Code of the 17th Century Gentleman

During the 17th century, there were several wealthy and prominent businessmen in the colony, viz: Lawrence Evans, John Chew, Thomas Stegg, George Ludlow, and Thomas Burbage.

A number of lawsuits arose as a consequence of their defalcations.

In the cases of Lawrence and Evans, a Board of Arbitration was appointed by the General Court in 1638.

Business in the colony was transacted on a basis of credit (whether the residence was Virginia or England), but much of this debt was impossible to collect. The planter then, after…