OHIO
Archaeological and Historical
PUBLICATIONS.
FROM CHARTER TO CONSTITUTION:
BEING A COLLECTION OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
PERTAINING TO THE TER-
RITORY OF THE NORTHWEST AND THE STATE OF
OHIO, FROM THE
CHARTERS OF JAMES I, TO AND INCLUDING
THE FIRST CONSTITUTION
OF OHIO, AND THE STATE PAPERS RELATING
TO ITS ADMISSION TO THE
UNION, SHOWING THEREBY THE HISTORICAL
CHAIN OF TITLE OF SAID
STATE FROM 1606 TO 1803.
BY DANIEL J. RYAN.
THE FIRST CHARTER OF VIRGINIA.
TO SIR THOMAS GATES, SIR GEORGE SOMERS AND OTHERS,
FOR TWO SEVERAL COLONIES AND
PLANTATIONS, TO BE
MADE IN VIRGINIA, AND OTHER PARTS AND
TERRITORIES
OF AMERICA.
(DATED APRIL 10, ]606. 4 JAMES
1ST.)
1. James, by the grace of God, King of
England, Scotland,
France, and Ireland, Defender of the
Faith, etc. Whereas, our
loving and well-disposed subjects, Sir
Thomas Gates, and Sir
George Somers, Knights, Richard
Hackluit, Clerk, Prebendary
of Westminster, and Edward-Maria
Wingfield, Thomas Hanham,
and Ralegh Gilbert, Esqrs., William
Parker, and George Popham,
gentlemen, and divers others of our
loving subjects, have been
humble suitors unto us, that we would
vouchsafe unto them our
license, to make habitation, plantation,
and to deduce a colony
of sundry of our people into that part
of America, commonly
2 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
called Virginia, and other parts and
territories in America, either
appertaining unto us, or which are not
now actually possessed
by any christian prince or people,
situate, lying and being all
along the sea coasts, between four and
thirty degrees of Northerly
latitude from the Equinoctial line, and
five and forty degrees of
the same latitude, and in the main land
between the same four
and thirty and five and forty degrees,
and the islands thereunto
adjacent, or within one hundred miles of
the coasts thereof.
2. And to that end, and for the more
speedy accomplishment
of their said intended plantation and
habitation there, are desir-
ous to divide themselves into two
several colonies and companies;
the one consisting of certain knights,
gentlemen, merchants, and
other adventurers, of our city of London
and elsewhere, which
are and from time to time shall be,
joined unto them, which do
desire to begin their plantation and
habitation in some fit and
convenient place, between four and
thirty and one and forty
degrees of the said latitude, alongst
the coasts of Virginia and
coast of America aforesaid; and the
other consisting of sundry
knights, gentlemen, merchants, and other
adventurers, of our
cities of Bristol and Exeter, and of our
town of Plimouth, and
of other places, which do join
themselves unto the colony, which
do desire to begin their plantation and
habitation in some fit and
convenient place, between eight and
thirty degrees and five and
forty degrees of the said latitude, all
alongst the said coasts of
Virginia and America, as that coast
lyeth.
3. We, greatly commending, and
graciously accepting of,
their desires for the furtherance of so
noble a work, which may, by
the providence of Almighty God,
hereafter tend to the glory of his
divine Majesty, in propagating of
Christian religion to such
people, as yet live in darkness and
miserable ignorance of the
true knowledge and worship of God, and
may in time bring the
infidels and savages, living in those
parts, to human civility, and
to a settled and quiet government; Do by
these our letters pat-
ents, graciously accept of, and agree
to, their humble and well
intended desires;
The Virginia Charters. 3
4. And do therefore, for us, our heirs,
and successors, grant
and agree, that the said Sir Thomas
Gates, Sir George Somers,
Richard Hackluit, and Edward-Maria
Wingfield, adventurers
of and for our city of London, and all
such others, as are, or
shall be joined unto them of that
colony, shall be called the first
colony; and they shall and may begin
their said first plantation
and habitation, at any place upon the
said coast of Virginia or
America, where they shall think fit and
convenient, between the
said four and thirty and one and forty
degrees of the said latitude;
and that they shall have all the lands,
woods, soil, grounds,
havens, ports, rivers, mines, minerals,
marshes, waters, fishings,
commodities, and hereditaments,
whatsoever, from the said first
seat of their plantation and habitation
by the space of fifty miles
of English statute measure, all along
the said coast of Virginia
and America, towards the west and
south-west, as the coast
lyeth, with all the islands within one
hundred miles directly over
against the same sea coast; and also all
the lands, soil, grounds,
havens, ports, rivers, mines, minerals,
woods, waters, marshes,
fishings, commodities, and
hereditaments, whatsoever, from the
said place of their first plantation and
habitation for the space
of fifty like English miles, all alongst
the said coast of Virginia
and America, towards the east and
north-east, or towards the
north, as the coast lyeth, together with
all the islands within one
hundred miles, directly over against the
said sea coast; and also
all the lands, woods, soil, grounds,
havens, ports, rivers, mines,
minerals, marshes, waters, fishings,
commodities, and heredita-
ments, whatsoever, from the same fifty
miles every way on the
sea coast, directly into the main land
by the space of one hundred
like English miles; and shall and may
inhabit and remain there;
and shall and may also build and fortify
within any the same,
for their better safeguard and defence,
according to their best
discretion, and the discretion of the
council of that colony; and
that no other of our subjects shall be
permitted, or suffered to plant
or inhabit behind, or on the backside of
them, towards the main
4 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
land, without the express license or
consent of the council of
that colony, thereunto in writing first
had and obtained.
5. And we do likewise, for us, our
heirs, and successors,
by these presents, grant and agree, that
the said Thomas Han-
ham, and Ralegh Gilbert, William Parker,
and George Popham,
and all others of the town of Plimouth
in the county of Devon,
or elsewhere, which are, or shall be,
joined unto them of that
colony, shall be called the second
colony; and that they shall and
may begin their said Plantation and seat
of their first abode and
habitation, at any place upon the said
coast of Virginia and
America, where they shall think fit and
convenient, between
eight and thirty degrees of the said
latitude, and five and forty
degrees of the same latitude; and that
they shall have all the
lands, soils, grounds, havens, ports,
rivers, mines, minerals, woods,
marshes, waters, fishings, commodities,
and hereditaments, what-
soever, from the first seat of their
plantation and habitation by
the space of fifty like English miles,
as is aforesaid, all alongst
the said coast of Virginia and America,
towards the west and
south-west, or towards the south, as the
coast lyeth, and all the
Islands within one hundred miles,
directly over against the said
sea coast; and also all the lands,
soils, grounds, havens, ports,
rivers, mines, minerals, woods, marshes,
waters, fishings, com-
modities, and hereditaments, whatsoever,
from the said place of
their first plantation and habitation
for the space of fifty like miles,
all alongst the said coast of Virginia
and America, towards the
east and north-east, or towards the
north, as the coast lyeth, and all
the Islands also within one hundred miles
directly over against
the same sea coast; and also all the
lands, soils, grounds, havens,
ports, rivers, woods, mines, minerals,
marshes, waters, fishings,
commodities, and hereditaments,
whatsoever, from the same fifty
miles every way on the sea coast,
directly into the main land,
by the space of one hundred like English
miles; and shall and may
inhabit and remain there; and shall and
may also build and for-
tify within any the same for their
better safeguard, according
to their best discretion, and the
discretion of the council of that
The Virginia Charters. 5
colony; and that none of our subjects
shall be permitted, or suf-
fered, to plant or inhabit behind, or on
the back of them, towards
the main land, without the express
license of the council of that
colony in writing thereunto first had
and obtained.
6. Provided always, and our will and
pleasure herein is,
that the plantation and habitation of
such of the said colonies,
as shall last plant themselves, as
aforesaid, shall not be made
within one hundred like English miles of
the other of them, that
first began to make their plantation, as
aforesaid.
7. And we do also ordain, establish and
agree, for us, our
heirs, and successors, that each of the
said colonies shall have a
council, which shall govern and order
all matters and causes,
which shall arise, grow or happen, to or
within the same several
colonies, according to such laws,
ordinances, and instructions,
as shall be in that behalf, given and
signed with our hand or sign
manual, and pass under the privy seal of
our realm of England;
each of which councils shall consist of
thirteen persons, to be
ordained, made, and removed, from time
to time, according as
shall be directed and comprised in the
same instructions; and
shall have a several seal, for all
matters that shall pass or concern
the same several councils; each of which
seals shall have the
king's arms engraven on the one side
thereof, and his portrait-
ure on the other; and that the seal for
the council of the said
first colony shall have engraven round
about, on the one side,
these words: Sigillum Regis Magnae
Britanniae, Franciae, et Hi-
berniae; on the other side this inscription round about: Pro
Concilio primae Coloniae Virginiae. And the seal for the council
of the said second colony shall also
have engraven, round about the
one side thereof, the aforesaid words: Sigillum
Regis Magnae
Britanniae, Franciae, et Hiberniae; and on the other side: Pro
Concilio secundae Coloniae Virginiae;
8. And that also there shall be a
council established here
in England, which shall, in like manner,
consist of thirteen per-
sons, to be, for that purpose, appointed
by us, our heirs, and suc-
cessors, which shall be called our
Council of Virginia; and shall,
6 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
from time to time, have the superior
managing and direction,
only of and for all matters, that shall
or may concern the gov-
ernment, as well of the said several
colonies, as of and for any
other part or place, within the
aforesaid precincts of four and
thirty and five and forty degrees, above
mentioned; which coun-
cil shall, in like manner, have a seal,
for matters concerning the
council or colonies, with the like arms
and portraiture, as afore-
said, with this inscription, engraven
round about on the one side:
Sigillum Regis Magnae Britanniae,
Franciae, et Hiberniae; and
round about the other side: Pro
Concilio suo Virginiae.
9. And moreover, we do grant and agree,
for us, our heirs,
and successors, 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 suc-
cessors, give and take order, to dig,
mine, and search for all man-
ner 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 there-
fore 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:
10. And they shall, or lawfully may,
establish and cause
to be made a coin, to pass current there
between the people
of those several colonies, for the more
ease of traffick and bargain-
ing between and amongst them and the
natives there, of such
metal, and in such manner and form, as
the said several coun-
cils there shall limit and appoint.
11. And we do likewise, for us, our
heirs, and successors,
by these presents, give full power and
authority to the said Sir
Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers, Richard
Hackluit, Edward-
Maria Wingfield, Thomas Hanham, Ralegh
Gilbert, William
The Virginia Charters. 7
Parker, and George Popham, and to every
of them, and to the
said several companies, plantations, and
colonies, that they, and
every of them, shall and may at all and
every time and times
hereafter, have, take, and lead in the
said voyage, and for and
towards the said several plantations and
colonies, and to travel
thitherward, and to abide and inhabit
there, in every the said
colonies and plantations, such and so
many of our subjects, as
shall willingly accompany them, or any
of them, in the said
voyages and plantations; with sufficient
shipping, and furniture of
armour, weapons, ordnance, powder,
victual, and all other things,
necessary for the said plantations, and
for their use and defence
there; Provided always, That none of the
said persons be such,
as shall hereafter be specially
restrained by us, our heirs, or suc-
cessors.
