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.
In 1675, Colonel Rowland Williams was appointed
lieutenant-governor (or, as the phrase then was, deputy-governor)
of Antigua. This gentleman was possessed of eminent
qualifications, which honourably distinguished him among his
contemporaries. He was alike conspicuous as a wise councillor and
a skilful commander; whether in the senate or the field, he
equally merited applause. The father of Colonel Williams (as will
be seen in the genealogy of this family) was one of the earliest
settlers in Antigua, and even in those times was famed for noble
virtues--virtues which have descended from father to son, down to
the present day, and centered themselves in the person of the
Hon. Rowland E. Williams, the present possessor of "Claremont,"
the family mansion.[28]
During the administration of Colonel Rowland Williams as governor
of Antigua, six towns were appointed as places of trade, instead
of two, as was the former custom. These towns were Falmouth, St.
John's, Bridge Town, Carlisle Road, Parham Landing Place, and
Bermudian Valley. In these different towns all business was to be
transacted as relates to shipping, &c.; and no vessel was allowed
to unload or sell their cargo at any other place, under
punishment of forfeiting their goods. This, however, did not
debar any freeholder from disposing of his own personal property
or merchandise at any place in the island he deemed proper.
It does not appear at what particular period a secretary and a
marshal were appointed; but in 1677 an act was passed relating
unto such officers.
In 1680, provisions were made for settling the militia, and for
ensuring a better martial discipline throughout the island.
Antigua was divided into parishes about 1681, which then
consisted of five--namely, Falmouth, Rendezvous Bay, and part of
Willoughby Bay, to be the parish of St. Paul's; the remaining
part of Willoughby Bay, Nonsuch, and Belfast, to be the parish of
St. Philip's; divisions of New and Old North Sound to be the
parish of St. Peter's; the divisions of Pope's Head, Dickerson's
Bay, St. John's, and Five Islands, to be the parish of St.
John's; and the divisions of the Road and Bermudian Valley to be
the parish of St. Mary's. Churches were also ordered to be
erected, and all parochial charges to be raised from the
inhabitants of each parish. The yearly salary of their ministers
was 16,000lbs. of sugar or tobacco, which was paid to them on the
24th day of June, being the feast of St. John the Baptist.
The following year (1682) an expedition was despatched to act
against the Indians of Dominica.
His Majesty Charles II. having departed this life, Sir William
Stapleton proclaimed his successor, James II. with great pomp, at
Nevis. An old writer gives a long account of the ceremonies
observed upon that day--of the gorgeous festival which succeeded,
and the splendid attire of the governor; but as this work is
strictly confined to Antigua, such detail will be superfluous.
In 1684, during the administration of Sir William Stapleton,
slaves were annexed to freeholds, and could be voted upon, the
same as a freehold, or levied upon for distress. In illustration
of this, a person possesses a family of slaves--say the mother
and five or six children, the youngest in arms and drawing its
daily nutriment from its parent; the owner of these slaves falls
into difficulties--he owes a certain sum, and his creditor takes
out an execution against him. The value of the negro woman
covers, perhaps, the amount of debt, and accordingly she is
seized, carried away, and sold, probably to a third or even a
fourth person, and her baby and other children are severed from
her, and she left alone. Oh! slavery, slavery, how dost thou
debase the sons of men!
Sir William Stapleton dying, King James appointed Sir Nathaniel
Johnson, governor-in-chief, who continued to act as such until
the first year of the reign of William and Mary, when he retired
to America, and was succeeded in the government by Colonel
Christopher Codrington in 1689.[29]
Colonel Codrington was so indefatigable in planting and
cultivating the sugar-cane in Antigua, that he has been termed
the patron of the island. This gentleman removed from Barbados to
Antigua in 1674; when he purchased a large quantity of land, and
formed the first sugar estate upon the island, and, sending for
his wife and children, constituted himself one of its earliest
planters. The Codrington family is of old extraction, and many a
brave warrior has sprang from that source, as British history
will shew.[30]
About the first year of Colonel Codrington's government, in 1689,
the fortifications at Monk Hill were commenced; but they appear
not to have been carried on with any degree of spirit until 1705.
This year the crew of a French privateer landed at Five Islands'
Bay, and burnt and plundered the surrounding country; and carried
away with them several negroes, besides much spoil. The
Antiguans, highly incensed at this invasion, placed a small force
on board an armed vessel under command of Captain Walter
Hamilton, and pursued the enemy. This plan succeeded, and they
returned to Antigua with the privateer as a prize; on board of
which were some Irishmen, who were hung as a warning to others.
