Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 2.djvu/328

 of John Smith of New York to enable him to collect the sums in which the planters of that county were indebted to his principal. Julian Verplanck of the same town likewise imported, during a long period of years, a large quantity of goods into Lower Norfolk. Jacobis Vis had important transactions in the exchange of merchandise for tobacco in the counties of the Northern Neck.

The debts due in the Colony to these merchants of New York became very often the subject of suit. On the other hand, actions were not infrequently brought against their attorneys in Virginia and valuable property attached. In 1698, a judgment was secured by Major William Wilson of Hampton against Thomas Walton in the sum of fifty-two pounds and ten shillings sterling. In the same year, a vessel from New York ran aground near Hampton, and her cargo was seriously damaged.