Government--Governor-in-Chief--Council--Assembly--Government
officers--Judicial officers--Ecclesiastical establishments--
Schools--Fortifications and military defences--Revenue--Exports
and imports--Population returns.
Antigua is the usual residence of the captain-general and
governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands; and in his absence, the
oldest member of council, who is styled president, acts as his
deputy. But in case of the death of the governor, or his removal
from the office, according to a recent arrangement, the
lieutenant-governor of St. Kitt's takes up his residence at
Antigua, and officiates as governor until a fresh appointment is
made.
The colonial government of Antigua is confided to the
governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands--a council, nominated by
the governor, and confirmed by the crown--and a house of
assembly, consisting of twenty-five members, representing the
capital town of St. John's, and the twelve divisions, which the
six parishes of the island compose, elected by the freeholders.
The council act in two capacities--the one as the advisers of the
governor in the administration of the executive branch of
government; the other, as an upper house in the legislative
assembly.
As the appointed advisers and assistants of the governor, his
"privy council," as they are termed, when acting in that
capacity, the members of the council enjoy the title of
"honourable;" and their concurrence, or that of three of their
body, is required to most of the acts of the governor in his
executive capacity. Their appointment, sometimes, is immediate
from the crown, though the governor may, in case of a vacancy,
appoint _ad interim,_ until a confirmation, which is seldom
withheld, is obtained. Leave of absence from the colony may be
granted to a member of the council, by the governor, or his
_locum tenens,_ for six months, which may be extended by the
crown to two years; but by a longer absence, a member incurs the
forfeiture of his office. The governor, moreover, has the power
to suspend any member of the council from the exercise of his
office, until such time as the pleasure of the sovereign may be
made known.
In their legislative capacity, the council assume to themselves,
with regard to the members of assembly, as nearly as may be, the
relation of the House of Lords to that of the Commons in England.
Their officers are, a clerk and marshal, the former being the
first colonial secretary, and often assuming the functions of the
usher of the black rod. The senior member presides, under the
title of president. They deliberate in private, excluding
strangers, and enjoy the same freedom of debate as do the house
of assembly, as the English parliament.
The house of assembly, assimilating itself, as it does, as
closely as possible, to the usages of the English House of
Commons, needs no further particular notice.
The governor, however, discharges two important functions, which
are usually exercised by separate individuals. He acts as
chancellor, or rather, as commissioner of the great seal, and, as
such, presides in the court of equity; and up to the present
time, he has also exercised all the functions of an ordinary,
though, we believe, in practice, seldom going beyond granting
licences for marriages, and admitting the probate of wills--acts
for which he is not allowed to grant deputations; but this
interference in matters of ecclesiastical jurisdiction may
probably soon be dispensed with.
The chief officers of the island are--
1. The _Governor,_ who receives a salary of 3000l. sterling from
the British government, besides certain fees of office--as, on
administering oaths on admission to certain public offices; on
granting letters of administration, probate of wills, marriage
licences, signature and great seal to writs of execution, letters
of guardianship; on every motion made in the Court of Chancery,
and on various other occasions; but the fees on granting leave of
absence to a member of the council, or commissions to public
offices, are usually the exclusive perquisites of his
excellency's private secretary.
2. _Public Secretary._--His income, arising from fees, is said to
equal, if not exceed, that of the governor.
3. _Treasurer._--Receives from 800l. to 400l. per annum, and 2½
per cent. on all taxes and other moneys received; and also the
same on all moneys paid away. He is required to give security on
this appointment, from the governor, to the amount of 10,000l.
currency.
4. _Master in Chancery._--His income varies with the amount of
business occurring. His fees are, 15s. 2d. for every hour, with
other charges in proportion, when accounts are passing before
him.
5. _The Registrar of Deeds_ was formerly paid in sugar; but now,
for every ninety-six words recorded in his office, he receives
2s., and the same sum for every year in which a search is made
for any particular deed in his records. The returns of this
office, as of the two preceding, being wholly dependent on fees,
it is not easy to estimate their average amount.
6. The _Provost Marshal_ receives a fixed salary of 600l., which
is paid from fees, out of which the gaoler also receives a salary
of 160l. All incidental expenses attendant on these two offices
are also discharged from the same fund; and there is always a
surplus remaining, which is placed at the disposal of the
governor.
7. The _Harbour Master_ receives 50l. per annum currency for
boat-hire, and a fee, varying from 4s. 6d. to 22s. 6d., on
certain vessels coming into the harbour, according to tonnage,
from 30 tons to 300, and upwards. This officer seems less
adequately provided for than any other, considering the attention
required, and the responsibility attendant on his office.
8. The _Postmaster,_ who is paid by the home government, receives
80l. sterling per annum.
The judicial officers connected with the colony are numerous,
considered with respect to the population; but as none, with the
exception of the chief judge, receive pecuniary remuneration, and
he only 300l. sterling,[72] and from fees, the appointments,
although high-sounding, are, with this exception, only honorary,
and almost parallel with that of the unpaid, though not less
useful, magistracy of England. The appointments are as follow:--A
chief judge; four assistant justices; a chief baron of the
exchequer; judge of the vice-admiralty court; registrar of the
vice-admiralty court; two masters examiners of chancery;
registrar in chancery; provost marshal, advocate, and
attorney-general; procurator and solicitor-general; three king's
counsel and a coroner, (the latter receiving 300l. per annum
sterling from the colony.) The office of coroner is filled by Sir
Robert Horsford, the attorney-general. To these must be added two
stipendiary magistrates, appointed under the provisions of the
act for the abolition of slavery, and paid by the home
government.
The ecclesiastical establishment now comprises a bishop,
receiving 2000l.; an archdeacon, receiving 500l. sterling from
the British government; the rector of the parish of St. John,
receiving, with a curate, 330l. from the colony; the rector of
the parish of St. George, who receives a stipend of 230l.
sterling; the rector of the parish of St. Paul's, who receives
250l. sterling; the rector of the parish of St. Peter's, who
receives 300l. sterling; and the rector of the parish of St.
Philip's, who receives a stipend of 275l. sterling.
The stipends are raised by rates on the several parishes; and in
addition to these, the clergy receive the usual surplice fees.
There are several day and night schools belonging to the
Established Church--viz.,
St John's--one boys' and one girls'; two infant-schools at the
Rectory; on Manning's Estate, Cedar Valley, Marble Hill, St.
James's, St. Luke's, African Hospital; three evening-schools in
St. John's, and four Sunday-schools, besides at the various
parishes in the island. The instruction which is generally given
is reading and repeating the scriptures and church catechism, and
also certain lessons and hymns. The number of children instructed
by the clergy may be reckoned at about 2300.
There are twelve churches, including four chapels of ease. One of
these chapels of ease is the private property of the Honourable
and Reverend Nath. Gilbert, the descendant of the founder of
Methodism in this country, which contains 400 sittings.
Sittings.
St. John's church contains 1600
St. George's 600
St. Peter's, (town of Parham,) old church 300
St. Philip's, (near Willoughby Bay) 433
St. Paul's, (Falmouth) 400
St. Mary's, (Old Road) 250
St. John's parish has three chapels of ease--one
at Popehead, called St. James's 420
Bendall's Bridge, St. Luke's 400
And one in town 150
St. Peter's, one chapel of ease, (private property
of Nath. Gilbert) 400
St. Philip's 260
St. Paul's, (a temporary chapel at English
Harbour) 350
St. Mary's, (in Ffryes Valley) 250
There is also a temporary chapel at the common gaol, which may be
supposed to contain 150 sittings. The Rev. Robert Holberton
volunteered, in the early part of 1829, to deliver a religious
discourse every Sunday morning, between the hours of seven and
eight o'clock, and has not grown weary in this laudable cause. He
attends the prison at all times when serious consolations are
required, and more particularly those who may have to suffer
death by paying the penalty of the law.
Account of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials.
Baptisms. Marriages. Burials.
1836 Parish of St. John's 310 112 150
St. George's 74 38 36
St. Peter's 116 52 24
St. Paul's 74 47 39
St. Mary's 60 40 14
St. Philip's 122 40 19
Total 756 329 282
1837 Church 662 246 393
1838 " 528 316 313
1839 " 723 468 420
1837 Wesleyan Society 96 0 112
1838 " 108 0 114
1839 " 95 0 85
1837 Moravians 383 0 318
1838 " 249 0 256
1839 " 265 0 254
The Wesleyan society has several Sunday-schools, also day
scholars, exclusive of night-schools, which may be reckoned as
follows:--From the "Ladies' Society," and the "Wesleyan
Missionary," conducted by voluntary contributions:--
Scholars. Teachers.
Sunday-school 1782 155
Day-school 962 19
The Moravian Mission has 1115 0
Besides infant children, whose number may
be estimated at about 1800 0
The members of their church may be
estimated at about 9000.
Fortifications.--There are seven forts--namely,
Sterling.
Fort James, which costs the country for captain's
salary 150l. 0s.
Fort George 112l. 10s.
Fort Johnson's Point 60l. 0s.
Fort Byam 50l. 0s.
Old Road 59l. 12s.
Goat Hill Battery 60l. 0s.
Rat Island 60l. 0s.
The amount expended for the military defence of this country,
sustained by the colony exclusively, not under the control of the
ordnance department, amounts to near 2500l. sterling; and that
incurred by Great Britain in this time of peace is sometimes over
24,000l. sterling. Some years it may be 1000l. or so under, and
particularly now the island has no militia, as it ceased to exist
in July, 1838, by order of her Majesty in council.
Revenue.--The comparatively yearly revenue may be estimated at
about 19,000l. sterling. The expenditure is generally more, which
is raised by ¼d. assessed upon all lands; 1d. on every 100 lbs.
of sugar; 3d. on every 100 gallons of rum and molasses; a
street-tax, and a per centage upon all dwelling-houses or
merchant-warehouses, according to the exigencies of the case;
also a cistern-tax upon all dwelling-houses of the annual rent of
60l., not having a cistern on or belonging thereto; (while this
is a very necessary precaution in cases of fire, it brings in a
very good revenue;) an import duty imposed by the British
parliament on all American importations, (part of this only is
paid into the island treasury, as a per centage is first detained
by the collector of her Majesty's customs for defraying the
expenses of officers' salaries; however, the surplus paid into
the treasury may be computed at 9000l. currency annually, but has
at times amounted to 16,000l.;) also another import duty, levied
by our colonial legislature on all goods imported not coming
under the act of the imperial parliament, but such as upon all
British or other articles of foreign manufacture may not be
considered dutyable, in that case, 2l. 10s. upon every 100l. is
paid; also an annual sum is paid by every retailer of spirituous
liquors, wines, and beer; and a customs duty on wine imported,
(except it be brought from Madeira and the Western Islands.
