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Selected text pertaining to Indian tribes
from the

EXECUTIVE JOURNALS

OF THE

Council of Colonial Virginia

Vol. I

(June 11, 1680 -- June 22, 1699)

------------------------------------------

Volume 1, page 4

The 19th June 1680

Whereas his most sacred Majesty upon the Representation of the Affaires of this Colony by his Honorable Commissioner Sr. John Berry and Coll. Fran. Morrison and their advice and Councill thereupon, in relation to the articles made by them with the Indians (without consulting or adviseing with your Majesty's Councill here, or Assembly some short time before sitting, and in severall points contrary to the opinion of your Councill, and as they have reason to believe of the whole Assembly also, and to the disadvantage of your Subjects here, was pleased to send four rich Coronets with Robes Silver badges, and several other presents to four Indian Kings and Queens here so called, which accordingly this day his Excellency brought hither with intent to deliver to them accordingly. The Councill being all present and considering, and fearing those people may be heightened thereby especially by such Marks of Dignity as Coronets, which as they humbly conceive ought not to be prostituted to such mean persons, doe therefore crave leave to offer their opinions to his Excellency in this weighty Affaire, and do unanimously desire his Excellency at least to forbear the delivery of the said Coronetts untill his Majesty's Pleasure by further known which they conceive will be an acceptable service to his Majesty and tend to the Welfare of this his Colony. This country haveing in its minority received from the Indians fatal returnes for considerable presents given unto them, and it hath alwayes been found a wrong way of manageing of those people they esteeming presents to be the effects of fear, and not kindness besides which severall other Neighbouring and more considerable Indian Nations who have deserved of the English at least as well as the Queen of Pomunkey or any of the rest, will be infinitely dissatisfied therewith, and if not to the English themselves will shew their Resentment at least against them which is almost as bad, Wee being by the Articles of Peace bound to protect them will necessarily involve us againe in their defence, in a most dangerable and chargeable Warr.

. . .

Volume 1, page 7

The 3rd of July 1680

It being this day moved in Councill that his Excell'cy would be pleased to Commisionate some able, and discreet persons in whom a power might reside upon any Attack Our Indian Enemies should make on our Frontiers forthwith to raise men whereby to repell and pursue them, the which if not speedily done do too frequently pass undiscovered, and considering ye remoteness of Our Frontiers from his Ex'cy the opportunities of takeing our satisfaction from the spoiles and Injuries done us by our Indian Enemies is lost before his Ex'cy has knowledge or can give orders therein. Its therefore the opinion of this board and accordingly thought fitt that discreet and able persons be by his Ex'cy impowered thereto with such Limitations and Restrictions as his Ex'cy by his Instructions shall think fit therein to give them, and the persons by this Board nominated to be so Commissionated, and impowered by his Ex'cy are as followeth

Coll. Joseph Bridge ........................for Nazmond
                                                            Lower Norfolk
                                                            Isle of Wight
                                                            & Surry.

Col. Wm. Bin [Byrd] for .....................Henrico& Charles City
Lt. Coll: Geo: Lyddall for ....................New Kent.
Lt. Coll Wm Lloyd for ........................Rappahanock
Capt Geo: Cooper for ........................Potomeck
                                                                       Hen: Hartwell Cl Con:

. . .

Volume 1, page 13

At A Councill held Att James Citty

the 1st of October 1681

Whereas A Letter was directed to the Right. Hon'ble the Deputy Governor sent and delivered by the Secretary of Maryland, from the upper house of Maryland, Signifying that a certain Nanzatico Indian, by name Nehemin, had committed a most barbarous murder att Point Look Out in Maryland and desiring the same Indian to be sent and delivered into their custody, to answer for y't his most inhumane act, as formerly they had obliged this Colony by doing the like:  Its therefore desired by this Board, Y't Mr. Secretary Spencer, who is well acquainted with the carriages of the Nanzattico Indians this last Summer, if he be not able to clear the said Indian of his own knowledge, doe with his best dexterity and judgement forthwith gett the said Indian into his hands and transmitt him safely to Maryland pursuant to the request of the said upper house of Maryland, but if he can clear the said Indian from this accusation the way before express'd, y't then he forthwith give the Governor an account of it and likewise send an Answer to the Lord Baltemore, in the name of the Councell, with the reasons of our refusing to deliver the Indian aforesaid.

