The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-30
KENT, ENGLAND.
It's Historical and Genealogical Asso.
Citations With Virginia.

lis Historical and Genealogical Asso-
Citations With Virginia.
HOW many of the numerous Vir-
eihians and descendants of Virginians
who 90 to England know the beautiful
ana historic county of Kent? A largo
number of course, catch glimpses of
1t through the car windows between
London and Dover. and considerable
proportion visit Canterbury, but that
is about all our people ever see of
this famous county. We do not real
ize that next 10 Virginia's mother, on.
don. kentish people have Influenced
Virginia, and much moro than In that
rapidly changing city can there still
be found in Kent memorials of the
men and families who played so con-
siderable part In our history.
NO good New Highlander thlnks his
English pilgrimage complete without
visits to Plymouth. Brewster's house
at Scrooby. that of Harvard in South
wark. fale's tomb and other shrines,
and there is no reason why Gravesenl,
Northbourne, Reculven and other places
in Kent should not be as precious to
Virginians.
On tho 18th OF May, 1907, at the
celebration at jamestown OF the three
hnndredth anniversary of the English
settlement of America, the principal
Honorable James Bryce. The distin-
guished amba ssador's presence and his
admirable address aroused the great
crowd to such enthusiasm he stated
that he would see that informa ton Of
1t should reach quarter (evidently
referring to King Edward) where he
was sure such evidence of good will
TO England would cause gratiticat ton
In the beginning Of his speech he
looked around at the level green fields
the distant marshes and the shininS
river. and said that jamestown re.
minded him surprisingly of Ehbsneet
AS the famous landing place OF Eng
lishmen in Virginia resembles the
other more famous one in Kent So
more than any other part OF England
has Kent been connected with Viz.
ginia.
When tho Virginia Company, of
London. was organized its first presl-
dent ctressurer" was the title of the
presidins ofieeD was Sir Thomas
Smith. great London merchant. who
had county seat at sutton Place.
Kent, and who was buried In the
Church of Sutton, at Houc. where his
monument remains AS the COLONY
grew and u more liberal administration
of Its affairs became necessary, the
control OF the company passed to a
party led by the Earl of Southampton
(Shakespeare's friend and patron) and
sir Edwin Sandys. 1t lie chiefly due
to tho latter. who lived at North
! bourne court, In the Parish OF North :
bourne, and is buried i'll the church
there that Virginia was given a local
Legislature in 1919, This was the hrat
representative assembly in the West
ern world. and the first in any Eng :
Itch colony. 1t may be regarded as
tho foreruuner of American Congresses
and State Legislatures and OF Ca
madam, Australian and South African
Parliaments. Another thing which
should add TO the reverence which
Americans should feel at the tomb Of
Sir Edwin Sandys is that 1t was chief
~ through his influence that the Pill
grim Fathers were permitted to sail
in 1920. with tacit permission to
have religious freedom
One of the best of our early Cover
nors was Sir Francis Wyatt. of Box.
ley, grandson of Sir Thomas Wyatt, OF
Arlington Castle mot far away on the
picturesque Midway. Sir Francis was
Governor 1921 1926 and l637-l642. His
brother. Hawte Wyatt. once rector OF
BoXley also went to Virginia. and
was minister of Jamestown Two OF
Rev. Hawte WAITS sons settled In the