Amount of Export in the Year 1770.
£. s. d.
To Great Britain 430,210 0 0
To North America, United States, and the
West India Islands 35,806 17 6
£466,016 17 6
Amount of Export, in the Year 1787.
To Great Britain, North America, the West
India Islands, United States, and Foreign
Ports, consisted of 284,526 casks of
sugar, 716,545 gallons of rum, 5910
gallons of molasses, 160,510 pounds of
cotton, 4l. sterling worth of dyeing
woods, and 48,000l. worth of other
miscellaneous articles, which together
amounted to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £592,596 9 0
Shipping Inwards, 1831.
No. of No. of
Vessels. Tons. Men
From Great Britain. 55 11783 634
From North America. 50 4410 256
From West Indies. 142 6997 730
From United States. 58 6692 375
From Foreign Ports. 80 2608 336
Totals. 385 32,490 2331
Shipping Outwards, 1831.
No. of No. of
Vessels. Tons. Men
To Great Britain. 55 11498 628
To North America. 39 3334 197
To the West Indies. 191 10482 982
To the United States. 31 3686 211
To Foreign Ports. 91 3522 399
Totals. 407 32,522 2417
Amount of Exports for 1831.
£. s. d.
To Great Britain 228,612 0 0
To North America 12,803 10 0
To West Indies 37,766 19 6
To United States 10,372 18 0
To Foreign Ports 7,090 15 0
£296,646 2 6
Shipping Inwards, 1840.
Number of
Vessels. Tons.
From Great Britain 51 11,334
From North America and the West Indies 254 10,968
From the United States 79 11,657
From Foreign Ports 158 3,650
Total Number of Men 2,925
Total Number of Vessels 542
Total Number of Tons 37,609
Shipping Outwards, 1840.
Number of
Vessels. Tons.
To Great Britain 56 12,953
To North America and the West Indies 251 10,297
To the United States 26 3,844
To Foreign Ports 142 10,781
Total Number of Men 3,133
Total Number of Vessels 475
Total Number of Tons 37,375
Amount of Exports, 1840.
£. s. d.
To Great Britain 401,624 4 6
To North America and the West Indies 328 0 0
£401,952 4 6
Population.
Number of Whites.Number of Coloured. Number of Negroes.
1673 no account taken. no account taken. 500
1690 600 no account taken.
1707 2892 no account taken. 12,892
1720 3672 19,186
1724 5200 19,800
1729 4088 22,611
1734 3772 24,408
1756 3412 31,428
1774 2590 37,808
1787 2590 1230 37,808
1788 no account taken. no account taken. 36,000
1805 3000 1300 36,000
1810 3000 37,000
1817 no account taken. no account taken. 32,249
1824 30,314
1827 29,839
1831 29,537
Census Taken in 1821.
Area in Number of Number of Total Number of Number of Total
miles White White number of Coloured Coloured number of
square. Males. Females. Whites. Males. Females. Coloured.
St. John's 17,955 644 563 1207 1210 1623 2833
St. Philip's 10,881 116 46 162 62 99 161
St. George's 6000 56 35 91 24 44 68
St. Mary's 14,190 81 43 124 65 94 159
St. Peter's 8310 100 37 137 53 65 118
St. Paul's 11,941 142 117 259 292 435 727
69,277 1139 841 1980 1706 2360 4066
Number of
negroes in six
parishes,
30,985.
No census has been taken since 1821, but the population now may
be estimated at about the same. The greatest bulk is employed in
agriculture; the manufacture is sugar, rum, and molasses. The
island is supposed to contain 69,299 miles, or 108 square miles,
consequently the average population is estimated to the square
mile in this island to be about 343.
------
[72] It most be remarked that this salary is not a determined
one. The judge receives it as a boon from the existing
legislature. His successor may, perhaps, only obtain the _honour_
conferred by the appointment.
Supplemental Chapter.
Since the foregoing pages have been written, many and great
events have occurred in Antigua. St. John's, the capital of the
island, has been raised to the dignity of a city, by the mandate
of her most gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, (as announced by
official letter of his excellency the governor-in-chief, Sir
Charles Augustus Fitzroy, K.H., dated 10th November, 1842;) the
church constituted a cathedral church and an episcopal see; and
our former worthy archdeacon has become the Right Rev. the Lord
Bishop of Antigua. The rector of St. John's, the Rev. R.
Holberton, has most deservedly been appointed archdeacon, (as
well as rector,) in the room of Dr. Davis, the present bishop.
The first ordination held in the island took place on Tuesday,
the 25th July, 1843. The governor-in-chief. Sir Charles Augustus
Fitzroy, has ably conducted the government, and made himself
universally and deservedly beloved and respected for his zeal and
strenuous exertions for the common good. His excellency first met
the council and assembly at the court house, on Thursday, the
21st of February, 1842, where he was received by a guard of
honour, (of part of the 81st regiment, then stationed in
Antigua.) After taking his seat in the council chamber, his
excellency delivered in person a most flattering inaugural speech
to the legislature; addresses were then returned by the council
and assembly, to each of which his excellency made most gracious
answers. Upon the breaking up of the meeting, his excellency
returned to government house, where he held a levee, (which was
numerously attended,) and received congratulatory addresses from
the clergymen of the church of England, the Moravian ministers,
the Wesleyan missionaries, and the members of the Presbyterian
association.
The Scotch kirk has been nearly completed, and opened for divine
service; an able preacher from Scotland, the Rev. A. Brown, is
the officiating minister. Until the opening of the new church,
the court house was kindly lent to the members of this persuasion
to hold their Sunday service in; and where the Rev. Mr. Brown
poured forth a strain of pure, unaffected devotion, and delivered
a series of sermons, whose beauty lay not only in words, but in
the grand religious truths they inculcated.
Agricultural societies have been formed, much to the interest of
that useful class of men, the agriculturists. In these societies,
prizes have been awarded to the following:--
To manager who makes the largest quantity of sugar per acre, on
average crop--a silver tea-pot, value 8l.
To manager who makes best quality of sugar--a silver cup, value
7l.
To manager who makes the largest quantity of sugar per acre,
from second ratoons, being not less than five acres--a silver
ladle, value 4l.
To manager who has been most successful with his stock during
the year--a silver knife, value 3l.
To the overseer who shall produce the best plan of a
plantation, pay, boiling-house, and still-house books--a pair
of silver spoons, value 2l.
To labourers who have worked the greatest number of days in the
year on one property--five prizes, from 10s. to two dollars
each, currency.
To those parents who have the largest number of children
employed in agriculture--five prizes, from 10s. currency, to
two dollars each.
To stock-keepers who have remained during the year, and have
been most successful with the stock--five prizes, from 10s. to
two dollars.
A popular institution for intellectual improvement has also been
instituted at St. John's, in which several lectures have been
given upon various interesting subjects.
On the 12th of June, 1842, a very bright and beautiful meteor
passed over the town of St. John's, in a direction from east to
west. Its form was globular; and as it passed rapidly along the
heavens, it emitted bright spiral flashes of fire, which gilded
the sky, and threw deep shadows upon the earth. During its
progress, it was attended by a rushing noise, sufficient to call
the attention of those who did not even notice its extreme
brilliancy. Possibly this meteor might have belonged to the class
termed _aerolites;_ many of such phenomena have appeared, from
time to time, in this quarter of the globe: one fell at Bahia, in
Brazil, which weighed 14,000 pounds, and another, (still
preserved in the British Museum,) which fell at Buenos Ayres,
weighed 1400 pounds.
The next great event to be recorded, is the awful earthquake,
with which Antigua and many of the other Leeward Islands was
visited, on Wednesday, the 8th of February, 1843. About half-past
ten o'clock a. m., a low, hollow, rumbling sound arrested the
attention, and announced, in its own peculiar solemn tone, the
coming of an earthquake. Immediately after this awful warning, a
tremor of the earth was felt, which gradually increasing in
violence, led the frightened inhabitants to rush from their
houses, and seek safety in the open air. Heart-rending were the
screams, fervent and numerous were the calls for mercy, from the
assembled groups. The air was darkened with the dust from the
falling buildings, as well as from the sulphureous exhalations
which issued from the opening earth, and almost stopped
respiration. In Antigua, the extent of damage was immense. Out of
fourteen parish churches, (including the chapels of ease,) only
two remain uninjured. St. Paul's, situated at Falmouth, was
entirely destroyed; as also St. Stephen's chapel of ease, the
district church of All Saints, and the chapel schools of St.
Bartholomew's and St. Mark's, not long ago erected. The new
church of St. Peter's, which has been mentioned in these pages as
being in a state of progress at Parham, and which was expected to
be completed and opened for Divine service in 1843, was also much
rent and injured. The pretty parish church of St. Philip's was
cracked from top to bottom, and rendered unsafe, and the
school-house was levelled with the ground. St. James's chapel of
ease was severely injured, and the north and south wings fell.
The school-room at St. Barnaby's was rent in several places; and
at St. Stephen's a similar building was entirely levelled. The
school-room at Brecknocks was also rendered unsafe. There were
172 sugar-mills upon the island, most of which upon that eventful
morning had been "put in the wind," and were merrily going with
the breeze, crushing between their powerful machinery the golden
canes, and sending a rich stream of luscious juice through the
several pipes into the boiling-houses; of these thirty-five were
entirely levelled with the ground, eighty-two split from top to
bottom, and the remaining fifty-five almost all of them injured,
requiring numerous repairs. Among those most seriously injured
may be mentioned--
"Bellevue, Messrs. Shand's--down.
Renfew's--down.
