Produced by Paul Flo Williams
ANTIGUA
AND THE ANTIGUANS:
A FULL ACCOUNT OF
THE COLONY AND ITS INHABITANTS
FROM THE TIME OF THE CARIBS
TO THE PRESENT DAY,
Interspersed with Anecdotes and Legends.
ALSO,
AN IMPARTIAL VIEW OF SLAVERY AND THE
FREE LABOUR SYSTEMS;
THE STATISTICS OF THE ISLAND,
AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF THE PRINCIPAL FAMILIES.
"Sworn to no party, of no sect am I."--Pope.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
LONDON
SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET.
1844.
TO THE
HONBLE ROWLAND EDWARD WILLIAMS,
LATE CAPTAIN IN THE 10th REGIMENT OF HUSSARS,
ONE OF HER MAJESTY'S PRIVY COUNCIL IN ANTIGUA,
THE LINEAL DESCENDANT OF
THE FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN IN THAT ISLAND,
AND THE FRIEND AND BENEFACTOR OF ITS INHABITANTS
OF EVERY HUE AND COLOUR,
This Work,
DESCRIPTIVE OF ANTIGUA AND THE ANTIGUANS,
IS, BY HIS KIND PERMISSION,
INSCRIBED
BY HIS FAITHFUL AND OBLIGED SERVANT,
THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
Although in the present day the writing of a preface may be
considered almost a work of supererogation on the part of an
author, since it is that portion of a work seldom or ever looked
into, still, as custom demands the form, and there may be some
among my readers who may desire to learn what first led me to
undertake this work, I am induced to follow the fashion, more
especially as on one or two points I am desirous of offering a
few words of comment and explanation.
Not being a native of the West Indies, and visiting that part of
the world for the first time at an age when all looks bright
around us, the novelty of the scenes which passed before my eyes
struck me forcibly, and induced me to make notes of the
impressions I then received. Pursuing the same practice at
subsequent visits, and during prolonged residences, in process of
time my memoranda expanded to a considerable bulk. The increasing
interest I took in everything relating to Antigua, led me to
inquire into its early history, and to search out the origin of
the numerous ancient families whose descendants have resided in
the island from the period of its colonization.
Some of my friends in the island who had become acquainted with
my pursuits, were gratified by the specimens of my labours, which
were exhibited to them, and urged me to throw my scattered notes
into form. I yielded to their solicitations, and the result has
been the following pages, which, while they afford a condensed
history of the colony from its earliest days, present also a
record of the impressions produced on one, at first, fresh from
English society, but now, by long continued residence, become
almost an Antiguan; having, it is hoped, lost all relics of
English prejudice, but not become so biassed by her new
connexions, or blinded by the many charms of Antigua or Antiguan
society, as to hold the scales of justice unevenly.
Having been resident in Antigua both before and after the passing
of the Emancipation Act, and having had ample opportunity of
judging of the practical effects of that memorable event, the
observations I have made with relation to it may not be
considered altogether unimportant.
In perusing the early history of the colony, the English reader
may be surprised to find how many men of family became early
settlers in the West Indies; but when the eager spirit of
adventure which immediately followed the enterprises of the
Spaniards, and was so eminently conspicuous in the days of
Elizabeth, is called to mind--when the causes which drove the
"pilgrim fathers" forth are recollected, together with the
numerous emigrations which took place from England, when the
Royalists, in their turn forced to become fugitives, mostly
sought a refuge in the West Indies, at first a safe and
sanctioned asylum, till the very amount of the fresh influx of
Royalist opinions made the West Indies a thorn in Cromwell's
side, and compelled him to have recourse to strong measures to
secure their obedience to his will,--when all these causes are
considered, it becomes no longer a matter of wonder that much of
the best blood of England runs in the veins of the people, not
only of Antigua, but of the West India islands generally.
In justice to the character of the country which I have learned
to love, I must, although unwillingly, notice another and a most
painful subject. I refer to the exceedingly harsh laws passed
respecting the slaves, and the shocking executions of those
concerned in the insurrection in 1736. In relation to the former
point, it is sufficient to observe that such laws are almost
inseparable from the institution of slavery itself, and that the
stigma affected the mother country equally with her colonies,
while it redounds to the honour of Antigua that she was the first
to announce unbounded freedom to her slave population. With
respect to the barbarous executions, they would not be tolerated
in Antigua at the present day, even had she continued to be a
slave-dealing colony; and they can only in justice be referred to
a state of society when the practice of torture had hardly fallen
into desuetude in the civil courts of Europe, when the
Inquisition was in full glory, when, only a few years before, the
politest capital in the world had looked unmoved on
"Luke's iron crown, and Damien's bed of steel,"
and criminals continued to be strung up by dozens in England (and
for many long years after) for offences which, in the present
advanced state of society, no civilized state would visit with
the punishment of death. What wonder, then, that at such a
period, and under such alarming circumstances, the Antiguans
should have shewn themselves cruel and barbarous?
