EARLY MEETING PLACES

For 20 years before 1639 the General Assembly had been functioning in Virginia, but there was as yet no especially designated building to house this body. The colony was still without a capitol building—still without a statehouse. The explanation for this fact may lie, in part, in the early insecurity and uncertainty of the assembly itself, for it should be remembered that at an early date provisions had been made only for accommodating the permanent features of the colony, such as church and governor.

It was natural that the first meeting of the burgesses should take place in the church at Jamestown. Here was ample space, and it was the most convenient place. Without doubt, the church was considered a fitting place for the beginning of popular control in the colony. The church then standing was not that erected in 1607, rather it was a later building. Fire and frail construction meant short life for most of the early buildings at Jamestown.

For some years after 1619 the burgesses evidently continued to hold their sessions in the church. At the first meeting a precedent had been set for later meetings here. Besides, it seems that the church continued to be the best and most convenient place of meeting. In the winter of 1631—32 divine service and the meeting of the assembly were both identified with the same room. This is apparent from a quaint order that reflects the spirit of the time:

It is ordered, That all the counsell and burgisses of the assembly shall, in the morninge, be present at devine service, in the roome, where they sitt, at the third beatinge of the drum, an hower after sunrise, uppon the penaltie of one shillinge to the benefitt of the marshall at James Citty; and if any shall absent himselfe from the assembly, to pay 2s. 6d. to the same use; and if any shall after neglect, to be fined by the whole bodie of the assembly.

After this date there is strong indication that some of the sessions of the burgesses convened in the Governor's house at Jamestown. As early as the time of Sir Thomas Gates (1611—14) there was a house at Jamestown set aside as the Governor's residence. Before 1618 this building had been repaired and enlarged. It was to his house that the Governor called his council for periodic meetings to act on affairs of the colony. The "Counsell Chamber" mentioned in the minutes of the General Court of the colony (the Governor and his councilors) in 1625 must have been in reference to some designated place in the Governor's house. The council records of this period form good proof that separate meetings for the transaction of its several kinds of business had not become necessary. Executive and judicial items were passed on in a single session. In matters of legislation the council convened with the burgesses as a part of the assembly. When, in the early years after 1619, there was no assembly the Governor and council acted alone in these matters.

Council meetings, it would seem, continued to be held in the Governor's house, whether he was residing in his official or his private home. It was not until the arrival of Sir William Berkeley in 1641 that the home authorities felt it necessary to order that provisions be made for a place for council meetings, especially when the council was sitting as the General Court for "dispatching of public affairs and hearing of causes." It can readily be understood that the Governor was at considerable expense, since his house was the center of colonial government with its council meetings, court meetings, and even, on occasion, assembly meetings. Aside from all of this he was the host to all important visitors of state to Jamestown. In May of 1632 it caused Sir John Harvey, then Governor of the colony, to protest in pleading terms to the Lords Commissioners in England:

. . . I conclude with my humble prayers unto your honours to take into your compationate cares my nowe almost three years service uppon the place without any meanes or annual entertainment to support me great expence, who may be as well called the hoste as gouvernor of Virginia, all the country affayres being prosecuted at my house in James Island where is no other hospitalitie for all commers, and if some speedie remedie and reliefe be not found for me, not onlie my creditt but hart will breake, . . .

In the winter of 1636—37 the subject of a separate statehouse appears to have been approached for the first time with practical definiteness. The English Government in instructions to John Harvey directed him to see that the assembly take steps to build a capitol. In a letter written by Richard Kemp, secretary of the colony, in April 1638, it is stated that a tobacco levy had been fixed for building a statehouse at James City and that George Menifie, a prominent colonist, had been sent to England with the funds to secure workmen to accomplish the project. Again in January 1640 the assembly laid a 2-pound levy for the statehouse. As events moved, however, the colony did not build a statehouse, rather it secured one already constructed.

Last Modified: Thurs, Sep 11 2003 10:00:00 pm PST source/is2/is2d.htm