12. Moreover, we do, by these presents,
for us, our heirs,
and successors, give and grant license
unto the said Sir Thomas
Gates, Sir George Somers, Richard
Hackluit, Edward-Maria
Wingfield, Thomas Hanham, Ralegh
Gilbert, William Parker,
and George Popham, and to every of the
said colonies, that they,
and every of them, shall and may, from
time to time, and at all
times for ever hereafter, for their
several defences, encounter, ex-
pulse, repel, and resist, as well by sea
as by land, by all ways
and means whatsoever, all and every such
person and persons,
as without the especial license of the
said several colonies and
plantations, shall attempt to inhabit
within the said several pre-
cincts and limits of the said several
colonies and plantations, or
any of them, or that shall enterprise or
attempt, at any time here-
after, the hurt, detriment, or
annoyance, of the said several col-
onies or plantations:
13. Giving and granting, by these presents, unto the said
Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers,
Richard Hackluit, Ed-
ward-Maria Wingfield and their
associates of the said first col-
ony, and unto the said Thomas Hanham,
Ralegh Gilbert, Wil-
liam Parker, and George Popham, and
their associates of the
said second colony, and to every of
them, from time to time, and
8 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
at all times forever hereafter power and
authority to take and
surprise, by all ways and means
whatsoever, all and every person
and persons, with their ships, vessels,
goods, and other furni-
ture, which shall be found trafficking,
into any harbour or har-
bours, creek or creeks, or place, within
the limits or precincts of
the said several colonies and
plantations, not being of the same
colony, until such time, as they, being
of any realms or domin-
ions under our obedience, shall pay, or
agree to pay, to the hands
of the treasurer of that colony, within
whose limits and precincts
they shall so traffick, two and a half
upon every hundred, of any
thing, so by them trafficked, bought, or
sold; and being strangers,
and not subjects under our obeysance,
until they shall pay five
upon every hundred, of such wares and
merchandises, as they
shall traffick, buy, or sell, within the
precincts of the said several
colonies, wherein they shall so
traffick, buy, or sell, as aforesaid;
which sums of money, or benefit, as
aforesaid, for and during the
space of one and twenty years, next
ensuing the date hereof,
shall be wholly emploied to the use,
benefit, and behoof of the
said several plantations, where such
traffick shall be made; and
after the said one and twenty years
ended, the same shall be taken
to the use of us, our heirs, and
successors, by such officers and
ministers, as by us, our heirs, and
successors, shall be thereunto
assigned or appointed.
14. And we do further, by these
presents, for us, our heirs,
and successors, give and grant unto the
said Sir Thomas Gates,
Sir George Somers, Richard Hackluit, and
Edward-Maria Wing-
field, and to their associates of the
said first colony and plan-
tation, and to the said Thomas Hanham,
Ralegh Gilbert, William
Parker, and George Popham, and their
associates of the said
second colony and plantation, that they,
and every of them, by
their deputies, ministers, and factors,
may transport the goods,
chattels, armour, munition, and
furniture, needful to be used by
them, for their said apparel, food,
defence, or otherwise in re-
spect of the said plantations, out of
our realms of England and
Ireland, and all other our dominions,
from time to time, for and
The Virginia Charters. 9
during the time of seven years, next
ensuing the date hereof,
for the better relief of the said
several colonies and plantations
without any custom, subsidy, or other
duty, unto us, our heirs,
or successors, to be yielded or paid for
the same.
15. Also we do, for us, our heirs, and
successors, declare,
by these presents, that all and every
the persons, being our sub-
jects, which shall dwell and inhabit
within every or any of the
said several colonies and plantations,
and every of their chil-
dren, which shall happen to be born
within any of the limits and
precincts of the said several colonies
and plantations shall have
and enjoy all liberties, franchises, and
immunities, within any
of our other dominions, to all intents
and purposes, as if they had
been abiding and born, within this our
realm of England, or any
other of our said dominions.
16. Moreover, our gracious will and
pleasure is, and we do,
by these presents for us, our heirs, and
successors, declare and
set forth, that if any person or
persons, which shall be of any of
the said colonies and plantations, or
any other, which shall traf-
fick to the said colonies and
plantations, or any of them, shall,
at any time or times hereafter,
transport any wares, merchan-
dises, or commodities, out of any of our
dominions, with a pre-
tence to land, sell, or otherwise
dispose of the same, within any of
the limits and precincts of any of the
said colonies and plantations,
and yet nevertheless, being at sea, or
after he hath landed the
same within any of the said colonies and
plantations, shall carry
the same into any other foreign country,
with a purpose there to
sell or dispose of the same, without the
licence of us, our heirs
and successors, in that behalf first had
and obtained; that then,
all the goods and chattels of such
person or persons, so offending
and transporting, together with the said
ship or vessel wherein
such transportation was made, shall be
forfeited to us, our heirs,
and successors.
17. Provided always, and our will and
pleasure is, and we
do hereby declare to all Christian
kings, princes, and states,
that if any person or persons which
shall hereafter be of any of
10 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
the said several colonies and
plantations, or any other, by his,
their or any of their license and
appointment, shall at any time
or times herafter, rob or spoil, by sea
or land, or do any act
of unjust and unlawful hostility, to any
of the subjects of us, our
heirs, or successors, or any the
subjects of any king, prince, ruler,
governor, or state, being then in league
or amity with us, our
heirs, or successors, and that upon such
injury, or upon just
complaint of such prince, ruler,
governor, or state, or their sub-
jects, we, our heirs, or successors,
shall make open proclamation
within any other ports of our realm of
England, commodious
for that purpose, that the person or
persons, having committed
any such robbery or spoil, shall, within
the term to be limited
by such proclamations, make full
restitution or satisfaction of
all such injuries done, so as the said
princes, or others, so com-
plaining, may hold themselves fully
satisfied and contented; and
that, if the said person or persons,
having committed such rob-
bery or spoil, shall not make, or cause
to be made, satisfaction
accordingly, within such time so to be
limited, that then it shall
be lawful to us, our heirs, and
successors, to put the said person
or persons, having committed such
robbery or spoil, and their
procurers, abetters, or comforters, out
of our allegience and
protection; and that it shall be lawful
and free for all princes and
others, to pursue with hostility the
said offenders, and every of
them, and their and every of their
procurers, aiders, abetters,
and comforters, in that behalf.
18. And finally, we do, for us, our
heirs, and successors,
grant and agree, to and with the said
Sir Thomas Gates, Sir
George Somers, Richard Hackluit, and
Edward-Maria Wing-
field, and all others of the said first
colony, that we, our heirs, and
successors, upon petition in that behalf
to be made, shall, by
letters, patent under the great seal of
England, give and grant
unto such persons, their heirs, and
assigns, as the council of
the colony, or the most part of them,
shall, for that purpose
nominate and assign, all the lands,
tenements, and hereditaments,
which shall be within the precincts
limited for that colony, as is
The Virginia Charters. 11
aforesaid, to be holden of us, our
heirs, and successors, as of
our manor of East-Greenwich in the
county of Kent, in free and
common soccage only, and not in capite:
19. And do, in like manner, grant and
agree, for us, our
heirs, and successors, to and with the
said Thomas Hanham,
Ralegh Gilbert, William Parker, and
George Popham, and all
others of the said second colony, that
we, our heirs, and suc-
cessors, upon petition in that behalf to
be made, shall, by letters
patent under the great seal of England,
give and grant unto such
persons, their heirs and assigns, as the
council of that colony, or
the most part of them, shall, for that
purpose, nominate and as-
sign, all the lands, tenements, and
hereditaments, which shall
be within the precincts limited for that
colony, as is aforesaid,
to be holden of us, our heirs, and
successors, as of our manor
of East-Greenwich in the colony of Kent,
in free and common
soccage only, and not in capite.
20. All which lands, tenements, and
hereditaments, so to
be passed by the said several letters
patent, shall be sufficient
assurance from the said patentees, so
distributed and divided
amongst the undertakers for the plantation
of the said several
colonies, and such as shall make their
plantations in either of
the said several colonies, in such
manner and form, and for such
estates, as shall be ordered and set
down by the council of the
said colony, or the most part of them,
respectively, within which
the same lands, tenements, and
hereditaments shall lye or be;
although express mention of the true
yearly value or certainty of
the premises or any of them, or of any
other gifts or grants,
by us, or any of our progenitors or
predecessors, to the aforesaid
Sir Thomas Gates, knight, Sir George
Somers, knight, Richard
Hackluit, Edward-Maria Wingfield, Thomas
Hanham, Ralegh
Gilbert, William Parker, and George
Popham, or any of them,
heretofore made, in these presents, is
not made; or any statute,
act, ordinance, or provision,
proclamation, or restraint, to the
contrary hereof had, made, ordained, or
any other thing, cause,
or matter whatsoever, in any wise
notwithstanding. In witness
12 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
whereof, we have caused these our
letters to be made patents;
witness ourself at Westminster, the
tenth day of April, in the
fourth year of the reign of England,
France, and Ireland. and
of Scotland the nine and thirtieth.
LUKIN.
Per breve de privato Sigillo.
THE SECOND CHARTER OF VIRGINIA
TO THE TREASURER AND COMPANY, FOR
VIRGINIA, ERECT-
ING THEM INTO A CORPORATION AND BODY
POLITIC, AND
FOR THE FURTHER ENLARGEMENT AND
EXPLANATION OF
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE SAID COMPANY AND
FIRST
COLONY OF VIRGINIA.
(DATED MAY 23, 1609. 7 JAMES 1sT.)
1. James, by the grace of God, king of
England, Scotland,
France, and Ireland, defender of the
faith, etc. To all, to whom
these presents shall come, greeting.
Whereas, at the humble
suit and request of sundry our loving
and well disposed subjects,
intending to deduce a colony, and to
make habitation and plan-
tation of sundry our people, in that
part of America, commonly
called Virginia, and other parts and
territories in America, either
appertaining unto us, or which are not
actually possessed of
any christian prince or people, within
certain bounds and regions.
We have formerly by our letters-patents,
bearing date the tenth
day of April, in the fourth year of our
reign of England, France,
and Ireland, and of Scotland the nine
and thirtieth, granted to
Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers, and
others, for the more
speedy accomplishment of the said
plantation and habitation, that
they should divide themselves into two
Colonies (the one con-
sisting of divers knights, gentlemen,
merchants, and others, of
The Virginia Charters. 13
our city of London, called the first
colony; and the other con-
sisting of divers knights, gentlemen,
and others, of our cities of
Bristol, Exeter, and town of Plimouth,
and other places, called
the second colony) and have yielded and
granted many and sun-
dry privileges and liberties to each
colony, for their quiet settling
and good government therein, as by the
said letters-patents more
at large appeareth:
2. Now, forasmuch as divers and sundry of
our loving
subjects, as well adventurers, as
planters, of the said first colony,
which have already engaged themselves in
furthering the business
of the said colony and plantation, and
do further intend, by the
assistance of Almighty God, to prosecute
the same to a happy
end, have of late been humble suitors
unto us, that (in respect
of their great charges and the adventure
of many of their lives,
which they have hazarded in the said
discovery and plantation
of the said country) we would be pleased
to grant them a further
enlargement and explanation of the said
grant, privileges, and
liberties, and that such counsellors,
and other officers, may be
appointed amongst them, to manage and
direct their affairs, as
are willing and ready to adventure with
them, as also whose
dwellings are not so far remote from the
city of London, but
that they may, at convenient times, be
ready at hand, to give their
advice and assistance, upon all
occasions requisite.
