Glass-making at Jamestown

Polish Glass-maker at Jamestown

It was thought that the abundance of trees necessary to fire pits to make glass was an advantage in the Colony of Virginia.  In 1608, when a number of tradesmen arrived, they were accompanied by Dutch and Poles (of the Second Supply ship) for the purpose of making a trial of glass.  A glass-house was erected about a mile from Jamestown. Capt. Smith supervised the operation and a cargo holding specimans of glass were shipped to England. In 1621, the Virginia Company of London entered into a contract with Captain William Norton who had decided to emigrate with his family.  The terms were that he was to carry over with him four Italians skilled in glass-making, and two serants, the expense of transporting six persons to be borne by Norton. As a reward, he was to receive one-fifth of the moiety of the product reserved for the Company and was to be allowed four acres of public land. He had to agree not to retain any beeds to exchange in trade with the local Indians. This contract was later reconsidered at a Quarter Court. The Company was in no condition to undergo the heavy charge of supplying eleven persons with apparel, tools, victuals and other necessities. They decided to resolve the matter by the Company granting 50 acres of land for every person sent over by private adventurers. Captain Norton succeeded in erecting a glass furnace, but unfortunately died. Treasurer Sandys was appointed to take his place, found it difficult to obtain the proper amount of sand, so sent a shallop to the Falls for a supply. However, nothing adaptable was found. But more the problem was the poor relationship with Sandys had with the Italian workmen.  Sandys, in the violence of his anger and disgust, said "that a more damned crew hell never vomited".  The Italians, anxious to return to Europe, deliberately proceeded slowly in their work, and cracked the furnace as well by striking it with a crowbar.

Source: Works of Capt. John Smith, p. 441; Muster of the Inhabitants of Virginia, 1624-5; Hoteen's Original List of Emigrants, 1600-1700, p. 235.

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Glass-making in Jamestown

The first glass-making in the colony was at the behest of Capt. John Smith, during the fall of 1608 when a number of Dutch and Poles, onboard in the second Supply ship of Capt. Newport, were sent to give their try at glass-making. A glass-house was erected about a mile from Jamestown. Some specimans of glass was produced under the supervision of Capt. John Smith and when he returned to England, he carried specimans with him in his cargo. After Capt. Smith left the colony, nothing more was heard of glass manufacture in Virginia until 1621, when an effort was made to re-establish it on a permanent footing. In 1621, the Virginia Company entered into a contract with Capt. William Norton, who had decided to emigrate to the colony with his family and who agreed to carry over with him four Italians skilled in glass-making and also two servants, the expense of transporting 6 persons to be borne by him, while the Company was to furnish their general equipment. Within three months of his arrival, Capt. Norton was required to erect a house for the manufacture of every variety of glass.  Source: Works of Capt. John Smith, p. 441.

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Glass-Making

In 1621 the Virginia Company entered into a contract with Captain William Norton who had decided to emigrated to the colony with his family.  The terms were that he was to carry over with him four Italians skilled in glass-making, and also two servants, the expense to be borne by him, while the Company was to furnish their general equipment.  Upon arriving, within three months he was to erect a house for the manufacture of every variety of glass. He was to have the exclusive right to manufacture glass for the colony for the term of seven years. The contract with Norton however ws reconsidered at a Quarter Court convened at a later date and it was decided that the calculation of expenses were not accurate. Therefore, it was decided to recommend the proposed manufacture to private subscribers, advancing one-fourth of the amount required to set the enterprise on a firm basis.  Fifty acres were allowed every person sent over by private adventurers. Captain Norton erected a glass furnace but died soon after. There is no evidence to show how long the glass-house remained in existence.

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