The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-13
EARLY VIRGINIA HISTORY.
Appeal FOR a True Account Of The First
Days Of The Colony
WHILE UNDER THE COMPANY OF VIRGINIA
4 Claim That Past Accounts Have Been
Written in the Interest OF John ena'th'
The Claim Believed to be Unfounded'
rror Tho Richmond Times.l

tory. regardless of the interest and honor OF
others would DO glad to feel sure tha'
would DO sustained by Virginians In writing
history Of the first English colony established
in this country which was not mere euiogy
OF anv man. In order to hasten. II can TINS
good time" ask them to consider what FOL
lows "a well as what have already written on
tho subject in The Genesis Of the United
States. tho Magazine of American History
(for July, 1891 ) and in The RICHMOND ZINES
and Dispatch. The real object OF these arti-
cles was 70 clear the way for TINS wOrh.)
THE SECTIONAL ISSUE.
New Englanders have preserved and cher
ished the acts and memories OF theiI iore-
fathers with patriotic devotion worthy OF
every emulation; while Nirginians. owing 70
An unfortunate chain OF circumstances, have
sacrificed everything which should have been
dear 10 them 10 Captain John smith iet
the Smith claims TO New England were Iuss
GINA That they have not been so
fully acknowledged by the historians OF New
England as they have been by Virginia MS
torans was not Smiths faut. lie has been
called the founder of Virginia only, but he
makes no exception in the premises ID iaVor
Of Virginia lie claimed that the colonies III
America we're AL pigs OF his sow; that
they sprung from tho fruits of his adventures
and discoveries" &c. &C., and. indeed. he
makes the special claim that he brought New
England TO light" which, If true, weuid give
him a right 20 the broader title Of father OF
New England But he was not the founder or
father OF either colony.
NATIONAL MOVEMENT.
The desire 70 possess lot or portion OF the
New Worid-tO check the increasing power OF
RoInanism and the final plantation OF this
country by English Protestants were results
Of land nearly all of the active officials In Nir-
pinia were old soldiers fresh from the wars OF
the Reformation The question was between
Professionalism and ROmanlsm between
Anplo-Saxon and Castilan. The movement
became national one and no one man has
the complete right TO the title OF founder or
father OF either colony. But next under
tho King, " Sir Thomas Smith, Thomas Vest
Lord De La War;. Robert Cecil Earl Of
Salisbury; Sir Thomas Gates, Sir Thomas
Dale Roy. Richard Hakluyt and perhaps
others. have each ono or more claims on the
title Founder of Virginia.; Sir John Pophan.
Sir Ferdinando Georges and perhaps others,
on the title, Father Of New England while
il is probable that we owe the possession OF
North Virginia to the prompt action OF Cap
tain Argall in 1913; and Argall continued to be
interested in that region from bis first voyage
there in 1910 to his death in 1888. In this con-
Dection il must be noted that Sir Thomas
Roe and Sir Robert Mansell were the only
men who were members of ali three OF lis
Maiesties Colonial Council, viz: Virginia. "a
degrees to 10 degrees north latitude (1GO6);
Virginia Company. "a degrees TO 40 degrees
north latitude (l60J); and New England, Az
degrees to 4S degrees north latitude (162O).
The claims of England To this country were
based on the discoveries of John Cabot, and
the Muscovy company organized by SEBASTIAN
Cabot was the great practical promoter of
English commerce and discovery. Among
the most prominent fathers of American
colonization were: Walsingham and his sons
in-law. Captain Christopher Carlisle and Sir
Philip Sidney the great hope of mankindand
the glory of the world the Gilbert brothers.
Raleigh the Cecils, the Dudleys. Hakluyt,
Thomas Smith and others-aided and abetted
by the great naval commanders. Hawkins.
Drake Frobisher, Granville, Newport,
Somers. etc, etc. ISee the biographies of
these men in The Genesis of the United
States."l
Captain John Smith signs himself some
time Governor in those countries But he
had no right to that title either in Virginia or
New England. or the Lower Islands. Sir
Thomas Gates was the first Governor Of the
colony in Virginia, and Thomas West. Lord
De La War;. was the first Lord Governor of
Virginia and of the colonies there.
AIsyoMER.
Smith is sometimes called "the first ruler Of
Virginia" Bot Wipgfeld-the grandson OF
Bridget Wiltshire lady of the bed-chamber
60 Queen Anne Boleyne and an old soldier of
the wars of the Reformation, was the first:
Radcliffe: who fought by the side. of Sir Henry
Cary, at Mulheim was the second; and Smith,
who tells Us that ne served in the wars be-
tween the Holy Roman and the Sublime
Ottoman Empires; that he won his honors
while fighting under Moses Tzekely, the firm
friend and ally Of the Turks, and that his
arms were granted TO him by Roman Catho-
lie Prince, was the third.
Smith has been classed as the first Virginia
writer. but by the same token he was the
first New England writer also and wrote moro
over his own signature of New England than
he did of Virginia-vide his Description of
New England 1916; his New England Trials
of 1920; his New England Trials of 1922: His
tory of New England. 1924 and additions
thereto. 1923 and his Advertisements for the
inexperienced Planters Of New England,
$780, Ii is true that Smiths writings were the
first published. but his first writing Of Virginia
was not published by himself while his first
OF New England was Mono of his writings,
however, wero published by the authority Of |
His Maiesty's Council for Virginia, and moth |
ing that l have seen which was written by |
them contains favorable reference To him |
AS a matter of fact he was not the first writer |
either OF Virginia or of New England. | be- |
leve that Captain Gabriel Archer. an odu |
Gated lawyer, has the best right to both titles. |
and TO my mind his writings seem much more |
straightforward and satisfactory for historical |
use than Smiths.
~ NA~~NA w" A''IhNDhh An WHITMAN.
IL has been asserted that Smith brought the |
first colony to Virginia: but he never held |
any command on an5 vessel bound for Viz |
GINA The only vessels on which he held |
Office were bound for New England. He |
landed IN Virginia restrained as a prisoner
Smith has been claimed MS a yrginian.
but never as a New Highlander, so far as |
know. Ii ID true that he spent some time in
Virginia In 1907 1909, but he left the planta
ton before II was considered a settled
country. He also spent a brief period in
New England in 1914 and was after
wards employed by the Northern
company OF Virginia about as long as he had
been by the Southern, and several members
OF that company continued to befriend him
so long as he lived The only land he ever
owned IN America was in New England His
onI' American monument had been erected on
tnis land, which Is the only American island
named FOR him. There is as much
fesson for considering him a New
i-nglander as Nirginian. He has
oeen called the first manner of New Eng
iand. On his only portrait his only title Is
admiral Of New England" His General
historie." on which the early history OF Viz.
Einia has been based. was published under
tne patronage OF the widow Of iudoyic SIN.
Art VINO was the leading incorporator of the
ew England Company of 1870. one Of tbe
nrst members Of that council and The a.,
s'gner Of the FIRST Plymouth patent.
u ~