Belmont's--down.
Bath Lodge, property of Walters--down.
Green Castle's, Sir Henry Martin's works and mansion--down.
Lower Freeman's--down.
Sir Geo. Thomas's works, and part of the mansion--down; the
manager was obliged to take up his quarters under a shed.
Little Duers--down.
Big Duers--down.
Ffrys--down.
Elliot's, part of sugar works--down.
Potter's--down.
La Roche's--down.
Baijer Otto Baijer's--down.
Mount Pleasant--down.
Rock Hill--down.
Delap's--down.
George Byam's--partly down.
Patterson's new steam-mill, and works--down.
Monterea's--down.
Paynter's--down.
Gunthorp's--down.
Claremont's, the seat of the Hon. W. E. Williams, untenantable,
and works of two estates--down.
Gambles, Admiral Tollemache's--down.
The Wood--down.
Fryar's Hill--down.
McKinnon's--down.
The newly erected sugar-works of Wm. Williams, Esq.--down.
&c. &c. &c."
The city of St. John's suffered severely, and after the
earthquake, presented a most dismal appearance. About one-third
of the stores and dwellings were levelled with the ground; and
the remainder (with the exception of those buildings erected of
wood) so shattered and torn, that they were rendered
untenantable. Some of the houses were completely twisted round,
presenting an acute angle to the street, instead of their usual
position. The cranes at the water's edge were many of them lifted
out of the ground; and in several of the stores, streams of water
bubbled up through the interstices of the pavement. The
court-house, police-office, (formerly the old jail,) the arsenal,
the new jail and barracks, the registrar's office, treasurer's
office, governor's secretary's office, (recently erected,)
colonial bank, Antigua library-rooms, &c., were all of them rent
and torn, and several rendered unsafe. The cathedral of St.
John's was damaged to a great extent, the tower being rent from
top to bottom, the north dial of the clock precipitated to the
ground, and part of the east wall of the tower thrown upon the
roof of the church. The handsome altar-piece was entirely
destroyed; and many of the monuments which graced the walls of
the cathedral were hurled from their resting-places, and shivered
into atoms. Of these were the tombs of Lord Lavington, Warner,
Kelsick, Ottley, and Atkinson. The font was thrown off its
pedestal, seven of the large pipes in the front of the organ
knocked out, and much damage done to the interior of that
instrument. The whole of the south-east walls of the cathedral
were thrown into the churchyard, carrying with them some of the
ornamental ground-glass windows. The north-west walls fell in one
mass of ruins, while the north-east protruded beyond the
perpendicular. The north and south vestibules were almost blocked
up by the piles of massy stones and bricks. The churchyard also
presented a melancholy appearance, many of the tombs being rent
open, and split in various places.
Before this awful event, it had been the intention of the vestry
to enter into a contract for raising the tower, and improving its
architectural adornments, as also to make some alteration in the
chancel.
The school-room erected near the rectory of St. John's was also
very much dilapidated; and the national-school for girls was so
much injured as to require being taken down.
The new Wesleyan Chapel was fearfully rent, and doubts were at
first entertained for the safety of the building; but upon a
mature deliberation, it was determined to repair it without
pulling it down; which has since been done.
The nearly finished Scotch kirk met with a severe injury, its
walls being cracked in several places.
The ministers of the established church in St. John's performed
service under a large tent, erected to the east of the Daily Meal
Society's buildings, and also in the Conversion Society's
school-room, and the African hospital.
The Scotch and Wesleyan ministers were accommodated at the Mico
and Moravian school-room, or beneath a grove of trees, near to
the spot where Governor Parke met his fate; and for one day in
the week, at the Moravian Chapel.
Almost every kitchen and oven in the island was destroyed; and
many of the capacious cisterns ruined. In some of them, the water
was so deeply impregnated with sulphur, or mixed with the fallen
mortar, as to be perfectly unusable.
Oh! awful indeed was this fearful visitation of the Almighty! The
loftiest looks of men were humbled, and the stoutest hearts were
bowed down. Tremendous--terrible was the shock! The earth reeled
as if about to be over-thrown; and scarce could the strongest man
keep his footing. The island shook from its very centre; and in
many parts the ground opened, and emitted columns of noxious
sulphureous water. The sea felt the powerful hand of its Maker,
and rose several feet above its highest mark; while in some parts
it dashed up the streets to the distance of many yards.
The excess of terror occasioned by this awful throe of Nature was
so great, that many individuals threw themselves over the wharfs,
and sought refuge in the treacherous waves. Still their fears
were not allayed; for the sea was so turbulent that they were
under the necessity of again seeking dry land to save themselves
from being engulfed in its yawning abyss. The legislature met at
government-house on the 13th, (the court-house being in an unsafe
condition,) by special command, to take into consideration the
best way of averting, as far as human endeavours could, the
direful results likely to accrue from the late calamity. A grant
of 500l. currency was placed at the disposal of a committee, for
the purpose of supporting the roof and plate of the cathedral,
and rendering it in some measure safe for divine worship. The
vestry met on the 24th March, under the tents, and among other
resolutions agreed to make a record of the event in the church
books. The dock-yard at English Harbour--the pride of the
Caribbee Islands--has suffered greatly; the excellent wharfs
racked and rent; in some places they sank down to the level of
the sea, in others, they were heaved up and down, like the
billows of the great deep; the massy stone and brick buildings
erected within the yard were nearly all of them injured; the
officers' quarters severely rent; the cordage stores, &c.,
cracked from top to bottom; the fine capacious cisterns ruined.
The superintendent's office, &c., was also much impaired and
rent; and the stone platform which ran along the commissioners'
room moved out of its place, and the pavement beneath literally
wrested up. The guard-house and midshipmen's quarters were
greatly damaged, and the stone building near presented an awful
appearance, one side of it having sunk some depth into the
ground, while that part of the wharf contiguous to it was
fearfully rent. In the boat-house, the massy stone circular
pillars which supported the shed were very much cracked, and one
of them was separated from its pedestal and hurled to the ground.
The blacksmith's shop, paint stores, &c., were left but as
"tottering walls," while the long line of cliffs and stone walls
that topped the hill at the back of the yard were shivered in all
directions. St. Helena was also much injured, and the embattled
walls of Fort Berkley, at the mouth of the harbour, were
overthrown. The superintendent of the yard, Jos. Hart, Esq.,
estimated the damage at about £20,000. In many parts of the yard
the ground looked as if ploughed up, while in others, deep and
broad fissures, strongly impregnated with sulphur, opened their
yawning mouths. It was, at first, asserted that the mouth of the
harbour had been obstructed by the fallen rocks; but upon a
careful survey, the water was found to be deeper, if anything,
than before the awful occurrence. At the Ridge, the terrible
effects of the earthquake were also felt. The stone stores and
barracks were either thrown down, or so severely rent that they
were unsafe, and the privates were accommodated under tents for
some time after. The small stone building, situated at the
extreme point of Shirley Heights, (erected for the accommodation
of the signal-man,) fell at the commencement of the shock,
burying beneath its ruins a baby of four months old, but which
was afterwards extricated and restored to its distressed parents
unhurt, with the exception of a trifling scratch. The town of
Falmouth presented but a mass of ruins--its church was levelled
with the ground, and the tombs in the churchyard rent open, as if
the last great day was come. The fortifications at Monk's-hill
were cracked and rent in many places; and near to the spot, a
huge rock was lifted up by the oscillations of the earth, from
the place where it had reposed for centuries, and hurled to the
opposite side of the road.
Dows Hill, the country residence of the governor, suffered great
injury, and his excellency Sir C. A. Fitzroy lost furniture to
the amount of 1000l. sterling. De Witts, the seat of Sir Robert
Horsford, Knt., solicitor-general of Antigua, was nearly levelled
with the ground, and several other delightful country residences
partly destroyed. The lately established villages were nearly all
dismantled--their neat little stone cottages in ruins. Many of
the Moravian and Wesleyan settlements throughout the island have
suffered very much, as well as several of the forts. Rat Island
battery is also much damaged, as well as the new lunatic asylum
erected there. In many parts of the island, pools of water were
formed, where hitherto no appearance of moisture was to be found;
while in other places, established ponds were completely dried
up.
The boats and ships in the harbour were fearfully affected. The
island could not be seen for the space of ten minutes, from the
dense cloud which arose from it. The hills which encircle the
harbour were fearfully shaken; and at that part known as
"Hatton's-hill" the effects were truly terrific. The whole of
this eminence, which rises rather conically, is rent into yawning
fissures to the extent of about eighteen or nineteen acres. This
spot had been appropriated to the negroes' provision ground; and
in one place, a portion of their well-cultivated gardens slipped
from the brow of the hill, and, still clothed with its vegetable
productions, half way filled up one of the chasms, (in breadth
from three to four feet,) cleft in the solid ground. Upon the
margin of the sea, another deep abyss presents itself. The solid
rock is rent asunder, in extent to about forty feet long, thirty
feet deep, and near seventy feet wide. That peculiarly shaped
rock known to mariners as "Ship's Stern," and which has proved
for so long a time a sure landmark to pilots, was shivered to
pieces; and McNish's mountain (the highest in the island) very
much rent and fissured. Several shocks were felt during the next
forty-eight hours, and the ground appeared to have a tremulous
motion for several weeks after. A proclamation was issued by his
excellency Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, setting apart Friday,
the 14th of February, a day of "public humiliation and
thanksgiving before God, in acknowledgment of his Divine power,
so fearfully and wonderfully displayed, as well as his mercy and
forbearance in sparing the island from utter destruction," which
was kept throughout Antigua. At Barbuda, the earthquake was also
severely felt--all the stone buildings, with the exception of a
small school-room, fell.
Barbados, St. Vincents, Martinique, Dominica, and St. Thomas,
felt the shock but slightly. Guadaloupe was the greatest sufferer
of the group. One whole town. Point à Pitre, was entirely
destroyed, and upwards of 4000 souls perished, while about 600
were severely wounded. A few days after the earthquake. Admiral
Gourbeyre, the governor of Guadaloupe, despatched the "Papillon"
man-of-war to Antigua to inquire into its state, and render all
the assistance possible. She brought the intelligence, that out
of the inhabitants of one entire street, only one individual (a
female) was saved alive. Soon after the earthquake, a fire broke
out, and consumed what the earthquake had spared. An American
master of a ship was taken into custody for secreting many
articles of value, (the property of the sufferers,) on board his
ship. His sentence would have been death; but on account of his
having been seen to render assistance to some of the poor
creatures who were partly buried beneath the fallen buildings, it
was mitigated, and he was condemned to serve on board the galley
for a certain term.
