Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1919. Excerpt: ... Thomas, second Baron Colepeper, of Thoresway, son of the first baron by his wife and cousin, Judith, daughter of Sir Thomas Colepeper, was baptized, 21 March, 1634/5, at Hollingbourne, in Kent. He married Margaret, daughter of Jan van Hesse, Heer van Piershill, in Zealand, who died 10 May, 1710, at Leeds Castle, Kent, aged seventyfive. Lord Colepeper died 27 January, 1688/9, leaving a daughter, Catherine, wife of Thomas, fifth Baron Fairfax, of Cameron. Before his appointment as governor of Virginia, Colepeper had served as governor of the Isle of Wight, 16601667. He came over in 1680, and at once put his fertile imagination to work to devise schemes for enriching himself at the expense of the soldiers, the farmers, and the merchants. He bought pieces of eight--since immortalized by Silver's parrot--and forced their use at a fictitious valuation. When he found that the experiment was not profitable, he withdrew them from circulation. He soon returned to England without leave; was in Virginia again in 1682, to claim lands on the northern neck; and in May, 1683, departed forever, leaving large estates on the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers. His long-delayed arrival and hasty departure must have been a sore trial to his beautiful kinswoman, Lady Berkeley, wife of the former governor. For many months she had exercised her faculty for intrigue and subtle revenge, counting upon Lord Colepeper's arrival and assumption of office to protect herself and her little cabinet of admirers. He had been in the colony long enough, however, to stop the only printing press there, and his successor, Lord Howard, upheld the same policy. During Colepeper's administration over-production of tobacco, whenever the price rose, and unwillingness of the planters to engage in other industries, brought about econ...