Warrosquyoake Shire
Encyclopedia
Warrosquoake Shire was officially formed in 1634 in the Virginia colony, but had already been known as "Warascoyack County" before this. It was renamed Isle of Wight County
in 1637.
Shortly after the establishment of Jamestown
in 1607, English settlers explored and began settling areas adjacent to Hampton Roads
. The shoreline region of Warrascoyack was then occupied by the Warraskoyak tribe of the Powhatan Confederacy, under their weroance
, Tackinekintaco. The main Warraskoyak village was located in present-day Smithfield, Virginia
, while a satellite village called Mokete was at Pagan Point, and another called Mathomank was on Burwell's Bay under a sub-weroance named Sasenticum. In December 1608, Captain John Smith left Samuel Collier, his page, with Tackinekintaco to learn the language.
The first English plantation in the region, dating to 1618, was that of Puritan
merchant Christopher Lawne
, and several other Puritans also seated themselves nearby, including Edward Bennett
in 1621. He named his plantation Warrosquoake, after the river that also went by the same name. It was heavily hit in the Great Massacre of 1622, losing 53 of the 347 persons killed that day. The plantation was briefly abandoned until a fort could be built nearby; the Warraskoyak Indians were driven off from their villages in the reprisals of the following years. A census of settlers in 16 February 1623 shows a total of "33, including 4 negroes". Another census a year later showed a total population of 31 settlers for the region.
Edward Bennett
represented his plantation in the 1628 House of Burgesses
, then left for England. The following year, the "County of Warascoyack" was represented by his nephew, Richard Bennett
, Captain Nathaniel Basse, and three others, all Puritans. This was the Puritans' strongest representation in the Anglican-dominant colony.
By 1634, by order of the King of England, Charles I
, eight shires of Virginia
were formed with a total population of 4,914 settlers. Warrosquoake Shire included 522 persons at this time. It and Accomac Shire
were the only shires given Native American
names for the friendly tribes nearby. It was renamed Isle of Wight County in 1637, after the Isle of Wight
, an island in the English channel. The river bearing this name was renamed Pagan River
.
During the three years when it was officially Warrosquoake Shire, Richard Bennett led the small Puritan community to neighboring Nansemond, and later fled with them to Maryland. He returned during the Cromwellian period to serve as Governor of Virginia.
Land that was originally portions of the Warrosquoake Shire and Isle of Wight County later formed many other counties to the immediate southwest, in the region now defined as Southside Virginia. Isle of Wight County, Southampton County
, Greensville County
and Brunswick County
were all created within the limits of what had been Warrosquoake Shire.Richard Evylen Byrd was related to Jhon Rolfe
Isle of Wight County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 35,270 people, 11,319 households, and 8,670 families residing in the county. The population density was 94 people per square mile . There were 12,066 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
in 1637.
Shortly after the establishment of Jamestown
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
in 1607, English settlers explored and began settling areas adjacent to Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
. The shoreline region of Warrascoyack was then occupied by the Warraskoyak tribe of the Powhatan Confederacy, under their weroance
Weroance
Weroance is an Algonquian word meaning tribal chief, leader, commander, or king, notably among the Powhatan confederacy of the Virginia coast and Chesapeake Bay region. The Powhatan Confederacy, encountered by the colonists of Jamestown and adjacent area of the Virginia Colony beginning in 1607,...
, Tackinekintaco. The main Warraskoyak village was located in present-day Smithfield, Virginia
Smithfield, Virginia
Smithfield is a town in Isle of Wight County, in the South Hampton Roads subregion of the Hampton Roads region of Virginia in the United States. The population was 8,089 at the 2010 census....
, while a satellite village called Mokete was at Pagan Point, and another called Mathomank was on Burwell's Bay under a sub-weroance named Sasenticum. In December 1608, Captain John Smith left Samuel Collier, his page, with Tackinekintaco to learn the language.
The first English plantation in the region, dating to 1618, was that of Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
merchant Christopher Lawne
Christopher Lawne
Christopher Lawne was an English merchant and Puritan of note, born in Blandford, Dorset, who emigrated to Virginia Colony on the Marygold in May 1618 and died the following year....
, and several other Puritans also seated themselves nearby, including Edward Bennett
Edward Bennett (colonist)
Edward Bennett , was a London merchant that established the first large plantation in the United States, which was responsible for the migration of over 800 immigrants to the new world.-Early years:...
in 1621. He named his plantation Warrosquoake, after the river that also went by the same name. It was heavily hit in the Great Massacre of 1622, losing 53 of the 347 persons killed that day. The plantation was briefly abandoned until a fort could be built nearby; the Warraskoyak Indians were driven off from their villages in the reprisals of the following years. A census of settlers in 16 February 1623 shows a total of "33, including 4 negroes". Another census a year later showed a total population of 31 settlers for the region.
Edward Bennett
Edward Bennett (colonist)
Edward Bennett , was a London merchant that established the first large plantation in the United States, which was responsible for the migration of over 800 immigrants to the new world.-Early years:...
represented his plantation in the 1628 House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
, then left for England. The following year, the "County of Warascoyack" was represented by his nephew, Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett (Governor)
Richard Bennett was an English Governor of the Colony of Virginia.Born in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, Bennett served as governor from 30 April 1652, until 2 March 1655...
, Captain Nathaniel Basse, and three others, all Puritans. This was the Puritans' strongest representation in the Anglican-dominant colony.
By 1634, by order of the King of England, Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, eight shires of Virginia
Shires of Virginia
The eight Shires of Virginia were formed in 1634 in the Virginia Colony. These shires were based on a form of local government used in England at the time, and were redesignated as counties a few years later...
were formed with a total population of 4,914 settlers. Warrosquoake Shire included 522 persons at this time. It and Accomac Shire
Accomac Shire
Accomac Shire was established in the Virginia Colony by the House of Burgesses in 1634 under the direction of King Charles I. It was one of the original eight shires of Virginia. The shire's name comes from the Native American word Accawmack....
were the only shires given Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
names for the friendly tribes nearby. It was renamed Isle of Wight County in 1637, after the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, an island in the English channel. The river bearing this name was renamed Pagan River
Pagan River
The Pagan River is a tributary of the James River located in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. The historic town of Smithfield is located on the banks of this river....
.
During the three years when it was officially Warrosquoake Shire, Richard Bennett led the small Puritan community to neighboring Nansemond, and later fled with them to Maryland. He returned during the Cromwellian period to serve as Governor of Virginia.
Land that was originally portions of the Warrosquoake Shire and Isle of Wight County later formed many other counties to the immediate southwest, in the region now defined as Southside Virginia. Isle of Wight County, Southampton County
Southampton County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 18,570 people, 6,279 households, and 4,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 7,058 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
, Greensville County
Greensville County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,560 people, 3,375 households, and 2,396 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile . There were 3,765 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
and Brunswick County
Brunswick County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,419 people, 6,277 households, and 4,312 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 7,541 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
were all created within the limits of what had been Warrosquoake Shire.Richard Evylen Byrd was related to Jhon Rolfe