About the midst of February (Feb. 13) I had the opportunity to cross the bay in a sloop, and with much ado, landed in York River at Esquire Ludlow's plantation, a most pleasant situation. I now learned that Captain Wormley (of his Majesties' Council) had guests at his house (not a furlong distant from Mr. Ludlow's) feasting and carousing that were lately come from England, and most of them of my intimate acquaintance. I then took leave of Mr. Ludlow and thrust myself among Captain Wormley's guests and had a kind reception from them all. Sir Thomas Lundsford, Sir Henry Chickley, Sir Phillip Honeywood, and Colonel Hammond were the persons I met there.
Later Captain Wormley mounted me for Jamestown where the Governor was pleased to receive me and take me to his house at Greenspring, and there I passed my hours as at my own house until May following, at which time he sent me for the treasurers place of Virginia, which the Governor took to be void by the delinquency of Claybourne who had long enjoyed it. He furnished me with money to bear the charges which took effect though the King was then in Scotland. He was not only thus kind to me (who had more than ordinary pretense to his favor by our near affinity of blood) but on many occasions, he showed great respect to all the royal party who had made that colony their refuge. His house and his purse were open to all that were so qualified.
To one of my comrades (Major Fox) who had no friends at all to subsist on, he shewed a generosity that was like himself, and to my other (Major Morrison) he was most kind for he did not only place him in command of the fort which was profitable to him whilst it held under the king, but did advance him after the government of the country where in he got a competent estate.
And thus I have given as faithful an account of this signal instance of God's goodness to the miserable objects of his mercy in this voyage as I have been able to call to a clear remembrance.
The End of Voyage
By Col. (Henry) Norwood
RE: The Virginia Merchant
Source: Page 385 "TENNESSEE COUSINS"
"Colonel Mainwaring Hammond was one of the 'Cavalier' Companions of
Captain Henry Norwood, whose vessel, the Virginia Merchant ran ashore on
what is now the coast of the old Somerset County, Maryland in 1649, and
their rescue was effected through the efforts of a young man named William
Stevens - who settled in the community."
Excerpts from "THE COMPLETE BOOK OF IMMIGRANTS 1607-1670" by P.W. Coldham
Page 249 "23 Sep. (last date" "Despostions re: the voyage with passengers
in 1649 of the William and Ralph alias the Virginia Merchant, Mr. John
Lockyer, from London to Virginia where she was declared a wreck."
Page 258 - Jan 28, 1652: Depositions re: the voyage of William and Ralph,
Mr. John Lockyer, to Virginia in 1649. Her passengers suffered great
hardship and mortality and, when the ship was driven onto the rocks at
Cape Hatteras seven months after her departure from England, they were
obliged to continue to Virginia overland. John Lockyer was tried
on a charge of starving his passengers.
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