The orders and constitutions of 1618 granted one hundred acres of land to every planter who at his own cost had come into the Colony previous to or in the course of Dale’s administration; the privilege accruing under this provision was in many cases claimed as late as 1635, either by the planter himself, who, for some reason had failed to take advantage of it hitherto, or by his descendant.[1] The personal adventurer could also be a shareholder, and thus obtain an additional proportion of land.
The third ground on which a patent was granted was the head right. The head right was in operation in 1618,[2] growing more and more important each successive year until it became the principal basis for title. Every shareholder who transported an emigrant, whether free or bond, to the Colony, acquired thereby a claim to fifty acres if the person remained in Virginia for a period of three years, or even if he had died after he was taken on board ship on the outward voyage. The shareholder secured an additional tract of fifty acres in the second distribution of lands upon the strength of the transportation of this person.[3]
An attempt was made at one time by some of the shareholders to establish the rule that the cost of transporting all emigrants forwarded by them to Virginia, but lost on the way, should be assumed by the Company without
- ↑ Instances are given in Virginia Land Patents, vol. 1623-1643, pp. 230, 304. In the preambles of these patents, the claims are based upon “the charter of orders from the Late Treasurer and Company bearing date Nov. 18, 1618.” See Instructions to Yeardley, 1618, Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. II, pp. 156, 157.
- ↑ Instructions to Yeardley, 1618, Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. II, p. 157.
- ↑ Orders and Constitutions, 1619, 1620, p. 21, Force’s Historical Tracts, vol. III.
