John May and his brothers, pioneer plutocrats

From the earliest days of the history of our state there have been men by the name of John May. One of the earliest of these was brought over with twenty other persons by Sir George Yeardley before 1627. Again at a court held at "James C1tty" June 5, 1632 John May and John Cumber, sailors, made oath "uppon the holy Evangelists" that on January 25th they went to the late dwelling of Thomas Farlowe with two boats for eight "tun of tobacco" which had already been shipped aboard the ship Defence.