CHAPTER LIII.

Government—Governor-in-Chief—Council—Assembly—Government officers—Judicial officers—Ecclesiastical establishments—Schools—Fortifications and military defences—Revenue—Exports and imports—Population returns.

Antigua is the usual residence of the captain-general and governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands; and in his absence, the oldest member of council, who is styled president, acts as his deputy. But in case of the death of the governor, or his removal from the office, according to a recent arrangement, the lieutenant-governor of St. Kitt’s takes up his residence at Antigua, and officiates as governor until a fresh appointment is made.

The colonial government of Antigua is confided to the governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands—a council, nominated by the governor, and confirmed by the crown—and a house of assembly, consisting of twenty-five members, representing the capital town of St. John’s, and the twelve divisions, which the six parishes of the island compose, elected by the freeholders. The council act in two capacities—the one as the advisers of the governor in the administration of the executive branch of government; the other, as an upper house in the legislative assembly.

As the appointed advisers and assistants of the governor, his “privy council,” as they are termed, when acting in that capacity, the members of the council enjoy the title of “honourable;” and their concurrence, or that of three of their body, is required to most of the acts of the governor in his executive capacity. Their appointment, sometimes, is immediate from the crown, though the governor may, in case of a vacancy, appoint ad interim, until a confirmation, which is seldom withheld, is obtained. Leave of absence from the colony may be granted to a member of the council, by the governor, or his locum tenens, for six months, which may be extended by the crown to two years; but by a longer absence, a member incurs the forfeiture of his office. The governor, moreover, has the power to suspend any member of the council from the exercise of his office, until such time as the pleasure of the sovereign may be made known.

In their legislative capacity, the council assume to themselves, with regard to the members of assembly, as nearly as may be, the relation of the House of Lords to that of the Commons in England. Their officers are, a clerk and marshal, the former being the first colonial secretary, and often assuming the functions of the usher of the black rod. The senior member presides, under the title of president. They deliberate in private, excluding strangers, and enjoy the same freedom of debate as do the house of assembly, as the English parliament.

The house of assembly, assimilating itself, as it does, as closely as possible, to the usages of the English House of Commons, needs no further particular notice.

The governor, however, discharges two important functions, which are usually exercised by separate individuals. He acts as chancellor, or rather, as commissioner of the great seal, and, as such, presides in the court of equity; and up to the present time, he has also exercised all the functions of an ordinary, though, we believe, in practice, seldom going beyond granting licences for marriages, and admitting the probate of wills—acts for which he is not allowed to grant deputations; but this interference in matters of ecclesiastical jurisdiction may probably soon be dispensed with.

The chief officers of the island are—

1. The Governor, who receives a salary of 3000l. sterling from the British government, besides certain fees of office—as, on administering oaths on admission to certain public offices; on granting letters of administration, probate of wills, marriage licences, signature and great seal to writs of execution, letters of guardianship; on every motion made in the Court of Chancery, and on various other occasions; but the fees on granting leave of absence to a member of the council, or commissions to public offices, are usually the exclusive perquisites of his excellency’s private secretary.

2. Public Secretary.—His income, arising from fees, is said to equal, if not exceed, that of the governor.

3. Treasurer.—Receives from 800l. to 400l. per annum, and 2½ per cent. on all taxes and other moneys received; and also the same on all moneys paid away. He is required to give security on this appointment, from the governor, to the amount of 10,000l. currency.

4. Master in Chancery.—His income varies with the amount of business occurring. His fees are, 15s. 2d. for every hour, with other charges in proportion, when accounts are passing before him.

5. The Registrar of Deeds was formerly paid in sugar; but now, for every ninety-six words recorded in his office, he receives 2s., and the same sum for every year in which a search is made for any particular deed in his records. The returns of this office, as of the two preceding, being wholly dependent on fees, it is not easy to estimate their average amount.

6. The Provost Marshal receives a fixed salary of 600l., which is paid from fees, out of which the gaoler also receives a salary of 160l. All incidental expenses attendant on these two offices are also discharged from the same fund; and there is always a surplus remaining, which is placed at the disposal of the governor.

7. The Harbour Master receives 50l. per annum currency for boat-hire, and a fee, varying from 4s. 6d. to 22s. 6d., on certain vessels coming into the harbour, according to tonnage, from 30 tons to 300, and upwards. This officer seems less adequately provided for than any other, considering the attention required, and the responsibility attendant on his office.

