Page:Augustine Herrman, beginner of the Virginia tobacco trade, merchant of New Amsterdam and first lord of Bohemia manor in Maryland (1941).djvu/100

is an important document and we herewith quote it in its entirety:^[1]

 

“Caecilius absolute Lord and Proprietary of the Province of Maryland and Avalon Lord Baron of Baltimore etc. To all Persons to whom these presents may come greeting in our Lord God Everlasting. Whereas Augustine Herman late of Manhatans Marchant haveing of long tyme used the trade of this our Province hath besought us to grant unto him leave to transporte himself and family into this our Province here to inhabit. And for our satisfaction and benefit of trade hath drawne a Mapp of all the Rivers creeks and Harbours thereunto belonging know yee that wee willing to give due encouragement to men of his profession and to reward all such as have well deserved from us Doe hereby Declare him the said Augustine Herman to be a free denizen of this our Province of Maryland. And Doe further for us our heirs and Successors straightly enjoyne constitute ordaine and command that the said Augustine Herman be in all things held traeted reputed and esteemed as one of the faithful People of us our heirs and Successors borne within this our Province of Maryland And likewise any lands Tenements Revenues Services and other Hereditments whatsoever within our said Province of Maryland may inheritt or otherwise purchase receive take have hould buy and possess and them may occupy and enjoy give sell alien and bequeath as likewise all Liberties ffranchises and Priviledges of this our Province of Maryland freely quietly and peacefully have and possess occupy and enjoy as our faithfull People borne and to be borne within our said Province of Maryland without the lest molestation vexation trouble or Grieuvance of us our heires and Successors and custome to the Contrary hereof in any wise notwith-

 

1. In many accounts Herrman is referred to as the first “Naturalized American”. As a matter of fact, however, his brother-in-law George Hack and his wife Anna with a few others were naturalized in Virginia in 1658 (Journal of House of Burgesses, 1619–59, p. 131). In this record George Hack is referred to as having a brother who was naturalized at the same time. This record undoubtedly refers to Sepharin Hack, later killed by the Indians, rather than to Herrman, as we can find no reference that Herrman was a citizen of Virginia.