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 This page provides a sample of Virginia
documents and illustrations, in the care of the Kent Archives
and Local History Service, reflecting the fluctuating fortunes
of the colony and of its relationship with the mother
country.
The first permanent English settlement in America was at Jamestown
Virginia in 1607. The original charter of the Virginia Company set
out the aims of its members very clearly:-
 "at the humble suite and request of sondrie
oure lovinge and well disposed subjects intendinge to deduce a
colonie and to make habitacion and plantacion of sondrie of
oure people in that parte of America comonlie called Virginia,
and other part and territories in America either apperteyninge
unto us or which are not actually possessed of anie Christian
prince or people…"
The 'adventurers' were of two different sorts - those who were
prepared to put up money for the venture in the hopes of getting a
good return for their investments and those
 whose sense of adventure and commitment led
them to travel and make their homes in Virginia. The appeal of
the Virginia Committee to the Borough of Sandwich for men and
money lays out clearly their motivation in this
venture:-
"The eyes of all Europe looking upon o[u]r endevours to spread the
gospell among the Heathen people of Virginia to plant o[u]r English
nation theare, & to settle a tr[ade] in those p[ar]ts w[hi]ch
may be peculier to o[u]r nation, to thend wee may thereby bee
secured from being eaten out of all proffitt of trade by o[u]r more
industrious neighbours".
 The death rate of the new settlers through
starvation, disease and hostilities with the Indian tribes,
was reflected in the constant need to obtain more financial
support to send out men and provisions to the fledgling
colony. This can be seen in the investments of the Tufton
family and in the great Lionel Cranfield's list of
necessaries.
 The Filmer family were of the second
generation of settlers, who lived and died in the new colony,
one of their members leaving money in his will towards what
was considered to be the most important of institutions there,
the church.
The Leeds Castle connection spanned almost 150 years, from the
excitement and idealism of Thomas, 2nd Lord Culpeper in the late
17th century, through the Indian Wars and the growth of
republicanism in the mid 18th century to the American War of
Independence, the loss of the colony to Britain and the
confiscation of British lands, mirrored in Bryan Martin's letters
to the family homes at Loose and Leeds Castle.
Want to know more? A booklet containing further details of
relevant documents is available for purchase.
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