The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-20
xN,r the Dispatch through Il. A. Brock, Esd.l
~. arc virginia Historical Society
HONORABLE GEORGE PERCY
pY REV. EDWARD D. NELL.

After the name Of Robert Hunt, preacher,
IN the list Of the members OF the cXpetition
who settled at Jamestown in 1907 Is that OF
George Percy. An honorable man, the DC
scendant OF nm honorable house, uncon,
plaininS uuder peculiar hardships, anu
faithful to his trust. il is to DE resretted tlat
so few incidents OF his life have been pre-
served.
He was the brother OF the Duke OF Nortn-
umbcrland, and bis narrative 0! INC p'au,.-
ton OF the Southeru cclony III virginia;
ending ut September, 1901, sotiageo anu
WI, Gabriel Archer and John Smith he
recommended Captain Newport in the frst
cyn,oration OF the James river in the vlcln-
;,v OF Richmond. After Captain Smiths
tcrm AZ President OF the Council expired
the colonists. in the absence OF Sir THOMAS
Gates. who had been wrecked at Bermu-
das, chose Percy as president.
s dispatch to the Earl Of Salisbury, Sec
re,arv OF State under King James, dated
October 4. 1909, written by one OF the Sc
nior captains of the vessels OF the Gates and
SomerS expedition, states that "they found
all the Council dead but Captain Smith,
who reigned sole Governor, and is now sent
home to answer some mlSdemeanors.
George Percy. brother 10 my Lord North
cumberland, is elected President. and Mr..
West, brother to Lord Delaware, OF the
Council, with Captain Martini"
Among the papers In the library OF the
present Earl OF Northumberland there Is
evidence that there was an atfectionate In
tcrest felt by the Northumberland family IN
their representative in Virginia. Amid many
entries in an cXpenSe-book kept IN the days
OF James the First the following are found
A charge OF go. Is, Cd. for clothing sent
TO Mr.. George Percy by Captain Newport !;
and also 4 payment OF Il shlltlnSs 10 MT.
Melsbawe for many neceSsarieS which ne
delivered to Mr.. Percy toward the building
nj house in Virginia. On February the
9Th, 1910, payments to the amount OF
c4ao. Is. cd. were made by the head OF the
Northumberland family for Mr.. Percy.
There appears also Il payment by the Duke
OF Northumberland in 1607-'S OF Shil-
;incs for rings and other pieces OF copper
riyen to the Virginia Prince; OF shIlllngS
for cutting q large and small Virginia stone ;
"a shillings for gold, and ID shillinSs Tor
setting the large Virginia stone in gold. In
f61O a Declaration OF the State OF Virginia
was printed. and Il copy was purchased for
shiilings for the Northumberland family.
Upon the arrival of Sir Thomas Gates in
NAV. 1910, from the Bcrmudas, Percy
ceased TO act as President, and Gates be-
came the Governor under the new charter
until the coming OF Lord Delaware, TWO
weeks later. Delaware, as Governor.Gene-
raj, made Percy one OF the Council. In
March. 1911. Delaware, on account OF ILL
health, sailed from Jamestown, and Gates,
The Lieutenant being in Eng
land, Percy was appointed Deputy-GoV-
crnor. Among the northumberland papers
.hcre is letter OF George Percy, written to
his brother Henry, and dated August II,
1911, which probably was brought to Eng
land in the ship Star, which arrived there
about the 1st OF December with Captain
Newport. He writes as follows:
year has not been little chargeable to you,
but trust you will not think that anything
has been prodigally wasted by me, or spent,
which tends to my no little advancement.
"True it is, the place which hold in the
Colony cannot be betrayed with small ex-
pense, the store affording no other means
than a pound OF meal day and little oat-
meal; vet it stands upon my reputation
here, Governor Of jamestown, to keep q
daily table for gentlemen OF fashion about
me.
81 pray you discharge bill under my
hand to Mr.. Nelson, and another OF fS to
Mr.. Pindeburn, Of London, merchant
After this time We find no mention OF
this apparently estimable man.
There is among the collections OF the Virginia
Historical Society fine portrait of Captain George
Percy. which, together with one Of Lord Culpepper
were donated 10 the Society by Charles WYkeham
Martin, ESQ.,, of Leeds Castle, England. in 1853.
The frames accommodating each OF these portraits
are of solid British oak, handsomely carved and
eiided. and were presented with them by William
Twopenny. EsI., Of London. t. A. Is.