Lieutenant Colonel Henry Fleete | |
|---|---|
 Depiction of Captain Richard Lowe (left) speaking with Henry Fleete (right) in Virginia, circa 1635 | |
| Born | c. 1602[1] Kent, Kingdom of England |
| Died | 1661(1661-00-00) (aged 58–59) Fleet's Island,Lancaster County, Colony of Virginia |
| Other names | Fleet, Fleets[2] |
| Occupation(s) | Trader, interpreter, politician |
| Notable work |
|
| Spouse | Sarah Stone |
| Children | Henry Fleet II |
Henry Fleete (orFleet) was an early English trader in theColony of Virginia andProvince of Maryland. He was aBurgess representative for the Virginia Colony, and interacted withWilliam Claiborne during the time of conflict between Protestant Virginians and Catholic Maryland leadership. During a trading expedition withHenry Spelman of Jamestown, he was abducted and held captive by theAnacostan people for almost five years.[3]
Fleete was the son of William Fleete of Chatham, Kent, and Debora Scott Fleete.[4][5] He was a great-grandson ofThomas Wyatt the Younger.[citation needed] Henry had brothers named Edward, John, and Reynold.[2] His father, William Fleete, was of theVirginia Company of London.[6]
Henry Fleete emigrated to Jamestown, Virginia in 1621 with incomingJohn Harvey (Virginia governor).[7]
During a trading expedition withHenry Spelman of Jamestown, Fleete was abducted and held captive by theAnacostan people for almost five years.[3] He was 24-25 years old at the time of his capture.[8][6] Henry wasransomed to the government of Virginia inc. 1626.[9]
Fleete returned to England to tell others of his abduction, and persuaded William Cloberry and his organization associates to financefur trade with natives in Virginia, specificallyNorth American beaver fur.[6] Fleet was master of thebarkParamour for Cloberry & Company.[6]
Fleete settled at "St. George's Hundred" on land granted to him near the St. Georges Creek.[2] Fleete's house,West St. Mary's Manor was built around 1627 and used for meetings.
In September, 1631, theWarwick sailed from England to Virginia with Fleete acting asfactor and Captain John Dunton as the shipmaster. Fleete traded around thePotomac River, but was arrested fortax evasion by rival traders Charles Harman and John Utie.[10] Henry Fleete was put on trial fortax evasion, but let free.[7]
In 1634, "Captain Henry Fleete,gentleman" sailed withLeonard Calvert's colonists to act as a guide for the natives in Virginia and Maryland.[5][11][12] While most of the settlers wereRoman Catholic, Fleete was listed as aProtestant.[citation needed] With Governor L. Calvert, Fleete negotiated with thePiscataway people andYaocomico to settle the colony inSt. Mary's City, Maryland in exchange for armed protection for the natives' enemies.[11]
In April, 1635, Fleete became involved withWilliam Claiborne when he and Captain William Humber seized the pinnaceLongtail (commanded by a Thomas Smith)practicing without a license.[13] Claiborne's business partners, Cloberry & Company, had become unsatisfied with the fur shipment amounts, and considered Claiborne's right toKent Island invalid.[13] This led to a few more skirmishes and eventually,a time of riot in Maryland.
In 1635, "Fleete's Hill" trading post was established nearPetersburg, Virginia.[7] Fleet Street in Petersburg is named after him.[14] In February 1638 [O.S. February 1637], Fleete was sailing cargo for Maryland in the shipDeborah.[15]
Henry Fleete is also credited for capturing infamousOpechancanough with Virginian forces in 1646.[7]
Fleete died in Lancaster County on a plantation property. Fleete's namesake island and Fleets Bay [sic] both like north of the mouth of theRappahannock River.[16] His descendants go by the surname "Fleet".[7]