Antigua and the Antiguans Volume I Part 4

[19] It was for some time pending in the mind of Louis XIV.

whether he should, or should not, restore Antigua to its rightful sovereign; and several letters pa.s.sed between the King of the French and his amba.s.sador, Count D'Estrade, (the deputy from Zealand a.s.suring the count that he would use his influence to retain Antigua for his majesty, should such be his wish,) upon the subject. At length, however, Louis XIV., after much hesitation, authorized its rendition by a letter to Count D'Estrade, dated 6th May, 1667, of which the following is a translation:-

"I have always forgotten to inform you, and even to put it in your instructions, that it is my intention to surrender the island of Antigua to the English, which belonged to them before the war. Thus you will make no difficulty by promising, by the treaty (of Breda), that all things shall be established in the island of St. Christopher, and that of Antigua, as they were previously to the rupture," &c.

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-Part.i.tion of the Caribbee Islands-Sir William Stapleton-General Council and a.s.sembly-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 a.s.sured 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 lords.h.i.+p'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 pa.s.sed 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 s.h.i.+pped 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 t.i.tles 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 quant.i.ty, and being possessed of no other property which could be levied upon, he was condemned to be placed in the public stocks for the s.p.a.ce 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 pa.s.sers-by.

Regulations were also made for establis.h.i.+ng 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 pa.s.s "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 doc.u.ments 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 a.s.sembly 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 circ.u.mstances. When the commander-in-chief found it necessary for the public good to call together this general council and a.s.sembly, 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 a.s.sembly accounts for the affairs of these different islands being wound up together, and laws which were pa.s.sed 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 extinguis.h.i.+ng; and as the scene of their exploits is generally in the vicinity of cane-pieces, where there is often a large quant.i.ty 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 a.s.saults.

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 a.s.sembly 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 circ.u.mstances 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 ma.s.sacre 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 n.o.bleman 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 circ.u.mstances 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 b.l.o.o.d.y 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 pa.s.sage:-"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 ma.s.sacred. 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 circ.u.mstance; 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 circ.u.mstance, 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 a.s.sembly 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 ma.s.sacre 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.

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.

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 n.o.ble 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 s.h.i.+pping, &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 pa.s.sed relating unto such officers.