At Monserrat, the effects of the earthquake were severely
experienced. Scarcely a house in the island that had the least
particle of brick-work about it was uninjured; and some were so
rent, that they were obliged to be pulled down. A great many of
the buildings on the sugar estates were levelled with the ground,
and otherwise severely injured. The fall of earth was so great
from the mountain, and the dust so thick, that it was at first
supposed to be a fresh eruption from the _Souffrière_, a volcanic
mountain.
The following is an extract from a letter from a resident upon
the island:--
"I was about five hundred yards from the sulphur pit, opening an
old spring of fresh water; the earthquake commenced gradually--
the oscillation slow. Though sensible it was an earthquake, I was
under no apprehension, till of a sudden I heard a dreadful noise.
On looking towards the mountain over the sulphur, it was
enveloped in one mass of smoke as I thought. It was then time to
move my quarters, but I was thrown upon my back by the violent
motion. The path that I returned I observed cracking; I called to
the man to be cautious--it was giving way--he came instantly
forward, saying it was well we got over as we did, for the path
was fallen in. The mountain, to the extent of a mile, is rent in
various places. A man this moment has returned from the sulphur,
stating that the crater is open, but does not perceive any
greater appearance of smoke from it than usual."
We passed Monserrat three days after the earthquake. From the
deck of the steamer we could perceive that large slips from the
mountains were still falling; and every now and then a cloud of
dust arose.
St. Christopher's also suffered very severely, the damage done
being immense. The stone dwellings and stores in Basseterre, the
capital of the island, fearfully shook and rent,--some of the
finest, but a mass of ruins, and others rendered unsafe. The
north and south vestibules of the parochial church of St. George
were severely injured, as well as the walls of the main building,
which in some places were rent from top to bottom. The clock
stopped at half-past ten, the time the earthquake commenced; many
of the mural monuments which adorned the interior of the church
were also destroyed. The Female Benevolent Institution was much
damaged, and the West Indian Bank rent and split. The
reading-rooms also suffered, the south gable having fallen into
the street beneath. One large dwelling, situated in the square,
and known as "Wall House," fell a complete prey to the violence
of the rockings. The entire side walls fell down, which striking
upon a horse-stable beneath, buried the unfortunate animals in
the ruins. Some of the private dwelling-houses were completely
gutted, nothing remaining of them but the exterior walls. The
gaol was so shattered, that the prisoners had to be removed, and
accommodated for the night in the hospital adjoining. The square
was crowded with a concourse of persons of every age, sex, and
condition--pride, rank, power, were alike forgotten--as upon
bended knees, or with clasped hands and pallid lips, they invoked
the aid of that Great Being "_who rideth upon the wings of the
wind,_" and at whose rebuke "_the earth shook and trembled, and
the foundation also of the hills moved, and were shaken._"
The estates in the country suffered greatly; steam-engines,
windmills, boiling-houses, proprietors' dwellings, &c., the
labour of many years, were in one moment levelled with the
ground. The works and dwelling-house at Bevan Island, (in the
parish of St John's,) situated upon a cliff, were lifted from
their foundations, and hurled into the ravine below. St. Peter's
church was also greatly injured, as well as the Moravian church
at Cayon. Upon one estate, report said, that three negro-houses
sank into the earth; and in the vicinity, the ground opened, and
a pool of water, of a particularly white and clear quality, was
formed. In the neighbourhood of Sandy Point, at an estate
belonging to the Payne family, the earth also opened, and vomited
forth from its secret depths fumes of sulphureous vapour. Fort
George, at Brimstone Hill, has felt the shock in a serious
manner; while the mountain itself is, in many places, despoiled
of its beauty, from the land-slips which have taken place. From
Mount Misery, the highest point of the island, a long spiral
cloud of white smoke was seen to ascend during the time of the
earthquake; and the sulphureous spring situated in its centre is
said to have overflowed its bounds.
At Johnstone's, or French River, a melancholy catastrophe
occurred. It is a spot chosen by the washerwomen of Basseterre as
the scene of their necessary avocations; and upon the eventful
morning of the earthquake, about ten of these females were busily
employed in washing, in a natural basin, (formed by huge rocks,)
at the moment of the shock taking place. Seven of these women
fortunately escaped by flight; but the three, who were exactly
underneath the cliff, met a more melancholy fate. At the
commencement of the awful commotion, an immense rock parted from
this cliff, and fell into the stream below. The affrighted
females fled from the scene of danger; but, alas! the increased
oscillations of the earth caused it to rebound with fearful
velocity, and striking against a larger rock, it split into three
or four pieces, and thus dealt destruction to each of the poor
panic-stricken women! From some parts of St. Christopher's, the
Dutch island of St. Eustatia was seen to tremble like an
aspen-leaf. Nevis also felt the dire commotion; the streets of
the capital presented but one mass of ruins. The bath-house, an
immense pile of the strongest masonry, was split and rent in
every direction, and some of the massive stones riven in two. The
court-house was greatly injured--many of the finest of the stores
and dwelling-houses levelled, and the busy marts become mere
heaps of rubbish. In many parts of the island, the earth was rent
open to the extent of several inches--cliffs toppled down--
columns of water were thrown up, and pools formed, where, prior
to the awful visitation, nothing of the kind was to be perceived.
Many of the estates also suffered great devastations; and some of
the inhabitants left their tottering houses, and took shelter
beneath sheds and outhouses.
It is impossible to describe the appearance presented in these
different islands; indeed, it baffles all description. The scene
cannot be painted, and language fails to impart the terror and
alarm which prevailed. It was a beautiful day throughout the
archipelago--the sun was abroad in all its glory, shedding a
fervid ray over every object, and gilding the waters of the blue
Caribbean, which lay quietly smiling beneath its influence. The
breeze was as soft as an infant's sigh, and the wide canopy of
heaven was spread aloft in all its beauty. Little then did
"Coming events cast their shadows before them."
A few minutes more, and darkness brooded over the land; and then,
as it cleared away, the devastations presented themselves to the
wondering gaze, and caused the strongest mind to quail! Yet, who
could repine? for how signal was the mercy of God, who, amid all
the dire convulsions, spared the lives of so many of his
trembling creatures!
At the Savannah, besides many other places in the Union, the
shock, which extended north as far as New York, was felt.
On the 8th February, the day of the great earthquake, the waters
of the river Tiber, which washes the city of Rome, rose suddenly
to such an immense height, as to inundate the houses to the first
story. In Portugal, about the same time, loud subterranean
thunder was heard; and soon after, the earth opened, and sent up
large volumes of water, which overflowed the country for some
miles. In the course of the following month, (March,) shocks of
earthquake were felt in several places, from Liverpool and London
north, as far as Van Dieman's Land south. In Jamaica, several
smart shocks were experienced, which caused great excitement, and
a day of public fast and humiliation was set apart by the
government. The Grand Cayman (one of the three islands called
Caymanas, lying between Jamaica and Cuba) has disappeared. This
group of islands is inhabited principally by the descendants of
the old buccaneers, who used to frequent these seas in former
years, and negro turtle-fishers. They take their name from being
a resort for the _cayman,_ or alligator, who frequent these
shores for the purpose of depositing their eggs in the sand.
Trinidad has also been visited by several shocks of earthquake.
These several instances shew how very general these awful
convulsions have been within the space of a few weeks; and prove
to us (setting aside superstitious notions) that we ought
seriously to consider "the signs of the times." Great fears were
expressed by many of the credulous in America, upon feeling, or
hearing of the earthquake; as on 1st January, the same year, a
proclamation had been issued, by an American Millerite, in the
following alarming words:--
"Great Earthquake!--To all the people far and near, to dreadful
warning give ear. Jan. 11, 1183, there will be a great
earthquake; three shocks in succession in all the whole world.
Let all the people believe, and tremble before God; for the time
will come when the saints will possess the kingdom. Jan. 31,
1843, the door of mercy will be shut against the whole world.--
Now, my dear friends, I would advise you to flee for mercy, while
the door of mercy is open. The Spirit of God testifies these
things which are coming on the earth."
As soon as the events of this distressing earthquake became known
in the sister colonies, meetings were held by the legislature, to
take into consideration the best means of alleviating the wants
and distresses of the Antiguan and other sufferers. Barbados was
the first island which despatched a grant for the relief of the
sufferers in the several islands. Trinidad granted 1000l.
sterling; St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Jamaica, the Bahamas, &c.,
joined in their benevolence.
The subject of the great earthquake, and the loss met with by
Antigua, was brought before the House of Commons on the 14th of
March, 1843, by W. A. Mackinnon, Esq., M.P. for Lymington. A
meeting was held in London on the 11th of March, for the purpose
of taking measures for the relief of the sufferers in Antigua.
The agent for the island, Dr. Nugent, presided at the meeting, at
which also the bishop, Dr. Davis, was present, and was requested
by the meeting to attend Dr. Nugent in his interview with the
principal secretary of state for the colonies, for the purpose of
soliciting aid from government.
Extensive subscriptions have been entered into at London and
Liverpool,[73] &c. Her most gracious Majesty Queen Victoria,
Prince Albert, the Duchess of Kent, and that exemplary and
benevolent lady the Dowager Queen of England, with many of the
nobility and commoners of England, have all most kindly and
liberally bestowed that aid, so truly wanted by the distressed
colonists.
It must be remarked, that the sufferers by this most awful and
unprecedented occurrence are not to be found among the humbler
grades of life, but in most instances are those who move in the
higher and middle classes--individuals who are, generally
speaking, endued with keener sensibilities, and who will thus
feel more the change which, no doubt, will reduce many of them
from comparative luxury to extreme want, unless most effectual
aid be rendered to them.