Before I conclude, I must not omit to tender my acknowledgments
to the numerous friends who have kindly afforded me assistance in
the course of my work, among whom let me make grateful mention of
Edward S. Byam, Esq., the Rev. and Hon. Burgh Byam, Col. Byam,
Dr. Furgusson, Nathaniel Humphreys, Esq., Deputy Colonial
Secretary in Antigua, (to which latter gentleman I was indebted
for access to the Records of the island,) to John Furlong, Esq.,
(who obliged me with the will of Governor Parke,) Registrar of
Antigua, to ------ Edmead, Esq., to Captain George B. Mathew, of
the Guards, the Rev. D. F. Warner, and others.
In conclusion, may the Great Giver of all good pour down His
choicest blessings upon this beautiful and favoured little
island; may her legislators be ably endowed in all true
principles of jurisprudence; may her planters be blest with
kindly showers, so that their golden canes may raise their "tall
plumes" in luxuriance; may her merchants, the prop of every
civilized state, be prosperous--her peasantry happy and good, as
they are _free_; and, finally, may her ministers (of every
denomination) be long spared to watch over and pray for her
teeming inhabitants, that one choral song of praise may resound
from every quarter and from every tongue.
The Author.
CONTENTS
OF
THE FIRST VOLUME.
CHAPTER I.
General Description of the Island--Appearance--Soil--
Productions--Climate--Early history--Discovery by Columbus--
Attempted settlement by Spaniards--Grant to Earl of Carlisle--
Settlement by d'Esnambuc--Williams--Governor Warner--Account of
Sir Thomas Warner, founder of the family
CHAPTER II.
History of the island continued--Sir Henry Hunks--Descent of
the Caribs--Legend of Ding-a-ding Nook--Arrival of the Ship
Nonsuch--Sir Thomas Modiford--Earl of Warwick, Captain-General
--Captain Edward Warner--Colonel Rich--Colonel Lake--Mr.
Everard--Sir George Ayscue--Colonel Christopher Reynall--
Invasion by the Caribs--Dissensions among the inhabitants--Copy
of Colonel Reynall's letter to Cromwell--Attack upon St.
Domingo and Jamaica--Major-General Poyntz--Grant of Antigua to
Lord F. Willoughby
CHAPTER III.
Rupture between France and England--War in the West Indies--
Loss of Lord Francis Willoughby--Colonel Carden--Capture of
Antigua by the French forces under M. de la Barre--Colonel
Fitche--Restoration of Antigua by the Treaty of Breda--Death of
Colonel Carden--Biographical notices
CHAPTER IV.
Governors: Lord William Willoughby, Henry Willoughby--Arrival
of Major, afterwards Lieutenant-General Byam, the progenitor of
the family of that name--Biographical remarks--Partition of the
Caribbee Islands--Sir William Stapleton--General Council and
Assembly--Colonel Philip Warner--Expedition against the Caribs
--Death of Indian Warner--Arrest and trial of Colonel P. Warner
--Acquittal--Dampier's account of this affair--Captain
Southey's History of the Indian Warner
CHAPTER V.
Governor Col. R. Williams--Biographical remarks--Towns of trade
appointed--Antigua divided into parishes--Sir Nathaniel Johnson
appointed captain-general and governor-in-chief--Colonel
Codrington--Remarks upon this family--Invasion of Antigua by a
French privateer--Attack upon Guadeloupe by the English--
Expedition to St. Christopher's--Gallant conduct of Colonel
Williams and Colonel Willoughby Byam--Sir Francis Wheeler's
expedition--Wilmot and Lillingston's expedition--Death of the
captain-general, General Codrington--Colonel John Yeamans,
lieutenant-governor--Arrival of Admiral Benbow
CHAPTER VI.
Governor Colonel Christopher Codrington--Establishment of the
first market--Accession of Queen Anne--Arrival of Admiral
Benbow--Attack upon the island of Guadaloupe, in conjunction
with the Antiguan troops--Bravery of Colonel Edward Byam--
Arrival of Captain Hovenden Walker--Second attack upon
Guadaloupe--Colonel Codrington quits the government--His death
--Sir William Mathew--Hon. John Johnson
CHAPTER VII.
