Low+Character+of+Immigrants+to+Virginia

Berverly, Robert. //The History and Present State of Virginia, In Four Parts//, London, 1705, Pt. 3, Chs. 15, 16.

I can easily imagine with Sir Josiah Child, that this, as well as all the rest of the plantations, was for the most part at first peopled by persons of low circumstances, and by such as were willing to seek their fortunes in a foreign country. Nor was it hardly possible it should be otherwise; for 'tis not likely that any man of a plentiful estate should voluntarily abandon a happy certainty to roam after imaginary advantages in a New World. Besides which uncertainty, he must have proposed to himself to encounter the infinite difficulties and dangers that attend a new settlement. These discouragements were sufficient to terrify any man that could live easy in England from going to provoke his fortune in a strange land. Those that went over to that country first were chiefly single men, who had not the encumbrance of wives and children in England; and if they had, they did not expose them to the fatigue and hazard of so long a voyage, until they saw how it should fare with themselves. From hence it came to pass that, when they were settled there in a comfortable way of subsisting a family, they grew sensible of the misfortune of wanting wives, and such as had left wives in England sent for them; but the single men were put to their shifts. They excepted against the Indian women, on account of their being pagans, and for fear they should conspire with those of their own nation to destroy their husbands. Under this difficulty they had no hopes but that the plenty in which they lived might invite modest women of small fortunes to go over thither from England. However, they would not receive any but such as could carry sufficient certificate of their modesty and good behavior. Those, if they were but moderately qualified in all other respects, might depend upon marrying very well in those days, without any fortune. Nay, the first planters were so far from expecting money with a woman that 'twas a common thing for them to buy a deserving wife at the price of £100 and make themselves believe they had a hopeful bargain. But this way of peopling the colony was only at first; for after the advantages of the climate and the fruitfulness of the soil were well known, and all the dangers incident to infant settlements were over, people of better condition retired thither with their families, either to increase the estates they had before, or else to avoid being persecuted for their principles of religion or government. Thus in the time of the Rebellion in England, several good Cavalier families went thither with their effects to escape the tyranny of the usurper. And so again, upon the Restoration, many people of the opposite party took refuge there, to shelter themselves from the King's resentment. But they had not many of these last, because that country was famous for holding out the longest for the royal family of any of the English dominions; for which reason, the Roundheads went for the most part to New England, as did most of those that in the reign of King Charles II were molested on the account of their religion, though some of these fell likewise to the share of Virginia. As for malefactors condemned to transportation, they have always received very few, and for many years last past, their laws have been severe against them.