BERKELEY, John, iron-founder. He was a member of the family whose seat is Beverstone Castle, Gloucester, England, and became manager of the first iron-works established in America. These works were undertaken by the London company, which in 1619 sent over 150 skilled artisans from Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and Sussex. The establishment was on the west bank of Falling creek, a branch of James river, Virginia, about thirty-two miles from the sea. Three of the master-workmen died, and in 1621 Berkeley with his son Maurice and a re-enforcement of twenty men came over to advance the enterprise. A considerable village grew up around Falling creek; but in May 1622, at a time of supposed peace, the Indians fell upon the settlement, and out of a total population of 347 persons only a boy and a girl escaped the general Massachusettsacre. The iron-works and a glass-furnace were demolished, and many years passed before any attempt was made to revive these industries.