Near Williamsburg in James City County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The First General Assembly of Virginia

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 14, 2007

1. The First General Assembly of Virginia Marker

Inscription.

The First General Assembly of Virginia. . In honour of The First General Assembly of Virginia, here on the thirtieth day of July A.D. 1916. Summoned by Sir George Yeardley, Governor General of Virginia, under authority from the London Company, pursuant to the charter granted by King James I, was convened in the church at Jamestown the First General Assembly of Virginia. This Assembly, composed of the Governor, the Council of State, and two Burgesses elected by the people from each of the eleven plantations was the beginning of representative government in the colonies of England and laid the foundation of the liberties of America.. , Back of Monument:Also in honour of Sir George Yeardley, Governor General, Sir Edwin Sandys, Treasurer of the London Company, and Henry, Earl of Southampton, his successor, for their distinguished services in obtaining for the Colony of Virginia the Ordinance and Constitution of Government dated November 18, 1618, under authority whereof the First General Assembly of Virginia was here held July 30, 1619., Dedicated by the Norfolk Branch of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities July 30, 1907. , Left Side of Monument: The Councell of Estate, Capt. Francis West, Master John Rolfe, Capt. Nathaniel Powell, Revd. William Wickham, Master John Pory, Master Samuel Maddock. For James City Captain William Powell, Ensigne William Spense. For Charles City Samuel Sharpe, Samuel Jordan For the City of Henricus Thomas Dowse, John Polentine For Kiccowtan Captain William Tucker, William Capp For Martin Brandon Capt. John Martin’s Plantation Mr. Thomas Davis, Mr. Robert Stacy For Smythe’s Hundred Capt. Thomas Graves, Mr. Walter Shelley For Martin’s Hundred Mr. John Boys, John Jackson For Argall’s Guifte Mr. Pawlett, Mr. Gourgainy For Flowerdieu Hundred Ensigne Rossingham, Mr. Jefferson For Captaine Lawtie’s Plantation Captaine Christopher Lawne, . Right Side of Monument: ”Sir George Yeardley, the Governor, being sett downe in his accustomed place, those of the Counsel of Estate sat next to him on both handes, excepte onely the secretary, then appointed Speaker who sat right before him, and forasmuch as men’s affaires doe little prosper where God’s service is neglected, all the Burgesses tooke their places in the quire till a prayer was said by Mr. Bucke, the minister, that it would please God to guide and to sanctifie all our proceedings to His owne glory and to the good of his plantation.”.

In honour of
The First General Assembly
of Virginia,
here
on the thirtieth day of July A.D. 1916.
Summoned by Sir George Yeardley,
Governor General of Virginia,
under authority from the London Company, pursuant to the charter granted by King James I, was convened in the church at Jamestown the First General Assembly of Virginia.
This Assembly, composed of the Governor, the Council of State, and two Burgesses elected by the people from each of the eleven plantations was the beginning of representative government in the colonies of England and laid the foundation of the liberties of America.

Back of Monument:Also
in honour of
Sir George Yeardley, Governor General,
Sir Edwin Sandys,
Treasurer of the London Company,
and
Henry, Earl of Southampton, his successor,
for their distinguished services in obtaining for
the Colony of Virginia
the Ordinance and Constitution of Government
dated November 18, 1618,
under authority whereof the First
General Assembly of Virginia
was here held
July 30, 1619.

Dedicated by the
Norfolk Branch
of the
Association for the Preservation of Virginia
Antiquities
July 30, 1907

Left Side of Monument:
The Councell of Estate, Capt. Francis West, Master John

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Rolfe, Capt. Nathaniel Powell, Revd. William Wickham, Master John Pory, Master Samuel Maddock.
For James City
Captain William Powell, Ensigne William Spense.
For Charles City
Samuel Sharpe, Samuel Jordan
For the City of Henricus
Thomas Dowse, John Polentine
For Kiccowtan
Captain William Tucker, William Capp
For Martin Brandon Capt. John Martin’s Plantation
Mr. Thomas Davis, Mr. Robert Stacy
For Smythe’s Hundred
Capt. Thomas Graves, Mr. Walter Shelley
For Martin’s Hundred
Mr. John Boys, John Jackson
For Argall’s Guifte
Mr. Pawlett, Mr. Gourgainy
For Flowerdieu Hundred
Ensigne Rossingham, Mr. Jefferson
For Captaine Lawtie’s Plantation
Captaine Christopher Lawne

Right Side of Monument:
”Sir George Yeardley, the Governor, being sett downe in his accustomed place, those of the Counsel of Estate sat next to him on both handes, excepte onely the secretary, then appointed Speaker who sat right before him, and forasmuch as men’s affaires doe little prosper where God’s service is neglected, all the Burgesses tooke their places in the quire till a prayer was said by Mr. Bucke, the minister, that it would please God to guide and to sanctifie all our proceedings to His owne glory and to the good of his plantation.”

Erected 1907

Back of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 14, 2007

2. Back of Monument

by Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Government & Politics. A significant historical date for this entry is November 18, 1864.

Location. 37° 12.495′ N, 76° 46.7′ W. Marker is near Williamsburg, Virginia, in James City County. Marker can be reached from Colonial Parkway, on the right when traveling west. Marker is in the "Old Towne" section of the Historic Jamestown unit of Colonial National Historic Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Williamsburg VA 23185, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Barracks (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named The Barracks (a few steps from this marker); East Bulwark (a few steps from this marker); The Tombs of James and Sarah Blair (a few steps from this marker); The Tombstones (within shouting distance of this marker); Church Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); 1608 Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Palisades (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Williamsburg.

Also see . . .
1. Historic Jamestowne. Colonial National Historic Park from National Park Service website. (Submitted on January 30, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

2. Historic Jamestowne

Left Side of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 14, 2007

3. Left Side of Monument

. Historic Jamestowne is the site of the first permanent English settlement in America. The site is jointly administered by APVA Preservation Virginia and the National Park Service. (Submitted on January 30, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Right Side of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 14, 2007

4. Right Side of Monument

Marker in Historic Jamestowne image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 14, 2007

5. Marker in Historic Jamestowne

The stockade wall of Fort James can be seen behind the monument. The James River is to the right in the photo.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 30, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,716 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 30, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.