Soon after the earthquake, the Royal Mail Steam-packet Company's
ship Actæon was dispatched from St. Thomas's, to learn the fate
of the colonies.
The "Thames," the Royal Mail Steam-packet Company's ship, Capt.
Haste, was passing Antigua at the moment of the shock. Capt.
Haste says, "The Thames was brought up as if on a reef of rocks,
to his own dismay, and the dismay of all on board, and continued
for a short period to jump and kick as if beating on rocks."
The shock was felt severely at sea. "The brig British Queen,
Capt. Kennedy, from Whitehaven, lat. 17° 3' north, long. 58° 45',
ship going six knots, felt a severe shock of earthquake, which
stopped her way when 160 miles due east of the island, on the
8th, which lasted about four minutes." A French brig coming to
St. Thomas's, "off Tortola, felt the shock so severely, he (the
captain) thought that the vessel had struck on a rock."
Soon after the earthquake. Admiral Sir Charles Adams arrived at
Antigua, in order to inspect the dock-yard. Before the
earthquake, the barometer was noticed to vary from 30° to
one-tenth higher; and on the 8th of February it stood at 30·2 in.
The next event of importance was the appearance in the heavens of
a most beautiful comet. The first time this beauteous stranger
was observed in Antigua, was on the 3rd of March, 1843. Its first
appearance was like a scarf of clear white, shooting up from the
horizon, and forming an arch of about 30°. The nucleus not being
above the horizon, this phenomenon was supposed to be similar to
the _aurora-borealis;_ but as it gradually ascended the heavens,
this idea was dissipated, and it was clearly seen to be a comet.
Upon the evening it was first observed, a very splendid meteor
passed over the town. Admiral Sir Charles Adams, on his way from
Port Henderson to Spanish Town, Jamaica, observed this wondrous
traveller, and made the following observations upon it, on board
her Majesty's ship "Illustrious:"--
"March 4th, 1843. About fifty minutes after sunset, observed a
strong ray of light in the west-by-south quarter, supposed to be
a zodiacal light.
"March 5th. The same seen.
"March 6th. It proved to be a comet, the tail subtending an angle
of 37° 14".
"March 7th. At forty minutes past seven, p. m., angular distance
from Sirius 83° 50", length of tail 34° 28"
"March 8th, At forty-seven minutes past seven p. m., angular
distance from Sirius 80° 19'; length of tail 29° 54"
"March 9th. Cloudy.
"March 10th. At fifty-four minutes past seven, p. m., angular
distance from Sirius, 74° 48' 20"; length of tail, 24° 16'.
"March 11th. The same was seen,--much less brilliant."
The appearance of this eccentric body caused great excitement,
occurring as it did so recently after the earthquake. When first
perceived, it was supposed by many to be a lunar rainbow; but its
steady movements and long continuance soon dispelled this idea.
At times the stars could be distinguished through it, while at
other periods they were hidden from observation. This comet, it
appears, was discovered by Mr. Glaisher, of the Cambridge
Observatory, as far back as the 28th of October, 1842. When
discovered, "its north declination was nearly 69°, with right
ascension of 16h. 40m. Now (Dec. 3) it has south declination of
34°, and right ascension of 19h. 16m. From the immense rapidity
of its motion as it approaches its perihelion, it is probable
that it is a comet of very long period. It seems this comet is
not identical with the Chinese one of 1301, but coincides with
the comet of Halley." This is Mr. Glaisher's own statement of the
appearance of this wonderful heavenly body.
On Good Friday, being the 14th April, 1843, the cathedral of St.
John's was re-opened for public worship, after being temporarily
repaired for that purpose. An appropriate and impressive sermon
was preached by the archdeacon, to a numerous congregation. All
the other places of worship were crowded with attentive hearers.
About eight o'clock in the evening, a sharp shock of earthquake
was felt, which caused many of the inhabitants to rush from their
houses, or from the respective chapels they had congregated in.
Providentially, it did not continue long, and no accident
happened; but from the recent awful convulsion of a similar
nature, it was a moment of extreme terror to many.
During the month of April, 1843, another comet made its
appearance. This coincides strangely with events of the year
1690, the period of the great earthquake in Antigua, which
devastated great part of the town of St. John's, and rent
"Hatton's Hill," and which was followed by the appearance of two
comets.
Up to the time of this work going to press, more than 35,000l.
currency have been received from the British West Indian
Colonies, and subscriptions raised in England, for the relief of
the sufferers in the late awful earthquake. Since that dreadful
occurrence, agricultural wages have risen from 4s. to 8s.
currency per diem; and great complaints are made by the planters
for not being able to obtain a sufficient number of labourers to
carry on with expediency the culture of the sugar-cane.
------
[73] Francis Shand, Esq., gave 100l.
Appendix.
No. 1.
_Copy of the First Commission which was ever granted for the
Government of Barbados and the Leeward Islands._
Whereas We have byn crediblie informed by our well-beloved
subject Raphe Merifeild of London, Gentleman, for and on the
behalf of our well-beloved subject Thomas Warner, Gent. That the
said Thomas Warner hath lately descovered fower several Islands
in mayne ocean toward the Continent of America, the one called
the Island of St. Christopher's, alias Merwar's Hope; one other
the Isle of _Mevis;_ one other the Isle of Barbados; and one
other the Isle of Monserate, which said Islandes are possessed
and inhabited only by Savage and Heathen people, and are not, nor
at the tyme of the descovery were in the possession, or under the
gouernment of any Christian Prince, State, or Potentate. And
thereupon, the said Thomas Warner beinge sett forth and supplyed
by the said Raphe Merefeild for that purpose made entrie into the
said Islandes for & on the behalfe of our deare ffather and hath
sithence with the consent and good likinge of the natives made
some good beginninge of a plantation & Colony, and likewise of an
hopefull trade there, and hath caused diverse of our subjects of
this our Realme to remove themselves to the said Islandes, with
purpose to proceede in so hopefull a worke. Know ye therefore,
That we in consideration of the premisses and to the intent that
the said Raphe Merifeild and Thomas Warner may be encouraged and
the better enabled with the more ample countenance and authority
to effect the same, doe by these presents take as well the same
Islandes as all the inhabitants there and alsoe the same Thomas
Warner and other our lovinge subjects under his commande or
government resident on the said Islandes or any of them, and all
lands good or other thinges within the said Islandes or any other
neighbour Islandes to them, or any of them adjoining already by
the said Thomas Warner or his company inhabited or possessed, or
hereafter to be inhabited or possessed, not beinge in the
possession or governement of any other Christian Prince, State or
Potentate, into our Royal protection. And of our especiall grace,
certeyne knoledge, and meree motion have given and granted and by
these presents doe give and grant unto the said Thomas Warner,
duringe our pleasure the custodie of the aforesaid Islandes, and
of everie of them together with full power and authority for us &
in our name & as our Leuitenant to order and despose of any
landes or other thinges within the said Islandes, and to governe,
rule and order all and singular persons which nowe are ore
hereafter shall bee abydinge in the said Islandes or any of them,
as well our natural borne subjects, as the natives and Savages of
the said Islandes and all other that shall happen to be or abyde
there by such good & reasonable orders, articles and ordinances
as were heretofore made and agreed upon betweene them the said
Raphe Merifeild & Thomas Warner or such other good & reasonable
orders & ordinances as shall be most requisite and needfull at
the discretion of him the said Thomas Warner. And all such as
shall disobey, chastise, correct and punish accordinge to their
faults and demeritts. And alsoe with force and stronge hande to
represse and anoye all such as shall in hostile manner attempte
or goe about to encounter the said Thomas Warner or his Company,
or to possess or invade the said Islandes or any of them, or to
ympeache our possession thereof, or to hurt or to annoy him or
our subjects there beinge or any others which hereafter shall goe
or transporte themselves to the said Islandes or any of them. And
generally to doe all such acts, as shall or may tend to the
Establishment of our Government settling a Colony or plantation
advance any trade or commerce there which they the said Raphe
Merefeild & Thomas Warner or either of them shall find mete or
beneficial for us or our Kingdom or subjects straightly
chargeinge and commandinge all manner of persons which now are or
hereafter shall be abydinge in the said Islandes or any of them,
that they be obidient, ayding and assisting to the said Thomas
Warner, in all thinges as to our Leiutenant. And foreasmuch as
the said Raphe Merifeild hath at his owne charges not only
furnished and set forth the said Thomas Warner in the preemisses,
but alsoe byn the means of transportinge our well beloved John
Jeffreson gentleman, & many other our subjects hither and hath
byn the especial furtherer of that whole designe. We doe by these
present give and grant to the said Raphe Merifeild and to his
partners, deputies, factors, servants and assignes, full power
and authority freely to trade and traffique to and from the said
Island for all manner of goods, merchandizes & commodities
whatsoever payinge the customs and other dutyes therefore due.
And alsoe to transporte, send and convey unto the said Islandes
and plantations or any of them, for the mayntenance &
strengtheninge of the same all and everie such our lovinge
subjects as already are or hereafter shall be willing or
desirouse voluntary to enter into, be sent, transported or goe
unto the said Islandes & plantation aforesaid upon with and under
such covenant contract and agreement as betweene them are or
shall be made and agreed upon and to defende themselves in the
same by all lawfull wayes and meanes and generally to doe and
performe all such acts as shall or may tende to the establishment
of our said Government settling a Colony or Plantation uppon the
said Islandes or any of them and the advancement of any trade or
commerce there with the said Thomas Warner and his Company uppon
the said Islandes or any of them without lett disturbance or
interruption of any person or persons beinge our naturall borne
subjects, denizens or strangers. And our further will and
pleasure is, that in case the said Thomas Warner be at this
present dead, or hereafter shall die, our Leiutenant as
aforesaid, then and in that case, we doe hereby authorise and
appoint the said John Jeffreson if he shall be then livinge, in
his room and place. And We, doe hereby give and grant unto him
the like power, authority and prehemience during our pleasure as
is before by these presents lymitted, meant or mentioned to the
said Thomas Warner, and if in case the said John Jeffreson be at
this present dead, or hereafter shall die our Leiutenant as
aforesaid then our English subjects being or which shall be
resident in the said Islandes shall and may elect some other able
and fitte person there resident, to be our Leuitenant whoe by
virtue of these presents shall have the alike power, authority
and preheemience during our pleasure, as is before lymitted
meante or intended to the said Thomas Warner and soe from tyme to
tyme upon the decease of the Leiutenant, the English subjects
there residing shall and may elect a new Leiutenant whoe shall
have the like privilege authority and prehemience during our
pleasure as is above mentioned. In Witness whereof. We have
caused these our Letters to be Patents.