8. The Postmaster, who is paid by the home government, receives 80l. sterling per annum.

The judicial officers connected with the colony are numerous, considered with respect to the population; but as none, with the exception of the chief judge, receive pecuniary remuneration, and he only 300l. sterling,^[[72]] and from fees, the appointments, although high-sounding, are, with this exception, only honorary, and almost parallel with that of the unpaid, though not less useful, magistracy of England. The appointments are as follow:—A chief judge; four assistant justices; a chief baron of the exchequer; judge of the vice-admiralty court; registrar of the vice-admiralty court; two masters examiners of chancery; registrar in chancery; provost marshal, advocate, and attorney-general; procurator and solicitor-general; three king’s counsel and a coroner, (the latter receiving 300l. per annum sterling from the colony.) The office of coroner is filled by Sir Robert Horsford, the attorney-general. To these must be added two stipendiary magistrates, appointed under the provisions of the act for the abolition of slavery, and paid by the home government.

The ecclesiastical establishment now comprises a bishop, receiving 2000l.; an archdeacon, receiving 500l. sterling from the British government; the rector of the parish of St. John, receiving, with a curate, 330l. from the colony; the rector of the parish of St. George, who receives a stipend of 230l. sterling; the rector of the parish of St. Paul’s, who receives 250l. sterling; the rector of the parish of St. Peter’s, who receives 300l. sterling; and the rector of the parish of St. Philip’s, who receives a stipend of 275l. sterling.

The stipends are raised by rates on the several parishes; and in addition to these, the clergy receive the usual surplice fees.

There are several day and night schools belonging to the Established Church—viz.,

St John’s—one boys’ and one girls’; two infant-schools at the Rectory; on Manning’s Estate, Cedar Valley, Marble Hill, St. James’s, St. Luke’s, African Hospital; three evening-schools in St. John’s, and four Sunday-schools, besides at the various parishes in the island. The instruction which is generally given is reading and repeating the scriptures and church catechism, and also certain lessons and hymns. The number of children instructed by the clergy may be reckoned at about 2300.

There are twelve churches, including four chapels of ease. One of these chapels of ease is the private property of the Honourable and Reverend Nath. Gilbert, the descendant of the founder of Methodism in this country, which contains 400 sittings.

	Sittings.
St. John’s church contains	1600
St. George’s	600
St. Peter’s, (town of Parham,) old church	300
St. Philip’s, (near Willoughby Bay)	433
St. Paul’s, (Falmouth)	400
St. Mary’s, (Old Road)	250
St. John’s parish has three chapels of ease—one at Popehead, called St. James’s	420
Bendall’s Bridge, St. Luke’s	400
And one in town	150
St. Peter’s, one chapel of ease, (private property of Nath. Gilbert)	400
St. Philip’s	260
St. Paul’s, (a temporary chapel at English Harbour)	350
St. Mary’s, (in Ffryes Valley)	250

There is also a temporary chapel at the common gaol, which may be supposed to contain 150 sittings. The Rev. Robert Holberton volunteered, in the early part of 1829, to deliver a religious discourse every Sunday morning, between the hours of seven and eight o’clock, and has not grown weary in this laudable cause. He attends the prison at all times when serious consolations are required, and more particularly those who may have to suffer death by paying the penalty of the law.

Account of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials.
		Baptisms.	Marriages.	Burials.
1836	Parish of St. John’s	310	112	150
	St. George’s	74	38	36
	St. Peter’s	116	52	24
	St. Paul’s	74	47	39
	St. Mary’s	60	40	14
	St. Philip’s	122	40	19
	Total	756	329	282
1837	Church	662	246	393
1838	”	528	316	313
1839	”	723	468	420
1837	Wesleyan Society	96	0	112
1838	”	108	0	114
1839	”	95	0	85
1837	Moravians	383	0	318
1838	”	249	0	256
1839	”	265	0	254

The Wesleyan society has several Sunday-schools, also day scholars, exclusive of night-schools, which may be reckoned as follows:—From the “Ladies’ Society,” and the “Wesleyan Missionary,” conducted by voluntary contributions:—

	Scholars.	Teachers.
Sunday-school	1782	155
Day-school	962	19
The Moravian Mission has	1115	0
Besides infant children, whose number may be estimated at about	1800	0
The members of their church may be estimated at about 9000.

Fortifications.—There are seven forts—namely,

	Sterling.
Fort James, which costs the country for captain’s salary	150l.	0s.
Fort George	112l.	10s.
Fort Johnson’s Point	60l.	0s.
Fort Byam	50l.	0s.
Old Road	59l.	12s.
Goat Hill Battery	60l.	0s.
Rat Island	60l.	0s.

