I believe there are several novels that send characters to Virginia in the 17th century as an escape or punishment (before Australia).
Crazy Woman, by Kate Horsley (my sister), begins in 19th-century Virginia (before the main character goes west to New Mexico).

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 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Jurretta Heckscher <[log in to unmask]>
> Fascinating!  I hadn't realized that.
>
> Provisionally, Defoe's novel should definitely get the prize for
> earliest work of fiction set in Virginia--and one of the prizes for
> most distinguished author.
>
> Best--
>
> --Jurretta
>
>
> On Jul 17, 2006, at 12:33 PM, Jon Kukla wrote:
>
> > Daniel Defoe's The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders
> > (London, 1722) -- His heroine ends up on a Virginia plantation.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Dr. Jon Kukla, Executive Vice-President
> > Red Hill - The Patrick Henry National Memorial
> > 1250 Red Hill Road
> > Brookneal, Virginia 24528
> > www.redhill.org
> > Phone 434-376-2044 or 800-514-7463
> >
> > Fax 434-376-2647
> >
> > - M. Lynn Davis, Office Manager
> > - Karen Gorham, Associate Curator
> > - Edith Poindexter, Curator
> >
>
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