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Henry Soane
Henry Soane
Henry Soane was born the 17th of November, 1622, in Brighton, East Sussex, England. He married Judith Fuller February 17, 1641, and had five children. Soane moved his family to Virginia about 1651 and acquired 2,800 acres in total by 1656 in New Kent County, near his son's plantation, and James City County, in which he resided.
Soane served in the House of Burgesses 1652-55, 1658, and 1660-61 representing Henrico and James City Counties, respectively. Twice during his service, he and a few other members were named to committees, one of which was to proportion the annual tax levy and receive communications from England and return answers. Soane became Speaker of the House of Burgesses in 1661. He passed before the first 1662 session on March 23rd.
Henry Soane is also known for being former President Thomas Jefferson's great-great-grandfather.
Colonial Life ca 1601-1700
Colonial Life
Many were promised a better life once the settlement was established. Fighting off famine, disease, war with the indigenous, and even cannibalism, in some cases, being among the first colonists was a difficult task.
In 1606, the first company consisting of 104 men and boys from England settled along the Atlantic shore in what would later be established as the state of Virginia. With the addition of 100 colonists in 1607, these settlers would establish Jamestown. By the following year, it had burned to the ground. More settlers arrived as they rebuilt and established trade with the local Powhatan tribe.
Famine struck the settlement and the Powhatan became distrustful. From 1609-1610, sickness and hunger spread, causing the fatalities of domesticated animals and the use of human remains to sustain life. The settlement went from 300 people to a mere 60.
As luck would have it, in 1610, a supply ship arrived along with 150 more colonists, ending the famine. Other settlements were being formed along the Atlantic coast. The Algonquin's assisted the colonists in growing corn and learning climate-appropriate housing techniques. John Rolfe became the first successful tobacco farmer and created a stability in Jamestown trade. King James I made Virginia an official crown colony with Jamestown as it's capitol.
Price, D. A. (2024, November 3). Jamestown Colony. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Jamestown-Colony
Photo: Jamestown, VA c 1608
Credit: MPI/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Virginia House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was a group of democratically elected Virginian representatives that conducted business from 1643 to 1776. Each county sent two representatives, generally of a higher social position than of whom they represented. Many of America's Founding Fathers learned from and took part it the assembly. In 1776, when the House of Burgesses declared support against the Crown, the royal governor of Virginia, John Murray, Earl of Dunmore, disband it. The Virginia Constitution of 1776 replaced the House of Burgesses with an elected Senate and house of Delegates.
Founding Fathers included George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, and Patrick Henry.