Robert Adams of Jamestown November 1, 2010

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Robert Adams  November 1, 2010   Robert Adams in Jamestown

Source:  William and Mary College Quarterly

Volume 7   Series 2  page 128

Robert Adams noted as a Burgess on March 5, 1623.

Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia  1619-1658/59

Edited by H.R. McIlwaine

Page VII

From Alexander Brown’s The First Republic in America, pp 579,580

Robert Adams is a Burgess for James Island

and

Page 22

From Neill’s History of the Virginia Company of London  page 407-411

This is only excerpts from the Answer.

The Answer of the Generall Assembly in Virginia to a Declaration of the State of the Colonie in the 12 years of Sr. Thomas Smiths Government, exhibited by Alderman Johnson and others. 

Greate want and misery under most severe and crewel laws

The allowance in those times for a man was only eight ounces of meale and half a pinte of pease for a daye the one & ye other mouldy, rotten, full of cobwebs and maggots loathsome to man and not fit for beast, which forced many to flee for reliefe to the Savage Enemy, who being taken againe were put to sundry deaths as by hangings, shooting and breaking upon the wheel and others were forced by famine to filch for their bellies, of whom one for stealing 2 or 3 pints of oatmeal had a bodkinge thrust through his tongue and was tyed with a chain to a tree until he starved, a man through his sickness had not been able to work, he had no allowance at all, and so consequently perished many through these extremities, being weary of life digged holes in the earth and hidd themselves til he famished.

They were constrained to eat Doggs, Catts, Rats, Snakes, Toadstooles, Horsehides and what nott.  One man out of the misery he endured, killing his wife powdered her up to eat her, for which he was burned.  Many besides fedd on the Corpse of dead men, and one who had gotten unsatiable, out of custome to that foode could not be restrained, until such time as he was executed for it and indeed soe miserable was our estate that the happiest day that ever some of them hoped to see, was when the Indians had killed a mare they wishing while she was boiling that Sr. Thomas Smith was upon her back in the kettle.

Those who survived who had both indentured their estates and persons were constrained to serve the Colony as if they had been slaves, 7 or 8 years for their freedoms who underwent as hard and servile labor as the basest fellow was brought out of Newgate.

The Answer goes on to say that their fortications were none against the foreign enemy, bridges were decaying.  Ministers to instruct the people came but they had no orders.  The Arms, Powder and munitions were useless.  They continue with many more complaints and towards the end of the Answer they say, “And rather to be reduced to live under the like government we desire his Majesty’s Commissioners may be sent over with authorities to hang us.”

It was signed by the following:

Wm. Tucker, Wm. Peerce, Rawley Crofhaw, Samuel Mathews, Jabes Whittake, John Willcox, Nicholas Marten, Edward Blany, Ifack Madifone, Clement Dilke, Luke Boyfe, John Utie, John Chew, Richard Staples, Gabriell Holland, Francis Wyatt, George Sandis, John Pott, John Powntis, Roger Smith, Raphe Hamor, John Southerne, Samuel Sharpe, Henry Watkins, Nathaniel Caufey, Richard Bigge, Richard Kingfwell, John Pollington, Robert Addams, Thomas Marlott.

This was just one of the letters which Robert Adams signed.  He signed letters on page 26, 27,39, and 42.

This definitely is not Virginia history we were taught in grade school.