Trading Tobacco for Wives

(Cigar History Museum) ... The history of the Commonwealth of Virginia, says the “Richmond Whig,” begins with an auction sale -- not, however, in a store, but beneath the green trees of Jamestown, where probably the most anxious and interested crowd of auction habitués ever known in the history of the world were gathered. In a letter, still to be seen, dated London, August 21, 1621, and directed to a worthy colonist of that settlement, the writer begins by saying: ---
“We send you a shipment, one widow and eleven maids, for wives of the people of Virginia. There has been especial care in the choice of them, for there hath not one of them been received but upon good recommendations. In case they cannot be presently married we desire that they may be put with several householders that have wives until they can be provided with husbands.”
But the writer of this epistle had little reason to fear that any of the “maidens faire” would be left over. The archives contain evidence to prove that these first cargoes of young ladies were put up at auction and sold for one hundred and twenty pounds of tobacco each, and it was ordered that this debt should have precedence of all others. The solitary “one widow” went along with the others, for they could not be particular in those days. The good minister of the colony no doubt had a busy time that day. He did not mention any fees, nor did the bridegrooms think of tendering any. All was joy and gladness; no storms ahead, no inquisitive clerk to stand and say, “Here’s the license, fork over that $1.” Nothing of the sort. From some of these couples the first families of Virginia are descended. Continued

Image: Uncredited, but it looks like the work of Will Crawford to me.