In a message dated 07/28/2001 7:41:29 PM Central Daylight Time, bqueen@compusmart.ab.ca writes: > We have been studying the very early history of Virginia, in depth. William > Hancock, the immigrant was a ship builder, who came looking for forests for > his ship building business in England. There is no doubt that William Hancock was a member of the 2nd Virginia Company, as his name is clearly on the list. And there is no doubt that all these men had wealth and that it was an investment, but, there is doubt about all the rest of the story. First, I don't believe, and I could be wrong, that anyone has found that William Hancock was in the ship building business. The only reference to that was the bible, that can't be found. The other problem is that there is doubt that he died at Jamestowne, as his name is not on the very detailed list of those who died there. Third, the bible that states all this was written 100 years after the fact, so even if the bible existed, it could be wrong. And last, someone has stated, just this week, that there are no records of Augustine's taking over William's estate or owning land in the area. As a matter of fact, not too long ago, someone on some list wrote that if the member didn't stay in Jamestowne he lost he interest in the Company. So William's sons would have nothing to claim. That may or may not be correct. What I am saying is that beyond the fact that William was a member of the Virginia Company, the rest is not proven, and could be fiction. Julia