The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-07
JAMES CITY VIRGINIA.
Odds and Ends of Its Eeariy History.
 By E. A. 5.


 (Continued.)
 It was under Sir Thomas Dale, that the communistic feature of the colony was abolished, but it was Sir George Yeardley who in 1619, brought to James City the good news, that they were 10 have an elective assembly Tor tnetr own government; step towards the future freedom of America which was hardly realized at the time. The birds off the air. however, carried the tidings afar and 1t was the 1rfth wh4eh-fexer moved a steady emigration to the new world.
 In 1912 there were only about sixteen or twenty families living at James City, but the country round, was be- coming thickIy settled. It was apout this time or little earlier, that Mrs. Virginia Farrier made her excellent map of Virginia, which was printed TOT John Stephens (probably the book pup fisher in London.)
 All seemed well, but on April the 1sr 1S22, the peace of the country was shortened by the cruel and blood thirsty Indians Warning was given by friendly native. but too late to save the remote settlers. 1t is pitous to read the record of the dead From Henrico (Richmond) all down the James, on the banks of the Chesapeake ana LnrOuEnOut the ihLSaAo tiAos ~%---I less savages. killed, tortured. and cAr- ried into capativity several hundred or the settlers In some places, not one was left to tell what had happened, and forever was killed in Virginia. all faith in the friendliness of the red man From that time on. systematic war fare was waged against them; and law was passed. abandoning the out lying plantations. One woman wn" Io- snF 1RAVA her home. was carried bodily rom the dangerous neighborhood.
 Terrific as the blow was. the rebound into action and prosperity was just as strong. and the growth or the colo ny went on with scarce any interup- ton. Even Lue effort of King James to take the new charter from them. in the confusion after the massacre, was futile. his officers being disobeyed and dis- credited.
 In the ship George which came in 1923, was a yong adventurer who had been present at the Quarter Court or London in 1922 with George Percy Richard Stephens was the first of his name to come to America. He brought several servants and an adequate out fit and at once, took a position Of Inn portance in the little community at James City, becoming almost immed- lately a TQeInpec OL tuo I1OuS0 OAl AShA gesses-as the first Legislative body in American was called and little later, a member of the Council. posi- ton he kept for twelve years. He was probably an enthusiastic young man who had dreams of founding vast estate, possibly one of family which had lost all in the cause of the Stuarts. But he was a worker as his record shows. He was entitled to land as an adventurer; this he bought lon the river" (probably Pocasin) ad- Joining Capps and Robinson Land. He built block house at James City. It's site was No "A. on the maps of that day, and he also owned No. 2S, on which he built house and started an orchard. This we know through the mahuscript record of James City In the account Of the incorporation 1t says. that Captain Richard Stephens was given Patent No. 1, sixty rods at his dwelling, that others might be en- couraged by his example to enclose ground and plant trees" He probab- ly had for neighbors, Mrs. William Pearce and her wonderful garden.