Thanks to your advocacy efforts on our behalf, we're happy to report that the recently passed Omnibus Spending Bill includes a very small increase in funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities! While our work is not over with regards to the upcoming 2018 budget to be passed in the fall, the Omnibus Spending Bill represents an endorsement of the important work that the humanities do for our communities. These funds will continue to support our work of providing free access to authoritative content about Virginia's history and culture.
In the official record of the governor's Council for October 24, 1687, Virginia
governor Francis
Howard, baron Howard of Effingham, announces that Nicholas Spencer, the colony's secretary and a
resident of Westmoreland
County, had uncovered a conspiracy among the slaves there. Some
spelling has been modernized and contractions expanded.
His Excellency was pleased this day
in Councell to acquaint the Councell that he had even then reced from Mr Secretary
Spencer Intelligence of the Discovery of a Negro Plott, formed in the Northern Neck
for the Distroying and killing his Majesties Subjects the Inhabitants thereof, with a
designe of Carrying it through the whole Collony of Virga which being by Gods
Providence timely discovered before any part of the designes were put in Execution,
and thereby their whole Evill purposes for the present defeated, and Mr Secretary
Spencer haveing by his Care Secured some of the Principall Actors & Contrivers,
and the Evill & fatall Consequences that might have hapned, being by this Board
Seriously considered, Have found fit to Order that the Negro Conspirators now in
Custody be either safely Secured untill the next Generall Court, to the Intent they
may then be proceeded against according to Law, or if it be found more Necessary for
the present Safety of the Country that they be brought to a Speedy Tryall, that then
his Excellency will be pleased to direct a Commission to Mr Secretary Spencer, Coll
Rich: Lee, and Coll: Isaac Allerton three of this Majesties Councell Inhabitants in
the Northern Neck to Sitt heare and try according to Law the Negro Conspirators, and
to proceed to Sentence of Condemnacon & Execucon, or to Such other punishments as
according to Law they shall be found Guilty off, by such examples of Justice to
deterr other Negroes from plotting or Contriveing either the Death wrongs or Injuries
of any of this Majesties Subjects. And this Board haveing Considered that the great
freedome and Liberty that has beene by many Masters given to their Negro Slaves for
Walking on broad on Saterdays and Sundays and permitting them to meete in great
Numbers in makeing and holding Funeralls for Dead Negroes gives them the
Opportunityes under pretention of such publique meetings to Consult and advise for
the Carrying on of their Evill & wicked purposes & Contrivances, for
prevention whereof for the future, It is by this Board thought fitt that a
Proclamacon doe forthwith Issue, requiring a Strickt
— page 87 —
observance of Severall Laws of this Collony relateing
to Negroes, and to require and Comand all Masters of families having any Negro
Slaves, not to permitt them to hold or make any Solemnity or Funeralls for any deced
Negros.