3. We, greatly affecting the effectual
prosecution and happy
success of the said plantation, and
commending their good de-
sires therein, for their further
encouragement in accomplishing
so excellent a work, much pleasing to
God, and profitable to
our kingdom, do, of our special grace
and certain knowledge,
and mere motion, for us, our heirs and
successors, give, grant,
and confirm, to our trusty and well
beloved subjects, Robert,
earl of Salisbury, Thomas, earl of
Suffolk, Henry, earl of South-
ampton, William, earl of Pembroke,
Henry, earl of Lincoln, earl
of Dorset, Thomas, earl of Exeter,
Philip, earl of Montgomery,
Robert, Lord Viscount Lisle, Theophilus,
Lord Howard of Wal-
den, James Montague, Lord Bishop of Bath
and Wells, Edward,
14 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
Lord Zouche, Thomas, Lord Lawarr,
William, Lord Mount-
eagle, Ralph, Lord Ewre, Edmond, Lord
Sheffield, Grey, Lord
Chandois, Lord Compton, John, Lord
Petre, John, Lord Stan-
hope, George, Lord Carew, Sir Humphrey
Weld, Lord Mayor
of London, George Percie, Esq., Sir
Edward Cecil, Knt. Sir
George Wharton, Knt. Francis, West, Esq.
Sir William Wade,
Knt. Sir Henry Nevil, Knt. Sir Thomas
Smith, Knt. Sir Oliver
Cromwell, Knt. Sir Peter Manwood, Knt.
Sir Drue Drury, Knt.
Sir John Scot, Knt. Sir Thomas
Challoner, Knt. Sir Robert
Drury, Knt. Sir Anthony Cope, Knt. Sir
Horatio Vere, Knt.
Sir Edward Conway, Knt. Sir William
Brown, Knt. Sir Maurice
Berkeley, Knt. Sir Robert Mansel, Knt.
Sir Amias Preston, Knt.
Sir Thomas Gates, Knt. Sir Anthony
Ashly, Knt. Sir Michael
Sandys, Knt. Sir Henry Carey, Knt. Sir
Stephen Soame, Knt.
Sir Calisthenes Brooke, Knt. Sir Edward
Michelborn, Knt. Sir
John Ratcliffe, Knt. Sir Charles Wilmot,
Knt. Sir George Moor,
Knt. Sir Hugh Wirral, Knt. Sir Thomas
Dennis, Knt. Sir John
Holles, Knt. Sir William Godolphin, Knt.
Sir Thomas Monson,
Knt. Sir Thomas Ridgwine, Knt. Sir John
Brooke, Knt. Sir
Robert Killigrew, Knt. Sir Henry Peyton,
Knt. Sir Richard
Williamson, Knt. Sir Ferdinando Weynman,
Knt. Sir William
St. John, Knt. Sir Thomas Holcroft, Knt.
Sir John Mallory, Knt.
Sir Roger Ashton, Knt. Sir Walter Cope,
Knt. Sir Richard Wig-
more, Knt. Sir William Coke, Knt. Sir
Herbert Crofte, Knt.
Sir Henry Fanshaw, Knt. Sir John Smith,
Knt. Sir Francis
Wolly, Knt. Sir Edward Waterhouse, Knt.
Sir Henry Seekford,
Knt. Sir Ewdin Sandys, Knt. Sir Thomas
Waynam, Knt. Sir
John Trevor, Knt. Sir Warwick Heele,
Knt. Sir Robert Worth,
Knt. Sir John Townsend, Knt. Sir
Christopher Perkins, Knt. Sir
Daniel Dun, Knt. Sir Henry Hobart, Knt.
Sir Francis Bacon,
Knt. Sir Henry Montague, Knt. Sir George
Coppin, Knt. Sir
Samuel Sandys, Knt. Sir Thomas Roe, Knt.
Sir George Somers,
Knt. Sir Thomas Freake, Knt. Sir Thomas
Harwell, Knt. Sir
Charles Kelke, Knt. Sir Baptist Hicks,
Knt. Sir John Watts,
Knt. Sir Robert Carey, Knt. Sir William
Romney, Knt. Sir
The Virginia Charters. 15
Thomas Middleton, Knt. Sir Hatton
Cheeke, Knt. Sir John
Ogle, Knt. Sir Cavallero Meycot, Knt.
Sir Stephen Riddlesdon,
Knt. Sir Thomas Bludder, Knt. Sir
Anthony Aucher, Knt. Sir
Robert Johnson, Knt. Sir Thomas Panton,
Knt. Sir Charles
Morgan, Knt. Sir Stephen Pole, Knt. Sir
John Burlacie, Knt.
Sir Christopher Cleave, Knt. Sir George
Hayward, Knt. Sir
Thomas Davis, Knt. Sir Thomas Sutton,
Knt. Sir Anthony For-
rest, Knt. Sir Robert Payne, Knt. Sir
John Digby, Knt. Sir Dud-
ley Digges, Knt. Sir Rowland Cotton,
Knt. Dr. Matthew Sut-
cliffe, Dr Meadows, Dr. Turner, Dr. Poe,
Captain Pagnam,
Captain Jeffrey Holcrofte, Captain
Romney, Captain Henry
Spry, Captain Shelton, Captain Sparks, Captain
Thomas Wyat,
Captain Brinsley, Captin William
Courtney, Captain Herbert,
Captain Clarke, Captain Dewhurst,
Captain John Blundell,
Captain Fryer, Captain Lewis Orwell,
Captain Edward Loyd,
Capt. Slingesby, Captain Hawley, Captain
Orme, Captain Wood-
house, Captain Mason, Captain Thomas
Holcroft, Captain John
Coke, Captain Holles, Captain William
Proude, Captain Henry
Woodhouse, Captain Richard Lindesey,
Captain Dexter, Captain
William Winter, Captain Pearse, Captain
John Bingham, Captain
Burray, Captain Thomas Conway, Captain
Rookwood, Captain
William Lovelace, Captain John Ashley,
Captain Thomas Wynne,
Captain Thomas Mewtis, Captain Edward
Harwood, Captain
Michael Everard, Captain Comock, Captain
Mills, Captain Pigot,
Captain Edward-Maria Wingfield, Captain
Christopher Newport,
Captain John Sicklemore, alias
Ratcliffe, Captain John Smith,
Captain John Martin, Captain Peter
Wynne, Captain Waldoe,
Captain Thomas Wood, Captain Thomas
Button, George Bolls,
Esq. sheriff of London, William Crashaw,
clerk, batchelor of
divinity, William Seabright, Esq.
Christopher Brooke, Esq. John
Bingley, Esq. Thomas Watson, Esq.
Richard Percival, Esq. John
Moore, Esq. Hugh Brooker, Esq. David
Woodhouse, Esq. An-
thony Aucher, Esq. Robert Bowyer, Esq.
Ralph Ewens, Esq.
Zachary Jones, Esq. George Calvert, Esq.
William Dobson,
Esq. Henry Reynolds, Esq. Thomas Walker,
Esq. Anthony Bar-
16
Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
nars, Esq. Thomas Sandys, Esq. Henry
Sandys, Esq. Richard
Sandys, Esq. Son of Sir Edwin Sandys,
William Oxenbridge,
Esq. John Moore, Esq. Thomas Wilson,
Esq. John Bullock, Esq.
John Waller, Esq. Thomas Webb, Jehu
Robinson, William
Brewster, Robert Evelyn, Henry Danby,
Richard Hackluit, Min-
ister, John Eldred, Merchant, William
Russel, Merchant, John
Merrick, Merchant, Richard Banister,
Merchant, Charles An-
thony, Goldsmith, John Banks, William
Evans, Richard Humble,
Richard Chamberlayne, Merchant, Thomas
Barber, Merchant,
Richard Pomet, Merchant, John Fletcher,
merchant, Thomas
Nichols, merchant, John Stoke, merchant,
Gabriel Archer, Fran-
cis Covel, William Bonham, Edward Harrison,
John Wolsten-
holme, Nicholas Salter, Hugh Evans,
William Barnes, Otho
Mawdet, Richard Staper, merchant, John
Elkin, merchant, Wil-
liam Coyse, Thomas Perkin, cooper,
Humphry James, cooper,
Henry Jackson, Robert Singleton,
Christopher Nichols, John
Harper, Abraham Chamberlayne, Thomas Shipton, Thomas
Carpenter, Anthony Crew, George Holman,
Robert Hill, Cleophas
Smith, Ralph Harrison, John Farmer,
James Brearley, William
Crosby, Richard Cox, John Gearing,
Richard Strongarm, iron-
mongers, Thomas Langton, Griffith
Hinton, Richard Ironside,
Richard Dean, Richard Turner, William
Lawson, mercer, James
Chatfield, Edw'd Allen Tedder, Robert
Hilderbrand Sprinson,
Arthur Mouse, John Gardiner, James
Russel, Richard Caswell,
Richard Evans, John Hawkins, Richard
Kerril, Richard Brooke,
Matthew Scrivener, gentleman, William
Stallenge, gentleman,
Arthur Venn, gentleman, Sandys Webbe,
gentleman, Michael
Phettiplace, gentleman, William
Phettiplace, gentleman, Ambrose
Prusey, gentleman, John Taverner,
gentleman, George Pretty,
gentleman, Peter Latham, gentleman,
Thomas Montford, gen-
tleman, William Cantrel, gentleman,
Richard Wiffin, gentleman,
Ralph Moreton, gentleman, John
Cornelius, Martin Freeman,
Ralph Freeman, Andrew Moore, Thomas
White, Edward Perkin,
Robert Offley, Thomas Whitley, George
Pit, Robert Parkhurst,
Thomas Morris, Peter Harloe, Jeffry
Duppa, John Gilbert, Wil-
The Virginia Charters. 17
liam Hancock, Matthew Brown, Francis
Tyrrel, Randal Carter,
Othowell Smith, Thomas Hamond, Martin
Bond, haberdasher,
John Moulsoe, Robert Johnson, William
Young, John Woodal,
William Felgate, Humfrey Westwood,
Richard Champion, Henry
Robinson, Francis Mapes, William
Sambach, Relegh Crashaw,
Daniel Tucker, Thomas Grave, Hugh
Willeston, Thomas Cul-
pepper, of Wigsel, Esq. John Culpepper,
gentleman, Henry Lee,
Josias Kirton, gentleman, John Pory,
gentleman, Henry Collins,
George Burton, William Atkinson, Thomas
Forest, John Russel,
John Holt, Harman Harrison, Gabriel
Beedel, John Beedel,
Henry Dawkes, George Scot, Edward
Fleetwood, gentleman,
Richard Rogers, gentleman, Arthur Robinson,
Robert Ro-
binson, John Huntley, John Gray,
William Payne, William
Field, William Wattey, William Webster,
John Dingley, Thomas
Draper, Richard Glanvil, Arnold Hulls,
Henry Roe, William
Moore, Nicholas Gryce, James Monger,
Nicholas Andrews,
Jeremy Haydon, Ironmonger, Philip
Durette, John Quarles, John
West, Matthew Springham, John Johnson,
Christopher Hore,
Thomas Snead, George Berkely, Arthur
Pet, Thomas Careles,
William Berkely, Thomas Johnson,
Alexander Bents, Captain
William King, George Sandys, gentleman,
James White, gentle-
man, Edmond Wynne, Charles Towler,
Richard Reynold, Edward
Webb, Richard Maplesden, Thomas Lever,
David Bourne,
Thomas Wood, Ralph Hamer, Edward Barnes,
mercer, John
Wright, mercer, Robert Middleton, Edward
Littlefield, Katharine
West, Thomas Web, Ralph King, Robert
Koppin, James Askew,
Christopher Holt, William Bardwell,
Alexander Chiles, Lewis
Tate, Edward Ditchfield, James Swifte,
Richard Widdowes, gold-
smith, Edmond Brudenell, Edward Burwell,
John Hansford, Ed-
ward Wooller, William Palmer,
haberdasher, John Badger, John
Hodgson, Peter Mounsel, John Carril,
John Bushridge, William
Dun, Thomas Johnson, Nicholas Benson,
Thomas Shipton, Na-
thaniel Wade, Randal Wetwood, Matthew
Dequester, Charles
Hawkins, Hugh Hamersley, Abraham
Cartwright, George Ben-
net, William Cater, Richard Goddart,
Henry Cromwell, Phineas
18 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
Pet, Robert Cooper, John Cooper, Henry
Newce, Edward Wilkes,
Robert Bateman, Nicholas Farrar, John
Newhouse, John Cason,
Thomas Harris, gentleman, George
Etheridge, gentleman,
Thomas Mayle, gentleman, Richard
Stafford, Thomas-------,
Richard Cooper, John Westrow, Edward
Welch, Thomas Bri-
tain, Thomas Knowles, Octavian Thorne,
Edmond Smith, John
March, Edward Carew, Thomas Pleydall,
Richard Let, Miles
Palmer, Henry Price, John Joshua,
gentleman, William Clauday,
Jeremy Pearsye, John Bree, gentleman,
William Hampson,
Christopher Pickford, Thomas Hunt,
Thomas Truston, Chris-
