Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-30
THE STARVING TIME.
AN ACCOUNT OF A CRITICAL PERIOD
IN ViRGlNlA'S HISTORY.
His Special Friend the Earl
of Salisbury.

ernor and Captain General of Virginia
The custom of the day was for the Gov
ernor-in-ChIef to remain in England and
the colony to be governed, Immediately,
by deputy.
Accordingly Sir Thomas Gates. Lieuten-
ant-Governor, with Somers and Newport.
and a fleet of nlne ships LETT England in
the latter part Of May. 1909.
The great storm encountered, the, wreck
OF tne ship containing the three leaders on
the Bermudas (which probably gave the
first suggestion for THE Tempest Wy, their
lengthy stay at the islands and final escape
are events OF early Virginia history too
wen Known 10 require repetition
Seven OF their vessels had, in the first
instance, reached Virginia safely. where 1t
was seen that the colony was rapidly be-
coming disorganized. The starving
time followed. and when Gates and his
companions reached Virginia. May "a, 1910:
they found only sixty half-starved
wretcbes. who seemed more dead than
alive. They we're unceasing in their I'M
portunitics that he should abandon the
colony and return with them to England.
After q few DAYS be consented, and on
June 18th with all on board, dropped down
the river. Early next morning boat from
river, and the colony was .reestabhshed,
never again TO be abandoned.
! On the receipt in England OF the news
of the supposed loss OF Gates. Lord Della
ware determined to 90 10 Virginia IN per-
son, and. ~ has been stated, fortunately
arrived in time TO prevent the colony from
being abandoned. After staying nearly,
| year. during which he did much TO estab-
lish firm and prosperous settlement, his
4 bale ,,,h orah fcIf ho a
| turned 70 England ria the West Indies. On
| this VOYAGE he entered the mouth of the
| river. since called in his honor, Delaware.
| In 1918 he again sailed for Virginia, but
/ died on the voyage.
| Lord Delaware wrote. on his return to
| England. Relation" which was pub
lished as pamphlet in 1911, and which
was privately reprinted in fac-simile IN
| 1868 by Mr.. A. W. Griswold. A copy OF the
last is in the Virginia State Library. The
same " Relation was also printed in Pur-
chas' Pllgrimes.
There is among tho HARLEM Ms. in the
British museam a letter. dated Jamestown,
July 7. 1910, from Delaware, and the COun-
eli, giving an account of affairs II Virginia
mp to that date This has been published
by the Haklugh Society Gin 1S49) and in
Neilrs Virginia Company"
The following letters were recently
copied from the originals in the English
public record office, and it is believed have
never been printed:
COLONIAL PAPERS, VOL, H., NO. q.
MAZE it please your good Lordshippe
Synnc ] departed from your no: ! have
meet with much comfOrthe, yeti mingled
with rs name lamentable academies, rs
ever your cares have binne filed w'thal
and because SIR Thomas Gates who il thc
| bearer hereof was the first that townno
our mon in miserie, ] leave that relation tc
him as benge best able to lnforme and [;
and onlie tuche breehie what myselfe came
Testfe.
The first Of April departed the cowe'
fCowesl in the lie of Wight with 3 gooc
shippes and in them An $50 prisons to lannc
az PLANTERS in Virginia. The ~ agec
p'rsonssl made land, il bainge the Traccrf
Hand. that night the wynnd came contra
RE and il blew hard, the next daie, that wet
weare forced 10 seeke out rodde un
knowne unto our best mariners, and wet
Jared accordinglie. for 2 of my shlppes los
theare annkors, and spoyled divers o
thear men in seekinge &c. weye them, enc
the aunkOr OF my ownne shppe came NONE
so that | was forced to sea again, SO some
as nv ankor was downne. The 10 daie
lost sight of my Rear ADMIRAL and | con
timed beating uppe and dOwnne with tn
yvnnd cOntrarie to mcete with our loss'
shIpua but could not bee 50 happie tn,
Iwiudl continued still cOntrare, 80 that
was forced 10 runne 10 the 's0wthward I,
the HIGHT of % degrees of nOrtherlle l-ati
tudc, and until the p OF April had no.