The English government was greatly annoyed at these repeated
attacks upon her West Indian colonies; and William III. made it
one of his complaints against the French king upon declaring war
with that monarch. Supposing that, after this war was declared,
the French would be more active in their incursions, the
inhabitants of Antigua determined to keep better watch. Sir
Timothy Thornhill arriving with troops, all military affairs were
delegated to him; and by his orders, guards were stationed at all
the bays, and a constant look-out kept. Still the Caribs and a
few Frenchmen managed to effect a landing, by sailing up some of
the creeks, and killed ten of the inhabitants, and plundered some
provision grounds. It was thought proper to appoint some reward
for soldiers acting valiantly in defence of the island; and to
make some provision for the wounded, and allowance for the widows
and children of the slain. If any white servant shewed deeds of
valour, and could obtain a certificate of such from the hands of
his officer, that servant was freed,[31] the country paying to
his master a sum proportionate to his services. If wounded they
were to receive medical attendance and maintenance free of
charge; if disabled, to receive yearly 3000lbs. of sugar for
life; and if killed, their widows were to have the same amount of
sugar, and the children to be taken care of, and supported by the
country. The owners of those slaves who fell in defence of the
country, were also recompensed, by having 5000lbs. of sugar paid
them from the public stock for every negro killed or mortally
wounded, instead of having such slaves valued by arbitration, as
was the plan from the year 1672. Regulations were also gone into
by the legislature, for the establishing of courts of law, and
settling due methods for the distribution of justice throughout
the colony.
About the middle of this year (1689) Colonel Hewetson, with a
party of men, embarked on board a man of war, and sailed to
attack Guadaloupe. They landed with but little opposition, and
having obtained some plunder, and given the French a kind of
_tit-for-tat_, returned in safety to Antigua. This was a very
busy year for the Antiguans; for no sooner had Colonel Hewetson
reached Antigua with his troops, from the late attack, than they
raised 300 men, and sailed to the island of Marie Galante. Here
they met with like success in the way of retaliation; beating the
inhabitants, burning their town, and obtaining more plunder. From
Marie Galante they proceeded to St. Martin's, where Fortune, that
usually fickle goddess, did not forsake them; for they not only
plundered the place and increased their spoils, but drove the
French completely off the island. Upon their return, General
Codrington (for the governor had arrived to this rank) sent three
sloops, with eighty men, under the command of Captain Edward
Thorn, to the island of Anguila, to bring from thence all the
English who resided there; they having been very cruelly used by
some Irishmen, whom the French had landed there, for that
purpose, a year before.
1690 was again ushered in by that demon--War. Louis, that
ambitious, but admired monarch, encouraged his subjects to invade
the English colonies, in the West Indies and America, while he
assisted James, the abdicated sovereign, in his attempts upon
England and Ireland. General Codrington was warmly attached to
the reigning monarchs, William and Mary, and consequently
endeavoured on all occasions to further their interest in the
West Indies. No sooner had accounts arrived at Antigua of the
battle of the Boyne, and William's victory over the French troops
upon that eventful day, than the governor determined to strike a
blow for the honour of England. Admiral Wright arriving with a
strong squadron of men of war, General Codrington prevailed upon
all the other Leeward Islands to raise forces to endeavour to
retake St. Kitt's, which had fallen to the French king some time
before, by the fortunes of war. Antigua, never behind the other
islands in warlike deeds, raised a body of 400 (or, as some
authors make it, 800) men, which were placed under the command of
that gallant officer, Colonel Rowland Williams, and 200 gentlemen
volunteers, under command of Colonel Willoughby Byam, who served
as a body-guard to the governor-general, Christopher Codrington;
and, by dint of prowess, their object was gained, for not only
did they oblige the French to surrender the island, but,
according to some authors, actually transported about eighteen
hundred of them to St. Domingo and Martinique.[32] A general
council and assembly was held this year, and an agent and
commissioners appointed for the negotiation and management of the
affairs of the Leeward Islands, as well as the raising and
settling a proper fund for the defraying the expense of the same.
Rewards were also given to the soldiers who acted valiantly in
the late expedition.