topher Salmon, John Howard, clerk,
Richard Partridge, Allen
Cassen, Felix Wilson, Thomas Bathurst,
George Wilmer, Andrew
Wilmer, Maurice Lewellin, Thomas Godwin,
Peter Burgoyne,
Thomas Burgoyne, Robert Burgoyne, Robert
Smith, merchant-
taylor, Edward Cage, grocer, Thomas
Cannon, gentleman, Wil-
liam Welby, stationer, Clement Wilmer,
gentleman, John Clap-
ham, gentleman, Giles Francis,
gentleman, George Walker, sad-
ler, John Swinhow, stationer, Edward
Bishop, stationer, Leonard
White, gentleman, Christopher Baron,
Peter Benson, Richard
Smith, George Proctor, minister,
Millicent Ramsden, widow,
Joseph Soane, Thomas Hinshaw, John
Baker, Robert Thornton,
John Davis, Edward Facit, George Newce,
gentleman, John Ro-
binson, Captain Thomas Wood, William
Brown, shoemaker, Ro-
bert Barker, shoemaker, Robert
Pennington, Francis Burley, min-
ister, William Quick, grocer, Edward
Lewis, grocer, Laurence
Campe, draper, Aden Perkins, grocer,
Richard Shepherd, preacher,
William Sherley, haberdasher, William
Taylor, haberdasher, Edwin
Lukin, gentleman, John Franklyn,
haberdasher, John Southwick,
Peter Peate, George Joban, Ironmonger,
George Yeardley, gen-
tleman, Henry Shelley, John Prat, Thomas
Church, draper,
William Powel, gentleman, Richard Frith,
gentleman, Thomas
Wheeler, draper, Francis Haselrig,
gentleman, Hugh Shipley,
gentleman, John Andrews, the elder,
doctor of Cambridge, Fran-
cis Whistler, gentleman, John Vassal,
gentleman, Richard Howle,
Edward Berkely, gentleman, Richard
Keneridgburg, gentleman,
The Virginia Charters. 19
Nicholas Exton, draper, William Bennet,
fishmonger, James Hay-
wood, merchant, Nicholas Isaac,
merchant, William Gibbs,
merchant, Bishop, Bernard Mitchel, Isaac
Mitchel, John Streate,
Edward Gall, John Martin, gentleman,
Thomas Fox, Luke
Lodge, John Woodliffe, gentleman,
Richard Webb, Vincent Low,
Samuel Burnham, Edmund Pears,
haberdasher, John George,
John St. John, Edward Vaughan, William
Dunn, Thomas Al-
cocke, John Andrews the younger, of
Cambridge, Samuel Smith,
Thomas Gerrard, Thomas Whittingham,
William Canning, Paul
Canning, George Chandler, Henry Vincent,
Thomas Ketley,
James Skelton, James Mountaine, George
Webb, gentleman,
Joseph Newbridge, Smith, Josiah Mand,
Captain Ralph Hamer,
the younger, Edward Brewster, the son of
William Brewster,
Leonard Harwood, Mercer, Philip
Druerdent, William Carpenter,
Tristian Hill, Robert Cock, Grocer,
Laurence Grecie, Grocer,
Samuel Winch, grocer, Humphrey Stile,
grocer, Avern Drans-
field, grocer, Edward Hodges, grocer,
Edward Beale, grocer,
Thomas Culler, grocer, Ralph Busby,
grocer, John Whittingham,
grocer, John Hide, grocer, Matthew
Shepherd, grocer, Thomas
Allen, grocer, Richard Hooker, grocer,
Lawrence Munks, grocer,
John Tanner, grocer, Peter Gate, grocer,
John Blunt, grocer,
Robert Phips, grocer, Robert Berrisford,
grocer, Thomas Wells,
grocer, John Ellis, grocer, Henry
Colthurst, grocer, John Cavady,
grocer, Thomas Jennings, grocer, Edmond
Pashall, grocer, Tim-
othy Bathurst, grocer, Giles Parslow,
grocer, Robert Milmay,
grocer, Richard Johnson, grocer, William
Johnson, vintner, Eze-
kiel Smith, Richard Martin, William
Sharp, Robert Rich, William
Stannard, innholder, John Stocken,
William Strachey, gentleman,
George Farmer, gentleman, Thomas Gypes,
clothworker, Abra-
ham Davies, gentleman, Thomas Brockett,
gentleman, George
Bache, fishmonger, John Dike,
fishmonger, Henry Spranger,
Richard Farrington, Christopher Vertue,
vintner, Thomas Bay-
ley, vintner, George Robins, vintner,
Tobias Hinson, grocer,
Vrian Spencer, Clement Chickeley, John
Scarpe, gentleman,
James Campbell, ironmonger, Christopher
Clitheroe, ironmonger,
20 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
Philip Jacobson, Peter Jacobson, of
Antwerp, William Berkeley,
Miles Banks, cutler, Peter Higgons,
grocer, Henry John, gentle-
man, John Stockley, merchant-taylor, the
company of mercers,
the company of grocers, the company of
drapers, the company of
fishmongers, the company of goldsmiths,
the company of skinners,
the company of merchant-taylors, the
company of haberdashers,
the company of salters, the company of
ironmongers, the com-
pany of vintners, the company of
clothworkers, the company of
dyers, the company of brewers, the
company of leathersellers, the
company of pewterers, the company of
cutlers, the company of
white-bakers, the company of
wax-chandlers, the company of tal-
low-chandlers, the company of armorers,
the company of girdlers,
the company of butchers, the company of
sadlers, the company of
carpenters, the company of cordwaynes,
the company of barber-
chirurgeons, the company of
paint-stainers, the company of
curriers, the company of masons, the
company of plumbers, the
company innholders, the company of
founders, the company of
poulterers, the company of cooks, the
company of coopers, the
company of tylers and bricklayers, the
company of bowyers, the
company of Fletchers, the company of
blacksmiths, the company
of joiners, the company of weavers, the
company of woolmen, the
company of woodmongers, the company of
scriveners, the com-
pany of fruiterers, the company of
plaisterers, the company of
Brownbakers, the company of stationers,
the company of im-
broiderers, the company of upholders,
the company of musicians,
the company of turners, the company of
gardiners, the company
of basket-makers, the company of
glaziers, John Levet, merchant,
Thomas Nornicot, clothworker, Richard
Venn, haberdasher,
Thomas Scot, gentleman, Thomas Buxon,
merchant-taylor,
George Hankinson, Thomas Seyer,
gentleman, Matthew Cooper,
George Butler, gentleman, Thomas Lawson,
gentleman, Edward
Smith, haberdasher, Steven Sparrow, John
Jones, merchant, --
Reynolds, brewer, Thomas Plummer,
merchant, James Duppa,
brewer, Rowland Coitmore, William
Southerne, George Whit-
more, haberdasher, Anthony Gosnold, the
younger, John Allen,
The Virginia Charters. 21
fishmonger, Simon Yeomans, fishmonger,
Lancelot Davis, gen-
tleman, John Hopkins, alderman of
Bristol, John Kettleby, gentle-
man, Richard Clene, goldsmith, George
Hooker, gentleman, Ro-
bert Chening, yeoman; and to such and so
many, as they do, or
shall hereafter admit to be joined with
them, in form hereafter in
these presents expressed, whether they
go in their persons to be
planters there in the said plantation,
or whether they go not,
but adventure their monies, goods, or
chattles; That they shall
be one body or commonalty perpetual, and
shall have perpetual
succession, and one common seal, to
serve for the said body or
commonalty; and that they, and their
successors, shall be known,
called, and incorporated by the name of,
The Treasurer and Com-
pany of Adventurers and Planters of the
City of London for the
first Colony in Virginia:
4. And that they and their successors,
shall be, from hence-
forth, forever enabled to take, acquire
and purchase, by the name
aforesaid (licence for the same, from
us, our heirs or successors,
first had and obtained) any manner of
lands, tenements, and
hereditaments, good and chattels, within
our realm of England,
and dominion of Wales:
5. And that they and their successors,
shall likewise be
enabled, by the name aforesaid, to plead
and be impleaded, before
any of our judges or justices, in any of
our courts, and in any
actions or suits whatsoever.
6. And we do also of our special grace,
certain knowledge
and mere motion, give, grant and
confirm, unto the said treasurer
and company, and their successors, under
the reservations, limi-
tations, and declarations, hereafter
expressed, all those lands,
countries, and territories, situate,
lying, and being, in that part
of America called Virginia, from the
point of land called Cape
or Point Comfort, all along the sea
coast, to the northward two
hundred miles, and from the said point
of Cape Comfort, all along
the sea coast to the southward two
hundred miles, and all that
space and circuit of land, lying from
the sea coast of the pre-
cinct aforesaid, up into the land,
throughout from sea to sea,
22 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
west and northwest; and also all the
islands, lying within one
hundred miles, along the coast of both
seas of the precinct afore-
said; together with all the soils,
grounds, havens, and ports,
mines, as well royal mines of gold and
silver, as other minerals,
pearls and precious stones, quarries,
woods, rivers, waters, fish-
ings, commodities, jurisdictions,
royalties, privileges, franchises
and preheminences, within the said
territories, and the precincts
thereof, whatsoever, and thereto and
thereabouts, both by sea
and land, being or in any sort belonging
or appertaining, and
which we, by our letters patents, may or
can grant, in as ample
manner and sort, as we or any of our
noble progenitors, have
heretofore granted to any company, body
politick or corporate,
or to any adventurer or adventurers,
undertaker or undertakers,
of any discoveries, Plantations, or
traffick, of, in or into any for-
eign parts whatsoever, and in as large
and ample manner, as
if the same were herein particularly
mentioned and expressed;
to have and to hold, possess and enjoy,
all and singular the said
lands, countries and territories, with
all and singular other the
premises, heretofore by these presents
granted, or mentioned to
be granted, to them, the said treasurer
and company, their suc-
cessors and assigns for ever; to the
sole and proper use of
them, the said treasurer and company,
their successors and
assigns for ever; to be holden of us,
our heirs, and succes-
sors, as of our manour of East
Greenwich, in free and com-
mon soccage, and not in capite; yielding
and paying, there-
fore, to us, our heirs, and successors,
the fifth part only of all
ore of gold and silver, that from time
to time, and at all times
hereafter, shall be there gotten, had,
or obtained for all manner
of services.
