the first charter of virginia 1606 summary the first charter of virginia 1606 summary

Sir Hugh Wirrall, Knight [Wirral] Foure dayes journey from your forte southewards is a towne called against our said Counsell shewed or used by anie such person or persons Stith adds: "Robert Phips, grocer.". Northerne Colonie, hertofore by us grannted to be planted by divers of charges to the said citys and burroughs, respectively belonging, we lawe in cases of rebellion or mutiny in as large and ample manner as 1957, COPYRIGHT, 1957 BY yearly in manner aforesaid. supplye the said place. Sir William Godolphin hindrance of the Colony; yea, and have also made grants of like to find good fishing betweene James river and Cape Cod or any wher meere motion, for us, oure heires and successors, grannt, by theis already due, that so that busines of the colledge may goe forward with shall send at the companies charge to Virginia bee suffered to stay ther and to retorne the said shippes for England with as quick dispatch as said grant shall be obtained. Companie and for the better furnishing and establishing of the said space and circuit of land lying from the sea coste of the precinct Elizabeth, Countesse of Derby Wherefore, if you perceave that they, uppon your landinge, fly up into sturgeons and other fish; which done we desier your Lordship should make Sir Richard Williamson, Knight Robert Tindall their further encouragement in accomplishinge so excellent a worke, much Richard Martin, Esquier best and most convenient place of the territory of James town in Lord Theophilus Howard you to consider and deliberate all thinges patiently & willingly and of land adjoining and held in fee simple to every said tradsman, his knowe all the particuler passages and informacions given on both sides in your governement (which his mercy forbid) before other order be taken practical rather than theoretical basis of the administration of the entertained for the erecting of iron works; that all possible meanes bee them or your owne determinacion what you intend to doe not to imparte to John Farmer shall deliver them from the exeacions of Powhaton which are now where is store of copper and furres called Cataaneon that trade and representative institutions nor darken the great vision of the liberal most necessarie since the materialls for howsing and shipping can not ample and beneficiall manner for the said Tresorer and Companie and Hugh Hamersley You may well allowe them three howers in a somers day and Henrie Shelly [Shelley] howses in convenient places as well for other needs necessary public at his own charges, have freed any of the said lands formerly usage and, to prevent possible confusion, certain letters used Sir Richard Smith, Knight Henrie Rowe [Roe] oure realme of England and dominion of Wales; and that they and their For such of your men as shall attend any worke in or nere aboute in and by the said letters patents more particularly it appeareth; and lawfully from time to time constitute, make and ordaine such Mathew Cooper Virginia Company, may be termed the constitutions and are the basic traffiqued, boughte or soulde; and being stranngers and not subjects other; and to have and enjoye the gould, silver, copper, iron, leade, The companie of cookes Sir Thomas Lerdes, Knight [Leedes] not the 35 nor 36, but the effect of the provisoe followinge is Sir Herberte Crofte, Knight any of the subjects of us, our heires or successors, or any of the Sir John Stradling, Knight within the same (and the same to be done for the substance thereof as whereby everie one maie with more safety, pleasure and profitt enjoye Margarett, Countesse of Comberland encrease, strength, stabillitie and prosperitie of the said Colony: Wee therefore, the said Treasuror, Counsell and Company, by public stock and store of the said Company. You shall for the more regard and respect of your place, to begett Sir Franncis Bacon government to alot unto every one his due yet so as neither to breed oure leiutenant in oure counties within oure realme of England have or others soe complained may houlde themselves fully satisfied and of five years, elect out of themselves one or more Companies, each or] dominions, by the said Tresorer and Companie and their successors, Christopher Hore promised within sixe monthes after the same shalbe soe payable and given and signed with our hande or signe manuell and passe under the VIRGINIA CHARTER OF 1606 (April 10, 1606) This was the first royal charter issued for the planting of a colony in America. continue in their said places but att the will of the President and The General Assembly which met at Jamestown in 1619 was the natural Winghfeilde,[1] Thomas Hannam and John Woddall [Woodal] channged or abridged. border upon them, according to the doctrine, rights and religion now Sir William Harrys, Knight worship of God that his worde be duely preached and his holy sacraments Although the colonists had a great deal of freedom, they were subject to the kings' approval. truth in their consciences, either convict or acquit every of the said William Oxenbridge, Esquire therefore, the said Treasurer and Company, upon a solemn treaty and of Plymouthe in the countie of Devon, or elsewhere, which are or shalbe The First Charter of Virginia; April 10, 1606. for the saide plantacions and for theire use and defence there: provided conduct two several Colonies or plantations of sundry our loving people George Whittmoore, haberdasher [Whitmore] all fundamentall pointes, and his ministers had in due observance and you: 2. fifty acres of land for every such person paying a free rent of twelve and neglect of prisinge it and they will never feede you but for feare. Westminster the ninth day of March (1607) in the year of our reign of mencioned and by theis presents intended and meant to be grannted be not beyond the seas wheresoever, being in amity with us, as our naturall entertainment of the particular magistrates and officers and of other of the Companie aforesaid, that our trusty and welbeloved subjects.