. . .

Volume 1, page 40

March 13th 1682-3

That noe Indians ought to come to Towne, att ye Countries charges, unlesse sent for or upon some emergent occasion.

Hot Waters September 17th 1683

Present

Nicholas Spencer Esq President
Coll Nathanial Bacon
Coll Wm Cole
Coll John Page

Pursuant to Mr. Presidents request this day ye above Gentlemen of ye Councel mett, in order for a consultation about some Speedy course for ye prevention of ye Seneca Indians future Incursions, and perpatrations of Spoils on ye stocks and inhabitants of this Colony, att w'ch Time all letters directed to ye Hon'rble Mr President, from the Commanders of Rappa: and other Counties signifying ye late disasters sustained by ye Indians barbarity as likwise Mr Presidents returns & orders thereon grounded, maturely and seriously considered, were approve of by ye said Board, (being as effectual as possibly could,) who make it their request, that he would continue his care, by forthwith dispatching a messenger to ye northerne parts for advice, how those parts stand affected, in what posture of defence our Inhabitants are in, wt effects are wrought by ye said Indians, what number of them, & that he give directions for constant rangings, against whose returne (provided ye Indians continue their rapines, depradations & Spoiles) ye Councel will convene (ye Generaly Court being att hand) & consult of some meanes to bee Speedily put in execution, both to prevent the Enemies future injuries, and force a satisfaction for all damages already susteined both in our stocks and ye losse of our fellow Subjects.

. . .

Volume I, page 53

November 29th 1683

Present
Nicholas Spencer Esq President
Natha: Bacon Esq
Coll Jo'n Page
Coll Joseph Bridger
Coll Wm Byrd
Coll Wm Cole
Coll John Lear

     Whereas ye Barbarous Seneca Indians have lately made Incur-
sions & Inroads amoungst ye Inhabitants of this his Majesties Colony
of Virginia, perpatrated great spoiles on some stocks & Plantations, &
as may be feared, designe in all probability to continue & persist in
such their outrages; if not timely prevented, that wee may be there-
fore in all readinesse, not only to defend our selves, but if occasion
should require, that we may be likewise in a posture to oppose and debar
their further progresse, all and every Collector and Collectors, in this
his Majesties Colony and Dominion of Virginia, are requested and ord-
ered by this Board, to use their best care and endeavours to provide
att their entry of ships one thousand weight of shot, bullet, Carbine,
pistoll, swan and goose, for w'ch charge they shall be allowed againe att their making up their account of fort Duties att ye Audit

        This board taking into their serious consideration ye great dan-
gers our neighbouring Indians (whom by Articles of Peace wee are
obligdged to defend), are daily exposed to, by ye incursions of ye Seneca
Indians, and endeavouring to find some expedient for ye future to
defend them from their violence, doe conclude it absolutely necessary,
for ye preservation of our Indinas, that ether Rappa: & Nazattico
Indians be united & incorporated (ye Nanzatiticos being willing) or
that ye Rappa: Indians remove to their new fort, and that this may be
effected, It is ordered that both ye said Indian nations be made sensible
of ye care of this board for their defence, and likewise friendly ad-
monished, that an union will produce ye better effects, and that ye Indians may be safe on their way (if they consent thereto) a party of
horse is ordered to be in motion, and to conduct ye Rappa: to such
place for security, as they make choice of, either to their new fort, or
ye Nanzattico Town.

       Whereas ye upper and frontier plantations of this Government have
lately been infested by ye approach of ye Seneca Indians, who have
Committed and still doe continue to commit great injuries and rapines,
and their motion being uncertaine, ye whole Government in a manner is
exposed to their mercilesse furty, that wee may be therefor ready on
all occasions, att all times, not only defend ourselves and our
neighboring Indians, but if occasion should required, to oppose ye
Senecas further progresse and to curbe their insolenies; This board,
that they may discharge ye Trust reposed in them, have thought fit,
and doe hereby order, as ye best expedient, to secure ye frontier planta-
tions, that Coll Wm Byrd have alwaies in readinesse ye horse of Hene-
rico County, and that upon ye Enemies approach or advice of any
danger from Coll Byrd, That Coll Edward Hill send such a part of
horse of Charles Citty County to his Assistance, as he shall desire,
:and that upon ye absence or mortality of Coll Wm Byrd or any other
Accident, ye power of Commanding in Chiefe shall reside in ye said
Coll Hill, and in case ye Appamattox Indians shall stand in need of any
amunition or provision, Coll Wm Byrd is requested to supply ye same
according to his discretion, which shall be satisfied againe.