The amount expended for the military defence of this country, sustained by the colony exclusively, not under the control of the ordnance department, amounts to near 2500l. sterling; and that incurred by Great Britain in this time of peace is sometimes over 24,000l. sterling. Some years it may be 1000l. or so under, and particularly now the island has no militia, as it ceased to exist in July, 1838, by order of her Majesty in council.

Revenue.—The comparatively yearly revenue may be estimated at about 19,000l. sterling. The expenditure is generally more, which is raised by ¼d. assessed upon all lands; 1d. on every 100 lbs. of sugar; 3d. on every 100 gallons of rum and molasses; a street-tax, and a per centage upon all dwelling-houses or merchant-warehouses, according to the exigencies of the case; also a cistern-tax upon all dwelling-houses of the annual rent of 60l., not having a cistern on or belonging thereto; (while this is a very necessary precaution in cases of fire, it brings in a very good revenue;) an import duty imposed by the British parliament on all American importations, (part of this only is paid into the island treasury, as a per centage is first detained by the collector of her Majesty’s customs for defraying the expenses of officers’ salaries; however, the surplus paid into the treasury may be computed at 9000l. currency annually, but has at times amounted to 16,000l.;) also another import duty, levied by our colonial legislature on all goods imported not coming under the act of the imperial parliament, but such as upon all British or other articles of foreign manufacture may not be considered dutyable, in that case, 2l. 10s. upon every 100l. is paid; also an annual sum is paid by every retailer of spirituous liquors, wines, and beer; and a customs duty on wine imported, (except it be brought from Madeira and the Western Islands.

	£.	s.	d.
To Great Britain	430,210	0	0
To North America, United States, and the West India Islands	35,806	17	6
	£466,016	17	6

To Great Britain, North America, the West India Islands, United States, and Foreign Ports, consisted of 284,526 casks of sugar, 716,545 gallons of rum, 5910 gallons of molasses, 160,510 pounds of cotton, 4l. sterling worth of dyeing woods, and 48,000l. worth of other miscellaneous articles, which together amounted to

£592,596

	No. of Vessels.	Tons.	No. of Men
From Great Britain.	55	11783	634
From North America.	50	4410	256
From West Indies.	142	6997	730
From United States.	58	6692	375
From Foreign Ports.	80	2608	336
Totals.	385	32,490	2331

	No. of Vessels.	Tons.	No. of Men
To Great Britain.	55	11498	628
To North America.	39	3334	197
To the West Indies.	191	10482	982
To the United States.	31	3686	211
To Foreign Ports.	91	3522	399
Totals.	407	32,522	2417

	£.	s.	d.
To Great Britain	228,612	0	0
To North America	12,803	10	0
To West Indies	37,766	19	6
To United States	10,372	18	0
To Foreign Ports	7,090	15	0
	£296,646	2	6

	Number of Vessels.	Tons.
From Great Britain	51	11,334
From North America and the West Indies	254	10,968
From the United States	79	11,657
From Foreign Ports	158	3,650

Total Number of Men	2,925
Total Number of Vessels	542
Total Number of Tons	37,609

	Number of Vessels.	Tons.
To Great Britain	56	12,953
To North America and the West Indies	251	10,297
To the United States	26	3,844
To Foreign Ports	142	10,781

Total Number of Men	3,133
Total Number of Vessels	475
Total Number of Tons	37,375

	£.	s.	d.
To Great Britain	401,624	4	6
To North America and the West Indies	328	0	0
	£401,952	4	6

	Number of Whites.	Number of Coloured.	Number of Negroes.
1673	no account taken.	no account taken.	500
1690	600		no account taken.
1707	2892	no account taken.	12,892
1720	3672		19,186
1724	5200		19,800
1729	4088		22,611
1734	3772		24,408
1756	3412		31,428
1774	2590		37,808
1787	2590	1230	37,808
1788	no account taken.	no account taken.	36,000
1805	3000	1300	36,000
1810	3000		37,000
1817	no account taken.	no account taken.	32,249
1824			30,314
1827			29,839
1831			29,537

Census Taken in 1821.
	Area in miles square.	Number of White Males.	Number of White Females.	Total number of Whites.	Number of Coloured Males.	Number of Coloured Females.	Total number of Coloured.
St. John’s	17,955	644	563	1207	1210	1623	2833
St. Philip’s	10,881	116	46	162	62	99	161
St. George’s	6000	56	35	91	24	44	68
St. Mary’s	14,190	81	43	124	65	94	159
St. Peter’s	8310	100	37	137	53	65	118
St. Paul’s	11,941	142	117	259	292	435	727
	69,277	1139	841	1980	1706	2360	4066
Number of negroes in six parishes, 30,985.