Witness ourselvese at Southampton, the thirteenth day of
September, in first yeare of our Reigne 1625
Per ipsum Regum
Dupl:
Great Seal of England
Wynn and Wolseley.
No. 2.
GENEALOGY OF THE WARNER FAMILY.
William Warner, of Framlington, co. of Suffolk, Esq., the
representative of an ancient and distinguished family in that
county, m. Margaret, dau. of Geo. Jermingham, co. Suffolk, Esq.,
by whom (among other issue) he left a son,
Sir Thomas Warner, first English governor, and colonizer of many
of the West India Islands, and who, for his energetic exertions
in extending his majesty's dominions in the American seas, was
graciously complimented, and had the honours of knighthood
conferred upon him by his sovereign, Charles I., at Hampton Court
Palace, 21 Sept. 1629. Sir Thomas m. 1st, Sarah, dau. of Walter
Snelling, of Dorchester, Esq.; and 2ndly, Rebecca, dau. of Thomas
Payne, co. Surrey, Esq. By his first marriage. Sir Thomas had
issue,
1. Edward.
2. Mary, buried at Putney, co. Surrey, 29 Dec. 1635.
By his second wife Sir Thomas had
3. Philip.
Sir Thomas Warner, dying in 1648, was succeeded in his estates by
his eldest son,
Edward, a captain in the army at the early age of thirteen. He
was sent by his father, Sir Thomas Warner, in 1632, with a party
under his command, to colonize Antigua, of which island he was
the first English governor. His lady was made prisoner, and
carried away, by the Caribs, in 1640, (vide p. 9, vol. i.,) and
dying without issue, was succeeded by his brother,
Philip, colonel in the army, and governor of Antigua in 1674. He
m. Henrietta Ashton, sole heiress of her brother, Col. Henry
Ashton. Col. Philip Warner having acquired great wealth, d. 23
Oct. 1689, and was buried at St. Paul's, Antigua, leaving issue,
by Henrietta, his wife, two sons and four daus. His eldest son,
Thomas, inherited the family estates of the Folly and Savannah,
m. Jane, dau. of -- Walrond, of Antigua, Esq., by whom he had
issue four sons and one dau. Col. Thomas Warner, dying in 1695,
was buried at St Paul's, Antigua, 11 Nov. of that year, and was
succeeded in his estates by his eldest son,
i. Edward, a colonel in the army, and member of the Council for
the Island of Antigua; m. Elizabeth, dau. of the Hon. Richard
Scott, (one of King William III.'s counsellors for Barbados,)
by whom he had (among other issue) a son and heir,
Richard-Scott, who dying a minor, at Eltham, in Kent, during
the lifetime of his father, his three surviving sisters
became the co-heirs of the family property--viz.,
1. Grace, born at Cobb's Crop, Antigua, 13 Oct. 1717, died 31
May, 1754; m. 1st, (in 1735,) Samuel Byam, Esq., the son of
Major S. Byam, and grandson of Col. Willoughby Byam; and
2ndly, William Fauquier, Esq., F.R.S. By her first husband
(buried at St. George's, Antigua, 14 Jan. 1738) she had
issue one son and one dau.,
1. Samuel, who died 19 Nov. 1761, three weeks before the
day appointed for his marriage, when his sister,
2. Phillis, became his heir.
By her second husband (buried at Eltham, 21 Dec. 1788,
aged 80) she had, among other issue,
3. Thomas Fauquier, who died in 1827.
4. Georgiana, m. 25 May, 1787, George Venables Lord Vernon.
2. Elizabeth-Anne, born in 1718, and m. in 1739, to Godschall
Johnson, of Bloomsbury-square, Esq., (which family are now
in possession of the Warner estates of Savannah and
Folly,[74]) by whom she had issue.
3. Jane, born at Christ's Church, Barbados, in 172O, m. at
St. John's, Antigua, 2 Jan. 1738, to the Hon. and Rev.
Francis Byam, rector of St John's, and counsellor of that
island, by whom she had a son, the Hon. Edward Byam,
president of Antigua for nearly fifty years, born at St.
John's, in 1740, who, failing of male issue, is now
represented by his four granddaughters, i. Adelaid; ii.
Anne-Byam; iii. Jane-Elizabeth; iv. Maria-Catherine,
co-heirs of the barony of Lee de Spenser.
ii. Ashton, (second brother of Edward Warner, whose lineage is
traced above,) speaker of the house of assembly, and
attorney-general for Antigua, born in 1691, and m. 8 April,
1714, Eliza-Anne, (dau. of George Clarke, of Clark's Hill,
Antigua, Esq., and relict of Major Samuel Byam,) who died 2
June, 1748. The Hon. Ashton Warner died in Feb. 1752, and was
interred in the same vault with his deceased wife, leaving a
numerous issue.
iii. Henry, (third son of Col. Thomas Warner,) clerk of the
assembly, Antigua, in 1724, born in 1693, and buried at the
family vault on the Savannah Estate, in that island, in 1731,
in the 39th year of his age.
iv. Philip, baptized at St Paul's, Antigua, and mentioned in
his father's will, 27 Sept. 1695, as "my youngest son
Philip."
Among the numerous children of the Hon. Ashton Warner, Speaker of
the house of assembly, his youngest sons were,
i. Samuel-Henry, born 11 Dec. 1733, and appointed deputy
provost-marshal of Antigua, who, marrying in 1762, was father
of the Hon. Samuel Warner, late president of Antigua, and
brigadier-general of the militia in that island, and who died
in 1838.
ii. Daniel, treasurer of Antigua, born in 1724, m. 2 Feb. 1746,
Rebecca, dau. of Thomas Freeman, Esq.[75] He was killed on
board H.M. sloop of war, "Virgin," 25 March, 1760, while
defending that vessel from the attack of three French
privateers, leaving, among other issue, a son,
Thomas, born 12 Feb. 1753, and m. in 1790, Dorothy, dau. of
the Hon. Francis Ffrye, dying in 1825, at Sevenoaks, co.
Kent, left, among other issue, three sons,
1. Daniel-Francis, rector of Hoo, co. of Kent, born 9 June,
1795, m. in 1818, Sylviana-Maria, dau. of Robert-Walter
Vaughan, of the city of Bristol, by whom he has issue
nine children.
2. Thomas-Shirley, stipendiary magistrate of Monserrat,
born 24 May, 1797, and m. 9 May, 1825, Rebecca, dau. of
the Hon. Henry Hamilton, of the island of Monserrat, by
whom he has issue six children.
3. Samuel-Ashton, rector of St George's, Antigua, in 1826,
born 30 May, 1790, and m. 10 June, 1824, Mary, dau. of
Stephen-Ross Willock, of Antigua, Esq., by whom he has
six children.
------
I cannot conclude this detail of the Warner family without
relating an anecdote of the celebrated ring, mentioned in Hume's
History of England, as given by Queen Elizabeth to the Earl of
Essex, and which jewel is now in possession of a descendant of
Sir Thomas Warner.
When Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex, the far-famed favourite of
Queen Elizabeth, was in the hey-day of his power and her
majesty's regard, the queen presented him with a diamond ring,
which she ordered him to keep with the strictest care, so that
should he at any time want to beg a boon, or be so unfortunate as
to fall under her majesty's displeasure, and thus incur imminent
danger from the malevolence of his enemies, he might return it to
her as a talisman, when she pledged her word to accede to his
request, or forgive him, and grant him her protection.[76] It is
unnecessary to enter into the various circumstances which led to
the downfall of this accomplished young nobleman; suffice it to
say, that, led astray by self-interested flatterers, and his own
headstrong passions, which scorned reproof, the Earl of Essex
engaged in a conspiracy against her majesty, and which being
detected, he was tried by his compeers, and condemned to pay
forfeit of his crimes, by suffering decollation. Queen Elizabeth,
although deeply grieved at this defalcation of her kinsman from
his loyalty, as well as from his gratitude towards her, still
remembered with pity the unfortunate earl, then in the full bloom
of manhood, and celebrated for every grace which can adorn a
nobleman, and anxiously looked for the appearance of the ring she
had given to him, in order that some excuse might be afforded her
for granting him a pardon. Days, however, rolled by, and Essex
made no appeal to her majesty's clemency; until, at length,
deeming him too haughty to return the talismanic jewel which
might have saved his life, Elizabeth became incensed against him
--the high blood of her father, "bluff old Hal," rose in her
veins, and, signing his death-warrant, he was beheaded on Tower
Hill, 25th Feb. 1601. About two years after this tragic event,
Catharine, the first Duchess of Nottingham, (daughter of Henry
Lord Hunsdon, and a relative of the unfortunate earl,) was seized
with a mortal illness, and finding her life drawing to a close,
she despatched a messenger to the queen, beseeching her majesty
to visit her immediately, as she had tidings to communicate to
her, which, without doing, she could not die in peace. Elizabeth,
anxious to soothe her last moments, complied with her request,
and, little deeming what those tidings were, presented herself at
the bed-side of the dying countess, who, summoning up all her
failing energies, related, in the hollow tones of death, the
following circumstances:--
That during the period the Earl of Essex was confined in the
Tower, under sentence of death, he was desirous of obtaining a
faithful messenger who would convey to her majesty a ring, which
he had, at a happier hour, received from her hand, on the sight
of which he hoped the queen's mercy would be extended to him.