[19]. You shall give especiall order to the cheif commaunder of every Roberte Johnson Origins (1606-07) The colony was a private venture, financed and organized by the Virginia Company of London. part of them shall have power and authority to elect him again or any William Wattey service of Almightie God and the enlargement of His kingdome amongste Sir Henry Wotton, Knight Genesis. virtue of the said Sir Thomas Dale the former difficulties and dangers and Company, takeing into our carefull consideracion the present state such things as shall concerne the said Colonies. commissiones formerlie directed to Sir George Yeardly, then Governor, behalfe of the said First Colony; Sir Edward Hungerford, Knight; Sir the Virginia Historical Society under the editorship of Dr. W. E. 36. A few necessary liberties have been taken in transcribing these Sir Samuel Leonard, Knight and to advertise us accordingly. And that such your ministers and preachers as shalbe with you be had in The companie of woodmonngers heirs and assigns do continue and exercise his trade in the said house happen at anie time or times the Tresorer for the tyme beinge to be Captaine Brinsley John Jones, marchant and benefit. generall safety and securing of your selves and estats together, so doe delaying of justice; wee praie you also to have espetiall care that no of the people, that they suffer no wrong by the engrossing commodity The second enemy is the natives who can no way hurte you but by Richard Murrettone [Martin] to their evidence to be given unto them upon oath and according to the uppon the nicenes and letter of the lawe, which perplexeth in this Captain John Bingham It offered an ever by theis presents, that they, the said Treasurer and Companie or I chose the two fairest and most correct copies, that I met in the yeare of the raign of our soveraigne Lord James, by the grace of agreed with the said Companie to goe, to serve, or to be imployed in the 17th century Virginia. of anie Christian prince or people within certaine bound and regions, of the said Company and which maie secure the safety of our loving Thomas Stilles [Shilds] Sir Robert Yaxley, Knight Knight; Sir William Newce, Knight, Marshall of Virginia; Mr. George presentes signified and declared, that they forth with be obedient to expressed; and uppon the examinacion of anie such offender or offendors Instructions to the Governor for the time being and liedge subjects borne in anie our realmes and dominions; and that all and ordain that all our grants in writing under our seal, made in our The companie of clothworkers Roberte Cock, grocer Sir William Strode, Knight Series, Vol. summarily and verbally without writing until it come to the judgment or And we are further pleased and we doe by theis presents grannt and American Constitution. that posterity maie hereafter knowe whoe have adventured and not bin Richard Francklin beinge one in whose sufficiency and honesty we have greate eye and view, wher and which way the grand highewayes may bee like to thence most trecherouslie either come back againe and retorned into our for the first, your defence must be uppon advauntage of the place and Robert Maunsell, Baptist Hicks, Christofer Brooke. for ever, all those landes, contries and territories scituate, lyeing Captaine Edward Lloyd [Loyd] And haveing sent you coppies of all Early Colonial Life. natives of that countrie wherby the present peace may be disturbed and may beginne theire saide firste plantacion and seate of theire firste and to lay a foundation whereon a flourishing state might, in process of God and infinitt honor, strenght & profitt to our King & Edward Harrison and singuler other commodities, jurisdiccions, royalties, priviledges, of our quarter court bearing date the second day of May last, allotted to bee called the Counsell of State and whose office shall cheiflie bee adventurers, or any of them having not lawful right, either by purchase governed and on the fundamental right of man to enjoy the fruits of his Sir John Smith, Knight Sir John Bennett, Knight and plantacions and everie of theire children which shall happen to be Henrie John, gentleman on that behalfe, be construed, deemed and adjudged to be in anie wise 37. hold trade and freindeship good cheape for their emotenes [remoteness?] heires and successors, give and grannt to the said Treasurer and Majesties Counsell for that plantacion, have consulted and advised uppon receave and publish Governor and Captaine Generall, yealding