No census has been taken since 1821, but the population now may be estimated at about the same. The greatest bulk is employed in agriculture; the manufacture is sugar, rum, and molasses. The island is supposed to contain 69,299 miles, or 108 square miles, consequently the average population is estimated to the square mile in this island to be about 343.

[[72]] It most be remarked that this salary is not a determined one. The judge receives it as a boon from the existing legislature. His successor may, perhaps, only obtain the honour conferred by the appointment.

Supplemental Chapter.

Since the foregoing pages have been written, many and great events have occurred in Antigua. St. John’s, the capital of the island, has been raised to the dignity of a city, by the mandate of her most gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, (as announced by official letter of his excellency the governor-in-chief, Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, K.H., dated 10th November, 1842;) the church constituted a cathedral church and an episcopal see; and our former worthy archdeacon has become the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Antigua. The rector of St. John’s, the Rev. R. Holberton, has most deservedly been appointed archdeacon, (as well as rector,) in the room of Dr. Davis, the present bishop. The first ordination held in the island took place on Tuesday, the 25th July, 1843. The governor-in-chief. Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, has ably conducted the government, and made himself universally and deservedly beloved and respected for his zeal and strenuous exertions for the common good. His excellency first met the council and assembly at the court house, on Thursday, the 21st of February, 1842, where he was received by a guard of honour, (of part of the 81st regiment, then stationed in Antigua.) After taking his seat in the council chamber, his excellency delivered in person a most flattering inaugural speech to the legislature; addresses were then returned by the council and assembly, to each of which his excellency made most gracious answers. Upon the breaking up of the meeting, his excellency returned to government house, where he held a levee, (which was numerously attended,) and received congratulatory addresses from the clergymen of the church of England, the Moravian ministers, the Wesleyan missionaries, and the members of the Presbyterian association.

The Scotch kirk has been nearly completed, and opened for divine service; an able preacher from Scotland, the Rev. A. Brown, is the officiating minister. Until the opening of the new church, the court house was kindly lent to the members of this persuasion to hold their Sunday service in; and where the Rev. Mr. Brown poured forth a strain of pure, unaffected devotion, and delivered a series of sermons, whose beauty lay not only in words, but in the grand religious truths they inculcated.

Agricultural societies have been formed, much to the interest of that useful class of men, the agriculturists. In these societies, prizes have been awarded to the following:—

To manager who makes the largest quantity of sugar per acre, on average crop—a silver tea-pot, value 8l.

To manager who makes best quality of sugar—a silver cup, value 7l.

To manager who makes the largest quantity of sugar per acre, from second ratoons, being not less than five acres—a silver ladle, value 4l.

To manager who has been most successful with his stock during the year—a silver knife, value 3l.

To the overseer who shall produce the best plan of a plantation, pay, boiling-house, and still-house books—a pair of silver spoons, value 2l.

To labourers who have worked the greatest number of days in the year on one property—five prizes, from 10s. to two dollars each, currency.

To those parents who have the largest number of children employed in agriculture—five prizes, from 10s. currency, to two dollars each.

To stock-keepers who have remained during the year, and have been most successful with the stock—five prizes, from 10s. to two dollars.

A popular institution for intellectual improvement has also been instituted at St. John’s, in which several lectures have been given upon various interesting subjects.

On the 12th of June, 1842, a very bright and beautiful meteor passed over the town of St. John’s, in a direction from east to west. Its form was globular; and as it passed rapidly along the heavens, it emitted bright spiral flashes of fire, which gilded the sky, and threw deep shadows upon the earth. During its progress, it was attended by a rushing noise, sufficient to call the attention of those who did not even notice its extreme brilliancy. Possibly this meteor might have belonged to the class termed aerolites; many of such phenomena have appeared, from time to time, in this quarter of the globe: one fell at Bahia, in Brazil, which weighed 14,000 pounds, and another, (still preserved in the British Museum,) which fell at Buenos Ayres, weighed 1400 pounds.