Distrusting, however, those placed about him, he waited in vain
for an opportunity; until, one morning, as he was gazing from his
prison window, he perceived a boy, with whose open countenance he
became so impressed, that he determined to trust him with his
secret, and, making signals to him, (which were observed and
answered by the lad,) the earl "engaged him by money and
promises," to convey the ring, which he took from his finger, to
Lady Scroop,[77] (a friend of his lordship's,) and beg her to
present it to her majesty. The youth readily undertook the
commission; but, from some mistake, instead of conveying it to
Lady Scroop, he carried it to her sister, the Countess of
Nottingham. This lady shewed it to her husband, the admiral, the
implacable foe to Essex, who commanded her, under pain of his
heaviest displeasure, to conceal the jewel, and not to breathe a
word of the event to mortal ears. The countess complying with her
lord's command, the queen was kept in ignorance, and the Earl of
Essex fell a victim to his supposed stubbornness, for, according
to Camden, the chief reason that prevented Queen Elizabeth from
granting him a pardon was his obstinacy in not supplicating for
mercy.
As soon as the countess had concluded her relation, she earnestly
begged her majesty's forgiveness; but the queen, losing all
command of herself at this harrowing statement, violently shook
the dying woman, and exclaiming, "
" left the apartment in an agony of grief. As soon as she gained
her dressing-closet, she threw herself upon the floor, tearing
her grey hair, and calling upon the name of Essex. She refused to
sleep upon a bed, and, according to some authors, would never
after receive any sustenance. This, however, must be a mistake,
for the Countess of Nottingham died on the 25th February, 1603,
and her majesty did not depart this life until the 24th of March
following--a period of about twenty-seven days.
After the demise of Queen Elizabeth, this ring passed, with the
other jewels to her successor, James I., from whom it was handed
down to his unfortunate son, Charles I., and who, at the
instigation of his queen, Henrietta Maria, presented it to Sir
Thomas Warner. From Sir Thomas Warner, it passed (in a direct
line) to his great grandson. Col. Edward Warner, who bequeathed
it by will (dated 27th Dec, 1732, proved in the P. C. of
Canterbury, 21st Feb. following) to his brother, Ashton Warner,
as "_a diamond ring_, in shape of a heart, given by Queen
Elizabeth to the Earl of Essex."
From the Hon. Ashton Warner it descended, as an heirloom, to his
son, Joseph Warner, and it is now in possession of Charles
Warner, Esq., solicitor-general of Trinidad.
------
[74] This marriage accounts for the Savannah and Folly estates,
having passed into another family.
[75] For further information of this gentleman, the reader is
referred to Appendix No. 19.
[76] The queen's attachment to Essex might perhaps, in great
measure, arise from the fact of his being her relative--as shewn
in the following table, viz.,
Anne Boleyne, united to Henry VIII., king of England, had issue a
daughter,
Elizabeth, afterwards queen of England.
Mary Boleyne, (sister to Anne Boleyne,) married to William
Cary, had issue a daughter,
Catharine Cary, married to Francis Knolleys, K.G., had
(among other issue) a daughter,
Lettice Knolleys, married to Walter Devereaux, Earl of
Essex, K.G., who had issue a son,
Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex, the favourite.
[77] Philadelphia Cary, second daughter to Henry Lord Hunsdon,
married to Thos. Scroop, of Bolton, in Yorkshire, who succeeded
his father in his title, in 1592, made governor of Carlisle
Castle, and warden of the West Marches, in 1593, and K. G. in
1599.
No. 3.
MEMORIAL OF THE WINTHORPE FAMILY.
This gentleman (Samuel Winthorpe, Esq. of Antigua) was the son of
John Winthorpe, of Groton Hall, co. Suffolk, Esq., by his wife,
Margaret, dau. of Sir John Tindall, Knt., master in Chancery, and
ancestor of the present Chief Justice Tindall. Mr. Winthorpe's
family had early embraced the Protestant religion, and were among
the most stanch supporters of that creed; and in those dark days,
when Popery once again reared its head in England, the
grandfather of this John Winthorpe attended the martyr Philpots
to the stake, as one of his latest friends. In after years, Mr.
J. Winthorpe, fearing religious persecution, sold off all his
property, (bringing him in 500l. or 600l. per annum, a great sum
in those days,) and emigrated to New England, then a forest
waste, where, in process of time, he became its first governor,
and from whence he kept up a private correspondence with Oliver
Cromwell, then Protector of the Commonwealth. Besides Samuel
Winthorpe, the ancestor of the Antiguan branch of the family, he
had two sons,
i. Stephen, a colonel in the army, appointed by Cromwell to a
command in Scotland, and was afterwards a member of his
parliament, died in 1659, the year prior to the Restoration,
and
ii. John, who succeeded his father in the government of New
England, and was a regular correspondent and distinguished
member of the Royal Society in Old England, died 5th April,
1676, aged 70.
Samuel Winthorpe, Esq., visiting Holland, espoused there a Dutch
lady, (whose name we have not been able to ascertain,) with whom
he immediately afterwards emigrated to Antigua, and died there
about 1675. He left by his wife a numerous progeny of sons and
daughters, among whom, Samuel, Joseph, and Henry, inherited a
large estate from their father, but who (by means, it is said,
little creditable to the parties concerned to relate) were
deprived of their patrimony, and, consequently, their place and
station in that insular community. The daughters married into
some of the best Antiguan families, and became the ancestresses
of the Williams, Thomas, and Ffry families. For further
particulars of the Winthorpe family, the reader may consult
"Mathew's History of New England," and "Farmer's Genealogical
Register" of that settlement, as well as later works upon the
United States of North America.
No. 4.
GENEALOGY OF THE BYAM FAMILY.
Lieut.-Gen. William Byam was descended in a direct line, on his
father's side, from Caradoc Vraich Vras, Earl of Hereford, Lord
of Radnor, one of the knights of the celebrated Round Table of
King Arthur, (a.d. 540,) who himself sung his praises,
emphatically styling him one of the "Pillars of Britain." He was
founder of a dynasty of princes not extinguished till after the
Norman invasion, when Blethin, the last of the regal order, was
slain by Bernard Newmarch, near Brecknock, in 1094, and his
territory appropriated to himself and parcelled out amongst his
followers.
His son, Cawrdave, was equally, if not more celebrated than his
father, being also extolled in the Triads, and, like King Arthur
himself chosen (besides the enjoyment of his own territory) to be
"Unbennaeth," or supreme monarch of Britain.
Caw succeeded his father in his patrimonial inheritance, at this
time entitled the Principality of Ferlex and Brecon; and
Gloyw succeeded him; and
Hoyw him, flourishing a.d. 640.
Kynvard, regulus of Ferlex and Brecon, succeeded his father,
Hoyw; and
Kyndeg, who was contemporary with Cadwallader, and lived a.d.
703, succeeded him.
Teithwalch, his son, gained a signal victory over his rival, the
Mercian king, at Carno, in Brecknockshire, (opposite to the
village of Crickhowell,) and in commemoration of which an immense
circle and pile of stones is to be seen to this day.
But the encroachment of the Saxons in his son Tegyd's time became
more formidable than ever, considerably circumscribing his
limits, that had originally embraced all the territories lying
between the two rivers of Wye and Severn; and
Tangwyd, his son, succeeded to very straitened limits, being
reduced to the lordship of Radnor, with parts of Montgomery and
Brecon; and
Anarawd, his son, succeeded as regulus of Radnor and Brecon, in
the time of Egbert, king of the West Saxons, who united the whole
heptarchy into one entire kingdom, henceforward called that of
"England." To Anarawd succeeded his son,
Gwyngwy, who, though greatly reduced in territory, still affected
the regal title, calling himself "Brenhin" Ferlex a Brecheiniog.
And to Gwyngwy succeeded his son,
Hugan, called by John de Castares, "Prince of West Wales," but by
the Welsh historians, more modestly, the "Prince of Brecknock."
To Hugan succeeded
Druffin, so humbled as to be persuaded or compelled to row King
Edgar in his barge on the river Dee, being one of the tributary
kings who acted that derogatory part, which served to inflate the
pride of that vain-glorious but powerful English monarch. Druffin
m. Crusella, dau. of Idwal ap Meyrick, and was succeeded by his
son,
Maynarch, who m. Ellen, dau. of Eineon ap Seliff, Lord of the
Cantred of Seliff. Maynarch was succeeded by
Blethin, the last prince of his house and family; for William
Rufus promising to Bernard Newmarch (England at that time having
been effectually conquered and possessed by the Normans) all he
could conquer in Wales, that adventurer (at the time gentleman of
the bedchamber to this the second of the Norman kings) set out
for the principality, and the enfeebled prince collecting, on a
sudden, all his diminished forces, a battle ensued in the
neighbourhood of Brecknock, in which he was worsted and himself
slain. The conqueror and his eleven Norman knights (whom, tempted
by the prize, he had invited to partake of his enterprise)
entered into possession; and the last act of royalty shewn to
this unhappy prince by his subjects and followers was the
conveying his corse to the Abbey of Strata Florida, in
Cardiganshire, and there interring it amongst the princes of
Wales, with all the pomp the circumstances allowed. Thus, after a
possession of between five and six hundred years, was this family
divested of every mark of regal dignity. Rhys Goch, however, his
brother, was permitted to retain a small possession on the
confines of the county, entitled the lordship of Ystradew,
(afterwards usurped by the Clares, and came into possession of
the Herberts, Earls of Pembroke.) Rhys Goch, or Rhys the Red,
married Joan, daughter of Cadogan[78] ap Elistan Glorith, (whose
arms are still quartered by the Byam family,) and by her had
Kynwillen, who married Jonnett, dau. and co-heir of Hawell,
Prince of Caerleon, (to whom Henry II. allowed that city, and
twelve miles around circumadjacent country,) and by her, whose
arms are still likewise borne by the Byams, Kynwillen had
Kynwell, who married Gladwys, dau. of Sitsilt ap Duvenwall, Lord
of Gwent, and seventh Baron of Abergavenny, by right of tenure of
the castle thereof, (from the Norman conquest,) and by her had
Arthur, who married Ellen, the dau. of Meirick ap Cradog,
(ancestor of the Matthews, and of the present Earls of Llandaff,)
and had Howell, who married Jone, dau. of Grono ap Llowarth, Lord
of Kebor, and had Griffith, who married Jonnett, dau. and sole
heir of Grono ap Treherne ap Blaith ap Elvarch, Lord of Penrose,
in Monmouthshire, a possession which she conveyed to her
husband's family, in whose family it remained several centuries,
and the ruins of the mansion are still extant, and by her (whose
arms the Byams still bear) Griffith had David. David marrying
Maud, dau. to Llewelyn Vaughan, of Lansamllo, had Howel Gam, who
marrying Joan, dau. to Adam ap Rees ap Eineon Sais, had Meiric,
and Meiric marrying Gwenllian, dau. to Gwyllim ap Jenkin, had
Ievan ap Meirick, of Penrose, Esq., (from whom, in the time of
his son and grandson, and by the blending of ap that followed
their name with his of Ievan, or Evan, came the name of Abyam,
and at length Byam;) for this Ievan, or Evan, had a son, Jenkin,
or John, that was the first to whom the surname was assigned, and
was of Maerdy, in Monmouthshire, and he a son, Thomas, of same
place, and who marrying Johanna, dau. of Llewelyn ap Gwyllim, had
a son, Edward, who was both of Maerdy, in Monmouthshire,
aforesaid, and of Bath, in Somersetshire, in Subsidy Rolls of
which city he is included, 45 of Henry VIII., 1545, under the
name of Edward Abyam, (the ultimate name as now used being
scarcely, as yet, determined,) and this Edward Abyam dying in
Jan. 1594, was buried at the Abbey Church, 2 Feb. following,
leaving by Welthian, his wife, the dau. of Robert Gamage, (of the
Glamorganshire family of that name,) Thomas Byam, his son and
heir, of Bath, and Lawrence Byam, ancestor of the family now in
question.
