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.
After peace had been once more proclaimed between France and
England, and Antigua restored to its rightful sovereign, the
English government, being fully assured of the death of Lord
Francis Willoughby, appointed Lord William Willoughby, of Parham,
(who when the royalists rose against the parliament, after the
deposition of Richard Cromwell, undertook to secure Lynn for his
exiled majesty,) Captain-General and chief Governor of Barbados,
Antigua, and the rest of the Leeward Caribbee Islands, as some
reward for his services.
Lord William Willoughby arrived at Antigua about 1668, and
appointed Samuel Winthorpe his deputy-governor. During the first
year of his lordship's administration, a registrar's office was
established, and fees appointed for the same. The registrar and
recorder was to be "a person of good discretion and honesty," and
his salary paid in sugar and tobacco.[20] Acts were also passed
for the "settling the inhabitants in their lands" and "for the
encouragement and promoting the settling of the island"--very
necessary measures, as all was in confusion, from the late cruel
dealing of the French, in so dismantling their promising colony.
This year also (1668) commenced the four and a half per cent.
duty; which was an impost upon all native productions shipped
from the island, to be paid to the reigning monarch, his heirs,
and successors, in consideration of new grants of lands being
given to the inhabitants after the restoration of Antigua to the
English crown; all old titles to lands having become void by
reason of the late conquest, by the French.
Lord William Willoughby removing to Barbados about this time,
nominated his son, Henry Willoughby, as acting-governor, the same
gentleman who was left by Lord F. Willoughby deputy-governor of
Barbados during his absence upon the disastrous expedition
already spoken of. Nothing of much importance occurred during the
short period Mr. H. Willoughby held the government. War had not
broken out in the West Indies, although it threatened the mother
country, so that the Antiguans had a little quiet to settle their
domestic affairs. One of the first points to which they turned
their attention was to endeavour to suppress the strong habit of
profane cursing and swearing which had crept in among their
community, and also to put a stop to the prevalence of inebriety.
To bring this desirable reformation about, the legislature
enacted, that a fine of ten pounds of sugar, or tobacco, was to
be imposed upon every one who uttered an oath, or opened his lips
to curse; and if any one was discovered in a state of
intoxication, he could be made to pay fifty pounds of sugar, or
not being able to procure that quantity, and being possessed of
no other property which could be levied upon, he was condemned to
be placed in the public stocks for the space of four hours. It
would be well if something of the kind was in force now; our ears
would not then, perhaps, be so frequently shocked as they are
liable to be at every hour of the day by the passers-by.
Regulations were also made for establishing a public treasury in
the island, and regard paid to the martial bearing of the
inhabitants, by exercising them in the science of arms.
Among the settlers who came to Antigua with Francis Lord
Willoughby, of Parham, was William Byam, a distinguished
royalist, at that time major, but who afterwards acquired the
rank of lieutenant-general.
In 1644, Mayor Byam was among the officers in garrison at
Bridgewater, and being on guard when an attempt was made by the
parliamentary army to take the town by surprise, he defeated the
forces with great slaughter, thereby averting for some time the
fate of that important fortress. On the following year, Cromwell
and Fairfax coming against Bridgewater with an overwhelming
power, after a gallant and desperate resistance, the town was
taken, and quarter only given to the garrison. The officers were
immediately sent to London, and put at the disposal of the
Parliament, whence they were despatched to the Tower, and other
public prisons. After remaining in the Tower for some months,
Major Byam accepted a pass "to go beyond the seas," (as the term
then was,) and, with some of his military friends, he accordingly
left the home of his fathers, and sought in Barbados--that last
asylum for royalists--a retreat from the Oliverian power. Soon
after his arrival, the important post of "treasurer of the
island," as well as "master of the ordnance," was conferred upon
him, together with large grants of land; but the number of
_refugees_ increasing in the colony to such a surprising height,
the Parliament became alarmed, and, in 1651, sent a fleet and
armament, under command of Sir George Ayscue, to reduce the
island. There being a defection in the garrison, owing to the
withdrawal of Colonel Thomas Modiford from the side of the king,
after a resistance of six months, the governor, Lord Francis
Willoughby, of Parham, was compelled to think of terms; and
accordingly he appointed, along with three other commissioners,
Major Byam to negotiate a surrender. This gentleman and his
coadjutors performed their parts so ably, that they obtained from
the admiral terms allowed by all historians as alike
"comprehensive and honourable." Indeed, when they were reported
to England, though the Parliament did not refuse to ratify them,
yet, considering them much too favourable, they never afterwards
countenanced Sir George Ayscue. The very first act of the
Parliament possession, contrary to the tenor of some of the