Governor Colonel Daniel Parke--His birth-place and parentage--
His actions at the battle of Holchet and Blenheim--His arrival
at Antigua--Dissensions with the Antiguans--Complaints against
him sent to England--Results of the applications at the court
of Queen Anne--Tyrannical behaviour of Colonel Parke--Events of
the 7th December, 1710--Death of Colonel Parke
CHAPTER VIII.
Governor Walter Hamilton--Walter Douglas's Disturbances--
Complaints against him sent to England--Queen Anne recalls him,
and reappoints Walter Hamilton--Lord Viscount Lowther--John
Hart--Lord Londonderry--Lord Forbes--Colonel William Crosbie
CHAPTER IX.
Governor William Mathew--Insurrection of the Negroes--A Legend
of the Ravine--Punishment of the Conspirators
CHAPTER X.
Governor William Mathew--Sir George Thomas, Bart.--James
Verchild--Honourable William Woodley--Sir Ralph Payne--Hon.
Craister Greathead--General Burt--The circumstances of his
death--Sir Thomas Shirley, Bart.
CHAPTER XI.
Governors: William Woodley--John Stanley--Major-General Charles
Leigh--Archibald Esdail--John S. Thomas--Robert Thomson
CHAPTER XII.
Governors: The Right Honourable Ralph Lord Lavington--William
Woodley--James Tyson--John Julius--Hugh Elliot--Sir James Leith
--Henry Rawlins--S. Rawlins--Major-General Ramsay
CHAPTER XIII.
Governors: Sir Benjamin D'Urban--Sir Patrick Ross--Sir Evan
Murray McGregor--Mr. Light--Sir W. G. MacBean Colebrooke--Major
McPhail--Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy
CHAPTER XIV.
My first voyage to Antigua--Visit upon deck--The booby's
welcome--Nearer approach--Harbour of St. John's--The Black
Pilot--North Sandy Island--Wreck of the mail-boat--Dangerous
navigation--Long Island--South Sandy Island--Panoramic views
from the vessel's deck--Light winds--Disappointment made
pleasing--Anchorage for the night
CHAPTER XV.
The extent of Antigua--Opinion of some planters--Want of
agricultural labourers--Emigration not always profitable to the
negroes--"Seizar's" letter upon the subject--Return of
emigrants--Soil of Antigua--Geological matters--Petrifactions--
Climate of Antigua--"Yellow fever"--Beautiful evenings--the
appearance of the heavens--Evening visitants
CHAPTER XVI.
Scenery of Antigua--Pilgrimage to "Tom Moore's Spring"--The
Goddess Mnemosyne--Fig-Tree Hill--The "Bower of Bliss"--"Old
Road"--The Strand--The cross sexton--The parochial school--Old
Road Church--Tomb of Col. Williams--Moravian settlement--Salt
ponds--Copses--"Crab Hill"--Sandy Valley--The Valley Church--
The rising moon--Arrival in town--Night, and night dreams
CHAPTER XVII.
The seasons at Antigua--Heavy rains--Long droughts--The
water-merchant--A fortunate shower--Drought in 1837--Desolate
appearance of the country--Famishing cattle--Definition of
"_fine rains_"--Anecdote--Heavy shower--Joy--Earthquakes--1835
--Meteors--Dressing for the ball--The alarm--The ball-room--
Hurricanes--Devastations
CHAPTER XVIII.
Description of the town of St. John's, the capital of Antigua--
Situation--Arrangement of the streets--Hucksters--Houses--
Springs--Small shops--Stores of the retail dealers--Grog-shops
--Merchants' stores and lumber yards--Definition of lumber--
Auction sales--Scotch Row and Scotchmen--Incongruous display of
goods--Fire in 1797--Ruins--Fire in 1841--Its devastations
CHAPTER XIX.
Description of the church of St John's--Period of its erection
--Present site--Panoramic views--Form of structure--Length and
breadth--Interior--Decorations--Monuments--Organ--Tower--Bells
--Clock--Churchyard--Tombs and sepulchral inscriptions--An
acrostic--"Adam and Eve!"
CHAPTER XX.
Court-house--Bazaar--Arsenal--Police-office--Government-house--
Barracks--House of correction--Gaol--Methodist chapel--
Methodism, its rise and progress in Antigua--Moravian chapel--
Rise and progress of the Society of United Brethren--Scotch
kirk
CHAPTER XXI.
