Claiborne

Claiborne was from Kent County, England, where his father and grandfather had been King’s Lynn mayor. He arrived with Sir Francis Wyatt, newly appointed Virginia governor. Claiborne was provided 20 pounds to fund purchase of his instruments and books (which he was to pass on to his successor), was to have a house provided for him by the Virginia Company and was to be paid 30 pounds per annum “in two hundred waight of Tobacco or any other valuable Comoditie growinge in that Country…”

Claiborne Becomes Influential Virginian
This young man was to have a long, important and productive life in Virginia. In 1625, Claiborne was named to the Governor’s Council and in 1626 was elevated to Secretary of State. He held the position until 1637, then again between 1652 and 1660. He was named the colony’s treasurer in 1642.

Claiborne’s success in fighting hostile Indians earned him the rank of colonel. In 1625, he was granted 150 acres in Elizabeth City (later Hampton), where he established the post used as a base for fur trading with the Indians. He also purchased Kent Island from the Indians to establish another trading post, but England’s king included it in the Calvert land grant for Maryland.



Read more at Suite101: Descent from Col. William Claiborne (1587-1677): Colonist Became Virginia Secretary of State and Treasurer http://genealogy.suite101.com/article.cfm/descent_from_col_william_claiborne_15871677#ixzz0mYdBsg8z

http://www.claibornesociety.org/history/brief_background_on_william_claiborne.shtml