| July 30. |
45. Report of proceedings in the General Assembly convened at James City in Virginia July 30, [1619, consisting of Governor Sir Geo. Yeardley, the Council of State, and two Burgesses elected from each incorporation and plantation; dissolved on 4th August. The following places sent two Burgesses each, viz:—James, Charles, and Henricus cities, Kiccowtan, Capt. John Martin's plantation, Smythe's hundred, Martin's hundred, Argoll's gift, Flowerdieu hundred, and Capt. Lawne's and Capt. Warde's plantations. They sat in the choir of the church, the most convenient place they could find, the minister of which was Mr. Buck. A tax of 1 lb. of tobacco was ordered to be levied on every man and manservant above 16 years of age, to be distributed to the speaker, the clerk and the serjeant of the Assembly, and the provost marshal of James City, for their great pains and labour. During this short session orders were agreed to concerning the rights of several of the Burgesses to their seats in the Assembly, committees were appointed to examine into the Great Charter and the orders and laws sent by Sir Geo. Yeardley. Several petitions were read respecting the possession of divers portions of land, erecting a University and College, and changing the savage name of Kiccowtan plantation. The price of tobacco was fixed at 3s. per lb. the best and 18d. the second. Laws were enacted for the conversion of the Indians to the Christian religion, the planting of corn, mulberry trees, silk flax, hemp, and vines, for the general ordering of the colony and for "every man's private conceipt." Thos. Garnett, servant to Capt. Wil. Powell, was condemned to stand four days with his ears nailed to the pillory, for extreme neglect of his master's business and impudent abuse. Capt. Henry Spelman, who confessed to having spoken to the Indians very irreverently and maliciously against the government, was degraded of his title at the head of his troop and condemned to seven years servitude to the colony, as interpreter to the Governor. Through the extreme heat and the alteration in the healths of the Governor and divers members, it was resolved that the 4th August should be the last day of meeting of this first session. Endorsed by Carleton, "Mr. Pory out of Virginia." |