articles, was to banish Mayor Byam and the other commissioners,
and about ten more of the royalists, including Lord Willoughby
himself. Major Byam retired to the then newly-founded settlement
of Surinam, which being composed chiefly of the refugee followers
of Charles, they, in those times of turmoil, elected him, by
united suffrages, governor of the colony in 1654. In this
situation he continued for six successive years, although
Cromwell had despatched an officer of his own to take the
command, being elected by universal voice, until the Restoration,
when, in virtue of the proclamation at that time issued, he
became governor for the crown. He was afterwards more formally
confirmed in this appointment, in which he remained until the
removal of the colony (or at least a large portion of it) to the
island of Antigua, in virtue of the treaty of Breda, in 1667. Of
this island he also became an early governor, as is still to be
seen by many documents in the registrar's office, and resumed to
himself that property which he had before acquired when on a
visit to the island with Francis Lord Willoughby in 1650; and
now, by letters patent for the crown, under date April, 1668,
20th Charles II., among the estates of Lieutenant-General Byam
renewed to him at this period, were the present Cedar Hill and
his Willoughby Bay estate.[21]
In 1672, his majesty Charles II. deemed it proper to make some
alteration in the affairs of the West Indies. Hitherto all the
Caribbee Islands were united under one government, but after the
return of Lord William Willoughby to England, the king entered
into fresh arrangements with the colonies, appointed him
captain-general of Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent's and
Dominica; and Sir William Stapleton captain-general and
commander-in-chief of Antigua and the other Leeward Islands. This
Windward Island's separation continues at the present time, after
undergoing many changes, by having their own particular governor;
as far as regards Barbados, St Lucia, and St. Vincent's. Dominica
has at length been united with Antigua, Montserrat, Nevis, St.
Christopher's, Anguilla, Tortola, and the Virgin Islands, which
now form the Leeward Caribbee government.
During the general government, a general council and assembly was
held at either of the islands whenever the legislature deemed any
important matter rendered it necessary to convene them; but the
respective islands in the government, however, retained each
their laws as regarded local circumstances. When the
commander-in-chief found it necessary for the public good to call
together this general council and assembly, the freeholders of
each island met together and made choice of five eligible
inhabitants to act as their representatives.
The convening of this general council and assembly accounts for
the affairs of these different islands being wound up together,
and laws which were passed at the one, answering, in many
instances, for the others.
Sir William Stapleton preferring Nevis, he made that island the
seat of government, and Colonel Philip Warner (Sir Thomas
Warner's son by his second wife) was appointed governor of
Antigua. A very necessary precaution was adopted about this time
--namely, the preventing persons wandering about cane-pieces,
with lighted torches, hunting for land-crabs. If a free person
was found so offending, the culprit was to pay into the public
treasury one thousand pounds of sugar or tobacco; or if a slave,
he was to be publicly whipped. This very dangerous practice
continues to this day in seasons when the land-crabs are upon
their travels, and certainly ought to meet with some punishment.
So careless and thoughtless are the negroes, that large pieces of
fire are frequently dropped upon the road while thus employed,
which they never think of extinguishing; and as the scene of
their exploits is generally in the vicinity of cane-pieces, where
there is often a large quantity of dry cane-leaves, called in the
country idiom, trash, serious accidents might, and indeed have
been the result.
It was also deemed advisable to ordain that marriages solemnized
by the governor, council, or any justice of peace, should, in
absence of beneficed clergymen from the island, be adjudged
equally binding and lawful, as if the ceremony had been performed
by an orthodox minister. This was a regulation very necessary in
that early period, when there was as yet no established church
erected, or any clergymen officiating in the colony; and,
consequently, marriages were obliged to be celebrated by a civil
power. It was also enacted by the legislature this year (1672),
that slaves killed or maimed, while acting in defence of the
country, should have their value ascertained by arbitration, and
the amount paid over to their owners from the public treasury.
In 1674, the inhabitants of Antigua presented an address to the
captain-general, Sir William Stapleton, praying him to grant them
a commission "to kill and destroy the Indians inhabiting the
island of Dominica."
From the period when Antigua was first settled by the English,
the Caribs, as we have already seen, had been in the constant
habit of landing upon it, and perpetrating the most fearful and
horrid acts of violence upon its inhabitants. So frequent and
barbarous were these attacks, that the colony at one time was in
danger of being abandoned; and nothing but firm and vigorous
measures on the part of the English could restrain the fury of
their Indian adversaries, and quell their turbulent assaults.