Morning--Institutions--Daily Meal Society--Its rise and
progress--Lazaretto--Destitute Females' Friend Society--Its
origin and purpose--Friendly Societies--Bible Society--
Missionary associations--Temperance Society--Juvenile
Association--Ladies' Clothing Society &c.--Banks--Library
Society
CHAPTER XXII.
Early rising and "Jamie Thomson"--Journey to English Harbour--
Windmills and Don Quixote--Groups of negroes and their
equipages--All Saints' chapel of ease--The "Hamlet"--Village of
Liberta--Grace Hill--Patterson's and Prince William--English
Harbour market--Streets and dwellings--Commissariat's store and
government tank--Dockyard--The superintendent--Stores and
storehouses--Engineer's workshop--Blacksmith's shop and blowing
machine--Limes and roses--Recollections of England--Lieutenant
Peterson and Lord Camelford--His lordship's pranks--The
ordnance--Clarence House and Dows Hill--The Ridge and "Shirley
heights"--Fort Charlotte and Fort Berkeley--Bats Cave--The
Savannah and its tombs--Indian Creek--Return to town
CHAPTER XXIII.
Zulmiera, the Half-Carib girl, a Legend of the Savannah
CHAPTER XXIV.
Continuation of the Legend
CHAPTER XXV.
Conclusion of the Legend
CHAPTER XXVI.
Towns: Falmouth--Church and churchyard--Mangroves and acacias--
Black's Point--Bridgetown--Willoughby Bay--Its site and
decoration--The superintendent of the Wesleyan schools--
School-room--Methodist chapel--The Memoras--St Philip's church
--Beautiful views--Parham--Its derivation and site--St Peter's
church--Churchyard--The new church--Methodist chapel and
school-room
CHAPTER XXVII.
Forts and fortifications--Temporary ones--The present forts--
Fort James--Its situation and approach--Rat Island Battery, its
appellation, lunatic asylum, and flag-staff--Goat Hill--Steep
ascent--Schools in St. John's
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Remarks upon the aboriginal Americans--Suppositions of various
authors--Caribs--Arrowawks--Ferocity of the Carib--Complexion--
Dress--Ornaments--Dreadful revenge--Wars-Chiefs--Severities
practised--Feasts--Remarks upon paganism--Anthropophagi--A
traveller's tale--The Carib's opinion of death--Religious
tenets--Altars--The burning Carib
ERRATA.
[Transcriber's Note: these errata have been incorporated.]
Page 4, line 8 from top, _for_ "D'Escambue," _read_ "D'Esnambuc."
-- 20, line 7 from bottom, _for_ "Parhan," _read_ "Parham."
-- 89, line 3 from top, _for_ "Mathews," _read_ "Mathew."
-- 249, line 13 from top, _for_ "Hernhult," _read_ "Herrnhutt."
-- 266, line 3 from bottom, _for_ "Sheltic," _read_ "Sheltie."
SUBSCRIBERS.
COPIES
Sir Charles A. Fitz Roy, Governor-in-Chief of the
Leeward Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Major McPhail, Lieutenant-Governor of Dominica . . . . . . 4
The Lord Bishop of Antigua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Members of Council
COPIES
Hon. Mead H. Daniel, President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hon. Rowland E. Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Hon. William Byam, (Cedar Hill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Hon. Bertie E. Jarvis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Hon. G. W. Ottley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hon. R. W. Nanton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hon. Owen Pell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hon. George S. Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hon. Paul Horsford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Members of the House of Assembly, &c.