. . .

Volume I, Page 70-71

Att a Councell at James Citty

May 7th 1685

Present

           Consideration was this day had of ye articles of Peace concluded
on at Albany, on the thirtieth day of July last between his Excellency
Francis Lord Howard Govern'r on ye behalfe of this Colony, and ye
Maquas [Mohawk] Coqouges Onnondages and ye Seneca Indians; and
forasmuch, as in one of ye Articles It is concluded, that some of our
neighbouring Indians should this summer att ye aforesaid place give a meeting to ye aforesaid Indians, and represent ye Government, ye safety
and honor of ye Country depending on ye parts of those, that shall
act in such a Sphere; This Board, doe therefore propose the Honr'ble
Ralph Wormeley Esq, Coll Richard Lee, Coll Wm Byrd, John Lear
and Coll Christopher Wormeley, out of w'ch number, his Excellency is
most humbly requested to make choice of such two or one, as he shall
think fit, to proceed on a voyage to New Yorke by water, with an In-
terpreter, two Indians from Appamattocks, two Indians from Nan-
zatico, two from Chicahominy, and two from Pomunkey, by the
tenth day of July next, to confirme ye aforesaid Articles; and in re-
garde ye charge is uncertaine, It is impossible by this board to be settled
as he shall appoint to goe, to order ye furnishing out such sloop or
vessel as shall be appointed, with all other necessary contingent
charges, but are of opinion, that it will be for ye Countries Interest,
that Presents be made from this Government, and our Indians, to
such Indians, as they goe to treat with, being a Custome amongst all
nations of Indians, as ye tye and pledge for the performance or [of]Ar-
ticles of Peace.

. . .

Volume I, Page 78

Att a Councel held Att ye house
of Col Nathaniel Bacon
July 1st 1686

Present

. . .

       George Smith Interpreter to ye Pomunkey Indians having this day
informed his Excellency and Councel, that ye Pomunkey Indian Queen,
so called, was lately dead, and that ye Pomunkey Indians did desire,
that ye late Queenes Niece -- upon whom ye right of Government of that
Indian Nation does devolve, might succeed in ye Governm't whereupon
It is ordered, that ye said Geo. Smith doe acquaint ye said late Queens Niece and ye Great men of Pomunkey Town to attend his Excellency,
att James Citty, on ye third day of ye next General Court, in order to
her being confirmed in ye Governm't of those Indians; It is likewise
ordered, that Indian Harries wife, being a Pomunkey Indian, doe at-
tend his Excellency and Councel, Att ye same time, to ye intent she
may be examined, what she knows or Imagins is become of her hus-
band, and ye other Indians loss'd from Col Byrds' and It is likewise ordered, that ye said Geo: Smith doe by all private & subtile meanes endeavour to discover, how and by what meanes those Indians were
losst.

. . .

Volume I, Page 83

Att a Councell held att James Citty Aprill 29th 1687
Present

             The Hon'ble Coll John Lear haveing acquainted this Board, that the
Nation of Indians Called ye Meherins hath Deserted their former place
of Residence, or Habitation, and hath lately Seated themselves on the
North Side of the Blackwater, Contrary to ye Limitts, and Bounds in
former yeares Sett unto the Indians, and to which the Meherins never made any pretention unto, and being Come upon the Skirts, and Bor-
ders of the English Plantacons they are Injurious to them in their
Stocks, by private Killing, and destroying of then, and not only soe,
but by their Insolent Carriadge, terrifye, and affright the Inhabitants,
w'ch this Board takeing into their serious Consideration, and the ill
Effects, w'ch from such ungoverned Neighbours may be, if not timely prevented, have therefore upon due Consideration had of ye same, De-
sired and Ordered the Hon'ble Coll: Wm Cole, and Coll John Lear two of
his Maj'ties Councell, to meet at the House of Coll John Lear, Sometime, towards the latter End of May next, to Caucse to Come before them the Warowance, or Chiefe Man of the Meherins, and some of his Great
Men, as also ye Warrowance of Nanzemond, and some of his Great Men,
and to know the Reason why he Meherins come to Seate soe neer upon
the Skirts of Our Inhabitants, and on Lands the have noe pretensions
unto, and therefore they are not to think soe to Continue, to make a
fixed Being. But if they have for this present yeare there planted Corner, that they may Continue to Tend that Corne, and when Ripe,
to Remove ye Corne together with themselves to ye Southside of the Blackwater, where they may be Suffered to Sett down, and make Seat-
ment for themselves, not Injuring, Molesting, nor Destroying ye Eng
lishmens Stocks;  It is also further Ordered, that what Effect this
Treaty appointed hath, with those Meherins, Coll Wm Cole and Coll John Lear are to Report to his Excellency and Councell, att ye next
meeting of the Councel, at Mr. Audit'r Bacon's, on ye Sixteenth day of
June that accordingly Such Measures may be taken as shall be found
fitt.