7. And nevertheless, our will and
pleasure is, and we do,
by these presents, charge, command,
warrant, and authorize, that
the said treasurer and company, or their
successors, or the major
part of them, which shall be present and
assembled for that
purpose, shall, from time to time, under
their common seal, dis-
tribute, convey, assign, and set over,
such particular portions of
The Virginia Charters. 23
lands, tenements and hereditaments, by
these presents formerly
granted, unto such our loving subjects,
naturally born, or den-
izens, or others, as well adventurers as
planters, as by the said
company (upon a commission of survey and
distribution, exe-
cuted and returned for that purpose,)
shall be nominated, ap-
pointed, and allowed; wherein our will
and pleasure is, that re-
spect be had, as well of the proportion
of the adventurer, as to
the special service, hazard, exploit, or
merit of any person so to
be recompensed, advanced, or rewarded.
8. And forasmuch, as the good and
prosperous success
of the said plantation cannot but
chiefly depend, next under the
blessing of God, and the support of our
royal authority, upon
the provident and good direction of the
whole enterprize, by a
careful and understanding council, and
that it is not convenient,
that all the adventurers shall be so
often drawn to meet and as-
semble, as shall be requisite for them
to have meetings and con-
ference about the affairs thereof;
therefore we do ordain, estab-
lish and confirm, that there shall be
perpetually one council here
resident, according to the tenour of our
former letters patents;
which council shall have a seal, for the
better government and
administration of the said plantation,
besides the legal seal of the
company or corporation, as in our former
letters patents is also
expressed.
9. And further, we establish and ordain,
that Henry, Earl
of Southampton, William, Earl of
Pembroke, Henry, Earl of
Lincoln, Thomas, Earl of Exeter, Robert,
Lord Viscount Lisle,
Lord Theophilus Howard, James, Lord
Bishop of Bath and Wells,
Edward, Lord Zouche, Thomas, Lord
Lawarr, William, Lord
Monteagle, Edmund, Lord Sheffield, Grey,
Lord Chandois, John,
Lord Stanhope, George, Lord Carew, Sir
Humfrey Weld, Lord
Mayor of London, Sir Edward Cecil, Sir
William Wade, Sir
Henry Nevil, Sir Thomas Smith, Sir
Oliver Cromwell, Sir Peter
Manwood, Sir Thomas Challoner, Sir Henry
Hobart, Sir Francis
Bacon, Sir George Coppin, Sir John Scot,
Sir Henry Carey, Sir
Robert Drury, Sir Horatio Vere, Sir
Edward Conway, Sir Maurice
24 Ohio Arch. and His. Soeiety Publications.
Berkeley, Sir Thomas Gates, Sir Michael
Sandys, Sir Robert Man-
sel, Sir John Trevor, Sir Amias Preston,
Sir William Godolphin,
Sir Walter Cope, Sir Robert Killigrew,
Sir Henry Fanshaw, Sir
Edwin Sandys, Sir John Watts, Sir Henry
Montague, Sir William
Romney, Sir Thomas Roe, Sir Baptist
Hicks, Sir Richard Wil-
liamson, Sir Stephen Poole, Sir Dudley
Digges, Christopher
Brooke, Esq. John Eldred, and John
Wolstenholme, shall be
our Council for the said Company of
Adventurers and Planters
in Virginia.
10. And the said Thomas Smith we do
ordain to be treas-
urer of the said company; which
treasurer shall have authority
to give order, for the warning of the
council, and summoning the
company, to their courts and meetings.
11. And the said council and treasurer,
or any of them,
shall be from henceforth, nominated,
chosen, continued, displaced,
changed, altered, and supplied, as
death, or other several occa-
sions, shall require, out of the company
of the said adventurers,
by the voice of the greater part of the
said company and adven-
turers, in their assembly for that
purpose: Provided always, that
every counsellor, so newly elected,
shall be presented to the lord
chancellor of England, or to the lord
high treasurer of Eng-
land, or to the lord chamberlain of the
household of us, our heirs,
and successors, for the time being, to
take his oath of a coun-
sellor to us, our heirs and successors,
for the said company of
adventurers and colony in Virginia.
12. And we do by these presents, of our
special grace, cer-
tain knowledge, and mere motion, for us,
our heirs and succes-
sors, grant unto the said treasurer and
company, and their suc-
cessors, that if it happen, at any time
or times, the treasurer for
the time being to be sick, or to have
any such cause of absence
from the city of London, as shall be
allowed by the said council,
or the greater part of them, assembled,
so as he cannot attend
the affairs of that company, in every
such case, it shall and may
be lawful for such treasurer for the
time being, to assign, con-
stitute and appoint, one of the council
or company, to be like-
The Virginia Charters. 25
wise allowed by the council, or the
greater part of them, assem-
bled, to be the deputy treasurer of the
said company; which
deputy shall have power to do and
execute all things, which be-
long to the said treasurer, during such
time, as such treasurer
shall be either sick, or otherwise
absent upon cause allowed of
by the said council, or the major part
of them, as aforesaid, so
fully and wholly, and in as large and
ample manner and form,
to all intents and purposes, as the said
treasurer, if he were pres-
ent, himself might or could do and
execute the same.
13. And further, of our special grace, certain knowledge,
and mere motion, for us, our heirs, and
successors, we do, by
these presents, give and grant full
power and authority to our
said council, here resident, as well at
this present time, as here-
after from time to time, to nominate,
make, constitute, ordain,
and confirm, by such name or names,
stile or stiles, as to them
shall seem good, and likewise to revoke,
discharge, change, and
alter, as well all and singular
governors, officers, and ministers,
which already have been made, as also
which hereafter shall be
by them thought fit and needful to be
made or used, for the gov-
ernment of the said colony and
plantation;
14. And also to make, ordain, and establish all manner of
orders, laws, directions, instructions,
forms, and ceremonies of
government and magistracy, fit and
necessary, for and concerning
the government of the said colony and
plantation; and the same
at all times hereafter, to abrogate,
revoke, or change, not only
within the precincts of the said colony,
but also upon the seas
in going and coming, to and from the
said colony, as they, in
their good discretion, shall think to be
fittest for the good of the
adventurers and inhabitants there.
15. And we do also declare, that, for
divers reasons and
considerations us thereunto especially
moving, our will and
pleasure is, and we do hereby ordain,
that immediately from and
after such time, as any such governor or
principal officer, so to
be nominated and appointed, by our said
council, for the govern-
ment of the said colony, as aforesaid,
shall arrive in Virginia,
26 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
and give notice unto the colony there
resident of our pleasure
in this behalf, the government, power,
and authority of the pres-
ident and council, heretofore by our
former letters patents there
established, and all laws and
constitutions, by them formerly
made, shall utterly cease and be
determined, and all officers,
governors, and ministers, formerly
constituted or appointed, shall
be discharged, any thing, in our former
letters patents concern-
ing the said plantation contained, in
any wise to the contrary
notwithstanding; straightly charging and
commanding the pres-
ident and council, now resident in the
said colony, upon their
allegiance, after knowledge given unto
them of our will and
pleasure, by these presents signified
and declared, that they forth-
with be obedient to such governor or
governors, as by our said
council, here resident, shall be named
and appointed, as afore-
said, and to all directions, orders and
commandments, which they
shall receive from them, as well in the
present resigning and
giving up of their authority, offices,
charge and places, as in all
other attendance, as shall be by them,
from time to time, required.
16. And we do further, by these
presents, ordain and estab-
lish, that the said treasurer and
council here resident, and their
successors, or any four of them, being
assembled (the treasurer
being one) shall, from time to time,
have full power and author-
ity, to admit and receive any other
person into their company,
corporation and freedom; and further, in
a general assembly of
the adventurers, with the consent of the
greater part, upon good
cause, to disfranchise and put out any
person or persons, out of
the said freedom and company.
17. And we do also grant and confirm,
for us, our heirs and
successors, that it shall be lawful for
the said treasurer and com-
pany, and their successors, by direction
of the governors there,
to dig and to search for all manner of
mines of gold, silver, cop-
per, iron, lead, tin, and all sorts of
minerals, as well within the
precinct aforesaid, as within any part
of the main land, not for-
merly granted to any other; and to have
and enjoy the gold, silver,
copper, iron, lead, and tin, and all
other minerals to be gotten
The Virginia Charters. 27
thereby to the use and behoof of the
said company of planters and
adventurers; yielding thereof, and
paying yearly, unto us, our
heirs and successors, as aforesaid.
18. And we do further, of our special
grace, certain knowl-
edge, and mere motion, for us, our
heirs, and successors, grant,
by these presents, to and with the said
treasurer and company,
and their successors, that it shall be
lawful and free for them,
and their assigns, at all and every time
and times hereafter, out
of our realm of England, and out of all
other our dominions,
to take and lead into the said voyages,
and for and towards
the said plantation, and to travel
thitherwards, and to abide and
inhabit there in the said colony and
plantation, all such and so
many of our loving subjects, or any
other strangers, that will
become our loving subjects and live
under our obedience, as
shall willingly accompany them in the
said voyage and planta-
tion; with sufficient shipping, armour,
weapons, ordnance, mu-
nition, powder, shot, victuals, and such
merchandizes or wares,
as are esteemed by the wild people in
those parts, clothing,
implements, furniture, cattle, horses,
and mares, and all other
things, necessary for the said
plantation, and for their use, and
defence, and trade with the people
there; and in passing and
returning to and fro; without yielding
or paying subsidy, cus-
tom, imposition, or any other tax or
duty, to us, our heirs or
successors, for the space of seven years
from the date of these
presents: Provided, that none of the
said persons be such, as
shall be hereafter, by especial name,
restrained by us, our heirs,
and successors.
19. And for their further encouragement,
of our special
grace and favor, we do, by these
presents, for us, our heirs,
and successors, yield and grant, to and
with the said treasurer
and company, and their successors, and
every of them, their
factors, and assigns, that they and
every of them, shall be free
of all subsidies and customs in
Virginia, for the space of one
and twenty years, and from all taxes and
impositions, for ever,
upon any goods or merchandises, at any
time or times hereafter,
28 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
either upon importation thither, or
exportation from thence,
into our realms of England, or into any
other of our realms or
dominions, by the said treasurer and
company, and their suc-
cessors, their deputies, factors, or
assigns, or any of them: Ex-
cept only the five pounds per cent. due
for custom, upon all
such goods and merchandizes, as shall be
brought or imported
into our realm of England, or any other
of these our dominions,
according to the ancient trade of
merchants; which five pounds
per cent. only being paid, it shall be
thenceforth lawful and free for
the said adventurers, the same goods and
merchandizes to ex-
port, and carry out of our said
dominions, into foreign parts,
without any custom, tax, or other duty,
to be paid to us, our
heirs, or successors, or to any other
our officers or deputies:
Provided, that the said goods and
merchandizes be shipped out,
within thirteen months, after the first
landing within any part
of those dominions.