COPIES
Hon. Thomas Sanderson, Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hon. William Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hon. Thomas F. Nibbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hon. John Athill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
James Scotland, Jun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hon. John Gray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Francis Byam Ottley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Thomas Furgusson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
William Thibou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
R. B. Eldredge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
John Osborn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
James W. Sheriff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Samuel Auchinleck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Jos. L. Bindon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
D. H. Allan, (Whitehaven) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
George Athill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
James Athill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Gedney C. Bispham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Godschall Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
William Gordon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Horace Turner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
William H. Thompson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
John Boyd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
J. E. Sanderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Charles Murray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
John Hosier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
W. H. Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
N. J. Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
J. H. More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Robert Erskine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
William S. Odlum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Robert Humphreys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Edward Wesston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
James Thibou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
R. K. Nanton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
James Madgwick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Paul Horsford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Thomas Prizgar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Robert Armstrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
J. Burke Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
James E. Geddes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
George Ewart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
John McDonald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
James Gordon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
George Cranstoun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
J. Barrett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
W. T. Gore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
H. Perrott, 59th Regiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Gilbert Auchinleck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
A. Duncan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
William L. Nibbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
M. Capdestaing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
James F. Salmon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Samuel L. Bridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
T. H. Morrison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
John Haining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Henry Simpson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Thomas Barry Nibbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
N. Humphreyes, Jun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Charles Robertson, Sen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
William Kelly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
John Benjamin Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Joseph Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
George Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
William C. Brookes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
A. McDowal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
R. W. Baxter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
John F. Smyth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Ed. F. Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Rev. H. G. Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
James Scotland, Jun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Patrick Cadell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
John Gow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Richard Higginbotham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Thomas C. Walter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
John W. Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Richard Wilson, (Mico School) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Dr. J. Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Thomas Gordon, (English Harbour) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Charles Boison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Francis Critchton, (Rose's Estate) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Charles McGuire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Jeremiah R. Nibbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
John B. Lowry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Robert T. Pooler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Mrs. Freeland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Captain Kennedy, Brig, "British Queen." . . . . . . . . . . 1
J. C. Milward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Henry T. Pigot, (Villa Estate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
C. W. More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Jos. Lavicount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
William Simpson, Jun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Rev. J. B. Wilkinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
William Walker, P. M. G. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Dr. Carmault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
P. P. Walter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
David Armour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Charles Robertson, Jun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Thomas H. Hyndman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
James Boyd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
John Ashford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Thomas W. Scholar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
William Grant, (Freeman's Estate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Bradfoot Taber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Thomas Doyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Dr. Thomas Nicholson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Edward Liscombe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
James C. Wesston, M.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Robert Kennedy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Robert Lindsay, A. C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
D. Cranstoun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Oswald Wood, M.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
G. J. Watkins, (Lavington's Estate) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
J. P. Maynard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Captain W. C. Johnson, Brig "Ludlow" . . . . . . . . . . . 1
D. Malone, (English Harbour) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
D. Scarville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
J. P. Guilmett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
W. Isaacs, (English Harbour) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
J. Hart, Superintendent of Naval Yard . . . . . . . . . . . 1
------ Nugent, 59th Regiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
------ Peebles, ditto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Rev. James Curtin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Thomas Clarke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
George Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Alonzo Hurst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Henry Trew, Collector H. M. C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
T. A. Benjamin, D. O. S. K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
George S. Bladen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
John Ledger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
W. G. Dumeresque, H. M. C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
F. H. Price, H. M. C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hinton Simpson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
J. J. Ronan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Jos. Sherrington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
John Winter, Chief of Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
G. B. Cadelle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
W. A. Ross Willock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
J. R. Haynes, (Folly Estate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
James Goodwin, (Mount Lucy Estate) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Thomas Bryan, (Elliot's Estate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Jno. M. Donovan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Frederick Kysh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Richard Abbot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
William Howell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
R. S. White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
J. Fulton Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Dr. Henry French . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Captain Fred. Simpson, "Miranda" (ship) . . . . . . . . . . 1
James Stewart, (Hermitage Estate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Samuel M. Richard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Lieutenant Bulman, H. M. S. "Fair Rosamond" . . . . . . . . 1
C. F. Fox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Mrs. Storrock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
James Connor, (English Harbour) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Jno. Rodney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Robert Gregory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Henry Elliot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Brodie G. McNish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Andrew Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Mat. Cockburn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Mrs. T. C. Walter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Dr. Jno. Furlong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
James W. Boyd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Wm. Fairclough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
St. Christopher's.
COPIES
Horatio Adlum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Joseph McLachlane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Private Subscription Rooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
C. Hay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
William Padmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Messrs. Dinzey and Peterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
C. McMahon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Rev. William Frazer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Henry Woodcock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
C. A. Tapshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
N. J. Lynch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Robert Nimmo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hon. R. Claxton, Attorney-General . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hon. R. B. Cleghorn, President of Nevis . . . . . . . . . . 1
H. Harding, (Nevis) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
James Thensteat, (Dominica) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Fortunatus Larrica, (Madeira) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
T. L. Foster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
F. Burk, (Monserrat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
England.
COPIES
Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen Dowager . . . . . . .
Sir T. Fowel Buxton, Bart., Northrepps, Norfolk . . . . . . 4
Lord James O'Bryen, 15, North Crescent, Bath . . . . . .
