Colony of New Britain | ||||||
Colony of England | ||||||
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Map of New Britain in 1680. | ||||||
Capital | Norfolk | |||||
Governor | ||||||
• | 1638-Present | Matthew White | ||||
Deputy Governor | ||||||
• | 1638-Present | William Burke | ||||
Legislature | House of Burgesses | |||||
History | ||||||
• | Established | 1630 | ||||
• | Norfolk Assembly | 1638 | ||||
• | Disestablished | N/A |
The Colony of New Britain (1630 - Present) is an English settlement on the east coast of North America established in the seventeenth century, and situated south of the Colony of Flaadland. The colony was founded by the London Company, an England-based joint stock company created to pursue colonial settlements in the New World.
The colony was began with the founding of Norfolk in 1630, located on the southern bank of the Burke River. Despite initial outbreaks of disease and conflict with the native population, the introduction of tobacco and other cash crops slowly turned Norfolk, and later New Britain, into a profitably and successful colony. Tobacco would grow into a significant economic force in New Britain and the other southern colonies throughout the seventeenth century.
History[]
Settlements[]
- Counties
- Norfolk County (1645)
- Norfolk (1630) - John Dale
- Avalon (1635) - Under Norfolk Jurisdiction
- Henry County (1645)
- Somersburg (1633) - William Somers
- Cape Henry (1635) - Under Norfolk Jurisdiction
- Wessex (1645)
- Lincoln County (1645)
- Lincoln (1636) - Francis Harvey
- Alexandria (1641)
- Burke County (1645)
- Fairfax (1644)
- Norfolk County (1645)
- Unincorporated Areas
- Williamsport (1646)
- Camden (1648)
Government[]
Governors of New Britain[]
Provisional Governors (1630-1638)[]
Prior to the Norfolk Assembly the settlements of New Britain were quasi autonomous, while loosely under the protection of the London Company and whatever governor it chose to appoint. During this period the head of the London Company was de jure the head of the colony, although he selected a representative to rule in his name.
- Thomas Gates (1630-1638, absentee)
- William Burke (1630-1636)
- George Percy (1636-1638)
Company Governors (1638-Present)[]
Governors of Norfolk[]
- William Burke (1630 - 1638)
- George Percy (1636 - 1638)
- John Dale (1636 - 1642)
- Nathaniel Wyatt (1642 - 1643)
- George Percey (1643 - 1645)
- George Carter (1644 - 1645)
- James Lockey (1645)
- Nathaniel Wyatt (1645 - Present)