The following year (1691) passed in quietness. The French were
too much taken up with their European engagements to have much
force in the West Indies; and Admiral Wright, cruizing about
these seas, intimidated the few privateers still lurking about.
It was deemed necessary by the legislature this year to enact a
law, obliging all the members of the assembly to serve in such
capacity when elected.
The year 1692 was chiefly passed in settling island business, and
making laws to redress several grievances which were severely
felt by the inhabitants. One of these was as follows: after the
reduction of this island, and its restoration to the English in
1667, a great many persons pretended to have a right to large
portions of land, by virtue of grants prior to the war, but which
they had failed to cultivate. The consequence of this was, that
the country was rapidly going to ruin; and the only way to avert
it was, by government granting these lands to more industrious
persons, as an encouragement to them to settle. When, after a
lapse of time, the former possessors found their barren and
uncultivated lands turned into profitable estates, they came
forward and claimed them as their own; and so annoying were these
threatenings to those who had worked the change, that although
they had spent both time and money, they preferred leaving the
island, and seeking some other home. To rectify this, it was
determined by the legislature this year, that all persons who
possessed lands by grants from government should be confirmed in
the same, providing they had held them for five years. Still,
that justice might be equally imparted to all, if the former
possessors put in their claim within two years, and it was
allowed by a jury that they had a right to the same, they could
demand the value of their lands as they were when they left them.
A vestry was this year elected, churchwardens appointed, and a
parish register ordered to be kept in each of the parishes in the
island. In this register, all christenings, marriages, and
burials were to be entered, under penalty of 5l. currency, the
fee for which was 9d. currency each. An act was also passed for
the settling of general councils and assemblies.
The next year (1693) was celebrated for the endeavours of the
Antiguans to destroy the remaining Caribs; and for this reason,
great encouragement was given to those persons who fitted out
privateers to destroy them and take their canoes. In the early
part of the year, Sir Francis Wheeler arrived at Barbados, with
an expected squadron of English men-of-war, intended for an
attack upon the island of Martinique, when intelligence was
immediately despatched to Antigua, in order that General
Codrington might join him with the Antigua and other Leeward
Island troops. In this expedition, Sir Francis Wheeler commanded
the men-of-war, (on board of which were Colonel Foulks and
Colonel Godwin's regiments of foot, and 200 recruits, under
command of Colonel Lloyd,) and Colonel Foulks the land forces. On
the 30th of March, the fleet left Barbados, having on board two
Barbados' regiments, which, including the gentlemen-volunteers,
consisted of about 1500 men, and arrived at Martinique on the 1st
of April.
The fleet anchored in the Cul de Sac Marine, on the south side of
the island; and Sir Francis Wheeler, attended by Colonel Foulks
and Colonel Lloyd, went in a boat to search for a good
landing-place for the troops. Their movements were, however,
watched by a party of French guards, one of whom fired a musket,
the shot of which striking Sir Francis upon the breast,
occasioned a severe contusion. The next morning, Colonel Foulks
landed 1500 men without opposition; and during the day, the whole
of the forces were gathered together on shore, where they
commenced the work of destruction by burning the houses and
sugar-works, the inhabitants fleeing for safety into the woods.
In the course of the few following days, General Codrington
joined the expedition with the Antigua and other Leeward Island
forces, and Colonel Lloyd's regiment, when it was determined, in
a council of war, to sail and attack St. Pierre, the principal
town upon the island. Here, however, the English appear to have
acted a very indifferent part; for, after destroying a few
plantations, and standing some slight skirmishing with the
French, they abandoned their plans of endeavouring to take the
town; and, upon the plea of the troops being sickly, re-embarked
their men, and left the island. Colonel Foulks, Colonel Godwin,
Major Abrahall, with some of the other officers, died of their
wounds on board the vessels; and the Antigua and other island
troops returned to their respective colonies.
Thus ended an expedition, from which had been expected great
results. According to an early historian, if the regulars had
done their duty, as the Antiguan and the other island troops did,
the whole of the French sugar islands might have been
dispossessed, for the English forces amounted to between 3000 and
4000 men. The French were, however, very much alarmed, and many
of "the richest inhabitants shipped themselves and their valuable
effects for France, some of whom were intercepted by the
English." Sir Francis Wheeler then steered for Boston, in
America, intending to have proceeded against Quebec; but finding
his arguments overruled by the Bostonians, he returned in disgust
to England, with his vessels in a very shattered condition, and
having lost half of his men.