Sir George Thomas, Weymouth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Captain G. B. Mathew, Carlton Club . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Lieutenant Parsons, R.N., Southampton . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Rev. William Palmer, Rector, Eynesbury, Hunts . . . . . . . 1
Joseph Liggins, Esq., Mincing-lane, London . . . . . . . . 2
Rev. Daniel F. Warner, Rector, Hoo, Rochester . . . . . . . 1
Mrs. Byam, Byam House, Brighton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Edward S. Byam, Esq., Cheltenham . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hon. and Rev. Richard Burgh Byam, Vicar of
Kew and Petersham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Mrs. Engleharte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Mrs. John Walter, Bridge-street, Blackfriars . . . . . . . 1
L. C. Lecesne, Esq., Fenchurch-buildings . . . . . . . . . 1
Lewis F. Bellot, Esq., Barge-yard Chambers, Bucklersbury . 1
James McKie, Esq., Bucklersbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Edward Byam Wyke, Esq., Ealing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Rev. Sam. Ashton Warner, Rector of St. George's, Antigua . 1
Shirley Warner, Esq., Stipendiary Magistrate, Montserrat . 1
John Dawson, Esq., Whitehaven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ANTIGUA AND THE ANTIGUANS,
ETC.
CHAPTER I.
General Description of the Island--Appearance--Soil--
Productions--Climate--Early history--Discovery by Columbus--
Attempted settlement by Spaniards--Grant to Earl of Carlisle--
Settlement by d'Esnambuc--Williams--Governor Warner--Account of
Sir Thomas Warner, founder of the family.
The Island of Antigua, one of the great Antilles, is situated in
the Caribbean Sea, about twenty-five miles to the north-east of
Montserrat, and forty miles north of Guadaloupe, in latitude
seventeen degrees north, and longitude sixty-two degrees, or
thereabouts, the measurement in these respects not being more
exact than those of its length and breadth, which are variously
stated at 21, 20, and 18 miles for its length, and 21, 20, and
17, for its breadth. The lower estimate is, however, most
probably correct. Its circumference, again, is variously stated
at from 50 to 80 miles, and its total area from 59,838 acres, to
108 square miles, or nearly 70,000 acres. The population in 1837,
consisted of 2000 whites and coloured people, and 33,000 blacks.
All the slaves in the island were enfranchised in 1834.
The island is of an oval shape. On the first approach the coast
appears rough and barren, but as the voyager draws nearer, hills
and valleys open on his view, and the shore puts on an appearance
of luxuriant vegetation. The country possesses little of a
mountainous character, the highest elevation reaching only to the
height of 1210 feet above the level of the sea. The soil varies
according to the situation; that of the valleys and low lands
consisting of a rich, black mould, on a substratum of clay; and
unless in seasons of excessive drought, to which this island is
peculiarly subject, remarkably productive. The soil of the high
lands, on the other hand, is a stiff, reddish clay, on a
substratum of marl, and is much less productive, abounding, as it
does, with a species of grass extremely difficult to extirpate;
and the increase of which has even caused some lands, formerly
cultivated, to be abandoned. With the exception of such tracts,
and of a small part totally unimprovable, the whole island may be
said to be under cultivation. The staple production is sugar; a
little cotton is cultivated; but all other articles of commerce,
with the exception of sugar, are neglected. The quantities of
ground provisions, as yams, eddoes, sweet potatoes, &c., grown in
favourable seasons, is very considerable.
The most remarkable circumstance connected with Antigua is the
want of fresh-water springs, there being but two or three of
them, wholly inadequate to the wants of the population. This want
is supplied by tanks, in which the rain water is preserved, and
found to be particularly wholesome and agreeable, being light and
pleasing to the palate.
The climate is remarkable for want of moisture, although the
average fall of rain is forty-five inches. It is considered one
of the most healthy in the West Indies.
The history of Antigua may be said to commence with its discovery
by Columbus, for although it was at that period, and
subsequently, frequented by the Caribs, they appear not to have
made it a place of permanent residence; the want of water, which
caused European settlers so long to neglect the island, deterring
them also from establishing themselves upon it. For an account of
the Caribs, and of their probable origin, the reader is referred
to the chapters devoted to that interesting subject; and we shall
now proceed to the history of the settlement of the island and of
its internal administration down to the present time, reserving
for future chapters those sketches of the island, and its
inhabitants, which are the result of personal experience.
It was not until his second voyage, in the year 1493, that
Columbus discovered Antigua. He landed with a party, but finding,
on examination, that it was peopled only by a few Caribs, who
possessed nothing that was serviceable to the Spaniards, and who
were, probably, only casual visitants, and that the island was
destitute of fresh water, he contented himself with giving it a
name, Antigua, from the church of St. Mary of Antigua, at
Seville, and abandoned it. There is a tradition that the name
given to the island by the natives was "Xaymaca," signifying the
"land of springs;" but whether this "lucus a non lucendo" was a
specimen of Caribbean wit, or, more probably, arose from a
mistake on the part of the European visitants, is uncertain.
