Raleigh's El Dorado Expedition Portuguese possessions and shipping, and conduct illicit trading. Sir Walter Raleigh had enjoyed several years of high esteem from Queen Elizabeth I, which stemmed in part from his previous exploits at sea which included the famous Capture of the Madre de Deus. Soon after, however, Raleigh suffered a short imprisonment for secretly marrying one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting, Elizabeth Throckmorton, and bearing her a child. In a bid to restore his influence with the Queen, Raleigh, having promised a "gold-rich empire more lucrative than Peru", had set up an expedition under John Whiddon to find the fabled city of gold
Elizabeth Key Grinstead son together, whom they named John. They were prohibited from marrying while Grinstead was serving his indenture. Elizabeth Key's future was uncertain. After Mottram died in 1655, the overseers of his estate classified Elizabeth Key and her infant son, John, as Negroes (and essentially as slaves and part of the property assets of the estate). With William Grinstead acting as her attorney, Key sued the estate over her status, claiming that she was an indentured servant who had served past her term and who had a freeborn son. At 25, Elizabeth had been a servant for a total of 19