Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/157

 COLOXIAL COUX'CILLORS OF STATE

127

1629, and probably came as a boy to X'irginia with Sir William Berkeley, his kinsman, in 1642. He probably returned to England and served in the civil wars on the side of Charles I., as still lat^r in a land grant he is styled "lieutenant."

After the deaths of Richanl Kemp and Sir Thomas Lunsford, wln) married Kemp's widow, he acquired his iKeniji's) residence, near \\'illiamsburg, called "Rich Xeck," and en the restoration of Charles I., in 1660, was commissioned secretary of state and became a member of the colonial council. In this capac- ity he made frequent reports as to the condi- tion of affairs in A'irginia to the secretary of state in England, which speak much for his ability. In 1662 he served as escheator imder the treasurer Major Henry Norwood, and in 1663 was one of the commissioners to arrange a cessation of tobacco planting with Maryland, which was. however, balked by Lord Balti- more. In 1673 he was appointed as the suc- cessor of Henry Randolph sole notary public for the colony and was authorized by the gen- eral assembly to appoint deputies in the dif- ferent counties. In 1675 he was appointed one of three commissioners (Colonel Francis Moryson and Major-General Robert Smith being the other two) to proceed to London and seek an abrogation of the patents granted by Charles II. to Henry Bennett Lord Arlington. Thomas Lord Culpeper and other court fav- orites of proprietary rights in Virginia. On their arrival they opened negotiations for a charter incorporating the people of Virginia with a view to a purchase af the patents, the prevention of any new grants of the kind, and the assurance of the Virginians of all their liberties, among which was especially empha- sized the sole right of taxing themselves. Lud- well probably drafted the papers which pre-

sented the views of the commissioners, and in which colonial rights were very fully and ably discussed. The commissioners were at first very successful; a complete charter was granted and passed most of the formalities, but was stopped in the Hamper office by the news of Bacon's rebellion. A new charter was prepared which, though not as full as the first, confirmed the political existence of Mrginia as a colony and guaranteed the lands to the peo- ple residing in Virginia and to all actual immigrants. The more extensive of the two objectionable grants was surrendered by Lord Arlington to the King for an annual pen- sion of £600. Ludwell was absent in England on this mission, when Bacon's rebellion broke out in \'irginia, but returned soon after its close. He did not live long after his return, but died October 1. 1678, and was buried on his estate, "Rich Xeck," near the graves of Richard Kemp and Sir Thomas Lunsford. As he never married, his property consisting of this estate and several houses at Jamestown went to his brother Philip, who survived him for many years. In 1674 the parishes of Mid- dletown and ]\Iarston were united and named Bruton after the birthplace of Ludwell, the most prominent of the parishioners of Middle- town. This parish included Williamsburg.

Beale, Thomas, was, when we first hear of him. a justice of York county and was styled by the records, "Major Thomas Beale." This was in 1652, and in the same year he deeded land in Gloucester to Robert Todd. He was justice of York again in 1661. On Aug. 25, 1662. Beale had become a member of the council and was present at its sessions in Sept., 1667 and April, 1670, on the latter occasion with the title of "Colonel." By letter of Sept. 30, 1668, his majesty recommended to the gov-