20. And we do also grant and confirm to
the said treasurer
and company, and their successors, as
also to all and every
such governor, or other officers and
ministers, as by our said
council shall be appointed to have
power, authority of government
and command, in or over the said colony
or plantation; that
they, and every of them, shall and
lawfully may, from time to
time, and at all times for ever
hereafter, for their several defence
and safety, encounter, expulse, repel,
and resist, by force and arms,
as well by sea as by land, and all ways
and means whatsoever,
all and every such person and persons
whatsoever, as (without
the special licence of the said
treasurer and company, and their
successors) shall attempt to inhabit,
within the said several pre-
cincts and limits of the said colony and
plantation; and also, all
and every such person and persons
whatsoever, as shall enter-
prise or attempt, at any time hereafter,
destruction, invasion,
hurt, detriment, or annoyance, to the
said colony and plantation,
as is likewise specified in the said
former grant.
21. And that it shall be lawful for the
said treasurer and
company, and their successors, and every
of them, from time
The Virginia Charters. 29
to time, and at all times for ever
hereafter, and they shall have
full power and authority, to take and
surprise, by all ways and
means whatsoever, all and every person
and persons whatso-
ever, with their ships, goods, and other
furniture, trafficking in
any harbor, creek, or place, within the
limits or precincts of
the said colony and plantation, not
being allowed by the said
company to be adventurers or planters of
the said colony, until
such time, as they, being of any realms
and dominions under our
obedience, shall pay, or agree to pay,
to the hands of the treas-
urer or of some other officer, deputed
by the said governor of
Virginia (over and above such subsidy
and custom, as the said
company is, or hereafter shall be, to
pay) five pounds per cent.
upon all goods and merchandizes so
brought in thither, and also
five per cent. upon all goods by them
shipped out from thence;
and being strangers, and not under our
obedience, until they
have paid (over and above such subsidy
and custom, as the said
treasurer and company, or their
successors, is, or hereafter shall
be, to pay) ten pounds per cent. upon
all such goods, likewise,
carried in and out, any thing, in the
said former letters patents,
to the contrary notwithstanding; and the
same sums of money
and benefit, aforesaid, for and during
the space of one and
twenty years, shall be wholly employed
to the benefit, use, and
behoof of the said colony and
plantation; and after the said one
and twenty years ended, the same shall
be taken to the use of
us, our heirs, and successors, by such
officers and ministers,
as by us, our heirs, or successors,
shall be thereunto assigned
and appointed, as is specified in the
said former letters patents.
22. Also, we do, for us, our heirs, and
successors, declare,
by these presents, that all and every
the persons, being our sub-
jects, which shall go and inhabit within
the said colony and
plantation, and every their children and
posterity, which shall
happen to be born within any of the
limits thereof, shall have and
enjoy all liberties, franchises, and
immunities of free denizens
and natural subjects, within any of our
other dominions, to all
intents and purposes, as if they had
been abiding and born,
30 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
within this our realm of England, or in
any other of our do-
minions.
23. And forasmuch, as it shall be
necessary for all such our
loving subjects, as shall inhabit
within the said precincts of Vir-
ginia, aforesaid, to determine to live
together, in the fear and
true worship of Almighty God, Christian
peace, and civil quiet-
ness, each with other, whereby every
one may, with more safety,
pleasure, and profit, enjoy that,
whereunto they shall attain with
great pain, and peril; we, for us, our
heirs, and successors,
are likewise pleased and contented, and
by these presents, do
give and grant unto the said treasurer
and company, and their
successors, and to such governors,
officers, and ministers, as
shall be, by our said council,
constituted and appointed, accord-
ing to the natures and limits of their
offices and places respect-
ively, that they shall and may, from
time to time forever here-
after, within the said precincts, of
Virginia, or in the way by
sea thither and from thence, have full
and absolute power and
authority, to correct, punish, pardon,
govern and rule, all such
the subjects of us, our heirs and
successors, as shall, from time
to time, adventure themselves in any
voyage thither, or that
shall, at any time hereafter, inhabit
in the precincts and terri-
tories of the said colony, as
aforesaid, according to such orders,
ordinances, constitutions, directions,
and instructions, as by our
said council, as aforesaid, shall be
established; and in defect
thereof, in case of necessity,
according to the good discretions of
the said governor and officers,
respectively, as well in cases cap-
ital and criminal as civil, both marine
and other; So always, as
the said statutes, ordinances and
proceedings, as near as con-
veniently may be, be agreeable to the
laws, statutes, government,
and policy of our realm of this England.
24. And we do further, of our special
grace, certain knowl-
edge, and mere motion, giant, declare
and ordain, that such prin-
cipal governor, as, from time to time,
shall duly and lawfully
be authorized and appointed, in manner
and form in these presents
heretofore expressed, shall have full
power and authority, to use
The Virginia Charters. 31
and exercise martial law, in cases of
rebelion or mutiny, in as large
and ample manner, as our lieutenants in
our counties, within this
our realm of England, have or ought to
have, by force of their
commissioners of Lieutenantcy.
25. And furthermore, if any person or
persons, adventurers
or planters of the said colony, or any
other, at any time or times
hereafter, shall transport any monies,
goods or merchandises,
out of any of our kingdoms, with a pretence
or purpose, to land,
sell or otherwise dispose of the same,
within the limits or bounds
of the said colony, and yet
nevertheless, being at sea, or after
he hath landed within any part of the
said colony, shall carry the
same into any other foreign country,
with a purpose there to sell
and dispose thereof; that then all the
goods and chattels of the
said person, or persons, so offending
and transported, together
with the ship or vessel, wherein such
transportation was made,
shall be forfeited to us, our heirs and
successors.
26. And further our will and pleasure
is, that in all ques-
tions and doubts, that shall arise, upon
any difficulty of con-
struction or interpretation of any
thing, contained either in this,
or in our said former letters patents,
the same shall be taken and
interpreted, in most ample and
beneficial manner for the said
treasurer and company, and their
successors, and every member
thereof.
27. And further, we do, by these
presents, ratify and con-
firm unto the said treasurer and
company, and their successors,
all the privileges, franchises,
liberties, and immunities, granted
in our said former letters patents, and
not in these our letters
patents revoked, altered, changed, or
abridged.
28. And finally, our will and pleasure
is, and we do further,
hereby, for us, our heirs, and
successors, grant and agree, to
and with the said treasurer and company,
and their successors,
that all and singular person and
persons, which shall, at any time
or times hereafter, adventure any sum or
sums of money, in and
towards the said plantation of the said
colony in Virginia, and
shall be admitted by the said council
and company, as adven-
32 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
turers of the said colony, in form
aforesaid, and shall be enrolled
in the book or records of the
adventurers of the said company,
shall and may be accounted, accepted,
taken, held, and reputed,
adventurers of the said colony, and
shall and may enjoy all and
singular grants, privileges, liberties,
benefits, profits, commodi-
ties, and immunities, advantages, and
emoluments, whatsoever,
as fully, largely, amply, and
absolutely, as if they, and every of
them, had been precisely, plainly,
singularly, and distinctly, named
and inserted in these our letters
patents.
29. And lastly, because the principal
effect, which we can
desire or expect of this action, is the
conversion and reduction of
the people in those parts unto the true
worship of God and Chris-
tian religion, in which respect we
should be loath, that any person
should be permitted to pass, that we
suspected to effect the super-
stitions of the church of Rome; we do
hereby declare, that it is
our will and pleasure, that none be
permitted to pass in any voy-
age, from time to time to be made into
the said country, but such,
as first shall have taken the oath of
supremacy; for which pur-
pose, we do, by these presents, give
full power and authority,
to the treasurer for the time being, and
any three of the council,
to tender and exhibit the said oath, to
all such persons, as shall,
at any time, be sent and employed in the
said voyage. Although
express mention of the true yearly value
or certainty of the prem-
ises, or any of them, or of any other
gifts or grants, by us or
any of our progenitors or predecessors,
to the aforesaid treasurer
and company heretofore made, in these
presents is not made;
or any act, statute, ordinance,
provision, proclamation, or re-
straint, to the contrary hereof had,
made, ordained, or provided,
or any other thing, cause, or matter,
whatsoever, in any wise not-
withstanding. In witness whereof, we
have caused these our
letters to be made patent. Witness
ourself at Westminster, the
23d day of May, in the seventh year of
our reign of England,
France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the
* * * *
Per ipsum Regem.
LUKIN.
The Virginia Charters. 33
THE THIRD CHARTER OF VIRGINIA
To THE TREASURER AND COMPANY, FOR
VIRGINIA.
(DATED MARCH 12, 1611-2.)
1. James, by the grace of God, king of
England, Scotland,
France and Ireland, defender of the
faith; to all to whom these
presents shall come greeting, Whereas,
at the humble suit of
divers and sundry our loving subjects,
as well adventurers as
planters of the first colony in
Virginia, and for the propagation
of christian religion, and reclaiming of
people barbarous to civil-
ity and humanity, we have, by our
letters patents, bearing date,
at Westminster, the three and twentieth
day of May, in he sev-
enth year of our reign of England,
France, and Ireland, and the
two and fortieth of Scotland, given and
granted unto them, that
they, and all such and so many of our
loving subjects, as should
from time to time for everafter, be
joined with them, as planters
or adventurers in the said plantation,
and their successors, for-
ever, should be one body politick,
incorporated by the name of,
The Treasurer and Company of Adventurers
and Planters of
the city of London for the first Colony
in Virginia.