This officer was noted for his misfortunes, which could neither
be attributed to want of courage nor want of judgment, but to
circumstances over which he had no control. We have seen how
unfortunate was his expedition to the West Indies; and although
not altogether connected with this work, we may just glance at
his after-fate. About 1694, he was appointed commander-in-chief
of the Mediterranean squadron, with orders to take under his
convoy the merchant ships trading to Turkey, Italy, and Spain;
there to join the Spanish fleet in cruising about until the
return of the Turkish ships, when he was to accompany them home.
After receiving these orders, he sailed from the roads of St.
Helens, off the Isle of Wight, and arrived in safety at Cadiz,
where, leaving Rear-Admiral Hopson, he proceeded for the
Mediterranean. In passing through the Bay of Gibraltar, he met
with very bad weather under a lee-shore. The ground was so foul
that there was no hold for an anchor; but as there was no other
plan they could follow, they were obliged to drop them. Several
of the ships were driven on shore, of which many were entirely
lost. The Admiral's ship foundered at sea, and with the exception
of two Moors, all perished in those tideless waters.
In 1694, a general council and assembly was held at Antigua,
when, among other business, it was deemed necessary to place a
certain value upon all foreign coins in circulation throughout
the Leeward Caribbee Islands. To avoid disputes in electing
members to serve in these general councils and assemblies, it was
proposed that in future the secretary should take the votes of
the freeholders upon oath in their presence, and admit no vote
but from a known freeholder of the respective island in person.
But if, after these precautions, disputes should still occur, the
legislature was to determine the cause.
The year 1695 will be long remembered in English history as that
of the siege of Namur; which action, glorious as it was, would
not have been mentioned here, did not two gentlemen, well known
in Antigua, make themselves conspicuous by their courage and
noble bearing on that occasion. One of these distinguished
characters was Christopher Codrington, Esq., son of General
Codrington, the commander-in-chief, and afterwards governor
himself; a gentleman not only celebrated for his bravery, where
all were brave, but also as being the most accomplished person of
his day. The other individual was Sir William Mathew, afterwards
Captain-General of the Leeward Islands.
While these warlike deeds were going on in Europe, a squadron had
been sent to the West Indies to protect the trade and harass the
enemy. This squadron was placed under the joint command of
Captain Robert Wilmot and Colonel Lillingston, and consisted of
about 1200 land forces, augmented by troops from Antigua, and
some other of the West Indian islands. This expedition, like that
of Sir Francis Wheeler's, proved unfortunate; the sea and land
officers disagreed, and instead of acting with each other, they
pursued opposite courses. Their first attempt was against St.
Domingo; but instead of proceeding to take the capital, Captain
Wilmot plundered the surrounding country for his own good; and
although Colonel Lillingston remonstrated with him, he would not
listen to reason. Finding the ill success of their endeavours,
the West Indian troops determined to return to their respective
homes: the Spaniards, who had joined them against their common
enemy, the French, became disgusted, and withdrew; and the
commanders themselves, disappointed of their expected captures,
set sail for England. They lost one of their ships in the Gulf of
Florida, and Captain Wilmot died on his passage. This year the
Antiguans lost some of their merchant-ships, as did many of the
other West India Islands, by their falling into the hands of the
French privateers, who swarmed about the entrance of the English
Channel.
The following year passed in quietness in Antigua. The
secretary's office was appointed as the place where all the
island laws were to be lodged. Before this period, it appears
that there was no particular place appointed to keep the public
records; and consequently many valuable papers became mislaid or
lost. This year, (1696,) the Hastings frigate was at Antigua, and
sailed for London as convoy to a fleet of eleven ships, which
were eleven weeks upon their voyage.
In 1697, public pounds were erected in the several towns of
Antigua, and imposts laid upon all liquors imported into the
island. This had been hitherto a custom, but had expired some
short time before.
The year 1698 was a year of mourning to the Antiguans; their
friend and patron, as well as governor, breathed his last sigh,
and exchanged an earthly for a heavenly home. General Codrington
was, as before remarked, the first person who planted the
sugar-cane in Antigua: its chief productions before were indigo,
ginger, and tobacco. He removed from Barbados (of which island he
was a native) in 1674; and some authors make that year his
appointment to the governor-generalship of the Leeward Islands,
and that of Colonel Rowland Williams, deputy-governor of Antigua.