As soon, therefore, as his excellency, Sir William Stapleton,
acceded to the request of the Antiguans in granting a commission,
a large party of volunteers was formed, aided by some of the
settlers from the neighbouring islands, of which, at the earnest
entreaties of the council and assembly of Antigua, Governor
Philip Warner took the command. They immediately proceeded to
Dominica; and however different historians may relate the events
of this action, they all concur in stating, that the English
obtained a most signal victory over their Indian foes. In this
fray the illegitimate son of Sir Thomas Warner, by a Carib woman
--who was generally known by the name of Thomas Warner, or
"Indian Warner," and who is said to have headed the Indians in
many of their attacks upon the English--fell, as it is supposed,
by the hands of his half-brother, Philip Warner, the governor of
Antigua. Whether this deed was done by open warfare, or by
treacherous means, is uncertain; but, upon the return of Colonel
Philip Warner, the governor, to Antigua, after the reduction of
the Caribs, the circumstances of the death of Indian Warner were
inquired into either by Sir William Stapleton or Lord Willoughby,
the results of which were, that Colonel Philip Warner was sent to
England to stand his trial for the murder of his half-brother.
After being kept in the Tower of London for some time, Colonel
Warner was placed on board the Phoenix frigate, and despatched to
Barbados, in order that he might be tried in the Court of Oyer
and Terminer in that island.
This resolution, on the part of the home government, was no
sooner known in Antigua, than a strong remonstrance was drawn up
in the name of the inhabitants, and after being signed by sixteen
of the most influential men among the legislature, was
transmitted to the justices for the trial of Colonel Warner at
Barbados, setting forth the facts, that it was only through the
most earnest prayer of the Antiguans, and not from any private
motives of his own, that he was induced to take the command upon
the attack of the Caribs, in which action the Indian Warner fell.
The facts of this case being fully investigated, Colonel Warner
was honourably acquitted, his lands,[22] which he had quietly
yielded up on being sent to England for trial, were restored, and
he was again permitted to exercise the functions of governor of
Antigua.
It certainly appears rather extraordinary that Colonel Warner
should have stood his trial for this massacre of the Indians,
when we find, that for more than fifty years after this
occurrence, the Caribs were still hunted and destroyed as so many
reptiles; but Indian Warner was one who ranked rather high in the
opinion of Lord William Willoughby, and probably that nobleman
felt incensed at his death. Many are the opinions of writers upon
this subject. While some look upon Colonel Warner as the
unjustified murderer of his half-brother; others are led to
palliate the circumstances on the plea of Indian Warner being the
chief actor in those cruel Carib attacks, which were generally
made upon unarmed Englishmen, or their defenceless wives and
children.
Dampier, one of the greatest navigators among the Buccaneers,
(before that name had acquired a dread from the lawless and
bloody deeds its chieftains committed,) visited Antigua about the
period of Indian Warner's death; and in his history of his
voyages he has the following passage:--"About this time (1674)
the Caribbees had done some spoil on our English plantations at
Antego, and therefore Governor Warner's son by his wife took a
party of men, and went to suppress these Indians, and came to the
place where his brother _Indian_ Warner lived. Great seeming joy
there was at their meeting, but how far real the event shewed;
for the _English_ Warner, providing plenty of liquor, and
inviting his half-brother to be merry with him, in the midst of
his entertainment, ordered his men, upon a signal given, to
murder him and all his Indians, which was accordingly performed.
The reason of this inhuman action is diversely reported. Some say
that this Indian Warner committed all the spoil that was done to
the English, and for that reason his brother killed him and his
men. Others, that he was a great friend to the English, and would
not suffer his men to hurt them, but did all that lay in his
power to draw them to an amicable commerce; and that his brother
killed him because he was ashamed to be related to an Indian.
But, be it how it may, he was called in question for the murder,
and forced to come home, and take his trial in England. Such
perfidious doings as these, besides the baseness of them, are
great hindrances of our gaining interest among the Indians."
Captain Southey, in his "Chronological History of the West
Indies," writing of the events of 1674, says--"Sir Thomas
Warner's son went with an expedition to suppress the Caribs, who
were headed by his half-brother, his father's son by a Carib
woman. He was received in a friendly manner by his relative. In
the middle of the repast, upon a signal given, the Caribs were
attacked and all massacred. Different reasons are given for this
act of atrocity: one, that the Indian Warner committed all the
ravages upon the English; another, that the murderer was ashamed
of his Indian relations." Evidently Captain Southey took Dampier
for his guide in relating this circumstance; and other authors,
following in the wake, have handed Colonel Warner down to
posterity, in the character of a fratricide. But before his
actions are discussed, it would be well to lay aside all
previously formed opinions, and, horrible as fratricide must
appear to all, calmly take a retrospect of the great cruelties
practised by the Caribs on the persons of the English, which led
to the melancholy incident already narrated.[23] Before
concluding this subject, it will be necessary to mention some
further particulars of the Indian Warner, the half-brother, of
whose death Colonel Philip Warner was made amenable.
