 Adam Thoroughgood ( 1604 – 1640 ) of King 's Lynn , Norfolk , England is one of the earliest Englishmen to settle in this area , which was developed as Virginia Beach . At the age of 18 , he had contracted as an indentured servant to pay for passage to the Virginia Colony in the hopes of bettering his life . He earned his freedom after several years and became a leading citizen of the area . In 1629 , he was elected to the House of Burgesses for Elizabeth Cittie [ sic ] , one of four " <unk> " ( or incorporations ) which were subdivided areas established in 1619 . 
