Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/126

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Claiborne, William. The ancient family of Claiborne derives its name from the Manor of Claiborne or Cliborne, in Westmoreland county, England, near the river Eden, and which is named in the Domesday Book (A. D. 1086). William Claiborne was born about 1587 and came to Virginia with Gov. Wyatt in 162 1, in the employ of the Virginia Com- pany as surveyor-general of Virginia at a salary of thirty pounds a year, a house and, in all probability fees. He quickly became promi- nent in colonial affairs, and, in 1624, was com- missioned by the King as first royal secretary of state, a position which he held off and on for eighteen jears. In 1626 he became a member of the council. On July 22, 1629, he- received a commission from Gov. Pott appointing him captain and commander of all the forces to be levied for a war against the Indians, and as a reward for the successful conduct of the campaign, was granted, in 1640, a tract of land on the Pamunkey river. In the l?tter year he petitioned the King to create an office which should have the keeping of the Virginia seal. The King referred the matter back to the governor and council of Virginia, who decided that such an office was appro- priate and appointed Claiborne to fill it. In 1634 through the influence of Harvey he lost his place as secretary of state, but on Apr. 6, 1642, Charles I. appointed him treasurer of Virginia for life. He again commanded forces against the Indians in 1644, and again received a grant of land in reward. Claiborne was a great explorer and traded with the Indians as well as fought them. In 1627, the govern- ment of Virginia gave him permission to dis- cover the source of Chesapeake Bay and ex- plore any body of water between the thirty- fourth and forty-first parallels of latitude, and, on May 16, 163 1, the King granted a license

to "our trusty and well-beloved Wm. Clai- norne" to trade in the colonies of New Eng- land and New Scotland, and commanded Gov. liarvey and the council to allow him to do so. Claiborne soon afterwards established a trad- ing post on Kent Island near the present city of Annapolis, and this caused him to oppose with great persistence the efforts of the Balti- mores to establish the colony of Maryland. When in 1632 that part of Virginia lying north of the Potomac was granted to Cecilius Cal- vert, Lord Baltimore, the Virginians includ- ing Claiborne protested against it on the ground that it was a territorial spoiliation. They brought the matter before the King and urged that in revoking the charter and assem- bling control over Virginia both his father James and himself had given assurances that the intention was to alter the form of govern- ment, not to dispute property rights. The political existence of the colony remained as much a fact as before, and if the King could giant away Maryland, he could grant away Jamestown itself. The King and his commis- sioners of foreign plantations were neverthe- less adverse to this view, and the legality of Baltimore's charter was upheld.

The Virginians hoped, however, to except Kent Island from its operation on the ground that the Island was actually occupied by Vir- ginia settlers. They argued that the assur- ances given at the revocation meant, at least, that actual occupation was to be respected. It made no difference whether Claiborne had any title to the soil or not, under his license to trade ; the colony of Virginia had extended its laws over it, and the occupation was a legal one.

When, therefore, Leonard Calvert, Balti- more's governor, called upon Claiborne to recognize his authority in Kent Island, the