As early as the autumn of 1619, a ship had been dispatched to Newfoundland with a cargo of tobacco in charge of the Cape Merchant, Abraham Piersey, who was then residing in the Colony, to be exchanged for fish.[1] The general example set by the Dutch privateer which in 1619 imported into Virginia the first cargo of negroes introduced, was doubtless imitated by other vessels of the Low Countries, especially after the establishment by the Company of factories at Middleburg and Flushing. In the Discourse drawn up by former members of that body after its dissolution, it is distinctly affirmed that the people during the administration of Yeardley, and also during that of Wyatt previous to the massacre, had enjoyed, in consequence of the free trade allowed at that time, ample supplies of necessaries from abroad.[2] In a letter from the Governor and Council in Virginia to the authorities in England, referring to the latter part of 1622, the year in which the massacre took place, it was stated that private adventurers were constantly reaching the Colony who furnished the inhabitants with articles that were particularly acceptable, such as sweetmeats, sack, and strong liquors.[3] The Dutch were probably the chief participants in this trade.[4] Specific
- ↑ Works of Capt. John Smith, p. 541.
- ↑ The Discourse of the Old Company, British State Papers, Colonial, vol. III, No. 40; Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. I, p. 160.
- ↑ Governor and Council of Virginia to Company, January, 1622-23, Neill’s Virginia Company of London, p. 372.
- ↑ In Documents Relating to the Colonial History of New York, vol. I, p. 25, the following entry will be found under date of September, 1621 “Resolution of the States of Holland and Westvriesland dated 13 Septr. Read a petition from Gerret Van Schoudhoven and other Guinea Traders; Item also, the petition of Traders to Virginia requesting to be allowed to send out some ships to bring their returns thence to this country as the trade and commerce thither are not to be lost before the West India Company be formed and ready.” These petitions were allowed on condition that the petitioners pledged “themselves to be back to this country (i.e. Holland) before the 1st of July next.” On Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1621, the States General granted permission to Henrich Elkens, Hans Jooris Mouton, and Adriaen Janssen “to send their ship named the White Dove, burden about forty lasts . . . to Virginia, on condition that they shall have returned to this country before the first of July next with their goods and ship.” Ibid., p. 26. After this period the Dutch trade with Virginia was carried on under the auspices of the Dutch West India Company.
