Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-03-24
WHERE EARLY PIONEERS SECURED FOOD
esidents Of the Hamlet Made brave Fipht Aoaicet
Blackboard, the Pirate, and Drove Him Ont
the Creek. Man Who Applied the
Torch Tells the s,or, OF the
Burning of the Town
Written for The Daily Press by Captain v p. Holt.

= neu personal property, for the same
purpose. Here we see the establish.
ment of the first American free
school. In later years this land was
converted into cash, ten Thousand dol.
lars being realized and today tho
SCHOOLS of this country still use the
interest on their maintenance. When
Tue civil war commenced Col. j. G..
Phillips was one of the. trustees of
SAID fund and this family carried the
mortgage bonds to Richmond with
thoin and thus preserved them Intact.
The schools of the town and county
VIII have an exhibit at the jamestown
Exposition, and the expense which
VIII be necessarily incurred, will be
paid out of the interest from this
tund, Which established this first pub.
lie school, nearly three centuries ago.
The exact date, when kecoughtnn
became Hampton, Is not known, but
II was changed to Hampton In honor
OF the Earl of Southampton, the presi-
dent of the London Company. In 1850,
there was Legislative enactment
that Fifty acres o. land OH the west
side of Hampton river, be laid off for
town In two months. The limitation
or tho time was repealed the follow
Ing year. About this time the people
living OH the East side of Hampton
river were exempted from the pay
ment OF the ferryagc-thrcc pence
to Hampton.
Before the Revolution.
Little Of Importance TRANSFERRED un-
I'll the Revolutionary war, when the
patriots were involved in dcsper-
ate conflict with the mother coun.
try.
The town grew In size, and greatly
, prospercd, new enterprises were start.
cd and communication with various
other points established. Ferries
were put IN operation to Brooks Point,
| rate three pence; to Sawall's Point,
the location of the Exposition grounds,
same rate and from York, Hampton
and Norfolk towns to Little Eyre's
land on Hampton river, in Northamp-
ton county, rate twenty shillings.
Geo. Wythe, was born not far from
the town in 1926. he became an elo-
Inent and eminent lawyer, was con-
spicuons in the House of Burgesses,
prior to the Revolution. When the op.
position TO the English commenced, he
was devoted To the cause of liberty,
and was one of those who signed the
Declaration of Independence. He filled
many positions of trust and honor In
his state and was for twenty years
the sole chancellor of the Court of
Equity. His death occurred in 1906,
in the Slst year of his age. very
disastrous storm visited the town in
1852, and large quantity of tobacco.
/ some twenty thousand pounds was de-
stroyed In the public warehouse, by
high wind and rain, and Overflowing
of tide" Tho House of Burgesses Or
dered some one hundred pounds
| (about 5000 paid to the sufferers.
During part of this time, the waters
! about hero we're infested by motor
ious pirate, MN. Thrach. or Black.
beard, who ravagcd the coast, plumber
ing and killink tho defenseless peo-
pie. Many expeditions were sent
against him. He was finally killed
| Nov. 81, 171S. The Blue Laws con-
tinued to be rigidly enforced, the
court records showing parties fined for
swearing their oaths." for speaking
evil of the governor" and for mot at
tending church." An account Is given
of man renting town lot promising
to pay "one turkey gobbler." per an
num- one year. He failed TO pro.
duce the fowl, and suit resulted.
The tribe of Kecoughtan Indians had
been gradually dying out. till in 1850,
/ it was entirely extinct
In Stirring Times.
During the summer and early au-
tumn of IT'S, Capt. Squires in com
mand of the British sloop "Ottie," was
continually engaged In cruising In the
York and James rivers, plunderng the
peaceful dwellcrs along their shores,
this had wrought the citizens up to a
high pitch OF resentment so that when
on q September morning IL was re-
ported that one of his vessels had
been driven ashore in Back river dur
ing storm, the people saw an oppor-
tunity for a partial reprisal. and a
party from Hampton led by two pa
triotic young men by the name of
Bnnon afterwards distinguished naval
oiiicers) burned the Vessel to ashes.