. . .

Volume I, Pages 92-94

May ye 1st 1688

Present

      Whereas the R't Hono'ble Coll Thomas Dongon His Maj'ties Gov't
Gen'll of New-Yorke by his Letter of the 30th of march 1688 unto his
Excellency Francis Lord Howard, which his Excellency was pleased this day to Cause to be read in Councell, Sett forth the Extraordinary Great Charge that his Maj'ties Province of New Yorke had bourne and
undergon for some Considerable time in the Maintaining of a Warr for
the defence of five Nation or Cantons of Inyans, (viz't) the Maquas,
Sineca's, Cajougnes, Oneydes, and Onondagnes Subjects of his Maj'tie
of Great Brittain against the Indyans Assisted and Countinances by the Gov'r of Canady, and Craved and desired the Assistance of this
His Maj'ties Colony and Dominion of Virg'a a supply of mony for the
Carrying on of the said Warr too heavy and Chargeable for that Gov-
ernment any time to hold out or beare, Likewise his Maj'ties Order to
Coll'o Thomas Dongon to defend and preserve those Nations of Indians
against the Incursian and Invasion of the Governor of Canada and the
Canada Indyans, and this board takeing the whole matter under Consideration & observing that his Maj'tie in his Order to Coll Dongon was pleased to Command and direct him that in case he wanted aid and Assistance for the Carrying on of the said Warr to give Notice to the Severall Gov'rs and Proprieto'rs in his Maj'ties Plantacons upon the Con-
tinent of America to the end they might Assist him with Such help as
the Exegency required, in which this Board are of the Opinion that
out of Duty to his Maj'ties Comands & out of Commiseration to their
Fellow Subjects Inhabitants of New Yorke Oppressed by Warr, and
out of Consideration of the Kinde and Great Assistance have reced
from that Governm't in assisting His Excellency Francis Lord Howard
in making a happy peace with those Seneca Indyans, ought to assist
his Maj'ties Government of New Yorke ag't the Attempts of the French
Kings Subject and Indyans, and thereupon resolved, that the present
Assembly should be moved to Contribute what this Country Could doe,
by way of Supply of mony, to aid and Assist his Maj'ties Government
of New York, in the defence of his Maj'ties English and Indyan Sub-
jects there Inhabiting, In which his Maj'ties Assembly of Virginia de-
clareing, that they were uncapable of affording any Supply of Mony,
by reason of their present Necessities, they lye under from the meane
and low vallue of their onely Comodity tobacco is of at present, And
his Maj'ties Gov'r and Councell finding, that noe Supplyes could be Ex-
pected from the Assembly, and well knowing of what great Moment,
and Concerne it is to the future peace, and Wellfaire, of this his Maj'ties
Government of Vir'a, to have the Seneca Indyans, protected and preserved, from the Attempts and Incursions of the French, and Indian In-
habitants of Canada, under whose Subjection should the Seneca's be
reduced, his Maj'ties Subjects of this Colony must Expect to be perpe-
tually disturbed and disquieted and brought under an Insupportable
Charge, if not ruined, Therefore his Maj'ties Councell are Unanimously
of the Opinion, that it is not onely fitt, but absolutely Necessary, that a
Supply be made unto the Government of New Yorke, for the better Car-
rying on the Warr they are Ingaged in, and haveing noe Publiq Fund
of present Mony, nor waies, nor meanes to raise it, but by an Assembly,
who have positively declined any Assistance, Therfore doe humbly
Supplicate his Excellency to Concur with them in Opinion that five
hundred pounds Sterl, be raised out of his Maj'ties Quitrents of this
Country, and by bills of Exchange Ordered unto his Maj'ties gov'r of
New Yorke, as a Supply to defend them, in the Warr, they are In-
gaged in. And doe humbly beseech his Majesties, that he will be Gra-
ciously please soe favourably to accept of this Councell to his Excel-
lency, for the Issueing of a Warrant to Mr. Auditor for the Ordering
five hundred pounds, out of his Maj'ties Quitrents here unto Coll
Dongon as onely Intended an act of Service to His Maj'ties Govern-
ment of New Yorke, and not out of any preseumption of his Maj'ties
most Loyall and Dutifull subjects, and Servants, his Maj'ties gov'r and
Councell of this Colony.

