scum and off scouring of our Nation, vagrants or condemned persons, or such others, as by the looseness and viciousness of their lives have disabled themselves to subsist any longer in this Nation; and when they come thither either know not how, or will not betake themselves to any sober, industrious course of living. And if they chance to get ought to maintain them in their licentiousness and wickedness fall to practising their old abominable practice there, as much or more than they ever did heer. So that if they come to be members or officers in the said Colonies, whereby they are rendered more conspicuous in their true colours, their idleness, and otherwise evil examples, do not only corrupt and taint others of the same Colonie, but cause the very Heathen to loath both them and the very profession of Christianity for their sakes." He also lamented "that very many Children and servants sent into that Plantation, that were violently taken away, or cheatingly duckoyed without the consent or knowledge of their Parents or Masters by some prostigious Plagiaries (commonly called Spirits) into some private places, or ships, and there sold to be transported; and then resold there to be servants or slaves to those that will give most for them. A practice proper for Spirits, namely the Spirits of Devils, but to be abhorred and abominated of all men that know either what men are, or whose originally they are, or what their relatives are, either natural, civil, or Christian." In every country, at its first settlement, will be found hardy adventurers, of obscure birth, and wholly dependent upon their energy, and industry, who rise to positions of prominence, and influence, and it was not remarkable, that the Assemblies in the days of Berkeley, and the Commonwealth, should have contained some of these. If Abraham Wood, a boy ten years of age, could come to Virginia, and after serving his term as a servant, advance in position, and in 1654, be a Burgess, it is creditable to him, and if in the Assembly of that year should also be John Trussell, who when he was nineteen years of age, in 1622, became a servant in Charles City County, and William Worlich, who came the same year when eighteen years old, and was a servant in Elizabeth City, it only shows what poor immigrant boys like those of the present century who have landed at New York City, may by perseverance, accomplish. General Monk reached London, early in February, the news of which was received, in Virginia, before the first of May, with the report, that the monarchy would soon be restored. On the 29th of May, Charles the Second entered London amid the acclamations of the people. CHAPTER VIII. FROM THE RESTORATION OF CHARLES THE SECOND, TO A.D. 1671. TIONS. NORTHERN IN BURGESSES IN COLONISTS DIS HE transition from the rule of the Commonwealth of England, to the government of Charles the Second, was as quiet, and bloodless, as, the surrender in 1652, to the former power. The merchants of Vir ginia had little interest in the political disputes of England, and hoped that by the restoration of Charles the Second, they might obtain a repeal of the Navigation Act, which restricted the carrying of tobacco, to vessels owned by Englishmen, and had depressed the commercial interests of the Colony. As the people, by their Burgesses, had freely elected Berkeley, Governor, who had acknowledged,' that he was, "but a servant of the Assembly's," and as his brother John was one of the friends and advisers of the King, they believed it to be good policy to cordially accept the changed condition of affairs. The King on the 31st of July, recognized Gov. Berkeley and the Council. The Assembly which convened on the 11th of October, 1660, only transacted absolutely necessary business. The Council and Assembly had been obliged to meet in the houses of Mr. Woodhouse, and of Thomas Hunt, and the Governor was requested "to take into his care the building of a State House," and to make contracts at his pleasure. He was also empowered "to presse tenne men of the ordinarie sort of people, allowing each man two thousand pounds of tobacco, per annum, and to employ them toward the building of a State house," but no work was done. A Committee ad interim was appointed, composed of Henry Soane, Speaker, Na 'See Chapter VII, Berkeley's letter to New Amsterdam authorities. Their language in acknowledging the King was not as servile as that of the Massachusetts Colony. Governor Endicott by order of the General Court, of the latter, on Aug. 7, 1661, fulsomely wrote, Royal Sir: Your just title to 'the Crown enthronizeth you in our consciences; your graciousness, in our affections; that, inspireth unto duty, this, naturalizeth unto loyalty." Π thaniel Bacon, Esq., Col. Miles Cary,' Major Nicholas Hill, Capt. Robert Ellyson, Capt. George Jordon,' and Mr. Walter Chiles, and until the 23d of March, 1660-1, a recess was taken. The Council for Foreign Plantations in England directed a letter to Sir William Berkeley, Governor "for the time being" and the Virginia Council, in which, they enjoined that all religious exercises should be according to the profession of the church of England, and that they should encourage learned and orthodox ministers, as it was a shame for a rich and flourishing people to be without a ministry 1 Colonel Miles Cary was a descendant of William Cary, merchant, the Mayor of Bristol in 1546; in 1665, he was one of the Council of Virginia. On March 29, 1666, he was superintending the erection of defences at Point Comfort against the Dutch, and here lost his life. Two of his sons, Miles, and Thomas, were prominent in public affairs and identified themselves with the Quakers. Story, a Quaker preacher, brother of the Dean of Lismore, and Keeper of the Great Seal of the Province of Pennsylvania, and one of the early Mayors of Philadelphia, held in 1690, a Friends' Meeting at Yorktown. Two days after, he writes "Went to Thomas Carey's who had been lately convinced. His wife had been also. His brother Miles, and wife, coming hither to see us were made partakers of the same visitation." Several years later he made another visit and wrote: "Made a visit to Miles Carey, Secretary of the County, who being absent, his wife, a Friend, prevailed with us to stay to supper." Thomas Cary thought to be the son of the Councillor, married a daughter of Archdale, the Quaker Governor of Carolina, and in 1697, was Receiver General of that Colony. 2 Jordon is a name found in the earlier records. In the first Assembly of 1619 was Samuel Jordon. Mary Tue, daughter of Hugh Crouch, executrix of Lt. Richard Crouch, in 1622, assigned 100 acres of land wch lies in Diggs, his Hundred to Samuel Jordon of Charles Hundred, gentleman." Neills' Virginia Company, p. 315. In March, 1622, Robert Jordan was slain by the Indians at Berkeley Hundred five miles from Charles City. Alice the daughter of John Miles, and wife of George Jordon, died January 7, 1650 (O.S.) |