Smith's Hundred
Encyclopedia
Smith's Hundred or Smythe's Hundred was a colonial English settlement in Virginia
. It was one of the original James River plantations
named after the treasurer of the Virginia Company, Sir Thomas Smith. It was settled by the English in 1617 and after 1620, was known as Southampton Hundred in honor of the Earl of Southampton. The site was originally home to a village of the Paspahegh
Indians. They were located along the north bank of James River. Smith's Hundred was located eight miles above the English fort at Jamestown
and extended from Weyanoke Hundred to the south bank of Chickahominy River
on the north bank of James River. The settlement was abandoned after the Powhatan Uprising of 1622
. The area is now called Sandy Point in Charles City County, Virginia
.
The first House of Burgesses
in 1619 included two representatives for Smythe's Hundred Plantation: Captain Thomas Graves
and Walter Shelley
.
St. Mary's Church was established in Smith's Hundred in 1618 in part with £200 bequeathed by Mrs. Mary Robinson, of St. Olave Parish
in London, to educate the “poore(sic) people” (i.e. Powhatan Indians
) in Christianity. Along with others who contributed to the church was an unknown person who gave a set of Communion Silver (Hallmark
: London 1617/1618). When the church was abandoned during the Uprising of 1622, the communion silver was taken to Jamestown. It was held by Sir George Yeardley
, Governor of the Colony of Virginia.
After his death, the Jamestown court in 1628 had William Claiborne
, land surveyor for the Colony, inventory the items from Smith's Hundred. It is believed he had the silver given to the second Elizabeth City Church
in Elizabeth City
, Virginia. This silver comprises the oldest church artifacts in continuous use from the colonial period in the United States. These items are preserved and used on special occasions at St. John's Episcopal Church (Hampton, Virginia)
.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It was one of the original James River plantations
James River plantations
James River plantations were established in the Virginia Colony along the James River between the mouth at Hampton Roads and the head of navigation at the fall line where Richmond is today.- History :...
named after the treasurer of the Virginia Company, Sir Thomas Smith. It was settled by the English in 1617 and after 1620, was known as Southampton Hundred in honor of the Earl of Southampton. The site was originally home to a village of the Paspahegh
Paspahegh
The Paspahegh tribe were tributaries to the Powhatan paramount chiefdom. The Paspahegh Indian tribe lived in present-day Charles City and James City counties, Virginia...
Indians. They were located along the north bank of James River. Smith's Hundred was located eight miles above the English fort at 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...
and extended from Weyanoke Hundred to the south bank of Chickahominy River
Chickahominy River
The Chickahominy is an river in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Virginia. The river rises about northwest of Richmond and flows southeast and south to the James River...
on the north bank of James River. The settlement was abandoned after the Powhatan Uprising of 1622
Indian massacre of 1622
The Indian Massacre of 1622 occurred in the Colony of Virginia, in what now belongs to the United States of America, on Friday, March 22, 1622...
. The area is now called Sandy Point in Charles City County, Virginia
Charles City County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,926 people, 2,670 households, and 1,975 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 2,895 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
.
The first 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...
in 1619 included two representatives for Smythe's Hundred Plantation: Captain Thomas Graves
Captain Thomas Graves
Thomas Graves was one of the original Adventurers of the Virginia Company of London, and one of the very early Planters who founded Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in North America. He was also the first known person named Graves in North America...
and Walter Shelley
Walter Shelley
Walter Shelley sailed to the English colony at Jamestown, Virginia before 1619.Walter Shelley was one of the original subscribers to the London Company. He was a member of the First Legislative Assembly in America and sat for Smith's Hundred when they met at Jamestown on July 30, 1619...
.
St. Mary's Church was established in Smith's Hundred in 1618 in part with £200 bequeathed by Mrs. Mary Robinson, of St. Olave Parish
St Olave Hart Street
St Olave Hart Street is a Church of England church in the City of London, located on the corner of Hart Street and Seething Lane near Fenchurch Street railway station....
in London, to educate the “poore(sic) people” (i.e. Powhatan Indians
Powhatan
The Powhatan is the name of a Virginia Indian confederation of tribes. It is estimated that there were about 14,000–21,000 of these native Powhatan people in eastern Virginia when the English settled Jamestown in 1607...
) in Christianity. Along with others who contributed to the church was an unknown person who gave a set of Communion Silver (Hallmark
Hallmark
A hallmark is an official mark or series of marks struck on items made of precious metals — platinum, gold, silver and in some nations, palladium...
: London 1617/1618). When the church was abandoned during the Uprising of 1622, the communion silver was taken to Jamestown. It was held by Sir George Yeardley
George Yeardley
Sir George Yeardley was a plantation owner and three time colonial Governor of the British Colony of Virginia. A survivor of the Virginia Company of London's ill-fated Third Supply Mission, whose flagship, the Sea Venture, was shipwrecked on Bermuda for 10 months in 1609-10, he is best remembered...
, Governor of the Colony of Virginia.
After his death, the Jamestown court in 1628 had William Claiborne
William Claiborne
William Claiborne was an English pioneer, surveyor, and an early settler in Virginia and Maryland. Claiborne became a wealthy planter, a trader, and a major figure in the politics of the colony...
, land surveyor for the Colony, inventory the items from Smith's Hundred. It is believed he had the silver given to the second Elizabeth City Church
St. John's Episcopal Church (Hampton, Virginia)
St. John's is an Episcopal church located in Hampton, Virginia within the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.-Overview:St. John's Episcopal Church, established in 1610, is the oldest English-speaking parish in continuous existence in the United States of America. -History:English settlers...
in Elizabeth City
Elizabeth City (Virginia Company)
Elizabeth City was one of four incorporations established in the Virginia Colony in 1619 by the proprietor, the Virginia Company of London, acting in accordance with instructions issued by Sir George Yeardley, Governor.The plantations and developments were divided into four political divisions,...
, Virginia. This silver comprises the oldest church artifacts in continuous use from the colonial period in the United States. These items are preserved and used on special occasions at St. John's Episcopal Church (Hampton, Virginia)
St. John's Episcopal Church (Hampton, Virginia)
St. John's is an Episcopal church located in Hampton, Virginia within the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.-Overview:St. John's Episcopal Church, established in 1610, is the oldest English-speaking parish in continuous existence in the United States of America. -History:English settlers...
.