wvnnd to carrie me forward one my course
but then the wynnd came faler. and wen
before tho wynnd. till came near the coast
of Virginia, so that time if it had no
scannted / had recovered the place in less
4hep & waokes. but laye beatlnge uppol
the coaste That it was neare tenn weekes De
fore made the lannd, for 1t was the D o
Junne beefore save lannd, and that nigh
I came 20 anne annkOr ~ Cape Henrye
hovinuo the bieSsInge (whereln was 81
Ferdinando Wenman) III nv companle
The next dale the wynnd beinge faler,
was faynne 70 take the oppOrtunitle OF IN
tide. to turnne uppe the river. and llttl
| after nOOue I deserted q savle cOmlng'
in nj the poynnte, and the | presentll
blae uppe with her, and when | came G
make what shee was fOwnnd her to be
nv oy.uue consort that had binne missing
neare 8 weekes. The Of Junne | came Z
anne annbor under Cape Comfort, where
met with muche cOOid cOmiortne, as II !
had not binne accompanied win the mos
happie newes of S'r Thomas Gates his al
rival. IL had binne sufiicientte to hay
broake my hart and to have made NEE alto
Feather unable 70 have dome my knge q
contrey anie service, Sir Thomas Gate
likewise beinge in dispalre OF anle presen
supplie prepared himselfe and all his CON
panie for Enncland & mente to quito "a
oountrye. upon which advertisement
Drese1tlie sent my skife awale. to give hi
notice of my ARRIVAL, w'ch newes knew
would alter that resolution OF his. my sell
with all possible speede followed attel
I L 1Asrna fla I'm
, river havinge shipped the mole cOmpani
and colonie in two small pinnesseS with
determination 70 stale some tenn daleS a
Cane Comfort 10 expect or comlnge an
otherwise 80 to zoe for Enngland having,
hut 80 daies vIttualles leaft him and HI
houngrie cOmpanie, soc upp,n the tehth Z
lime / landed at James Town belnge
verie novsome and unholsOme place. occa
toned much bic the mortallatle and idlt
ness of owure people, so the next daie
set the sailer5 a wOrke 10 unlade shippe'
and the land men some 70 cleanse III
Towne. some TO make cole for our forge
sent fishermen out to provide hshe 10
our men, TO save other provision, Di
, thaie hal but i'll succeese. likewise dis
pached S'r George SOmmers hacke agalnn
10 the Bermudas. this good old gentle
man. ont of his love and Zeale not motion
inoe' but most cheerfullie and resOluteli
undertaking. TO p'tOrm go dangerous
voiagee. and if il please God hee doe safe
lie returnne he will store Us with hogge
fleshe and fshe enOughe to serve the hol
colonie this wynter. Thus bic Codes as
sistance will goe forward, Employing m
best indeavors in settlinge and managing
these affairs. Althoughe thale wear
never so weake and so farr out of order o
nowe founned them make noe questlo
if God restore NEE TO health and give m
A blessinge TO my labOurs | shall yeri
| shortlle in some measure recompennce IA
Great care and charge the companie hati'
hinne at, and returne something ValuaDl
unto the adventures, who have so lwell
beganne Il constantine seconded, these 0u
as yeti unfortunate proceedings. MAKE n
question but your Lo: wilbee tayore
and furtherer herein unto US, and max
it your ownne couse, synnce II Is undel
taken for CODES glorie, and our contrle
good to both of w'ch you have blnne $
. jealous and so faithful q professor; as
syringe your Lo you shall ever hnnde ~
readie to execute all your committeeman
aud TO do You all the faithful service Una
liethe in my power.
from
; Lord De La Ware 10 my
Lord from Virginia
re: in SEP: 1910.