At the latter end of 1629, after having the honour of knighthood
conferred upon him by Charles I., Sir Thomas Warner returned from
England to St. Christopher's. Soon after his arrival, he entered
into a league with the French settlers and Mons. D'Esnambuc, the
captain of a French privateer; and, falling upon the Caribs by
night, murdered in cold blood one hundred and twenty of the
men.[24] The females they parted among themselves, and one of the
handsomest of them fell to the share of Sir Thomas Warner,[25] by
whom she had a son, a remarkably fine and intelligent lad. About
the year 1645, when he was fifteen years old,[26] an old Carib
man, who, by some chance, had remained upon the island after the
expulsion of his countrymen, informed the boy of the former
cruelties of the English to his mother's relations--a tale which
so exasperated him, that he was determined to escape, the first
opportunity, and join his Carib friends. At length he effected
his purpose, and fled to Dominica,[27] where the Caribs had taken
up their abode after being driven from St. Christopher's. So
pleased were the Indians with this display of spirit on the part
of their young relative, that they received him with open arms,
looked upon him as their chief, shared with him all their
predatory booty, and followed him in all his expeditions. In
1664, Lord Francis Willoughby appointed this half-Carib (who bore
the name of Thomas Warner) governor of Dominica, then inhabited
by Indians. In this situation he remained until 1666, when he was
captured by the French, and carried prisoner to St.
Christopher's, (some authors say Guadaloupe,) where he met with
very harsh treatment, and was not liberated until after the
peace, and then only at the earnest interposition of Lord William
Willoughby. After his liberation, he appears to have carried on
his warfare with the English colonists, until, as already
mentioned, 1674, when he met his fate in about the forty-fourth
year of his age.
As perhaps it may be interesting to some of my readers to look
over the "_Remonstrance_," alluded to as drawn up by the members
of the Antigua legislature in 1676, when Colonel Philip Warner
was tried for the murder of his half-brother--I have inserted it
in the Appendix, (No. 6.)
------
[20] The French having entirely ruined Antigua, it was necessary
to form all new regulations, as at the first settlement of the
colony.
[21] For a further account of this gentleman's family, see
Appendix, No. 4.
[22] For copy of the Grant of Land to Colonel P. Warner, see
Appendix, No. 5.
[23] Oldmixon, in his "British America," says:--"At this time
(1676) there was a wicked practice in the West Indies, of which
the English are accused; and that was, their stealing and
enslaving Indians, which they took on the continent or the
islands. And one Colonel Warner being charged with this unlawful
traffic--if it deserves that name--was made a prisoner in
England, and sent, aboard the Phoenix frigate, to Barbados, to
take his trial there; but he found so many friends, that he came
off."
[24] Oldmixon, in his History of St Christopher's, speaking of
this circumstance, says--"They (the Caribs) were willing enough
to live peaceably with the Europeans who first landed there, and
were upon the place when D'Esnambuc came thither; but, upon his
landing, their boyez, or conjurers, telling them, in a general
assembly met on purpose, that the foreigners were come to take
away their country from them, and destroy them root and branch,
it was resolved to massacre the English." He goes on to state,
that the English and French, having gained intelligence of the
Caribs' design to _cut their throats_, "fell upon the most
factious of the natives by night, killed them, and drove the rest
out of the island."
[25] Labat mentions seeing this woman at Dominica, and gives the
following account of her:--"This old savage woman is, I think,
the oldest creature in the world, being more than a hundred years
old. They say she had been very handsome, and on account of her
beauty the English governor at St. Kitts kept her for a
considerable time. She had a number of children, among which was
one called _Ouverard_. [_Warner, it ought to be; but Pierre du
Tertre is not very particular in his orthography of English
names._] Pierre du Tertre speaks of him in his history; but this
demi-savage was dead before I came to the West Indies. They
always continue to call her Madam _Ouverard_. After the English
sent her to Dominica upon the death of the governor, she was more
respected for her old age than from being his mistress. Her
property was rather extensive, and was entirely peopled by her
children's children. This old woman was entirely naked, and had
not two dozen hairs upon her head; her skin resembled old
parchment completely dried up, as if baked. She was so crooked
that I could not see her features except when she went to drink
water. She had a good many teeth in her head, and her eyes were
perfectly clear."
[26] Some writers make it sixteen.
[27] Dampier says St Lucia.