April, 1644. It was ordered that for the better protection of the Inhabitants they should be under commands in each precinct. From the north side of Nassawattocks to the North side of Hungar's they were to be under the command of Wm. Andrews & Stephen Charlton, and all the Inhabitants between the south side of Hungar's to the north of Mattawaman Creek, were to submit unto Capt. Wm. Stone. And from Mattawaman Creek to Thos. Dimmer's House under Argall Yeardley. From Francis Petits house & both sides of Cherriston Creek under Obedience Robins & Philip Taylor. From King's Creek to the house of Edward Douglas under Wm. Roper & Edward Douglas, and from Mr. Littleton's to Magotha Bay point under John Neale & Edmund Scarborough. Any persons refractory to these orders were to be committed to the custody of the sheriff to be sent to James City. July 12th, 1644, John Wise testifies as a witness.

Inventory & appraisement of the estate of Wm. Burdett, one of the court and burgess who died about 1642-3-4, some idea may be obtained how people lived about that time. There were beds, Valances, Blankets & sheets. Pewter dishes of all kinds. Iron kettles & pots of all descriptions. No crockery or any of the present material of kitchen furniture, all is pewter, Iron, or brass, or plate. There were two silver salts-1 wine cup & 1 doz. silver spoons—11 oxen-18 or 20 steers-many cows & calves-22 goats-no horses mentioned. 8 servants with various

times to serve & 2 negros.

1645. Feather beds & Holland sheets are mentioned; also the vessel called the Blessing of Virginia. Stephen Charlton buys two pipes of wine of Peter of the Water Duck of Rotter

dam at 22 Sterling in Tobacco at 3 pence per lb.

7th November, 1645. Court accepts the offer of John Badlam, & John Dixon of the Point House, which they inhabit and keep an ordinary at the old Plantation Creek, should be the common prison, and they appointed to keep & feed the prisoners. Mention of horses that died on passage from New England. Custom was begun of recording the branding of cattle.

Decb'r, 1646. Will of Wm. Cotton, clerk, recorded his plantation, was called Bunbury-evidently after Bunbury, Cheshire,

Eng., where he came from. This was Cotton, the minister. Hugh Yeo appears as a merchant.

Feb., 1646. Richard Buckland, who had defamed Ann Smyth by the publication of a libel in the form of poetry, "shall the next sermon that is preached at Nussawattocks, stand at the Church door from the beginning of the 1st lesson untill the 2nd be ended with a paper upon his hat, & on it shall be written in capital letters Inimrius Libellos, desireing forgiveness of God & also in particular the aforesaid defamed," & etc.

March 22nd, 1646. Walter Williams licensed to keep an ordinary & victualling house, & "to sell strong water." Mention of next Court at house of Stephen Charlton.

1647. Francis Pott has two negro children bound to him for a term of years, & he binds himself to furnish them sufficient meat & drink & apparel & lodging, & to use his best endeavours to bring them up in the fear of God & in the knowledge of our Saviour Jesus Christ. The name of the negro from whom he bought them was Immanuel Driggus or Driggs-he was a servant to Francis Potts. Books mentioned. Bible without the Psalms. Dr. Wm. Smith's sermons, & the Practice of Piety. An order made at June Court, 1647, for the constables in the different precincts to visit the planters farms & see if they have planted as much Corn as directed by act of Assembly. Among charges ag' estate of Richard Leman for the funeral is an Ox, 800 lbs. Tobacco, also 1 Case of Drams at 200 lbs. Tobacco. The coffin 100 lbs. Tobacco-paid Wm. Carter for dressing dinner 100 lbs. tobacco-for making the grave 40 lbs. Tobacco.

June 29th, 1646. Mention of the settlement of partnership business between Capt. Wm. Clayborne & Geo. Fletcher, merchant. Disbursed by the account 12000 lbs. Toboe for the trade of Susquehanna & for the Isle of Kent in making peace, taking possession of it, fortifying & maintaining it, of which Mr. Fletcher's letter engages him to bear his share, this was about 1642 & 3. Accounts were submitted for arbitration to Mr. Richard Bennett & Peter, Knights, of Warrosquack. James Fletcher was of Eltham, County of Kent, England, and was atty. for his brother Geo. Fletcher, merchant, of London. Wheat & Flour first mentioned about this time in a bill of Capt. Wormley's. In 1646 one item is two ranlets of beer while the

Governor was at his house.

Orders for bridges across Hungar's

& other creeks about this time.

Nov., 1648. Robt. Warder was ordered to stand at the Church door at Nassawattocks with a great pot tyed about his neck, thereby signifying the merit of his offence for being drunk, & etc.

