Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/118

 \IRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY

on June 28, 1 620, and again, in the instructions to Governor Wyatt, July 24, 1621, his name was incUided among those upon whom that honor was to be conferred. At a meeting of the \'irginia Company on July 10, 1621, it was moved that some "place of command" should be bestowed upon Mr. John Pountis, "as well in respect of his own worth and sufficiency, as also in reward of his pains and endeavors in the company's service." and "for so much as there was a great use of a vice-admiral in \'irginia to take care of the company's ships that came thither, and other matters thereunto appertaining," it was recommended that he be "therefore appointed Vice Admiral, which was done." Under date Nov. 14, 1621, the minutes of the Virginia Company say, that "in regard to the worth and services of Mr. John Pountis, it had pleased the Company to confer upon him the place of Vice Admiral, provisionally, as by his Commission dated the 2 1 St of July last might appear, the said ap- pointment is now confirmed, and a competant proportion of land for that office is to be allot- ted him." Upon Nov. 21, the length of his term of office was fixed at three years. In March. 1623-24, Pountis was present, as a councillor, at a meeting of the assembly. The \'irginia assembly having prepared replies to certain defamatory petitions circulated by the commissioners whom the King had sent over, cV.d also a petition to his majesty, ar.d some ether papers all of which they wished to have sa<"ely transmitted to England, entrusted them to "Mr. John Pountis, Councillor of state, going to England (being willing by our intreatie to accept that employment) to solicite the gen- eral cause of the country to his Majesty and Counsell." It was ordered that, to defray the expenses of the worthy councillor's voy- age, he should be ])aid four pounds of tobacco

per capita for every male resident in Mrginia, above the age of sixteen years. Mr. Pountis died on board ship before reaching his jour- ney's end. His executor was his cousin, Sir Thomas ]\Ierry.

Bohun, Laurence, "long time brought up amongst the most learned Surgeons and Physi- cians in the Netherlands," came to Mrginia with Lord Delaware in 1610. His lordship, writing from Jamestown on July 7, of that year, says "Dr. Boone whose care and indus- trie for the preservation of our lives (assaulted with strange fluxes and agues) we have just cause to commend to your favors * '^ ^ * since we have true experience how many mens lives these phisicks helpes have preserved since coming in, God so blessed the practice and diligence of the Doctor." On March 28, of the next year. Dr. Bohun left Mrginia with Lord Delaware for the "AVestern Isles" and thence accompanied him home to England. Prior to Feb. 2, 1620, the doctor with James Swift and others, was granted a patent in consideration of transporting 300 persons to Mrginia. and on Dec. 3, of the same year, he was appointed "Phisitian General for the Col- ony," and was allotted 500 acres and twenty tenants. It seems to have been at this time also that Bohun, who was then in Virginia, was appointed councillor. Towards the end of March, 1621, he sailed for England in the sl-,ip "Margaret and John" and was mortally wounded by a Spanish man-of-war with which his vessel had a severe combat in the West Indies. Seeing him fall, Capt. Chester, com- mander of the "Margaret and John," embraced him and said, "O Dr. Bohun, what a disaster is this." The "Noble Doctor, no whit exani- matcfl replyed, 'fight it out brave men, the cause is good, and the Lord receive my soule.' "