This assertion is, however, evidently incorrect; for we have
already seen, that Sir William Stapleton was acting as such at
that period. The mistake must have arisen from General Codrington
having removed to Antigua in that year.
After the demise of General Codrington, the captain-general of
the Leeward Islands, Colonel John Yeamans, a resident proprietor
of Antigua, exercised the office of governor of the island.
The Antiguans came to the resolution this year (1698) of
appointing an agent for the island, who was to reside in London,
and solicit the confirmation of such laws as should from time to
time be made in Antigua, as well as to transact any other island
business. The salary then given was 100l. sterling per annum, to
commence from 1st January, 1689; but since the year 1800, it has
been augmented. About this period, the notorious Captain Kidd[33]
paid Antigua a visit; but finding the coast of North America
would afford him a better harvest, he did not remain long.
In 1699, the gallant Admiral Benbow arrived at Antigua with a
squadron of men-of-war, having on board Colonel Collingwood's
regiment, (or, more probably, Col. Whetham's regiment, known as
the "Enniskillen," or 27th regiment of the line;) part of which
was intended to be stationed upon the island, and the remainder
to be sent to the other colonies within the government.
------
[28] For the Genealogy of the Williams family, see Appendix, No.
7.
[29] Sir Nathaniel Johnson was appointed, in 1704, Governor of
Carolina.--Vide History of Carolina.
[30] For further particulars of this family, vide Appendix, No.
8.
[31] The persons to whom these rewards were given, owed their
residence in Antigua to the following cause:--To increase the
white population, great encouragement was given to persons
importing white protestant men-servants into the island, paying
to the importer to much per head from the public treasury. These
white servants were sold for a certain number of years, and at
the end of that time they became free, and were incited to
settle, by having small grants of land given to them. Every
proprietor was obliged to have one of these white servants to so
many slaves; and they were to be furnished with clothes and arms,
and to serve in the militia. It was customary to sell them upon
hogsheads, which I shall have further occasion to mention when I
come to treat of the white inhabitants.
[32] Extract from the London Gazette, No. 2602, published by
authority, from Thursday, October 16th, to Monday, October 20th,
1690, giving an account of the capture of St Christopher's, the
forces for which service arrived in Frigate Bay, in that island,
20th June; the French offered to surrender on the 12th July, and
articles agreed to on the 14th July:--
"Colonel Byam was dangerously wounded in the neck."
Extract from "London Gazette," 4th to 8th September, 1690. No.
2590:--
"Bermudas, July 24th.
"On the 20th June, the English arrived at St. Christopher's,
consisting of eleven men of war, besides fire-ships and tenders,
and other vessels, under command of Captain Wright, who was
himself in the Mary of 64 guns, and 450 men. These ships had on
board 3000 land forces--viz., 700 English soldiers, commanded by
Colonel Holt; 800 Nevis and Barbados soldiers, commanded by Sir
Timothy Thornhill; 800 Antigua, commanded by Colonel Rowland
Williams; 400 Montserrat men, commanded by Colonel Blackstone,
and 200 gentlemen volunteers, commanded by Colonel Willoughby
Byam, which served as a life guard to Colonel Codrington,
governor of the Leeward Islands, and general on this expedition.
The conduct of which forces was much commended in the second
Gazette from 16th to 20th October."
[33] The colonists of North America had, for the last few years,
been greatly addicted to piracy: a practice which it behoved the
English government to put an immediate stop to, if possible. A
person of the name of Kidd, the owner of a small sloop, and who
had been early inured to a maritime life, proposed, that if a
vessel of thirty guns, well manned, was placed under his command,
he would agree to suppress the pirates, and effectually clear
those seas from such dangerous frequenters. After some delay, a
vessel was equipped by private subscription, and Kidd appointed
to the command; but instead of proceeding upon his mission to the
American seas, he sailed for the East Indies, where he engaged in
the unlawful traffic himself, captured some traders, and, after
burning his own vessel, sailed in the largest of his prize ships
for the Leeward Islands. After remaining there for a short
period, he proceeded in his piratical career to the coast of
North America, where, in his search after wealth, he perpetrated
those revolting cruelties which have rendered his name infamous,
and long caused the inhabitants of those colonies to chat around
their winter's hearth of the deeds and fate of the redoubted
Captain Kidd, the lawless rover of the seas.