Hugh Gwyn (c. 1590 - c. 1654) was a British colonist who owned the first legally-sanctioned slave in the Colony of Virginia, John Punch. Gwyn served several terms in the Virginia House of Burgesses and was a justice.
Sir Hugh Gwyn | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses | |
| In office 1646 | |
| In office 1639 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1590 |
| Died | c. 1654 (aged 63–64) |
Biography
editSir Hugh Gwyn (sometimes spelled "Wynne",[1] "Wing",[2] or "Gwinne"[3]) either immigrated to Jamestown with the 1608 second supply, or arrived c. 1620 on the George as a servant to Captain William Peirce.[4][5]
Gwyn claimed to discover Gwynn's Island in c. 1611.[6] According to legend, Gwynn saved Pocahontas from a sinking canoe near the island.[7]
At a January 1624 muster, Hugh Wing [sic] was listed as aged 30 years.[2] In 1635, Gwyn petitioned King Charles I for ownership of the island and in 1640 was given 1,000 acres (4.0 km2).[8] Gwyn built a log cabin and named the area "Gwynnville" [sic].[4]
He was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses representing Charles River County in 1639 and York County in 1646. He also served as a judicial officer in 1641.[6] Gywn died around 1654.[9] Elizabeth Gwynn and Hugh Gwynn (likely a son) carried on the name in Virginia.[10] A relation, Hugh Gwynn, was the son of Sir Owen Wynn, 3rd Baronet and represented Gloucester in the House of Burgesses from 1652 to 1690.[11]
First slave in Virginia
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In 1640, indentured servants John Punch ("a negro"), Victor ("a Dutchman"), and James Gregory ("a Scotchman") fled their master Gwyn. The three were captured and returned to Gwyn.[12] The General Court of Virginia ruled that all three be whipped, but Punch would be Gwyn's slave for life as punishment for escaping.[13]
See also
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References
edit- ^ "Second Supply". packrat-pro.com.
- ^ a b Stevens, Sharry Anne. ""Packrat Productions: Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's -- George"". Packrat Productions: Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Gwathmey, John Hastings (1937). Twelve Virginia Counties: Where the Western Migration Began. p. 10. ISBN 9780806308616.
- ^ a b "TIMELINE: Virginia, Mathews County & Gwynn's Island History". www.gwynnsislandproject.com.
- ^ McCartney, Martha W. (2007). Virginia Immigrants and Adventurers, 1607-1635: A Biographical Dictionary. p. 770. ISBN 9780806317748.
- ^ a b "Gwynn's Island | The Gwynn's Island Museum". Gwynn's Island Museum.
- ^ https://www.qsl.net/w4rzb/gwin.html
- ^ "Mathews Memorial Library - Timeline". www.mathewslibrary.org.
- ^ "A History of Gwynn's Island". gwynnsislandmuseum.org. The Gwynn's Island Museum. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/schools/wmmary/notes0014.txt
- ^ du Bellet, Louise Pecquet; Jaquelin, Edward; Jacquelin, Martha Cary (1907). Some Prominent Virginia Families, Volume 4. p. 13.
- ^ Bly, Antonio T. (July 13, 2023). "Indentured Servant and Slave Patrols in Virginia". encyclopediavirginia.org. Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ General Court of Virginia (July 9, 1640). "General Court Responds to Runaway Servants and Slaves (1640)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 8 June 2024.