America and West Indies: January 1623

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1860.

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'America and West Indies: January 1623', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660, (London, 1860) pp. 35-37. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol1/pp35-37 [accessed 24 March 2024]

January 1623

Jan. 15. Minutes of the Council for New England. The Earl of Salisbury to be dealt with for some rooms over the new Bourse for their place of meeting. Capt. Love to confer with Mr. Cooke for the delivery of two pinnaces assigned by the King for protection of the New England fishermen this year. Letter to be obtained from the King to the Lieut. of every shire for sending their poorer sort of people to New England. Sir Sam. Argoll to be Admiral of New England [Colonial Corresp., 1622, May 31, pp. 25–6.]
Jan. 21. Minutes of the Council for New England. Upon the settlement of "a strength" in New England. Two hundred men at a charge of 4,000l. necessary, of three sorts, viz., gentlemen to bear arms and attend upon the Governor, handicraftsmen of all sorts, and husbandmen for tilling the ground. To propose to [Alex.] Narme to be a patentee. All patentees to lend 100l. each, or more upon security of the new ship. Emmanuel Alchem to be capt. of the new pinnace built for Mr. Peirce's plantation. [Colonial Corresp., 1622, May 31, pp. 26–7.]
Jan. 24.
James City,
Virginia.
17. Geo. Harrison to his brother John Harrison. Accounts with Mr. Bennett. Not above ten men and boys living, of the whole number of servants taken to Virginia in the Seaflower. More have died since than were slain in the massaere; and no hopes of life of a great many. Capt. Powell, gunner of James City, is dead; Capt. Nuce [?], Capt. Maddison, Lieut. Craddock's brother, and divers more of the chief men reported dead. Mrs. Heamer [?], her daughter, and Thos. Hamor are very sick. God has cast a heavy hand upon them, they cry for mercy for their sins. Sends three hogsheads of tobacco by the Little James, and instructions concerning it. Recommends that his brother's wife should make a private adventure by the next ship of good wines, butter, cheese, sugar, soap, &c., and that his brother and James Sampson should furnish a ship with 50 men and provisions for the colony; the profits will be 200l. or 300l. Begs him not to delay sending over his own men.
Jan. 25. Minutes of the Council for New England. Patentees to pay in their adventures or forfeit their rights, and others to be admitted in their stead. The Earl of Holdernesse elected Vice-President and Dickson to be master of the new ship. Deputies to be elected by the patentees. An Admiral, Vice-Treasurer, Secretary, Solicitor, and Beadle to be elected. [Colonial Corresp., 1622, May 31, pp. 27–8.]
Jan. 28. Minutes of the Council for New England. Finance. Sir H. Spilman to treat with the Attorney General touching the new patent. Choice of officers deferred. Commission for seizing the island of Mannalugan [?] and Lord Gorges' bill of adventure are sealed. Nich. Spearman appointed boatswain in the new ship. Two bills of adventure for Dr. Sutcliffe to be sealed. Abrah. Jenning's bill for materials to build a pinnace at New England deferred. [Colonial Corresp., 1622, May 31, pp. 29–30.]
Jan. 31. Minutes of the Council for New England. Payments. A bill of adventure to Sir Ferd. Gorges sealed. The proclamation proposed [see ante6 Nov. 1622.] to be sent to New England. Sir H. Spilman to draw up the heads of the new patent. [Colonial Corresp., 1622, May 31, p. 30.]
Jan. ? 18. Brief motives to maintain the King's right to the River Amazon, and the coast of Guiana. The King's subjects many years since found that country free from any Christian Prince. They have remained there 13 or 14 years with the good liking of the natives. Several commissions have been granted by the King, and two patents. [See the1st grant, 1613, Aug. 28, p. 15.] Gondomar [the Spanish Ambassador] asserted his master's actual possession, which suspended "all our proceedings" for a time. He afterwards sent thither 300 men to destroy the English and Dutch. Two or three ships are now being sent by the West India Company in Holland who design a plantation there. General considerations of the country. Profits; commodities; manner of living. The Christians take no pains nor labour for any thing; the Indians house them, work for them, and bring them victuals, receiving iron work or glass beads and such like "contemptible things" as reward. A note is added in another hand to point out the great prejudice to the plantation, should the King make an agreement with the Virginia and Bermudas Companies for tobacco from those places only.