       His Majesties governor and Councell of this his Maj'ties Colony,
with all Humility begg leave to represent unto his Maj'tie, that many
yeares since, in some of the Extreame parts of this his Maj'ties Colony, Considerable Quantityes of Land, were appoynted and layd out for
the use and benefitt of the Indyans, as namely the Pomunky Neck
and the Southside of blackwater, where there was then Inhabiting, very
Considerable Nations of Indyans, Consisting of Great Numbers, but
are now wasted and dwinled away, however doe hold and possess all
those Considerable Tracts of Lands, which when they were a Numerous
People, were Allotted for them, and being of large Extent, makes little
an Inroade to the Foreigne Indyans, who have made frequent Attempts
upon those poore, and weake townes of Indyans, and being Sencible
how unable they are to defend themselves, against any Such Attempts,
and finding that Such large Tracts of Land, are of noe benifitt nor use
unto them, Have therefore humbly petitioned his Excellency, that his
Excellency would be pleased to admitt, his Maj'ties subjects of this
Country, who were desirous to remove themselves into those parts, to
Survey and Seale Pomunky Neck, and the Southside of blackwater,
from whose Neighbourhood, the Indyans Exspect to have protection,
and likewise reliefe in their now most indigent way of liveing there-
fore this Board are humbly of the Opinion, that as it will be as great Satis-
faction, to yo'r Maj'ties Subjects, to be admitted to Survey and Seate,
those uninhabited parts of yo'r Maj'ties Country, alwaies reserveing and
Continueing to the Indyans, Such Quantityes of Land as they shall
declare themselves Satisfied with, both in Pomunky Neck, and the
Southside of the black-Water, by which meanes Lands lyeing in those
parts of the country, from which yo'r Maj'tie now receives noe benifitt
of Quit rents, will if Seated and Inhabited make a good Addition to the
Revenue of Quitrents, of this yo'r Maj'ties Colony and Dominion of
Virg'a.

. . .

Volume I, Page 104

Att a Councell held at James Citty

Present

April 26^th 1689

Coll Rich: Lee added.

      Whereas divers wicked and ill disposed persons of the Counties of
Stafford and Rapp'a laying hold of some falce and Extravigant reports
of the unsetledness of affaires, Contribed and designed to make use
therefore to the advantage of their mischevious purposes. having by a
pretended Examination of an Indyan saying that the Papists had hired
the Indyans to assist them to Cutt of all the Protestants of this His
Majesties Colony and Dominion of Virg'a, as also of Maryland, and
having noised it abroad that tenn thousand Seneca Indyans together
with Nine thousand Nanticoaks, were all Landed & Joyning their
Forces with an Imediat purpose of distroying all the Protestant In-
habitants of Virgá and Mary Land, and haveing by their fallce Al-
larums terrified and affrighted the Inhabitants with their mischevious
Contrivances and Imaginations, even to the forceing diverse familyes
to the deserting of their Houses, and having endeavoured to possess
of this Colony, & most of the Cheife Magestrates of each County were
Papists, (tho certainly knowne to be none Such) and that they con-
spired in the designe of Joyneing with the Indians, to Cutt of the
Protestants, which reports & rumors tooke soe great possession of many
the Inhabitants of this Country, that with the great Care and dili-
gence that could be used the Peace of the Country & welfare therefore
in Rapp'a County, having drawn themselves into parties with force of
Arms to Rob, Plunder and pillage many the good & Loyall Subjects
the Inhabitants of Virginia and Maryland, and to Stirr up and Carry
on a Rebellion in both Colony's, and forasmuch as John Waugh Clerke
is reported to have been very Instrumentall, in possessing the People
with those Imaginary Fears and to Stir up the Inhabitants against the
Peace & quiett of the Government, and Burr Harrison and John West being Suspected to be the first Contrivers & designers of all those falce
and Evill reports, and having dispersed abroad the pretended Examin-
ation of the Indyan, and that befre the Examination was sayd to be
taken, with aggravation of Fearfull Events if not timely prevented, and endeavoured what in them lay to stir up a Rebellion in unsetled
times, all which being duely Considered, as also the ruinous Conse-
quencies that Such evill and Wicked practices & Contrivancies might
have brought upon their poore Country, if by Prudent Care and good
Conduct it had not been timely prevented, It is therefore the Opinion
of this councell, and accordingly Ordered, that Jn'o Waugh Clk Bur
Harrison and Jn'o West be by an Order of this Board taken into Custody
of the Sheriffe of Stafford County, in order to their being Carried on
board his Majesties Ketch the Deptford, whereof Cap't Thomas Berry
is Comander, that with the better Security they may be removed to
Nominy, there to be Examined by the Hono'ble Nicholas Spencer Esq'r
his Majesties Secretary of this Colony, the Hono'ble Coll Rich: Lee and
Coll Isaac Allerton three of his Majesties Councell . . .