Lawrence Byam was of Brasennose College, Oxford, and entering
into holy orders, he was, on 17th June, 1575, by letters patent
under privy seal from Queen Elizabeth, presented to the rectory
of Luckham. He married Anne, or Agnes, dau. of Henry Yewings, of
Capton, in Stogumber, in co. of Somerset, by whom (who survived
her husband, and was buried at Bicknoller, 8 Dec. 1623) he had
four sons, all great loyalists in their day, and the three
eldest, Henry, John, and Edward, all in holy orders, and of
Exeter College, Oxford, (which they entered at the respective
dates of 1597, 1599, and 1600.)
Henry, the eldest, succeeding his father in the rectory of
Luckham, was chaplain in ordinary to Charles II., and the
companion of that monarch in his exile, both by sea and land. "He
engaged," says Wood, in his "Athenæ Oxoniensis," "his five sons
in the royal cause, four of whom were captains in the regiment
raised by their father in his majesty's behalf. In 1636, he had
become prebendary of Wells, and afterwards canon of Exeter. For
his faithful adherence to the royal cause he was severely pointed
at by the opposite party. His wife and daughter perished at sea,
in their attempts to escape into Wales, in order to avoid the
cruelties of the enemy. He attended the king in his exile to
Jersey and the Scilly Islands. He was universally esteemed for
his great sanctity, his knowledge of literature, his loyalty to
his sovereign, and his charity to his fellow-creatures. His
sermons were afterwards published by Hamnet Ward, vicar of
Sturminster Newton Castle, in Dorsetshire, and who also wrote the
epitaph on his tomb, still extant in Luckham church, (for which
see 'Collinson's Somersetshire;' and also for further account of
him, 'Echard's History of England,' under the year 1669.) He died
at the advanced age of 89."
His brother, John, D.D., rector of Clotworthy, in same county,
following his footsteps, shared his fate, in suffering in his own
person, and those of all his children, unmerited persecutions,
but which to recount would fill a volume. Edward was the son from
whom the Antigua Byams came. He was admitted a student of Exeter
College, Oxford, 31 Oct. 1600, then aged 16, and instituted to
the vicarage of Dulverton, co. of Somerset, 4 Aug. 1612. On 22
July, 1613, he married, at Walton, in same county, Elizabeth, the
dau. of Anthony Eaglesfield, rector of that place, and vicar of
Chewton Mendip, some time fellow of Queen's Coll., Oxford, (being
of kin with founder;) but in 1625, this Edward Byam transported
himself into Ireland, where he became precentor of Cloyne
Cathedral, (the next dignity therein to that of dean,) and dying
at his seat at Kilwillin, on the river St. Bride's, in co. of
Cork, on 6 June, 1639, he was buried in the chancel of the parish
church of Castle Lyons. His funeral certificate, signed by his
widow, who survived him, being given in to Ulster's office,
Dublin, and letters of administration taken out for him in
prerogative court of same place, his second son,
William Byam, born at the house of his uncle, (the aforesaid Dr.
Henry Byam,) at Luckham, 9 March, 1622-3, entered at Trinity
Coll., Dublin, as "Scolarium Commensalis," 24 May, 1639, just
before his father's death, and he it was that was first of the
name and family in the West Indies. The civil wars breaking out
soon after the above-mentioned period, he entered on a military
life, and distinguished himself in the manner already recounted,
at Bridgwater and elsewhere. He married Dorothy Knollys, dau. of
Frances Knollys, of Standford-in-the-Vale, co. Berks, Esq., son
of Richard Knollys, next brother of William, the only lawful Earl
of Banbury, K.G. By this marriage the Byams became connected with
the first families in England, and even with royalty itself, as
shewn by the following table[79]--viz.,
Edward 1st, King of England, m. (2nd) Margaret, dau. of Philip
III. of France, and had issue,
Thomas Plantagenet, surnamed "of Brotherton," Earl of Norfolk
and Suffolk, and grand mareschal of England, m. Alice, dau.
of Sir Robert Halys, Knt., and had issue one dau.,
Margaret Plantagenet, Duchess of Norfolk, m. John Segrave, Lord
Segrave, and had issue a dau.,
Elizabeth, one of the heirs of Lord Segrave, m. John Mowbray,
Lord Mowbray, and had issue,
Thomas Mowbray, created Duke of Norfolk, 1398, earl marshal of
England, and Earl of Nottingham. He m. Elizabeth, sister and
one of the heirs of Thomas Fitz-Allen, Earl of Arundel; died
in 1400, and left issue,
Margaret, eldest dau. and one of the heirs of Thomas Mowbray,
Duke of Norfolk, m. Sir Robert Howard, Knt., and had issue,
John Howard, created Duke of Norfolk, 1483, m. Catherine, dau.
of William, Lord Moleyns. The Duke of Norfolk was slain at
Bosworth Field, 22 Aug., and was buried at Leicester, 1485,
leaving issue a son,
Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk. His father having been
attainted, he was restored to the title, and m. Elizabeth,
dau. and heir of Sir Frederick Tilney, Knt., and died in
1524, leaving issue a dau.,
Elizabeth, m. Thomas Boleyne, Viscount Rochford, created Earl
of Wiltshire and Earl of Ormond, by Henry VIII., and had
issue two daus. and one son,
1. George Boleyne, Viscount Rochford, beheaded, May, 1536.
2. Anne, youngest dau. of Thomas, Viscount Rochford, m. Henry
VIII., King of England. She being beheaded, 19 May, 1536,
left issue,
Elizabeth, Queen of England, born a.d. 1533, died a.d.
1603.
3. Mary, eldest dau. of Thomas, Viscount Rochford, Earl of
Wiltshire and Ormond, m. William Cary, esquire to the body
of Henry VIII., and had, among other issue, a dau.,
Catherine, (sister of Henry Cary, created Lord Hunsdon,)
lady of the bedchamber to her cousin-german, Queen
Elizabeth, m. Sir Francis Knollys, K.G., and dying in 1568,
was buried at Westminster Abbey, leaving issue a dau.,
Lettice, who m. Walter Devereaux, Earl of Essex, by whom
she had Robert, Earl of Essex, the far-famed favourite of
Queen Elizabeth, and a son, Richard Knollys, (brother and
heir to William Knollys, created Earl of Banbury,) m. Joan,
dau. of John Higham, co. Suffolk, and had issue, Francis
Knollys, of Standford-in-the-Vale, co. Berks, m. Alice,
sister and co-heir of Sir Wm. Beecher, Knt., clerk to privy
council, and dying 4 Aug. 1640, left issue a dau., Dorothy,
who, as already mentioned, m. Lieut.-Gen. Wm. Byam.
Lieut.-Gen. William Byam dying at Antigua, (will proved there
1670-1,) left, by Dorothy, his wife, among other issue, two sons,
Willoughby and Edward. In this way the Byam family became divided
into two distinct branches, Willoughby being the ancestor of the
present Byams of "Cedar Hill," and Edward that of "Pensive Hall,"
or "Martin Byam's," and a dau., Mary, m. to Col. George Needham,
of the island of Jamaica, the son of Sir Robert Needham, first
Viscount Kilmoray, and by whom she was ancestress of the present
Gen. Needham, of that island, and of the Lords Seaford and Howard
de Walden.
Edward Byam, youngest son of Lieut.-Gen. Byam, was governor of
the Leeward Islands,[80] 1715, and president of the council of
Antigua in 1707, born at Surinam, 1663-4, and m. 1st, Mary, dau.
of Samuel Winthorpe, and granddau. of John Winthorpe, first
governor of New England, and of Groton Hall, co. Suffolk; 2ndly,
Lydia, dau., of William Thomas, aunt of Sir George Thomas, and
relict of Samuel Martin, of Green Castle, Antigua, (ancestor of
the present Sir Henry and Sir Byam Martin.) Col. Edward Byam is
described by Oldmixon, in his "British Empire in America," as a
man of the best head and fortune in British America; and also as
the most popular man in the Leeward Islands. He commanded, in the
attack upon the island Guadaloupe, on the breaking out of the war
of succession, in the reign of Queen Anne, a regiment raised by
himself in Antigua, and a part of the Enniskillen, or 27th regt.
of the line. At the head of this force, he attacked and carried
in gallant style the port called "Les petits Habitans," and
obliged the enemy to retire. He is honourably mentioned in the
London Gazette, No. 3912, from May 6th to May 10th, and also in
the "Annals of the Reign of Queen Anne." By his first wife, Mary,
he had one son and one dau.--viz.,
Edward, m. Walthian Devonshire, and died at Antigua, 29 May,
1745.
Mary, born 13 Oct. 1690, m. Col. Thomas Williams, of the Old
Road, Antigua.