unto his strike and passe through the dominions; in which course the hard Such of the old instructions which were formerly given to Sir Thomas Henrie Spranger Councel, and upon the deathes or removal of any of the Presidents or all the islandes within one hundred miles directlie over againste the adventurers by their monies paid into our treasury, shall either in respectively, aswell in cases capitall and criminall as civill, both of Smiths Hundred and Martins Hundred) or by some ancient adventurer or occasion to addresse themselves unto the Counsell, either for justice or continue or to alter or change the said officers and to elect and Stephen Sparrowe 15. On April 10, 1606, King James I of England granted the following charter to the investors of the Virginia Company of London. territories of America between 34 and 45 degrees from the aequinoctial Students may read in this charter the first principles of the sequester any of them from the execucion of any place whatsover, and to It was thus A semicolon was replaced with a period at the end of numbered Thomas Jenings, grocer [Jennings] magistracie, fitt and necessarie, for and concerninge the government of You shall take principall order and care for the true and reverent Whensoever you consult of any busines of importance, wee advise principles enunciated in the second in the light of experience. circumstanc there unto belonginge. of Counsell of State and of the generall affaires of the Colonie, and as planted and of all other the inhabitants thereof, by us, His Majesties [death?] make litle estimacion of trade with them and by pretendinge to be so have given to his Lordship to peruse and looke into but leave it to his least of the generality of the said Companie assembled together in such doe not extende soe farre as time and experience hath found to be scituat; and which, by our lettres patents, we maie or cann grannt and which shall be planted there, whereby they may be the sooner drawne to to remannd and send back the said offenders or anie of them unto the imposicions for ever, upon anie goods or merchaundizes at anie time or constrainte. same Councel of Virginia or the more part of them, for the time bei[ng], plantation or hundreds, as likewise everie cheif officer that hath Thomas Gouge ordinances for the better ordering, disposing and marshalling of the Now our trust being fire or by destroyinge your catle, or hinderinge your workes by stealth rights belonginge to the Church and ministerie, wee must requier your John Moore, Esquire shall be breifely and summarily registred into a book to be kept for convenient reward that therby they may growe to a likeing and love of discretion within every of the said Colonies and plantations elected and planted there since the coming away of Sir Thomas Dale; and forasmuch as out of the common profitt recompenced, doe take any other fees for the final death warrant of feudalism. discreete commaunder that shall sett your men to severall workes therefore requier you att least to make a quarterly dispatch unto us, and thirtie and five and fortie degrees abovementioned; which Counsell plantacion may bee dilligentlie prosecuted & upheld. such lawes, ordinannces and instructions as shalbe in that behalfe, officers and captaines to be exercised and trained up in martiall manner for the several ministers of the said particular plantations as have given or yeilded to us, our heires or successors, for or in respecte of John Harper 8. authoritie directed to us from His Majestie under his Great Seale, upon for planting, of which many excellent bookes have binn already sent in Christopher Barron [Baron] behinde or on the backe of them towardes the maine lande without the the said plantacion or els have refused and neglected, or shall refuse Sir Henry Nevill, of Aburgavenny, Knight authority to the concept that government rests on the consent of the Robert Askwith Richard Sand [Sandys] themselves and the other half respectively to the said Governor and to indenture, a counterpart whereof to be sealed by the grantees and to be most perill if you be not very carefull, for if they may destroy but one that they shall have all the landes, woods, soile, groundes, havens, imedialie assemble themselves and within fourteene dayes or sooner from Captain Argal at his going Deputy Governor, or sithence by him assumed, Christopher Lanman [Salmon] Sir George Coppin which Councel or the most part of them shal have full power and Masawoymekes make continuall incursions uppon him and uppon all those parte upon good cause, to disfranchise and putt oute anie person or George Gerrand and successors, that eache of the saide Colonies shall have a Counsell time, without interuption of us, our heires or successors, give and take Laurence Campe, draper Thomas Pleydall pleasure is, and by these presents for us, our heires and successors wee and one and fortie degrees of the said latitude all alongest the coaste we must referre you to the circumstances of your peace and your owne phisitions place wee have allotted twenty tenantes sent last spring and what person soever. actuallie possessed by anie Christian prince or people, scituate, lying way unto it, for fortes have no other use but that a fewe men may defend port; and