Some Prominent Virginia Families

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Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. In the upper part of Chesapeake Bay was a commanding post within the disputed territory of Maryland and Virginia, and was alternately occupied by the forces of the contending colonists. This place, in 1632, was occupied by William Claiborne, Secre tarv of State to Governor Sir John Harvey of Virginia. Claiborne was the champion of the rights claimed by the Virginia Colonists in their contention with Maryland while the English government and King favored Lord Baltimore s claims, or the Maryland side of the controversy. Sir John Harvey, who was himself a creature of the King, found it contrary to his interests to oppose the King's wishes openly. When, therefore, Claiborne resisted the encroach ments of Maryland by force of arms and was, in consequence, in dicted and found guilty of murder, piracy and sedition, and took refuge with Harvey, that officer, on the one hand, refused to give him up to the Maryland authorities and on the other hand, con sented that he should be sent to England for trial.