The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-09-16

AGRICULTURAL wealth, ana rs me commercial
mart of the New World, the possibilities
of Newport News loom In the IMAGINATION
Of many with the sway OF ancient Venice
There Is very naturally general c,t-
riosity as TO the origin OF the peculiar
designation Of the historic point to which
Tho new foundation succeeds, and with
some n grave solicitude lest it shame the
dignity OF the embryo "Queen OF the
Seas"
Other names have been suggested, among
which that of Pocahontas and OF Wickham,
proposed by the Industrial South, have
been commented on by the press. have
been requested by my good friend Captain
James barron Hone, OF the Norfolk Land
mark. TO offer in behalf of the sacred past
of the Old Dominion protest against this
/ conociastic step.
The duty is one somewhat embarrassing,
for though in nowise deficient, i trust, in
reverence for the claims OF history, must
fain admit that the original form OF the
component name complained OF, upon the
plea of awkwardness, Is yet more oblee-
fionable.
There is n popular misconception as to
the etymology OF the name. The fallacy OF
the oit-repeatcd story that 1t commemo-
rates the joyful tidings of the approach OF
starving colonists had abandoned James
town. is palpable in the fact that Sir Thomas
Gates, the resident Governor OF the Colony,
commanded the vessels bearing them; that
Newport was with him, and that they were
intercepted by lOng-boat from the fleet OF
Delaware-not at the point now known
as Newport News, but at Mulberry
Island, much higher up the river. The
name OF the promontory first appears as
Point Hope in 1907 on the map Of Captain
John Smith, which was the basis OF all sue
cessiye delineations Of Virginia for CEN
fury and half. Moptanus, in his I" Nora
Virqinio, Tubular Amsterdam, 1917
copy of which is in the Collections OF the
Virginia Historical Society, has it Point
Hope. But photographers had only Smiths
published map to guide them, and were
ignorant of local changes OF designation.
Beverley (HiStory Of Virginia, Rich
mond edition Of 1855, page 3S,) gives the
origin Of the name in part as follows: cit
was in October, 1921, that Sir Francis Wy
att arrived Governor; and in November
Captain Newport arrived with fifty men
imported ut his own charge. besides pas
sengers. and made a plantation on New
ports News, naming it after himself"
There is some mistake on the part OF
the period, as he appears not to have re-
visited the Colony after his departure from
it In 1911. Daniel Gookin, from Ireland,
who later became eminent in the affairs OF
New England,) did, however, about the
time named. make settlement OF fifty per-
sons at Newport News, which it is credible
NAV have been named in honor OF New
mort. The complement OF the component
name Is more satisfactorily accounted for.
In 1921 Captain Thomas Newce, who
came to Virginia rs the joint superintend-
ent with George Thorpe OF the lands OF the
Virginia Company, the profits Of which
were for the maintenance of the projected
college ut Henrico, or Henricopolis, took
charge Of an allotment Of six hundred
acres In Elizabeth City, making a neigh
boring settlement to that designated as
Newport's; hence the natural combination
Of the names OF the two in the component
one OF Newport-Newce. That variations
i'm ancient photography were more frequent
in the rendition OF proper names is well
known.
In Sainsbury's Calendar of State Papers
159O-166O, page Az "Newport News" is
mentioned in letter from Virginia under
date Of February, 1929. Another letter OF
April OF the same year (p. 49,, in which the
death OF Captain "Nuse" is mentioned, Is
dated from "Newport News" Smith in
his General Historic" first published in
1924, renders it "Nuport's Nerves." On
Fry aud JefiersOn's map of l775 it Is given
rs Newport News"
The name OF Newce was prominently
connected with the early history OF Nil'
ginia.
Captain Thomas Newce and his brother
Sir William Newce are both named IN " An
Ordinance for Il Council OF State
and General Assembly" for Virginia, july
"a, 1921. (Stith, Appendix, p. go sii
William Newce, who had promised tC
transport 1000 persons to the Colony be-
fore midsummer, 1925, was made "Knight
Martial of Virginia" by the King, but
died two days after his arrival in Virginia,
I'm 1921. In the "List OF Living and
Deadn In Virginia, February 10, 1923, the
name OF "George Nuce" appears among
those at Elizabeth City.
I'm letter to the colonial authorities from
the Virginia Company, dated London
July %, 1921, the estimation in which
Thomas Newce was held is thus evidenced
"And for that the comply Of youe Capt
Neuce as great hopes as of any Of theil
publique instruments and have by youl
letters received great satisfaction, therefore
they have in bountie added to your former
proportion OF land 800 acres, which is to he
appropriated to the place forever; for ma
nuringe, when they by quarter courtc have
ordered that youe shall have ten men sent
over by next year, only they desire that
you VIII be so provided Of corn and other
necessaries as they may only be at the
charge OF transport armes, APPAREL, and
working tools, and not for yittualls. be-
cause the stoke Is exhausted. We have
sent shipp Of cattell from Ireland.
whereof We desire that Capt. Newce first
be served with his promised number y
. NeilPs Virginia Company, page 229.)
In letter from Virginia, dated April 2.
1923, captain Thomas Neucev Is said 10
De "lately dead" At a meeting of the
virginia Company, in London, in June.
I02t, his widow Was allowed the "moytie
OF those Tenants labors that belonged 10
her husbands place.
In communication as TO the "irne smell.
ing ana the true meaping" Of "xcwport,s
news" from the late Hugh Blair Grigsby |
10 Charles Dean, LII. d., dated Anril n |
1857, and published, with annotatloss by |
Dr: Deane, In the proceedings OF the Mas.
safhusetts Historical Society, 1867 lSse.
page 20, ~, Mr.. Grigsby Nniarks "Ths
JoiW union OF names to designate ioipt
possessions has been common ie England
lime immemorial. The name of New.
}}9,rt-fagneu' has Just met my eve. In
gsina we have Hampden-Sidney' aud