2. And whereas also, for the greater
good and benefit of the
said company, and for the better
furtherance, strengthening, and
establishing of the said plantation, we
did further give, grant
and confirm, by our said letters
patents, unto the said treasurer,
and company, and their successors, for
ever, all those lands,
countries, or territories, situate,
lying, and being, in that part of
America called Virginia, from the point
of land, called Cape or
Point Comfort, all along the sea coasts,
to the northward, two
hundred miles, and from the said point
of Cape Comfort all along
the sea coast, to the southward, two
hundred miles, and all that
space and circuit of land, lying from
the sea coast of the precinct
aforesaid, up or into the land,
throughout from sea to sea, west
34
Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
and northwest, and also all the islands,
lying within one hundred
miles, along the coast of both the seas
of the precinct aforesaid,
with divers other grants, liberties,
franchises, and preheminences,
privileges, profits, benefits, and
commodities, granted, in and by
our letters patents, to the said
treasurer and company, and their
successors, for ever:
3. Now, forasmuch as we are given to
understand, that in
those seas, adjoining to the said coast
of Virginia, and without
the compass of those two hundred miles,
by us so granted unto
the said treasurer and company, as
aforesaid, and yet not far
distant from the said colony in
Virginia, there are, or may be,
divers islands, lying desolate and
uninhabited, some of which are
already made known and discovered, by
the industry, travel, and
expences of the said company, and others
also are supposed to
be and remain, as yet, unknown and
undiscovered, all and every of
which it may import the said colony,
both in safety and policy
of trade, to populate and plant, in
regard whereof, as well for the
preventing of peril, as for the better
commodity and prosperity
of the said colony, they have been
humble suitors unto us, that
we would be pleased to grant unto them
an enlargement of our
said former letters patents, as well for
a more ample extent of
their limits and territories into the
seas, adjoining to and upon the
coast of Virginia, as also for some
other matters and articles,
concerning the better government of the
said company and col-
ony, in which point our said former
letters patents do not extend
so far, as time and experience hath
found to be needful and con-
venient:
4. We therefore, tendering the good and
happy success of
the said plantation, both in regard of
the general weal of human
society, as in respect of the good of
our own estate and king-
doms, and being willing to give
furtherance unto all good means,
that may advance the benefit of the said
company, and which may
secure the safety of our loving
subjects, planted in our said colony
under the favour and protection of God
Almighty, and of our
royal power and authority, have
therefore, of our especial grace,
The Virginia Charters. 35
certain knowledge, and mere motion,
given, granted, and con-
firmed, and for us, our heirs and
successors, we do, by these
presents, give, grant, and confirm, to
the said treasurer and
company of adventurers and planters of
the city of London for
the first colony in Virginia, and to
their heirs and successors, for
ever, all and singular those Islands
whatsoever, situate and being
in any part of the ocean seas bordering
upon the coast of our
said first colony in Virginia, and being
within three hundred
leagues of any the parts heretofore
granted to the said treasurer
and company, in our said former letters
patents, as aforesaid,
and being within or between the one and
fortieth and thirtieth
degrees of northerly latitude, together
with all and singular soils,
lands, grounds, havens, ports, rivers,
waters, fishings, mines, and
minerals, as well royal mines of gold
and silver, as other mines
and minerals, pearls, precious stones,
quarries, and all and singu-
lar other commodities, jurisdictions,
royalties, privileges, fran-
chises, and preheminences, both within
the said tract of land upon
the main, and also within the said
Islands and seas adjoining,
whatsoever, and thereunto or
thereabouts, both by sea and land,
being or situate; and which, by our
letters patents, we may or
can grant, and in as ample manner and
sort, as we, or any our
noble progenitors, have hertofore
granted to any person or per-
sons, or to any company, body politick
or corporate, or to any
adventurer or adventurers, undertaker or
undertakers, of any
discoveries, plantations, or traffick,
of, in or into any foreign
parts, whatsoever, and in as large and
ample manner, as if the
same were herein particularly named,
mentioned, and expressed:
Provided always, that the said Islands,
or any the premises herein
mentioned, or by these presents intended
or meant to be granted,
be not actually possessed or inhabited
by any other Christian
prince or estate, nor be within the
bounds, limits, or territories
of the northern colony, heretofore by us
granted to be planted
by divers of our loving subjects, in the
north parts of Virginia.
To have and to hold, possess and enjoy,
all and singular the said
Islands, in the said ocean seas so
lying, and bordering upon the
36 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
coast and coasts of the territories of
the said first colony in Vir-
ginia, as aforesaid; with all and
singular the said soils, lands, and
grounds, and all and singular other the
premises, heretofore by
these presents granted, or mentioned to
be granted, to them, the
said treasurer and company of
adventurers and planters of the
city of London for the first colony in
Virginia, and to their heirs,
successors, and assigns, for ever, to
the sole and proper use and
behoof of them, the said treasurer and
company, and their heirs,
and successors, and assigns, forever; to
be holden of us, our heirs,
and successors, as of our manor of East
Greenwich, in free and
common soccage, and not in capite;
yielding and paying there-
fore to us, our heirs, and successors,
the fifth part of the ore of
all gold and silver, which shall be
there gotten, had, or obtained,
for all manner of services whatsoever.
5. And further, our will and pleasure
is, and we do, by
these presents, grant and confirm, for
the good and welfare of
the said plantation, and that posterity
may hereafter know, who
have adventured and not been sparing of
their purses in such a
noble and generous action for the
general good of their country,
and at the request, and with the
consent, of the company afore-
said, that our trusty and well beloved
subjects, George, Lord
Archbishop of Canterbury, Henry, Earl of
Huntington, Edward,
Earl of Bedford, Richard, Earl of
Clanrickard, etc., who since our
said last letters patents are become
adventurers, and have joined
themselves with the former adventurers
and planters of the said
company and society, shall, from
henceforth, be reputed, deemed,
and taken to be, and shall be brethren
and free members of the
company, and shall and may,
respectively, and according to the
proportion and value of their several
adventures, have, hold and
enjoy all such interest, right, title,
privileges, preheminences,
liberties, franchises, immunities,
profits, and commodities, what-
soever, in as large, and ample, and
beneficial manner, to all in-
tents, constructions, and purposes, as
any other adventurers,
nominated and expressed in any our
former letters patents, or
The Virginia Charters. 37
any of them, have or may have, by force
and virtue of these pres-
ents, or any our former letters patents
whatsoever.
6. And we are further pleased, and we
do, by these presents,
grant and confirm, that Philip, Earl of
Montgomery, William,
Lord Paget, Sir John Starrington, Knt.,
etc., whom the said
treasurer and company have, since the
said last letters patents,
nominated and set down, as worthy and
discreet persons, fit to
serve as counsellors, to be of our
council for the said plantation,
shall be reputed, deemed, and taken as
persons of our said council
for the said first colony, in such
manner and sort, to all intents
and purposes, as those who have been
formerly elected and nom-
inated, as our counsellors for that
colony, and whose names have
been or are inserted and expressed in
our said former letters
patents.
7. And we do hereby ordain and grant, by
these presents,
that the said treasurer and company of
adventurers and planters
aforesaid, shall and may, once every
week, or oftener, at their
pleasure, hold and keep a court and
assembly, for the better
order and government of the said
plantation, and such things,
as shall concern the same; and that any
five persons of our
council for the said first colony in
Virginia, for the time being,
of which company the treasurer, or his
deputy, to be always
one, and the number of fifteen others,
at the least, of the generality
of the said company, assembled together
in such manner, as is
and hath been heretofore used and
accustomed, shall be said,
taken, held, and reputed to be, and
shall be a sufficient court of
the said company, for the handling, and
ordering, and dispatch-
ing of all such casual and particular
occurrences, and accidental
matters, of less consequence and weight,
as shall, from time to
time, happen, touching and concerning
the said plantation:
8. And that nevertheless, for the
handling, ordering, and
disposing of matters and affairs of
greater weight and importance,
and such as shall or may, in any sort,
concern the weal publick
and general good of the said company and
plantation, as namely
the manner of government from time to
time to be used, the order-
38 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
ing and disposing of the lands and
possessions, and the settling
and establishing of a trade there, or
such like, there shall be held
and kept, every year, upon the last
Wednesday, save one, of
Hillary term, Easter, Trinity, and
Michaelmas terms, for ever,
one great, general, and solemn assembly,
which four assemblies
shall be stiled and called, The Four
Great and General Courts
of the Council and Company of
Adventurers for Virginia; in
all and every of which said great and
general courts, so assembled,
our will and pleasure is, and we do, for
us, our heirs, and succes-
sors, for ever, give and grant to the
said treasurer and company
and their successors, for ever, by these
presents, that they the
said treasurer and company, or the
greater number of them, so
assembled, shall and may have full power
and authority, from
time to time, and at all times
hereafter, to elect and choose dis-
creet persons, to be of our said
council, for the said first colony
in Virginia, and to nominate and appoint
such officers, as they
shall think fit and requisite, for the
government, managing, or-
dering, and dispatching of the affairs
of the said company, and
shall likewise have full power and
authority, to ordain and make
such laws and ordinances, for the good
and welfare of the said
plantation, as to them, from time to
time, shall be thought re-
quisite and meet: so always, as the same
be not contrary to the
laws and statutes of this our realm of
England; and shall, in like
manner, have power and authority, to
expulse, disfranchise, and
put, out of and from their said company
and society, for ever,
all and every such person and persons,
as having either prom-
ised, or subscribed their names, to
become adventurers to the
said plantation of the said first colony
in Virginia, or having been
nominated for adventurers, in these or
any other our letters
patents, or having been otherwise
admitted and nominated to
be of the said company, have
nevertheless either not put in any
adventure at all, for and towards the
said plantation, or else
have refused and neglected, or shall
refuse and neglect, to bring
in his or their adventure, by word or
writing promised, within
six months after the same shall be so
payable and due.
The Virginia Charters. 39
9. And whereas the failing and not
payment of such monies,
as have been promised in adventure for
the advancement of the
said plantation, hath been often by
experience found, to be danger-
ous and prejudicial to the same, and
much to have hindered the
progress and proceeding of the said
plantation, and for that it
seemeth unto us a thing reasonable, that
such persons, as by
their hand writing have engaged
themselves for the payment
of their adventurers, and afterwards
neglecting their faith and
promise, should be compelled to make
good and keep the same;
therefore our will and pleasure is, that
in any suit or suits, com-
menced or to be commenced, in any of our
courts at Westminster,
or elsewhere, by the said treasurer and
company, or otherwise,
against any such persons, that our
judges for the time being,
both in our court of chancery, and at
the common pleas, do
favour and further the said suits, so
far forth as law and equity will,
in any wise, further and permit.
10. And we do, for us, our heirs, and
successors, further
give and grant to the said treasurer and
company, or their suc-
cessors, for ever, that, the said
treasurer and company, or the
greater part of them, for the time being,
so in a full and general
court assembled, as aforesaid, shall and
may from time to time,
and at all times for ever hereafter,
elect, choose, and admit into
their company and society, any person or
persons, as well strang-
ers and aliens, born in any part beyond
the seas wheresoever,
being in amity with us, as our natural
liege subjects, born in any
our realms, and dominions; and that all
such persons, so elected,
chosen and admitted to be of the said
company, as aforesaid, shall
thereupon be taken, reputed, and held,
and shall be, free mem-
bers of the said company, and shall
have, hold, and enjoy, all
and singular freedoms, liberties,
franchises, privileges, immuni-
ties, benefits, profits and commodities,
whatsoever, to the said
company in any sort belonging or
appertaining, as fully, freely,
and amply, as any other adventurers, now
being, or which here-
after at any time shall be of the said
company, hath, have, shall,
40 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
may, might, or ought to have and enjoy
the same, to all intents
and purposes whatsoever.
11. And we do further of our especial grace, certain knowl-
edge, and mere motion, for us, our
heirs, and successors, give
and grant unto the said treasurer and
company, and their suc-
cessors, for ever, by these presents,
that it shall be lawful and free,
for them and their assigns, at all and
every time and times here-
after, out of any our realms and
dominions whatsoever, to take,
lead, carry, and transport, in and into
the said voyage, and for
and towards the said plantation, of our
said first colony in Vir-
ginia, all such and so many of our
loving subjects, or any other
strangers, that will become our loving
subjects and live under
our allegience, as shall willingly
accompany them in the said
voyages and plantation; with shipping,
armour, weapons, ord-
nance, munition, powder, shot, victuals,
and all manner of mer-
chandises and wares, and all manner of
cloathing, implements,
furniture, beasts, cattle, horses,
mares, and all other things nec-
essary for the said plantation, and for
their use and defence,
and for trade with the people there, and
in passing and returning
to and from, without paying or yielding
any subsidy, custom, or
imposition either inward or outward, or
any other duty, to us, our
heirs, or successors, for the same, for
the space of seven years
from the date of these presents.