The next great event to be recorded, is the awful earthquake, with which Antigua and many of the other Leeward Islands was visited, on Wednesday, the 8th of February, 1843. About half-past ten o’clock a. m., a low, hollow, rumbling sound arrested the attention, and announced, in its own peculiar solemn tone, the coming of an earthquake. Immediately after this awful warning, a tremor of the earth was felt, which gradually increasing in violence, led the frightened inhabitants to rush from their houses, and seek safety in the open air. Heart-rending were the screams, fervent and numerous were the calls for mercy, from the assembled groups. The air was darkened with the dust from the falling buildings, as well as from the sulphureous exhalations which issued from the opening earth, and almost stopped respiration. In Antigua, the extent of damage was immense. Out of fourteen parish churches, (including the chapels of ease,) only two remain uninjured. St. Paul’s, situated at Falmouth, was entirely destroyed; as also St. Stephen’s chapel of ease, the district church of All Saints, and the chapel schools of St. Bartholomew’s and St. Mark’s, not long ago erected. The new church of St. Peter’s, which has been mentioned in these pages as being in a state of progress at Parham, and which was expected to be completed and opened for Divine service in 1843, was also much rent and injured. The pretty parish church of St. Philip’s was cracked from top to bottom, and rendered unsafe, and the school-house was levelled with the ground. St. James’s chapel of ease was severely injured, and the north and south wings fell. The school-room at St. Barnaby’s was rent in several places; and at St. Stephen’s a similar building was entirely levelled. The school-room at Brecknocks was also rendered unsafe. There were 172 sugar-mills upon the island, most of which upon that eventful morning had been “put in the wind,” and were merrily going with the breeze, crushing between their powerful machinery the golden canes, and sending a rich stream of luscious juice through the several pipes into the boiling-houses; of these thirty-five were entirely levelled with the ground, eighty-two split from top to bottom, and the remaining fifty-five almost all of them injured, requiring numerous repairs. Among those most seriously injured may be mentioned—

“Bellevue, Messrs. Shand’s—down.
Renfew’s—down.
Belmont’s—down.
Bath Lodge, property of Walters—down.
Green Castle’s, Sir Henry Martin’s works and mansion—down.
Lower Freeman’s—down.
Sir Geo. Thomas’s works, and part of the mansion—down; the manager was obliged to take up his quarters under a shed.
Little Duers—down.
Big Duers—down.
Ffrys—down.
Elliot’s, part of sugar works—down.
Potter’s—down.
La Roche’s—down.
Baijer Otto Baijer’s—down.
Mount Pleasant—down.
Rock Hill—down.
Delap’s—down.
George Byam’s—partly down.
Patterson’s new steam-mill, and works—down.
Monterea’s—down.
Paynter’s—down.
Gunthorp’s—down.
Claremont’s, the seat of the Hon. W. E. Williams, untenantable, and works of two estates—down.
Gambles, Admiral Tollemache’s—down.
The Wood—down.
Fryar’s Hill—down.
McKinnon’s—down.
The newly erected sugar-works of Wm. Williams, Esq.—down.
&c. &c. &c.”

The city of St. John’s suffered severely, and after the earthquake, presented a most dismal appearance. About one-third of the stores and dwellings were levelled with the ground; and the remainder (with the exception of those buildings erected of wood) so shattered and torn, that they were rendered untenantable. Some of the houses were completely twisted round, presenting an acute angle to the street, instead of their usual position. The cranes at the water’s edge were many of them lifted out of the ground; and in several of the stores, streams of water bubbled up through the interstices of the pavement. The court-house, police-office, (formerly the old jail,) the arsenal, the new jail and barracks, the registrar’s office, treasurer’s office, governor’s secretary’s office, (recently erected,) colonial bank, Antigua library-rooms, &c., were all of them rent and torn, and several rendered unsafe. The cathedral of St. John’s was damaged to a great extent, the tower being rent from top to bottom, the north dial of the clock precipitated to the ground, and part of the east wall of the tower thrown upon the roof of the church. The handsome altar-piece was entirely destroyed; and many of the monuments which graced the walls of the cathedral were hurled from their resting-places, and shivered into atoms. Of these were the tombs of Lord Lavington, Warner, Kelsick, Ottley, and Atkinson. The font was thrown off its pedestal, seven of the large pipes in the front of the organ knocked out, and much damage done to the interior of that instrument. The whole of the south-east walls of the cathedral were thrown into the churchyard, carrying with them some of the ornamental ground-glass windows. The north-west walls fell in one mass of ruins, while the north-east protruded beyond the perpendicular. The north and south vestibules were almost blocked up by the piles of massy stones and bricks. The churchyard also presented a melancholy appearance, many of the tombs being rent open, and split in various places.