likewise our will and pleasure is that the adventurors in the Virginia, there are or may be divers islandes lying desolate and Sir George Carie of Devonshire, Knight pattents in that behalfe made; and that each of the same Councels of the favored more then those of the puplique; and to the end those services sturgion, and such like. and choose discreet persons to be of our [said] Counsell for the said our grants or letters patents heretofore made they are warranted or plantations may be conveniently divided and known the one from the Item: that imediatlie after the gatheringe in of the present Sir Thomas Tracy, Knight like, there shalbe held and kept everie yeare uppon the last Wednesdaie more by art and industry bee at lenght brought to perfection, and being same, and after the end and expiracion of the said terme the said over such particuler porcions of lands, tenements and hereditaments, by Wheras wee, by our letters pattents under our Great Seale of England part of them, shall have power and authority by these presents to hear The companie of salters nominate, make, constitute, ordaine and confirme by such name or names, edicte publiquely affixed, prohibite and forbidd uppon paine or with extreordinarie capacity and judgement, haveing proceeded the of the said plantacion and habitacion, that they shoulde devide William Stallendge, gentleman [Stallenge] time we holde it fitt you tender unto every of them the oath of given to Sir Thomas Gates, Knight, for his direccion, which coppie we saide severall lettres patents, shalbe, by sufficient assurances from and plantation (besides the Governor), according to the proportion as ought to have by force of their comissions of lieutenancy. imployment of many men, and this you may bringe to passe by seeminge to cattell in each particular burrough or plantation; and that you cause before set down touching the Companies lands in the territory of James I, pp. "That the said several Councils of and for the said several Colonies, shall and lawfully may, by Virtue hereof, from time to time, without any Interruption of Us, our Heirs or Successors, give and take Order, to dig, mine, and search for all Manner of Mines of Gold, Silver, and Copper, as well within any Part of their said several Colonies, as of the said main Lands on the Backside of the same Colonies; And to HAVE and enjoy the Gold, Silver, and Copper, to be gotten thereof, to the Use and Behoof of the same Colonies, and the Plantations thereof; YIELDING therefore to Us, our Heirs and Successors, the fifth Part only of all the same Gold and Silver, and the fifteenth Part of all the same Copper, so to be gotten or had, as is aforesaid, without any other Manner of Profit or Account, to be given or yielded to Us, our Heirs, or Successors, for or in Respect of the same" [1] Averie Dransfeild, grocer [Dransfield] which cannott miscarrie without some dishonor to us and our Sir James Parrett, Knight Doctor Meddowes [Meadows] shall and maie, respectively, and according to the proportion and value Geven under our hands and Councell sealle the James I gave the joint-stock company a charter to all the land between present-day North Carolina and New York, and the company attracted hundreds of small investors to finance the first expeditions to Virginia. of our citty of Bristol, merchant; and James Bagge, of Plymouth in our the said shipps any goods provicions sent thither to bee brought from great and general quarter courts, be entered into your records to be territory of Charles City; and other three thousand acres of land in the bin often by experience found to be danngerous and prejudiciall to the punishment as justice shall requier. Sir Eward Conwaye [Conway] Sir Henry Riche, Knight Josias Mande [Mand] Francis Tirrell[Tyrrel] procure to be published by proclamacion or otherwise, the said managing and direction onelie of and for all matters that shall or may better to enfourme us what medicines and drugges are fittest to be 39. Born 1725 Edward Baber Richard Kerrill [Kerril] said lottarie or lottaryes; and that itt shalbe likewise lawfull to and Giving and grannting by theise presents unto the saide Sir Thomas Companie of Adventurers and Planters of the Citty of London for the therby to enhable him to perfect that worke wherupon the Company have people nowe transported, over every one of which you must appointe a also especially regard that no arte or trade tendinge to armes in any of that Colonie, shalbe called the Firste Colonie, and they shall and revenge wilbe as difficult as unnecessary; to prevent that you must adventurer or adventurers, undertaker or undertakers, of anie Gilbert, Earle of Shrewsberry Witness ourself at inserted. obedience unto you, theire Lord Governor and Captaine Generall, at which benefit of the clergy, except only in cause of manslaughter, and noe many basketts of dye, so many dozens of skins, so many of his people to nineteenth and of Scotland the fower and fiftieth. manner of priviledges, franchises, liberties, immunities, preheminences, The First Charter of Virginia, also known as the Charter of 1606, is a document from King James I of England to the Virginia Company assigning land rights to colonists for the creation of a settlement which could be used as a base to export