Antigua remained neglected by all the various European
adventurers, who hastened in crowds to other more favoured spots,
until the year 1520, when a small party of Spaniards, under the
Licentiate Don Antonio Serrano, who had received letters-patent
from the King of Spain to colonize Antigua, Montserrat, Barbadu,
Deseada, Dominica, and Martinique, landed, and driving off the
few Caribs they found there, attempted to establish themselves;
but after a short stay they abandoned it, and the island remained
without a European claimant until the year 1627, when the Earl of
Carlisle obtained a grant of Barbados, Antigua, and the rest of
the Leeward Islands, from Charles I. This grant was opposed by
the Earl of Marlborough, on the plea of a prior grant from James
I., which was, however, eventually compromised, and the Earl of
Carlisle was recognised as the sole proprietor. He, however,
contented himself with settling Barbados; and although Antigua
was colonized in his lifetime, yet neither he nor his son, who
died without issue in 1660, and in whom the family honours became
extinct, appear to have ever interested themselves in Antigua, or
to have exercised any rights of ownership or property. In fact,
the first permanent occupation of the island appears to have been
a mere private speculation, and to have excited little notice or
inquiry, since it is still a question who was the first actual
settler.
In the year 1629, Mons. d'Esnambuc, the captain of a French
privateer, made an attempt at a settlement, but the want of water
drove him away after a very short stay; so short, indeed, that
although a party of English settlers seem to have been upon the
island, he did not remain long enough to discover them. The
assertion, however, that English colonists were then on the
island, rests solely on a tradition that William Herbert, Earl of
Pembroke, who interested himself greatly in the colonization of
the West Indies, sent out his friend and countryman, Mr.
Williams, (the father of Colonel Rowland Williams, renowned in
Antiguan story, as having been the first white child born on the
island,) to attempt a settlement in Antigua. As Lord Pembroke
died in April 1630, it does not appear probable that Mr.
Williams' settlement was later than 1629. If he were not the
first, there is no doubt he was one of the first settlers, and an
estate at Old Road, still in possession of his descendant, is
pointed out as the spot he made choice of for his residence,
which, as it is in the neighbourhood of the best spring in the
island, now known as "Tom Moore's Spring," is extremely likely to
have been the case. A fact that strengthens the probability of
Mr. Williams being the first settler is, that Mr. Warner, who
unquestionably conducted a party to Antigua from St. Kitts, in
1632, fixed his residence near the same spot, which it is natural
he should do, for the sake of companionship, but built a cistern,
whose ruins are still to be seen in the savannah, which he need
not have done, had not the scanty spring been already
appropriated.
In the year 1632, General Sir Thomas Warner, at that time, by the
sanction of the Earl of Carlisle, the legal proprietor, and,
under warrant from the king, Governor of St. Christopher, Nevis,
Barbados, and Montserrat, sent his son Edward, a captain in the
army, with a sufficient party, to colonize Antigua, which design
he carried into effect, and during the remainder of his life
continued to act as governor, although we have discovered no
evidence of his having ever possessed, either as principal or
deputy, any warrant for assuming the title, or executing the
functions of governor, except so far as his father, as agent for
the Earl of Carlisle, the lord proprietor of the island, might be
considered as vested with authority; for in his commission from
the crown, no mention is made of Antigua.
The name of Warner being thus distinguished in the annals of
Antigua, we may be excused for making a digression upon the
history of its founder, more especially as it affords a good
illustration of the process of colonization in our West Indian
and American possessions.
General Sir Thomas Warner was a scion of an ancient and
distinguished English family; but from being a younger son, he
was obliged to use personal efforts, in order to effect an
honourable passage through life. Having entered into the army at
an early age, and attained the rank of captain, he accompanied
Roger North, brother of Lord North, in his expedition to Guiana,
a country which was then looked upon as a perfect _Eldorado_.
Here he became acquainted with a Captain Painton, a great
navigator of those times, and one who had well studied the then
all-engrossing subject of colonization.
This gentleman suggested to Captain Warner how much more facility
would attend a settlement in one of the smaller islands, than in
a country so extensive as Guiana; and from his own personal
experience, he thought St. Christopher's (at that time unoccupied
by any European power) would be an island particularly adapted
for the exercise of a daring spirit, in the way of planting a
settlement.
