, Honour, and Praise for ever and ever, Amen, Amen, Amen. And now at this present the Colony is in good estate (and never a third time to be so surprised by a seeming Friend.) And they conclude, their conditions are now, such as they may and will greatly improve the advancement and welfare of the Colony, even by this late sad Accident; and the Pit there Enemies digged for them, they are like to fall into themselves, and their mischiefe will and hath assuredly fallen farre more upon their own Pates; since their great King was taken Prisoner.
And in briefe, they say in three Letters, that if God please, in mercy, now to looke upon poore England, that it fall not into a second Warre, nor relapses, but a happy Peace setled in their Native Countrey. Then they in Virginia shall be as happie a people as any under heaven, for there is nothing wanting there to produce them, Plenty, Health, and Wealth.
58 Concerning New-England, that they have Trade with them to and fro, and are but foure dayes Saile off from Virginia, that they have had many Cattell from Virginia, and Corne, and many other things; That New-England, is in a good Condition for livelihood. But for matter of any great hopes but Fishing, there is not much in that Land; For its as Scotland is to England, so much difference, and lyes upon the same Land Northward, as Scotland doth to England: there is much Cold, Frost and Snow, and their Land so barren, except a Herring be put into the hole that you set the Corne or Maize in, it will not come up; and it was great pittie, all those people being now about twenty Thousand, did not seate themselves at first to the South of Virginia, in a warme and rich Countrey, where their Industrie would have produced Sugar, Indico, Ginger, Cotten, and the like Commodities.
And it is now reported in Virginia that Thousands of them are removing (with many from Summer Islands also) unto the Bahana Islands, neere the Cape of Florida; and that's the right way from them to goe and thrive.
THAT Opachankenow the old Emperour being dead since he was taken prisoner by our Governour, there is chosen a new one, called Nickotawances, who acknowledge to hold his Government under King Charles, and is become tributary to him, and this March 1648, Nickotawance came to James town to our Noble Governour Sir William Bearkley with five more petty Kings attending him, and brought twenty Beavers-skinnes to be sent to King Charles as he said for Tribute; and after a long Oration, he concluded with this Protestation; That the Sunne and Moon should first lose their glorious lights and shining, before He, or his People should evermore hereafter wrong the English in any kind, but they would ever hold love and friendship together: And to give the English better assurance of their Faith, He had Decreed, That if any Indian be seen to come within the limits of the English Colony, (except they come with some message from him, with such and such tokens) that it shall be lawfull to kill them presently; and the English shall be free to passe at all times when and where they please throughout His Dominions.
And the Indians have of late acquainted our Governour, that within five dayes journey to the Westward and by South, there is a great high mountaine, and at foot thereof, great Rivers that run into a great Sea; and that there are men that come hither in ships, (but not the same as ours be) they weare apparell and have reed Caps on their heads, and ride on Beasts like our Horses, but have much longer eares and other circumstances they declare for the certainty of these things.
That Sir William was here upon preparing fifty Horse and fifty Foot, to go and discover this thing himself in person, and take all needfull provision in that case requisite along with him; he was ready to go when these last ships set sail for England in April last: and we hope to give a good accompt of it by the next ships, God giving a blessing to the enterprize, which will mightily advance and enrich this Country; for it must needs prove a passage to the South Sea (as we call it) and also some part of China and the East Indies.
The Governour Sir William, caused half a bushel of Rice (which he had procured) to be sowen, and it prospered gallantly, and he had fifteen bushels of it, excellent good Rice, so that all these fifteen bushels will be sowen again this yeer; and we doubt not in a short time to have Rice so plentiful as to afford it at 2d a pound if not cheaper, for we perceive the ground and Climate is very proper for it as our Negroes affirme, which in their Country is most of their food, and very healthful for our bodies.
We have many thousand of Acres of cleer Land, I mean where the wood is all off it (for you must know all Virginia is full of trees) and we have now going neer upon a hundred and fifty Plowers, with many brave yoak of Oxen, and we sowe excellent Wheat, Barley, Rye, Beans, Pease, Oates; and our increase is wonderful, and better Grain not in the world.
One Captain Brocas, a Gentleman of the Counsel, a great Traveller, caused a Vineyard to be planted, and hath most excellent Wine made, and the Country, he saith, as proper for Vines as any in Chrissendome, Vines indeed naturally growing over all the Country in abundance: only skilful men wanting here.
That at last Christmas we had trading here ten ships from London, two from Bristoll, twelve Hollanders, and seven from New-England.
Mr. Richard Bennet had this yeer out of his Orchard as many Apples as he made 20 Butts of excellent Cider.
And Mr. Richard Kinsman hath had for this three or four yeers, forty or fifty Butts of Perry made out of his Orchard, pure and good.
So that you may perceive how proper our Country is for these fruits, and men begin now to plant great Orchards, and find the way of Grafting upon Crab-stocks, best for lasting, here being naturally in this Land store of wild Crab-trees. Mr. Hough at Nausamund, hath a curious Orchard also, with all kind and variety of several fruits; the Governour in his new Orchard hath 15 hundred fruit-trees, besides his Apricocks, Peaches, Mellicotons, Quinces, Wardens, and such like fruits. I mention these particular men, that all may know the truth of things.
Worthy Captaine Matthews, an old Planter of above thirty yeers standing, one of the Counsell, and a most deserving Common-wealths-man. I may not omit to let you know this Gentlemans industry.
He hath a fine house, and all things answerable to it; he sowes yeerly store of Hempe and Flax, and causes it to be spun; he keeps Weavers, and hath a Tan-house, causes Leather to be dressed, hath eight Shoemakers employed in their trade, hath forty Negroe servants, brings them up to Trades in his house: He yeerly sowes abundance of Wheat, Barley, &c. The Wheat he selleth at four shillings the bushell; kills store of Beeves, and sells them to victuall the ships when they come thither: hath abundance of Kine, a brave Dairy, Swine great store, and Poltery; he married the Daughter of Sir Tho. Hinton, and in a word, keeps a good house, lives bravely, and a true lover of Virginia; he is worthy of much honour.
Our Spring begins the tenth of February, the trees bud, the grasse springs, and our Autume and fall of Leafe is in November, our Winter short, and most yeers very gentle, Snow lies but little, yet Yce some yeers.
I may not forget to tell you we have a Free-Schoole, with two hundred Acres of Land, a fine house upon it, forty milch Kine, and other accommodations to it: the Benefactor deserves perpetuall memory; his name Mr. Benjamin Symes, worthy to be Chronicled; other petty Schools also we have.
We have most rare coloured Parraketoes, and one Bird we call the Mock-bird; for he will imitate all other Birds notes, and cries both day and night-birds, yea, the Owels and Nightingalls.
For Bees there is in the Country which thrive and prosper very well there: one Mr. George Pelton, alias, Strayton, a ancient planter of twenty five yeers standing that had store of them, he made thirty pounds a yeer profit of them; but by misfortune his house was burnt down, and many of his Hives perished, he makes excellent good Matheglin, a pleasant and strong drink, and it serves him and his family for good liquor: If men would endeavour to increase this kind of creature, there would be here in a short time abundance of Wax and Honey, for there is all the Country over delicate food for Bees, and there is also Bees naturally in the Land, through we accompt not of them
59 Now these are the several sorts and kinds of Beasts, Birds, Fish, in Virginia.
Fruits they have, Strawberies, Gooseberies, Raspices, Maracokos, Puchamines, Muskmillions, Pumpions; And for Fruits bought thither and planted. Aples, Peares, Quinces, Apricocks, Peaches; and many more kindes excellent good, &c.
FINIS.