adam thoroughgood (1604–1640) of king's lynn, norfolk, england, the younger son of an influential family headed by the reverend william thorowgood, is one of the earliest englishmen to become enamored with the area which became virginia beach. at the age of 18, he became an indentured servant to pay for passage to the virginia colony. around 1622, he settled in an area south of the chesapeake bay a few miles inland from the atlantic ocean. this area had been passed by when the earlier settlements such as jamestown were established beginning in 1607 in favor of locations further inland which would be less susceptible to attacks by other european forces, such as the spanish.