12. And we do further, for us, our
heirs, and successors,
give and grant to the said treasurer and
company, and their suc-
cessors, for ever, by these presents,
that the said treasurer of that
company, or his deputy, for the time
being, or any two other of
the said council for the said first
colony in Virginia, for the time
being, or any two other at all times
hereafter, and from time to
time have full power and authority, to
minister and give the
oath and oaths of supremacy and
allegiance, or either of them,
to all and every person and persons,
which shall at any time or
times hereafter, go or pass to the said
colony in Virginia:
13. And further, that it shall be lawful
likewise for the said
treasurer, or his deputy, for the time
being, or any two or others
The Virginia Charters. 41
of our said council for the said first
colony in Virginia, for the
time being, from time to time, and at
all times hereafter, to min-
ister such a formal oath, as by their
discretion shall be reasonably
devised, as well unto any person or
persons, employed in, for, or
touching the said plantation, for their
honest, faithful, and just
discharge of their service, in all such
matters, as shall be com-
mitted unto them for the good and
benefit of the said company,
colony, and plantation; as also, unto
such other person or per-
sons, as the said treasurer or his
deputy, with two others of the
said council, shall think meet, for the
examination or clearing of
the truth, in any cause whatsoever
concerning the said planta-
tion, or any business, from thence
proceeding, or thereunto
belonging.
14. And furthermore, whereas we have
been certified, that
divers lewd and ill-disposed persons,
both sailors, soldiers, arti-
ficers, husbandmen, labourers, and
others, having received wages,
apparel, and other entertainment, from
the said company, or
having contracted and agreed with the
said company, to go,
or to serve, or to be employed in the
said plantation of the said first
colony in Virginia, have afterwards
either withdrawn, hid or
concealed themselves, or have refused to
go thither, after they
have been so entertained and agreed
withal; and that divers and
sundry persons also, which have been
sent and employed in the
said plantation of the said first colony
in Virginia, at and upon the
charge of the said company, and having
there misbehaved them-
selves, by mutinies, sedition, or other
notorious misdemeanors,
or having been employed or sent abroad,
by the governor of Vir-
ginia or his deputy, with some ship or
pinnace, for our provision
of the said colony, or for some
discovery, or other business and
affairs, concerning the same, have from
thence most treacherously
either come back again and returned into
our realm of England,
by stealth, or without licence of our
governor of our said colony
in Virginia for the time being, or have
been sent hither, as mis-
doers and offenders; and that many also
of those persons, after
their return from thence, having been
questioned by our said
42 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
council here, for such their
misbehaviors and offences, by their
insolent and contemptuous carriage in
the presence of our said
council, have shewed little respect and
reverence, either to the
place, or authority, in which we have
placed and appointed them;
and others, for the colouring of their
lewdness and misdemeanors
committed in Virginia, have endeavored,
by most vile and slan-
derous reports, made and divulged, as
well of the country of
Virginia, as also of the government and
estate of the said planta-
tion and colony, as much as in them lay,
to bring the said voyage
and plantation into disgrace and
contempt; by means whereof,
not only the adventurers and planters,
already engaged in the
said plantation, have been exceedingly
abused and hindered, and
a great number of other our loving and
well disposed subjects,.
otherwise well affected, and enclined to
join and adventure in
so noble, christian, and worthy an
action, have been discouraged
from the same, but also the utter
overthrow and ruin of the said
enterprise hath been greatly endangered,
which cannot miscarry
without some dishonor to us and our
kingdom;
15. Now, forasmuch as it appeareth unto
us, that these
insolences, misdemeanors, and abuses,
not to be tolerated in
any civil government, have, for the most
part, grown and pro-
ceeded, in regard our said council have
not any direct power
and authority, by any express words in
our former letters patents,
to correct and chastise such offenders;
we therefore, for the more
speedy reformation of so great and
enormous abuses and misde-
meanors, heretofore practised and
committed, and for the pre-
venting of the like hereafter, do, by
these presents, for us, our
heirs, and successors, give and grant to
the said treasurer and
company, and their successors, for ever,
that it shall and may be
lawful for our said council for the said
first colony in Virginia,
or any two of them (whereof the said
treasurer, or his deputy,
for the time being, to be always one) by
warrant under their hands,
to send for, or to cause to be
apprehended, all and every such
person, and persons, who shall be noted,
or accused, or found,
at any time or times hereafter, to
offend, or misbehave them-
The Virginia Charters. 43
selves, in any the offences before
mentioned and expressed;
and upon the examination of any such
offender or offenders,
and just proof made by oath, taken
before the said council, of
any such notorious misdemeanors by them
committed, as afore-
said; and also upon any insolent and
contemptuous, or indecent
carriage, and misbehaviour, to or
against our said council, shewed
or used by any such person or persons,
so called, convented,
and appearing before them, as aforesaid;
that in all such cases,
they, our said council, or any two of
them, for the time being, shall
and may have full power and authority,
either here to bind them
over with good surities for their good
behaviour, and further
therein to proceed, to all intents and
purposes, as it is used, in
other like cases, within our realm of
England; or else, at their
discretion, to remand and send them
back, the said offenders, or
any of them, unto the said colony in
Virginia, there to be pro-
ceeded against and punished, as the
governor, deputy, or council
there, for the time being, shall think
meet; or otherwise accord-
ing to such laws and ordinances, as are
and shall be in use there,
for the well ordering and good
government of the said colony.
16. And for the more effectual advancing
of the said plan-
tation, we do further, for us, our
heirs, and successors, of our
especial grace and favour, by virtue of
our prerogative royal,
and by the assent and consent of the
Lords and others of our
privy council, give and grant unto the
said treasurer and com-
pany, full power and authority, free
leave, liberty, and licence,
to set forth, erect, and publish, one or
more lottery or lotteries,
to have continuance, and to endure and
be held, for the space
of one whole year, next after the
opening of the same; and after
the end and expiration of the said term,
the said lottery or lotteries
to continue and be further kept, during
our will and pleasure only,
and not otherwise. And yet nevertheless,
we are contented and
pleased for the good and welfare of the
said plantation, that the
said treasurer and company shall, for
the dispatch and finishing
of the said lottery or lotteries, have
six months warning after
the said year ended, before our will and
pleasure shall, for and
44 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.
on that behalf, be construed, deemed,
and adjudged, to be in any
wise altered and determined.
17. And our further will and pleasure
is, that the said
lottery and lotteries shall and may be
opened and held, within
our city of London, or in any other city
or town, or elsewhere,
within this our realm of England, with
such prizes, articles, con-
ditions, and limitations, as to them,
the said treasurer and com-
pany, in their discretion shall seem
convenient:
18. And that it shall and may be lawful,
to and for the said
treasurer and company, to elect and
choose receivers, auditors,
surveyors, commissioners, or any other
officers, whatsoever, at
their will and pleasure, for the better
marshalling, disposing,
guiding, and governing of the said
lottery and lotteries; and that
it shall likewise be lawful, to and for
the said treasurer and any two
of the said council, to minister to all
and every such person so
elected and chosen for officers, as
aforesaid, one or more oaths,
for their good behaviour, just and true
dealing, in and about the
said lottery or lotteries, to the intent
and purposes, that none
of our loving subjects, putting in their
names, or otherwise ad-
venturing in the said general lottery or
lotteries, may be, in any
wise, defrauded and deceived of their
said monies, or evil and
indirectly dealt withal in their said
adventurers.
19. And we further grant in manner and
form aforesaid,
that it shall and may be lawful, to and
for the said treasurer and
company, under the seal of the said
council for the plantation,
to publish, or to cause and procure to
be published, by procla-
mation or otherwise (the said
proclamation, to be made in their
name, by virtue of these presents) the
said lottery or lotteries in
all cities, towns, boroughs, and other
places within our said
realm of England; and we will and
command all mayors, justices
of peace, sheriffs, bailiffs,
constables, and other officers and loving
subjects, whatsoever, that, in no wise,
they hinder or delay the
progress and proceedings of the said
lottery or lotteries, but be
therein touching the premises, aiding
and assisting, by all honest
good and lawful means and endeavours.
The Virginia Charters. 45
20. And further our will and pleasure
is, that in all ques-
tions, and doubts, that shall arise,
upon any difficulty of construc-
tion or interpretation of any thing
contained in these, or any
other our former letters patents, the
same shall be taken and
interpreted, in most ample and
beneficial manner for the said
treasurer and company, and their
successors, and every member
thereof.
21. And lastly, we do by these presents,
ratify and confirm
unto the said treasurer and company, and
their successors, for
ever, all and all manner of privileges,
franchises, liberties, im-
munities, preheminences, profits and
commodities, whatsoever,
granted unto them in any our former
letters patents, and not in
these presents revoked, altered,
changed, or abridged, although
express mention of the true yearly value
or certainty of the prem-
ises, or any of them, or of any other
gift or grant, by us or any
of our progenitors or predecessors, to
the aforesaid treasurer and
company heretofore made, in these
presents is not made; or
any statute, act, ordinance, provision,
proclamation, or restraint,
to the contrary thereof heretofore made,
ordained, or provided,
or any other matter, cause, or thing,
whatsoever, to the contrary,
in any wise, notwithstanding.
In witness whereof we have caused these
our letters to be
made patents. Witness ourself, at
Westminster, the twelfth day
of March, in the ninth year of our reign
of England, France, and
Ireland, and of Scotland the five and
fortieth.
OHIO
Archaeological and Historical
PUBLICATIONS.
FROM CHARTER TO CONSTITUTION:
BEING A COLLECTION OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
PERTAINING TO THE TER-
RITORY OF THE NORTHWEST AND THE STATE OF
OHIO, FROM THE
CHARTERS OF JAMES I, TO AND INCLUDING
THE FIRST CONSTITUTION
OF OHIO, AND THE STATE PAPERS RELATING
TO ITS ADMISSION TO THE
UNION, SHOWING THEREBY THE HISTORICAL
CHAIN OF TITLE OF SAID
STATE FROM 1606 TO 1803.
BY DANIEL J. RYAN.
THE FIRST CHARTER OF VIRGINIA.
TO SIR THOMAS GATES, SIR GEORGE SOMERS AND OTHERS,
FOR TWO SEVERAL COLONIES AND
PLANTATIONS, TO BE
MADE IN VIRGINIA, AND OTHER PARTS AND
TERRITORIES
OF AMERICA.
(DATED APRIL 10, ]606. 4 JAMES
1ST.)
1. James, by the grace of God, King of
England, Scotland,
France, and Ireland, Defender of the
Faith, etc. Whereas, our
loving and well-disposed subjects, Sir
Thomas Gates, and Sir
George Somers, Knights, Richard
Hackluit, Clerk, Prebendary
of Westminster, and Edward-Maria
Wingfield, Thomas Hanham,
and Ralegh Gilbert, Esqrs., William
Parker, and George Popham,
gentlemen, and divers others of our
loving subjects, have been
humble suitors unto us, that we would
vouchsafe unto them our
license, to make habitation, plantation,
and to deduce a colony
of sundry of our people into that part
of America, commonly