. . .

Volume I, Page 111

May 1st 1690

Present

      This Board having received advice from New Yorke, and Mary-
land, that divers barbarous Murthers, have lately been perpetrated,
by the French, and Indyans near Fort Albany, in the Government of
New Yorke, and it being much feared that the French, and Canada
Indyans, will make some Attempts on the head of Potomach River,
or other Frontiers of this their Majesties Country; Now to the End
the Inhabitants may stand upon their Guards, and be in a readiness to
resist, and repell any Attempts, that may be made, by their Majesties
and Our Enemies. It is by this Board Ord'r'd, that the respective Co-
mand'r in Cheife, within this their Majesties Country, doe forthwith
issue their Ord'rs, to all the Officers under their Comand, to cause their
Soldiers to be in a readiness upon all occasions, and have their Armes
well fixed, and perticulerly that the Comand'rs n Cheife of all the Fron-
tier Counties, doe forthwith to give Notice to all the Inhabitants, to stand
on their Guards, and be very Vigilent, that they be not Surprized, by
Our barbarous Enemyes, and that upon the least Notice, of the Ap-
proach of any Forraigne Indyans, or French, they Imediately Send to
the next adjacent Forraigne Indyans, or French, they Imediately Send to
under his Comand, and to give Notice to the other Offic'rs of that
County, who are alsoe to raise the Souldiers under them, to resist or
repell, any of Our said Enemies, and the said Offic'r of Offic'rs and [are]
to give Speedy notice to the Command'r in Cheife of that County, and
to follow such Ord'rs, and Commands as they shall receive from him, and
in case there be occasion for any Assistance the Comander in Chiefe,
is to raise soe many of the Militia of the Adjacent Counties, as he shall
think fitt, and cause them to march to the assistance, where occasion
shall be, and the said Comander in Cheife of the said Counties forth-
with to give an account of the same, to the Gov'r or Comander in Chiefe
of the Country for the time being, and observe Such Ord'rs and Comands
as he shall receive from him. And the like Order and Methods are to
be taken and observed byt he Comand'rs and Offic'rs, lying at the
Mouths of the Rivers, in case any Enemye shall come by Sea, and that
M'r Presid't accordingly issue forth Warrants, to the Respective Co-
mand'rs in Cheife;

Vera cop Test

William Cole Sec

. . .

Volume I, Page 117

At a Gen'll Court held at Jame Citty June 4th1690:

Present

       This Board having received Information from New Yorke, that
Divers barbarous Murd'rs and Spoyles, have been Committed by the
French, and Cnada Indyans within that Government, and that the
five nations of Northern Indyans, have or doe intend to Send to Our
Neighbour Indyans, to perswade them away with them, which will be
of Dangerous Consequence, to the Peace of this their Majesties Do-
minion, for prevention whereof, It is Ordered by this Board, that the
Severall Interpret'rs doe forthwith goe to the Severall Nations of Neigh-
bouring Indyans, and acquaint them, that if any Forreigne Indyans
come to them, and require them to goe with them, they informe them,
they are under the Protection of this gov'rnment, and that they
are not to goe, without the L't Gov'rs leave, and it is also Ordered, that
the Indyans be by the Interpret'rs Ordrd, to be very Vigilent, to fine
out the Approach of any Forreigne Indyans and if they shall discover
any, that they forthwith give Notice thereof, to the next Militia Officer,
and that the Intepret'rs also acquaint the Indyans, that if any For-
reigne Indyans shall make any Attempt upon them, and they appre-
hend any Danger, that they may Send in their Women & Children to
the English, who will take care of them, and that the English will
Joyne with them, to Protect them from their Enemies.

     The L't Gov'r desireing the Opinion of this Board, whether it would
be for their Maj'ties Service, if he should goe to the heads of the Great
Rivers, to See if what Condition the Inhabitants thereof are, for the
defence of this their Majesties Colony, In which the Councill Consid-
ering, the Several Murd'rs and Spoyles, lately Commited by the
French, and Canada Indyans, upon the Inhabitants of New England,
and New Yorke, as appeares by Letters from thence, and not knowing
but they may Attempt some Mischeife, on the heads of the Rivers of
this Government, are of Opinion, that if his Honor doe the Same, It
will be for their Majesties Service, and the Great Satisfaction, and En-
couragement of the Inhabitants of this their Dominion.

. . .

Volume I, Page 129

October the 21st 1690

Present

      The L't Gov'r acquainting this Board of the Return of Coll Potter
from New Yorke and New Engl'd and with the account he brings, and
of the acc't his Hono'r had received by Severall Lett'rs of the Great
troubles and dangers the inhabitants of New York and New England
had, and wer ein by the many depredations and Murthers Comitted
by Our Barbarous Enemies the French and Indians, and having also re-
ceived Informacon from M'r Nehemiah Blackstone who Calls himselfe
Presid't of the Commitee for their Ma's Province of Maryland, that there
were diverse strange Indians at the head of Potomack, and that there
were some of the Piscattaway Indians killed, and Cap't Peale and Cap't
Mason being Ordered to Range at the head ot Potomack to make dis-
covery of the same, and not fineing that there were any Indians or
tract [track] of Indians to be found they went to Piscataway Indian
Towne, and discourseing with the Emperor of the Indyans, he declared
he knew of noe strange Indyans, nor had any of his Indians [been]
killed, this Board Notwithstanding to prevent any Surprize or Attempts
that may be endeavoured to be made by Our Barbarous Enemies or
the Frontiers of this their ma's Dominion, It is thought fitt & Ordered
that the Comamnd'rs in Cheife of the Forces at the heads of all the Rivers,
doe Order the Inhabitants to Continue their Dilligence in being very
watchfull that they be not Surprized by any of our enemies, and that
they Cause the Former Ord'rs of this Board for the Securing the Fron-
tiers to be Carefully pursued and as they See Occasion to Order the
Inhabitants to Range to make discovery if there be any Tracts of
Indians, and to Ord'r all their Officers to acquaint the Inhabitants and the Interpret'rs to acquaint the Indians, that if they bring any In-
teliigence of Our Indian Enemies and it prove true they shall be well
rewarded for their Intelligence, but if any person shall publish any
flace News fo Allarum the Country and it shall soe appeare they shall
be punished according to Law, & Coll Lee and Coll Allerton or either
of them are desired to Open any publique Letters that shall come from
the Northward, and if they see occasion to Send them to the Lt Gov'r.

. . .

Volume I, Page 135

Octob'r 24th 1690

Present as before

     This Board having received information that Severall persons have
purchased and taken Leave of the Chickohominy Indians of the Land
appointed them to live on in Pamunky Neck by Ord'r of Assembly in
A'o 1660 Contrary to the true Intent and meaneing of the said Ord'r of
Assembly and have, and building thereon, which unless a timely
Stoppe be put thereto, may in a Short time prove of Dangerous Con-
sequence to the Peace and quiet of the Country, And it being con-
trary to Law that the said Chichominy Indians (or any others)should
Sell Leave or Exchange their Lands, all the said Leases, Sales and Ex-
changes made by the said Indians with any person whatsoever are
hereby declared void, and to deter any person or person who have
built on the s'd Land or any part thereof, It is Ordrd tha tthey forth-
with remove their Stocks & what Else they have on the said Land, and
Cause all the Houses built within three yeares or now a building to be
burnt by the last day of Jan'ry next, which if any person shall faile to
performe, It is Ordrd that the Sherriffe of New Kenty County Caused
[cause} the said Houses to be Imediately burnt after Such failure, and
that the person faileing pay the Charge thereof, And it is Ordrd that
this Order be published at the next Court to be held for New Kent
County, and in the Respective Churches of the said County.

