Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1915 — FIRST SESSION OF ASSEMBLY [ARTICLE]

FIRST SESSION OF ASSEMBLY

America’s Premier Legislative Body v Met at Jamestown, Va n In July, 1619. The first representative legislative assembly . ever held in America convened at Jamestown, in July, 1619, a year before the Pilgrim landed at Plymouth and a deoade before the Massachusetts Bay colony was begun. It consisted of the governor. Sir George Yeardley, his council,- two burgesses elected by each of the 11 incorporated plantations. The, assembly sat in the chancel of the little church, where five years before Pocahontas had been married to John Bolfe. John Twine, the clerk of the assembly, says in his report: “The most convenient place we coulde finde to sltt in was the Quire of the Church, where Sir George Yeardley, the Governour, being sett down in his accustomed plaoe, those

of the Counsel of Estate sate nexte him on both handes, excepte onely the Secretary, then appointed Speaker, who sate right before him. John Twine, clerke of the General Assembly, being placed nexte Speaker, and Thomas Pierse, the Sergeant, standing at the barre, to be ready for any service the Assembly should requl»a But forasmuch aa men’s affairs doe little prosper-where God’s service is neglected, all the Burgesses took their places in the Quire till a prayer was said by Mr. Bucke, the minister, that it would please God to guide and sanctify all our proceedings to nis owne glory and the goode of this Plantation.”