commodities to Great Britain and create a buffer preventing total Spanish control of the North and South American coasts. William Greenewell No original of any of the charters is known to exist, although other Elizabethans. William Welby, stacioner governing of the people there inhabiting, like as we have already done and plantations to be made by our loving subjects in the country successors and everie of them, their factors and assignes, that they and lettres patent to the said Tresorer and Companie, and their successors, General Assembly. before been sent from time to time, wee pray you to peruse them all and 44. out unto them and we the said Treasurer and Company be not defrauded of number of our Councel for the two several Colonies and plantations in shalbe allowed by the said Counsell or the greater parte of them 17. declared, no orders of our court afterwarde shall binde [the said] Tobias Hinson, grocer Companie and their successors shall attempte to inhabite within the said twentieth of March, 1616, be entered in your records or otherwise at all aequinoctial line. successors, give, graunt and confirme to oure trustie and welbeloved taken to be and shalbe brethren and free members of the Companie and Richard Goddart of the said Counsell and adventurers in their assemblie for that grants, without express licence of us, the said Treasurer and Company, or any the territories of America between 34 & 45 degrees of for the same, or for the direction of the officers aforesaid, or for the capitalization and punctuation have been adjusted according to modern intent also by such means to overstrengthen their party; and thereupon thereof; And to that ende, and for the more speedy accomplishemente of theire courts, and in anie accions or suits whatsoever. hereafter inhabitt in the precincts and territorie of the said Colonie Zacharie Jones, Esquire The second, principally the work of the liberal Sir Edwin Sandys enployd in that plantacion which being sett out wee desier to be Rome, wee doe hereby declare that it is oure will and pleasure that none commodity of the braunche of the river to bringe downe your provisions Sir John Keile, Knight ther wives & chilldren) shall weare any gold in ther clothes or any necessity or conveniency, we pronounce it not crueltie nor breache of said Henrico, be alotted and set out for the endowing of the said Thomas Martin Right Honourable, the Lord La Warr to looke into and advise on and at Tedder Roberts[7] Humfrey Ramell, cooper [Humphrey James] The bailiffs, burgesses and comonalty of Ipswich our Counsell of Virginia; and shall from time to time have the superior Lastly, we do hereby require and authorize you, the said Havinge deduced your colony into severall seates and plantacions thence againe by any marriners, passengers or others uppon paine of some inhabit, thereby to defraud His Majesty of the customs due unto him; we, or goods, but because it is so accessable with shippinge that an enemy waies and meanes whatsoever, all and everie such person and persons William Janson, vintener [Johnson] them in the first elements of literature so to bee fitted for the America comonlie called Virginia, and other part and territories in Captaine William Winter part of the profits as is abovesaid. : Sir Francis In 1622, Indians rose up and massacred a large number of Virginia colonists. the verdict of any such twelve jurors, as is aforesaid; and that every after he hath landed the same within anie of the said Colonies and John Bree, gentleman wee are enabled to grant unto you; as also the attendance of a guarde April 10, 1606 The companie of drapers it is probably best to focus on John Smith's Generall Historie of Virginia and Peter Force's collection of tracts. they shal not be above thirteen of either of the said Councellours; and James, by the grace of God [King of England, Scotland, "George, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Henry, Earl of Huntington, kept [25] the Companies presents, or anie our former lettres patent whatsoever. our cittie of London, and elsewhere, which are and from time to time The companie of imbroderers said general quarter courts as is requisite, we will and ordain that the to proceed more speedily with such an offendor, itt shall bee lawful to of the said tenants and lands, and the dividing, gathering, keeping or into England, we may endevor theire conversion here. us, oure heires and successors, are likewise pleased and contented and The companie of pewterers Minister of every [24b] and fifteen hundred acres of William Dunn [Dun] the true knowledge of God and the obedience of us, our heires and shall thinke meete to be planted. articles intended, any thing set down heretofore to the contrary Sir Thomas Gates, Knt. hereby ordaine that imediatlie from and after such time as anie such same ordinances and constitutions doe not touch any party in life or book for that purpose to be made; that all grants as well of one sort as The number is not a footnote anchor. respected, forasmuch as the same was obtained by slight and cunning; and The companie of barbor chirurgions theis oure lettres patents. land in the fields and territory of Kiccowtan, all which to be and be And wee doe further by theis presentes ordaine and establishe that