[Excerpts from "The Planters of Colonial Virginia, by Thomas J. 
Wertenbaker, 1959, Russell & Russell, New York]
[posted 18 Sep 2003]

[concept of large southern plantations with lots of slaves didn't 
actually exist until well after 1700.  Most were small, family farms]
p. 33
[possibly regarding Richard I situation]
...political prisoners taken in the rebellions of the Seventeenth century.  
...  When Drogheda was captured by Cromwell's stern Puritan troops in 1649, 
some of the unfortunate rebels escaped the firing squad only to be sent to 
America to serve in the sugar or tobacco fields.  Just how many of these 
Irishmen fell to the share of Virginia it is impossible to say, but the 
number rises well into the hundreds, and the patent books of the period are 
full of headrights of undoubted Irish origin.
p. 36
Except in the years 1655 and 1656, after the Drogheda tragedy when one sees 
such names as O'Lanny, O'Leaby, O'Mally, and Machoone, or in 1679 when there 
was a sprinkling of Scottish names, the entire [headrights] list is distinctly 
English.
p. 46
The land transfers of Surry county afford an [example that the average plantation 
was small].  In 34 instances..from 1684-1686, for which the exact number of acres 
is given, the largest is 500 acres, the smallest 20.  [Total] 6355 acres, or an 
average of 187 for each sale.  [Eleven transfers of 100 acres or less, 23 
transfers of 200 or less and only 4 of more than 300 acres.] 
p. 57
Surry County 1675 were 245 taxpayers and 434 tithables, or men who paid their 
own tax outnumbered all those whose tax was paid for them, whether servants, 
slaves or [dependent sons under 16]. Ten years later almost identical results- 
540 tithables and 304 taxpayers.  About 122 persons who paid the poll tax for 
others.  Largest holders of servants or slaves: Robert Randall-7, Lt. Col. Wm. 
Browne-9, Robert Canfield-7, Arthur Allen-6, Wm Edwards-6, Francis Mason-7, 
Thomas Binns-8.
p. 57, 58
1704 Rent rolls with 1702 returns of tithables-
Nansemond 375 plantations, 1030 tithables
Surry 273 plantations, 739 tithables
Isle of Wight 262 plantations, 896 tithables
Northampton 258 plantations, 693 tithables
Charles City & Prince George together, 420 plantations, 1327 tithables
p. 59
Surry Co. 1671-1686 listed estates of 59 persons in deeds & wills.  52 of 
these were apparently without servants or slaves; Wm Rooking & Capt. Robert 
Spencer had 5 each, Wm Chambers had 3, Capt Wm Corker, John Hoge, John Goring 
& Samuel Cornell had 1 each.
p. 128
1710 conspiracy among the slaves of Surry & James City Cos. to take place on 
Easter day.  They planned to rise simultaneously, destroy all who stood in 
their way and escape the colony.  Chief conspirators were Jamy owned by John 
Broadnax, Samuel Thompson's Peter, Wm Edwards' Tom and Cato, John Edwards' 
Great Jack & Little Jack, & Henry Hart's Will.
p. 131
VA 1670 slave population was about 5%; by 1730 it was about 26%.

1704 Rent Rolls
Prince George Co.
Thomas Busby Capt....300 acres
Thomas Busby.........200
Coll Byrd Esq........100
Micajah Perry........600

Isle Wighte County
Poole Hall..........350
Wm. Marfry..........600

Nansemond County
James Murphice......160

Norfolk County
Alexander Murfrey...800

Warwick County
Samuel Crew orphans...150

Northampton Co.
John Crew.........300

James City County
Aristotle Grice......700

King William County
Maj Wm Bird Qr......1200

King & Queen County
taken by Robt. Bird Sherriff
Wm Bird............572
Robt. Bird.........1324
Wm. Crane..........120
Wm. Crane..........300
Tho. Crane.........320

Essex County
Widdo [Widow] Bird........100

Accomack County
Gervis Baggally..........700
Garrat Hictlims..........170
Obedience Pettman........115
Skinner Wollope..........2485