Notion that Virginians are descended from convicts.
In England the notion presently grew up that the aristocracy of Virginia was recruited from the ranks of these kidnapped paupers and convicts. This impression may have originated in statements, based upon real but misconstrued facts, such as we find in Defoe’s widely read stories, “Moll Flanders”[125] and “Colonel Jack.” So, too, in Mrs. Aphra Behn’s comedy, “The Widow Ranter, or, The History of Bacon in Virginia,” one of the personages, named Hazard, sails to Virginia, and on arriving at Jamestown suddenly meets an old acquaintance, named Friendly, whereupon the following conversation ensues:—
Hazard. This unexpected happiness o’erjoys me. Who could have imagined to have found thee in Virginia?...
Friendly. My uncle dying here left me a considerable plantation.... But prithee what chance (fortunate to me) drove thee to this part of the New World?
Hazard. Why, ’faith, ill company and that common vice of the town, gaming.... I had rather starve abroad than live pitied and despised at home.
Friendly. Would [the new governor] were landed; we hear he is a noble gentleman.
Hazard. He has all the qualities of a gallant man. Besides, he is nobly born.
Friendly. This country wants nothing but to be peopled with a well-born race to make it one of the best colonies in the world; but for want of a governor we are ruled by a council, some of whom have been perhaps transported criminals, who having acquired great estates are now become Your Honour and Right Worshipful, and possess all places of authority.[126]
Malachy Postlethwayt.
Dr. Johnson.