promises of land were made to individuals who were willing
to hazard the dangers of the new country. From a bill of adventure that
goes back to 1608, the nature of the promise of land is revealed in the
agreement between Henry Dawkes and Richard Atkinson, clerk of the
Virginia Company. Fortunately the bill of adventure of 1608 was recorded
with the patent by Governor John Harvey in 1632 to William Dawkes, son
and heir of Henry Dawkes. The commitments in the bill of adventure were
as follows:

_Whereas_ Henry Dawkes now bound on the intended voyage to Virginia
hath paid, in ready money, to Sr. Thomas Smith Kt. treasurer for
Virginia the some of twelve pounds tenn shillings for his adventure
in the voyage to Virginia.

_It is agreed_ that for the same the said Henry Dawkes his heires,
executors, admrs. and assignes shall have rateably according to his
adventure his full pte. of all such lands tenemts and hereditamts.
as shall from time to time bee there planted and inhabited, and of
all such mines and minneralls of gould, silver, and other mettalls
or treasures, pearles, pretious stoanes or any kinds of wares or
merchandize, comodities or pfitts. whatsoever, which shal bee
obtained or gotten in the said voyage, according to the portion of
money by him imployed to that use, In as large and ample manner as
any other adventurer therein shall receave for the like some.

Written this fowerteenth of July one thousand six hundred and eight.

Richard Atkinson
[Clerk of the Virginia Company].

The first two years at Jamestown brought disappointments, but the
adventurers of the London Company found grounds for new hope in the
enlarged and expanded program that was inaugurated in 1609. A new
charter was sought from the King to make possible reforms in
governmental organization both in England and Virginia; and a broader
base for financial support was laid by inviting the public to subscribe
to a joint-stock fund. By the charter of 1609 the new organization was
incorporated as the Treasurer and Company of Adventurers and Planters of
the City of London for the First Colony in Virginia. In England the head
of the reorganized company was designated as treasurer, and the major
change in control was the transfer of authority over the colony from the
crown to the company with the powers of government in the hands of the
treasurer and Council. This Council in England,