It is believed John Rolfe bought the first African slaves imported into Virginia on or about August 20, 1619, saying “…there came in a Dutch man-of-war that sold us 20 and odd negars” “… for victuals”.  From 1614–1619 John Rolfe was secretary and recorder general of Virginia and is remembered as the husband of Pocahontas.

The pirate ship named White Lion captained by Rev. John Colyn Jope an Englishman together with another pirate ship The Treasurer Attacked the Portuguese slave ship, San Juan Bautista, delivering African slaves to Mexico. They stole 50-60 Angolans from the ship.

The White Lion was flying a Dutch flag as it landed at Hampton Va. It was customary for privateer ships to swap flags when coming into battle to signify under whose authority they were commissioned. The English had made peace with the Spanish (who ruled Portugal at the time) so attacking the San Juan Bautista was an act of piracy.

The Treasurer captained by Capt. Daniel Elfrith arrived in Virginia under Letter of Marque from England a few days later and sold few slaves to Virginia because trading with pirates was Illegal.

Christianity has existed in Angola since 1491, so contrary to the prevailing notion that the Africans were taught Christianity by their slave masters. The slaves were taught an Americanized version of Christianity “white supremacy”.