I have recently come across an ancestor of mine, who participated in an old Colonial practice called Headrighting for Land Permits. It's quite an interesting time in history, and a disturbing one, as well.
Headwriting supported indentured servitude, which led to the outright enslavement of Africans from the West Indies.
There was quite the labor shortage in the very early days of the British colonies in North America, and quite a lot of work to be done. There was abundant land to clear and cultivate, but not enough workers to satisfy the growing demand for colonial products, back home in Europe.
And so The Virginia Company of London and The Plymouth Company (political charters established by King James I, charged with colonization) began passing out deeds of land to anyone willing to become an English Colonist. Land Deeds were also given to anyone willing to transport or pay for the transport of other colonists.
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| The Original Jamestown Settlement in Virginia grew to became a port where many new land owners would arrive |
One such settler was Richard Spratlyn, who was given 50 acres of land each in 1649, to pay for the passage of his own wife Susannah, along with William Rodolphus, and his wife Kathrine.
Although William and Kathrine were likely deeded some land of their own, they may not have been able to afford the expense of travel, which is why Mr Spratlyn stepped in as their sponsor.
As of yet, I have no way of knowing if the two couples were acquainted with one another, or if Richard Spratlyn was simply endorsing a stranger, merely for the free labor. I also don't know if Richard traveled with the group, or if he was already living on the new continent, and paid for the passage from the local Company office.
In any case, the sponsorship gives Mr Spratlyn the "right" to their "head". In other words, William and Kathrine are indebted to their sponsor, payable by 5-7 years of service or some other negotiated contract. The Headright could also be treated as a commodity that could be bought or sold.
I have no other information about the Rodolphus family until 1657; eight years after their arrival. This leads me to believe that they have since completed their debt of servitude to the Spratlyns', and are now seeking their own fortune. In November of that year, a Mr Robert Warren was granted a land deed in Virginia, and Mr and Mrs Rodolphus are listed as his Headrights. They likely received further acreage from the Company for sponsoring this man.
Kathrine died very soon after this, and William quickly remarried Elizabeth, who quickly gave birth to their first son, William Jr. (my direct line ancestor) in 1658.
On 10 October 1658, three hundred acres of land, west of Exmore, in Northampton County, Virigina was surveyed and deeded to William Rodolphus Sr. The northern border stopped at the marked treeline belonging to James Price; bordered on the west by the property of Benjamin Matthews; on the south by the property of James Jones; and by the east, to the Ockahanock Path.
I believe that this is the land he was originally granted for immigrating to the Colony, but that he could not claim until he paid his debt. Either that, or he acted as Headright for five other people, which I cannot document. However he came to have it, there is evidence that William grew tobacco.
In 1663, a sect of Northampton County was encompassed into the newly formed Accomack County, and this included William's land. All further documentation of the Rodolphus family deal with court disputes and church tithing, under this new jurisdiction.
William died around 2 May 1665, leaving behind his wife and two children (William Jr and Elizabeth). On 18 September 1666, George was named administrator of William's estate, as having married his widow earlier that year.
Headrighting, or indentured servitude, in the American Colonies quickly grew into African slavery. You can read about the history of this practice and it's fallout here.
As of yet, I have no way of knowing if the two couples were acquainted with one another, or if Richard Spratlyn was simply endorsing a stranger, merely for the free labor. I also don't know if Richard traveled with the group, or if he was already living on the new continent, and paid for the passage from the local Company office.
In any case, the sponsorship gives Mr Spratlyn the "right" to their "head". In other words, William and Kathrine are indebted to their sponsor, payable by 5-7 years of service or some other negotiated contract. The Headright could also be treated as a commodity that could be bought or sold.
"I'd like to purchase 3 of your cows. I haven't got funds, but I can give you Kathrine. She's a fine seamstress and cook, with three years left on her service. If she survives three years, you give me horse as well. If not, I'll return one cow." --hypothetically
I have no other information about the Rodolphus family until 1657; eight years after their arrival. This leads me to believe that they have since completed their debt of servitude to the Spratlyns', and are now seeking their own fortune. In November of that year, a Mr Robert Warren was granted a land deed in Virginia, and Mr and Mrs Rodolphus are listed as his Headrights. They likely received further acreage from the Company for sponsoring this man.
[Once a man's debt to the Headright was complete, he could put in an official claim to the Company, who would then offer him his choice of available tracts from a map. Once approved by the Governor of the colony, which all land deeds had to be, an official survey would be conducted. It was a lengthy process.]
Kathrine died very soon after this, and William quickly remarried Elizabeth, who quickly gave birth to their first son, William Jr. (my direct line ancestor) in 1658.
On 10 October 1658, three hundred acres of land, west of Exmore, in Northampton County, Virigina was surveyed and deeded to William Rodolphus Sr. The northern border stopped at the marked treeline belonging to James Price; bordered on the west by the property of Benjamin Matthews; on the south by the property of James Jones; and by the east, to the Ockahanock Path.
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| current map of Virginia showing location of Exmore |
I believe that this is the land he was originally granted for immigrating to the Colony, but that he could not claim until he paid his debt. Either that, or he acted as Headright for five other people, which I cannot document. However he came to have it, there is evidence that William grew tobacco.
In 1663, a sect of Northampton County was encompassed into the newly formed Accomack County, and this included William's land. All further documentation of the Rodolphus family deal with court disputes and church tithing, under this new jurisdiction.
William died around 2 May 1665, leaving behind his wife and two children (William Jr and Elizabeth). On 18 September 1666, George was named administrator of William's estate, as having married his widow earlier that year.
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Headrighting, or indentured servitude, in the American Colonies quickly grew into African slavery. You can read about the history of this practice and it's fallout here.
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