Antigua and the Antiguans Volume I Part 5

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, d.i.c.kerson'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 ill.u.s.tration 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 quant.i.ty of land, and formed the first sugar estate upon the island, and, sending for his wife and children, const.i.tuted 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 _t.i.t-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 G.o.ddess, 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 a.s.sisted 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 a.s.sembly 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) pa.s.sed 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 a.s.sembly to serve in such capacity when elected.

The year 1692 was chiefly pa.s.sed 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 pa.s.sed for the settling of general councils and a.s.semblies.

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 G.o.dwin'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 anch.o.r.ed 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 sh.o.r.e, 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 princ.i.p.al 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 G.o.dwin, 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 circ.u.mstances 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 pa.s.sing through the Bay of Gibraltar, he met with very bad weather under a lee-sh.o.r.e. 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 sh.o.r.e, 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 a.s.sembly 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 a.s.semblies, 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 n.o.ble 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 hara.s.s 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 pa.s.sage. 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 pa.s.sed 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 a.s.sertion 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.

CHAPTER VI.