These suggestions of his friend appear to have made due
impression upon the mind of Mr. Warner; for in 1620, after the
death of Captain Painton, he resolved to return to England, and
endeavour to procure the aid of some kindred spirit, in order to
put his designs into execution. Having so far succeeded in his
plans as to procure all necessary arrangements for establishing a
colony, Mr. Warner again left England, accompanied by his wife
and son, Edward, (who was a captain in the army at the early age
of thirteen, and who was afterwards appointed first governor of
Antigua,) and a small party of followers,[1] and embarked on
board a vessel bound for Virginia, whence himself and party
proceeded to St. Christopher's, where they arrived 28th January,
1623. Mr. Warner, as head of the settlers, commenced immediately
the task of cultivation, in which he so far progressed as to
raise a crop of tobacco, which was unfortunately destroyed in the
severe hurricane of the 19th of the following September.
During this period, the movements of the English were diligently
observed by the Caribs, who, instigated by three Frenchmen,
(supposed to have been cast upon the island by a former storm,)
at length made an outbreak upon the English, and retarded in some
measure their work of cultivation.
By the end of the following February, Mr. Warner had another crop
of tobacco ready for exportation; and the ship Hopewell
(commanded by Captain Jefferson) arriving on the 4th March, 1624,
from London, bringing fresh supplies for the infant colony, a few
emigrants, and goods with which to trade with the Caribs, Mr.
Warner resolved to return in her to England, in order to obtain
more powerful assistance. He accordingly embarked himself and his
first-gathered crop on board the "Hopewell," and once more sought
the shores of England, to receive the congratulations of his
friends, and search for a patron who would enable him to carry
out further his plans of colonization.
Between that period and 1625, Mr. Warner was employed in voyaging
backwards and forwards from St. Christopher's and England,
leaving the cares of the government to his son, Edward Warner,
(of whom Du Tertre speaks very handsomely,) until, having gained
a friend and patron in the Earl of Carlisle, he was introduced at
the court of the then reigning sovereign, Charles I. This monarch
was so pleased with Mr. Warner's indefatigable and patriotic
spirit, that he was graciously pleased to grant him a commission,
(signed 13th Sept. 1625,) constituting him governor over the
"foure islands of St. Christopher's, Nevis, Barbados, and
Mountserrate,"[2] and on the 21st September, 1629, knighted him
at Hampton Court Palace.[3]
Some of Sir Thomas Warner's descendants have filled the highest
situations in Antigua, administering the government at times. Nor
is the family extinct, for many there are who can trace their
descent in a direct line from this great founder of four
flourishing colonies. One of these was in 1838 "gathered to his
fathers;" he was esteemed as an able legislator, and fulfilled
his duties as president of the council, brigadier-general of the
militia, and occasionally lieutenant-governor, with integrity. As
this family ranks among the first aristocrats of the island, a
more particular account of their lineal descent may not be deemed
superfluous, and will be found in the Appendix, No. 2.
------
[1] The names of these adventurous few were as follows:--William
Tasted, John Rhodes, Robert Bims, Mr. Benifield, Sergeant Jones,
Mr. Ware, William Ryle, Rowland Grasscocke, Mr. Bond, Mr.
Langley, Mr. Weaver, Sergeant Aplon, one sailor, and a cook.
[2] Vide copy of the first commission granted, No. 1, Appendix.
[3] Sir Thomas Warner died at St Christopher's in 1648. His tomb
is still to be met with in the parish church for the township of
Old Road, (a place which derives its name from the involuntary
exclamation of Columbus upon his second visit to St.
Christopher's, "Ah! we are at the _old road_ again,") the
inscription upon which is as follows:--
An Epitaph vpon Th-------------------
Noble & Mvch Lamented Genrl Sir
Tho. Warner, Kt Lievtenant
General of ye Carribee
Ielands & Goverr of ye
Ieland of St Christopher
Who Departed This
Life the 10th of
March 1648.
First Read then weepe when thou art hereby taught,
That Warner lyes interr'd here, one that bought,
With losse of Noble bloud Illustrious Name,
Of A Comander Greate in Acts of Fame.
Trayn'd from his youth in Armes, his courage bold,
Attempted braue Exploites, and vncontrold
By fortunes fiercest Frownes, hee still gaue forth
Large Narratiues of Military worth.
----ritten with his sword's poynt, but what is man
-------the midst of his glory, and who can
----------this Life A moment, since that hee
-------------by Sea and Land, so longe kept free
-----------al, Mortal Strokes at length did yeeld
------------ace) to conquering Death the field,
fini Coronat.
The black lines shew where the marble is broken, or the letters
from some other cause are quite obliterated.