     Cap't Mathew Page with others his Neighbours having according
to any ord'r of Councill dated July 26th 1690 Examined what quantity
of Land Goerge Pargitor had bought of the Pamunky Indians in Pa-
munky Neck, and what Houses he had built thereof, and makeing re-
port that the said Pargitor held about twelve hundred acres of Land,
which he purchased of the Pamunky Indyans (as it is said) and that
he had built a forty foot tob'o house on the Same, and kept two hands
there, all which being Contrary to Law it is Ordrd that the said Par-
gitor forthwith Cause the said House to be burnt, and his purchase is
hereby declared void, and it is further Ordered tha tthe Sherrifee of
New Kent County Serve the said Pargitor with this Ord'r, and that the
Court of the said County of New Kent doe make Enquiry what per-
sons are Seated on any Land in their County Contrary to Act of
Assembly or Order of this Board, how long they have been Seated on
the Same, and the Number of Tithables in every of their Familyes,
and return a report of their proceeding to M'r Secretaries Office.

     This Board being made acquantined that diverse persons Contrary
to Law have obtained Pattents for Land on the Southside of the Main
black Water Swamp (the bounds between the English and Indians)
by Subtile and Craftsy Contrivances and devices used with some Sur-
vey'rs, and that others have taken Leases of the Indians for Severall
quantities of Land, and are dayly building, Seating the Same, all
which being Contrary to Act of Asembly, and tending to the Endan-
gering the Peace and quiet of this their Ma's Country, and the lives of
those persons who soe unadvisedly Run themselves into Great Danger
by Seating at Great distance one from another, are thereby at the
Mercy of the Indians, a people of noe Faith nor Creditt, who at their
Pleasure may Cutt off a Family, and pretend it to be done by Strange
Murderers who parhapps at the same time may be with them in serch
unsuspected, and Expect to be paid for their Service. Now to the End
that all due Care may be had of the lives of their ma's Subjects, and
the Peace and Quiett of this their Ma's Country and that the Indians
may not have just reason to Complaine of being Cheated of their
Lands Contrary to the Articles of Peace Agreed & Concluded with
them, All the Pattents for Lands, Surveys, or Leases taken of the In-
dians for Lands on the Southside the Main black Water Swamp, are
hereby declared Void to all Intents and purposes whatsoever as if
Such Pattent had never been obtained, Survey made, or Lease taken
And it is Orded that none of the Inhabitants of this Colony, or Others
their Majesties Subjects comeing hither doe presume to goe over the
Main black Water Swamp to live, And to the End that those already
there may not Continue, but endeavour to provide themselves with
places to live in within the bounds ascertained to the English, It is
also Ordrd that they Neither build any house, nor repair nor Finish
those already built or a building, and that they Continue noe longer
there, then they shall be permitted by further Ord'r of this Board, or
the next Gen'll Assembly,

. . .

Page 139

At a Councill held at Middle plantation December 9th 1690

Present

         His Hono'r the Lieu't Gov'r acquainting this Board, that he had
received an account by Letters from New England that the French at
Caniday had beate the Forces sent against them from New England
and forced them to return, and the same being Confirmed by a Master
of a New England Vessell now present, It is though fitt and accord-
ingly Ordered that the Councill meete at James Citty the 12th day of
Jan'y next to Consult and advise the best and most securest way to
preserve this their Ma's Colony and Dominion of Virg'a and the Inhabit-
ants therefore from any Attempts that may be made either by the
French (or Indians) which in all likelyhood they will indeavour being
couraged by their success against the New England Men, And his
Hono'r the Lieu't Gov'r is desired to write to all the Gent'n of the Councill
who are not now present, not to faile meeting at the time aforesaid, it
being for their Ma's Especial Service, and the preservation of this their
Ma's Dominion . . .

. . .

Present

. . .

Present

. . .

Present

Present