First-Hand Accounts -By Date
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"Letter of Luis de Quirós and Juan Baptista de Segura," 1570. This letter describes the settlement at Ajacàn and requests that Juan de Hinistrosa, the Royal Treasurer of Cuba, send a ship of grain to sustain the settlement.
"Instructions, by way of advice, for the intended Voyage to Virginia," by John Smith, undated (probably early 1600's). In these Instructions John Smith gives his recommendations as to how a plantation should be settled in Virginia. The document was most likely written during the first ten years of the colony's settlement, but is not dated.
The Discourse of the Old Company," 1625. A Committee of the King's Privy Council evaluates the Virginia Company and makes recommendations for the future of the Virginia Colony and the Virginia Company of London.
"VIRGINIA: More especially the South part thereof, Richly and truly valued," by E.W. (Edward Williams), 1650. This account of Virginia focuses on the many resources and opportunities available to colonists. The author enthusiastically offers the work as a plan for colonization that will solve many social problems in England. In addition to customs revenues, Virginia would provide opportunity for the poor, orphans, ex-soldiers, and the indigent at the same time that migration across the Atlantic would effectively remove these people from England.
"The Declaration of the People, against Sr: Wm: Berkeley, and Present Governors of Virginia," 1676. This document is Nathaniel Bacon's summary of the grievances of the people of Virginia against Sir William Berkeley, governor of the colony, and his advisors. The declaration includes a list of each of the grievances and of Berkeley's "wicked and Pernicious Councellours and Confederates, Aiders and Assistants against the Commonality."
"The Beginning, Progress, and Conclusion of Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia, In the Years 1675 and 1676," by T.M., 1705. T.M. was a planter from the Northumberland area and a Assembly Member for his district. In this document he describes Bacon's Rebellion, often relating events that he was an eye-witness to due to his membership in the Assembly during this period.
