First Charter of Virginia (April 10, 1606) granted by King James I to the settlers of the "Jamestown Colony" in Virginia. The Colony was named for the "Virgin Queen" Elizabeth I by Sir Walter Raleigh, who had explored the area and attempted to found a settlement on Roanoke Island, April 9, 1585. On August 13, 1587, the members of the colony converted the Indian Manteo, who was baptized into the Christian faith. That same month the first child was born in America, baptized with the name Virginia Dare. The Roanoke Colony was unsuccessful and became known as the "Lost Colony."
On April 10, 1606, the First Charter of Virginia stated:
<We, greatly commending and graciously accepting of their Desires for the Furtherance of so noble a Work, which may, by the Providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the Glory of His Divine Majesty, in propagating of Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true Knowledge and Worship of God, and may in time bring the Infidels and Savages, living in those Parts, to human Civility, and to a settled and quiet Government.> Virginia.> 1606VC001
On November 20, 1606, the Virginia Assembly stated:
<And we do especially ordain...the said...councils...that they, with all diligence, care, and respect, do provide, that the true word, and service of God and Christian faith be preached, planted, and used, not only within every of the said several colonies, and plantations, but also as much as they may amongst the savage people which do or shall adjoin unto them, or border upon them, according to the doctrine, rights, and Religion now professed and Established within our Realm of England.> 1606VC002
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1606VC001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Virginia, First Charter, April 10, 1606, was granted by King James I to the settlers of the "Jamestown Colony", the first permanent settlement; April 9, 1585, the Roanoke Settlement was begun, later to be called The Lost Colony; August 13, 1587, members of the colony converted an Indian named Manteo; August 18, 1587, the first child, Virginia Dare was born in America. The World Book Encyclopedia, 18 vols. (Chicago, IL: Field Enterprises, Inc., 1957; W.F. Quarrie and Company, 8 vols., 1917; World Book, Inc., 22 vols., 1989), Vol. 12, p. 5732; Vol. 10, p. 4596.
1606VC002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Virginia, First Charter, 1606, granted by King James I. Ebenezer Hazard, editor, Historical Collections: Consisting of State Papers and other Authentic Documents; Intended as Materials for an History of the United States of America (Philadelphia: T. Dobson, 1792), Vol. I, pp. 50-51. Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States, 143 US 457, 458, 465-471, 36 L ed 226, (1892), Justice David Josiah Brewer. Henry Steele Commager, ed., Documents of American History, 2 vols. (NY: F.S. Crofts and Company, 1934; Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., 1948, 6th edition, 1958; Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc., 9th edition, 1973), p. 8. Gary DeMar, God and Government-A Biblical and Historical Study (Atlanta, GA: American Vision Press, 1984), p. 127. "Our Christian Heritage," Letter from Plymouth (Marlborough, NH: The Plymouth Rock Foundation), pp. 1, 6. Robert Flood, The Rebirth of America (Philadelphia: Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation, 1986), p. 46. Gary DeMar, America's Christian History: The Untold Story (Atlanta, GA: American Vision Publishers, Inc., 1993), p. 37.