At a Court held May 16th, 1649, Ordered next court to be held at the house of Walter Williams at Nassawattocks, & the ensuing court at the Point house on the old Plantation Creek & so successively & that any Justice being absent should be fined 300 lbs. tobacco according to act of Assembly. Owing to the alarming condition of the county the Inhabitants were ordered to carry their arms & ammunition to Church & Court, or whenever they left their houses. Mention of a man defending himself with a truncheon in a tavern brawl.

A proclamation by the Court & Commissioners of Accomacke: Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God, to be deprived of our late dread Sovereign of Blessed Memory, We, the Court & Commissioners of Accomacke, Do by these present proclaims Charles the undoubted Heir of one of our late Sovereign of blessed memory, To be King of England, Scotland, France, Ireland and Virginia, and all other remote provinces and Colonies, New England and the Caribder Islands and all other hereditaments & indowments belonging to our late sovereign of blessed memory, Willing & requiring all his majesties high (?) people to acknowledge their allegiance, and with general consent and applause, pray God to bless Charles the second, King of England, Scotland, France, Ireland, Virginia, New England, the Caribder Islands and all other provinces & subjects to the English Crown. And so God save King Charles the second. Amen, Amen, Amen (page, 193, Book 3).

April, 1650. Sir Wm. Berkely writes, "Gen" Having been frequently informed by the testimony of divers, of undeniable credit, that the Indians commonly called by the name of the Laughing Kinge Indians, have been most faithful to the English, and especially that neither they nor their King in the last bloody massacre could be induced to engage with our enemies against us & so by consequence kept the remote Indians, at least none broke in at a time when a general combination against us, had

been if not ruinous, at least of insupportable expense to us, and considering that we cannot reasonably for the like effect of their friendship, in case we should again need it (which God knows how soon it may be) unless we correspond with them in acts of charity and amity, Especially unless we abstain from acts rapine & violence, which they say we begin to do, by taking away their land from them, by pretence of the sale of a patent. My desire therefore to you is and I make it in the name of the peace & safety of the Colony, that you suffer no land to be taken from them but what shall be allowed both in justice & convenience by the full court. And in case the commissioners disagree in their opinion, that you refer the whole matter to be considered by a full court at James City.

"Your humble servant,

"WM. BERKELY.

"The Commissioners of Northampton County there."

A council of war was held 25th July, 1650. When from the depositions of Robt. Berry, who was told by an Indian named Ornaws that the Indians were not good, that King Tom of the Gingasgoynes told the other English what the Indians said & did, That they were appointed to poison the English. This deponent said he did not believe it, because the Bay side Indians sold all their Corn, he said (the Indian said) they sold their corn for truck to pay the Indians that were to come over the Bay, whom they had hired to fight against the English. The court gave orders for the Inhabitants to stand upon their arms & etc. Two negroes were examined, one of them testified that King Tom carried Roanoke unto the Nanticoke King, said Roanoke was for bribeing, that he might have the Indians all as one, that the King of Gingategue and the King of Matchategue intended to fall upon the English, that they had all consulted together, except the King of Kikotank. At a Court held the same month Robt. Berry's deposition was taken over again. A party of able men were ordered to go among the Indians and make inquiries.

Mention of sassafras root shipped to England 3000 weight, worth 20 shillings per cwt.-also some old brass and pewter. Books mentioned in an Inventory-"The Turkish History"

Stowe's Chronicles" & "the King's Meditation." An order is made upon complaint forbidding the Dutch from that time. should no longer trade, truck or barter with the Indians for fur or other skins, under a fine of 500 lbs. Tobacco. It was said their concern with the Indians was perilous to the Inhabitants.

An account of a council of war held at James City is recorded at this time. It was to try Edmund Scarborough & Thos. Johnson for going in a hostile manner upon the Indians and doing them outrages, but upon scanning the business, it was found to be untrue, and the court considered that they acted as careful and honest men ought to have done.

"Whereas there is a great probability that the Indians have concluded a confederancy of acting a sudden massacre of the inhabitants of this county, It is therefore provided that a company or police of Horse shall be pressed for present service to discover and prevent the threatened danger, and that no delay be used. These are in his Majesties name to authorize the officers employed to press such horses, men and other necessaries as fitly conduce to the execution of this design and hereunto let no man fail of observing as he or they will answer to the court at their peril. This is signed by Stephen Charlton, Edmund Scarborough, Thos. Johnson, and then follows a letter from Col. Littleton:

"Gent. I have received your order & I think it fitting that you all meet at Mr. Charlton's upon the 31st of this month and thereunto give Mr. Andrews & Mr. Yardley notice of your meeting, and what you shall there agree for the Good & safety of the County, I do willingly condescend to. I pray you be careful not to engage us in a war but upon good grounds (some other words not intelligible).

"Your friend,

"NATH'L LITTLETON."