Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/121

 COLONIAL COUNCILLORS OF STATE

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and on July 16, of the same year, the \'ir- ginia Company elected him a member of the cc;uncil. Governor W'yatt and the councillors, writing Jan., 1621-22, say that they have not sworn "Mr. Pawlett," and add "of whom we are doubtful, there being two of that r.ame." Their hesitation was the occasion of i;o inconvenience, however, as Paulett, find- ing that the adventurers by whom he was em- ployed felt that their business recjuired his constant presence, declined the honor of a seat in the council of state. He probably died before the month of April, 1623. He was doubtless a near kinsman of Capt. Thomas Paulett (q. v.)

Newce, Sir William, a brother of Capt. Thomas Newce, of the council, is first men- tioned in the records of the Virginia Company or. April 12, 162 1, under which date they de- clare that "out of a generous disposition" to- wards the "general plantation in Virginia," and "being induced thereto by reason of a good success he had in Ireland upon a like worthy action," Capt. William Newce "hath freely oiTered to the company to transport at his ow-n cost and charges 1,000 persons into Virginia, betwixt this and midsummer 1625 — to be planted and employed upon a certain plantation, and intendeth to go over himself in person, the better to direct and govern his own people, over whom he prays he may be appointed as General ; and to that end desireth a patent with the portion of land and with such large and complete privilege as are usually granted to others in the like kind, and also desires the company would grant him the place of marshall of Virginia, which office he effected the rather because he hath ever been exercised in military aflfairs and arms, as may appear by his many worthy services performed

in Ireland well known to divers honorable per- sons in this Kingdom, who have testified the same upon their own knowledge to his exceed- ing great commendation." He also asked to be allowed fifty men as tenants upon the land attached to said office, and ottered to trans- port them to X'irginia and furnish them with clothing and necessary implements for £8 per man. His various requests were granted by tile company, and he was elected to the office 01 marshall on May 2, 1621. On June 11, of the same year, it was reported to the \ irginia Company that the king had conferred the honor of knighthood upon Newce, whom his majesty was pleased to style his "Knight Mar- sh.all of \'irginia, and hopeth to have a better account of his doings than he hath had of others hitherto." Tb.e knight had served in Ireland at the hiege of Kinsale in May, 1605, and afterwards led a company of Irish to join fhe Spanish service. In May, 1609, he was accused of being in a scheme to deliver Sluys, Flushing and other towns, held by the Dutch, to the archduke. He seems to have been Cleared of these charges, however, and was soon again in Ireland, where he became the first mayor of the town of Bandon, and laid cut Newce's Town, opposite Bandon. He was knighted at Tlx-obalds, May 31, 1621, was appointed a member of the \'irginia council en June 13, of the same year, and came over with Sir Francis' Wyatt in October. George Sandys wrote that Sir William Newce b'-ought with him "a very few weak and unserviceable people, ragged, and not above a fortnight's provisions, some bound for three years, and m.ost upon wages." The "Knight Marshall" died within two months after his arrival in the colony. William Capps, in a grumbling letter written in March, 1623, calls him. "Sir William Naughtworth."