Before this awful event, it had been the intention of the vestry to enter into a contract for raising the tower, and improving its architectural adornments, as also to make some alteration in the chancel.

The school-room erected near the rectory of St. John’s was also very much dilapidated; and the national-school for girls was so much injured as to require being taken down.

The new Wesleyan Chapel was fearfully rent, and doubts were at first entertained for the safety of the building; but upon a mature deliberation, it was determined to repair it without pulling it down; which has since been done.

The nearly finished Scotch kirk met with a severe injury, its walls being cracked in several places.

The ministers of the established church in St. John’s performed service under a large tent, erected to the east of the Daily Meal Society’s buildings, and also in the Conversion Society’s school-room, and the African hospital.

The Scotch and Wesleyan ministers were accommodated at the Mico and Moravian school-room, or beneath a grove of trees, near to the spot where Governor Parke met his fate; and for one day in the week, at the Moravian Chapel.

Almost every kitchen and oven in the island was destroyed; and many of the capacious cisterns ruined. In some of them, the water was so deeply impregnated with sulphur, or mixed with the fallen mortar, as to be perfectly unusable.

Oh! awful indeed was this fearful visitation of the Almighty! The loftiest looks of men were humbled, and the stoutest hearts were bowed down. Tremendous—terrible was the shock! The earth reeled as if about to be over-thrown; and scarce could the strongest man keep his footing. The island shook from its very centre; and in many parts the ground opened, and emitted columns of noxious sulphureous water. The sea felt the powerful hand of its Maker, and rose several feet above its highest mark; while in some parts it dashed up the streets to the distance of many yards.

The excess of terror occasioned by this awful throe of Nature was so great, that many individuals threw themselves over the wharfs, and sought refuge in the treacherous waves. Still their fears were not allayed; for the sea was so turbulent that they were under the necessity of again seeking dry land to save themselves from being engulfed in its yawning abyss. The legislature met at government-house on the 13th, (the court-house being in an unsafe condition,) by special command, to take into consideration the best way of averting, as far as human endeavours could, the direful results likely to accrue from the late calamity. A grant of 500l. currency was placed at the disposal of a committee, for the purpose of supporting the roof and plate of the cathedral, and rendering it in some measure safe for divine worship. The vestry met on the 24th March, under the tents, and among other resolutions agreed to make a record of the event in the church books. The dock-yard at English Harbour—the pride of the Caribbee Islands—has suffered greatly; the excellent wharfs racked and rent; in some places they sank down to the level of the sea, in others, they were heaved up and down, like the billows of the great deep; the massy stone and brick buildings erected within the yard were nearly all of them injured; the officers’ quarters severely rent; the cordage stores, &c., cracked from top to bottom; the fine capacious cisterns ruined. The superintendent’s office, &c., was also much impaired and rent; and the stone platform which ran along the commissioners’ room moved out of its place, and the pavement beneath literally wrested up. The guard-house and midshipmen’s quarters were greatly damaged, and the stone building near presented an awful appearance, one side of it having sunk some depth into the ground, while that part of the wharf contiguous to it was fearfully rent. In the boat-house, the massy stone circular pillars which supported the shed were very much cracked, and one of them was separated from its pedestal and hurled to the ground. The blacksmith’s shop, paint stores, &c., were left but as “tottering walls,” while the long line of cliffs and stone walls that topped the hill at the back of the yard were shivered in all directions. St. Helena was also much injured, and the embattled walls of Fort Berkley, at the mouth of the harbour, were overthrown. The superintendent of the yard, Jos. Hart, Esq., estimated the damage at about £20,000. In many parts of the yard the ground looked as if ploughed up, while in others, deep and broad fissures, strongly impregnated with sulphur, opened their yawning mouths. It was, at first, asserted that the mouth of the harbour had been obstructed by the fallen rocks; but upon a careful survey, the water was found to be deeper, if anything, than before the awful occurrence. At the Ridge, the terrible effects of the earthquake were also felt. The stone stores and barracks were either thrown down, or so severely rent that they were unsafe, and the privates were accommodated under tents for some time after. The small stone building, situated at the extreme point of Shirley Heights, (erected for the accommodation of the signal-man,) fell at the commencement of the shock, burying beneath its ruins a baby of four months old, but which was afterwards extricated and restored to its distressed parents unhurt, with the exception of a trifling scratch. The town of Falmouth presented but a mass of ruins—its church was levelled with the ground, and the tombs in the churchyard rent open, as if the last great day was come. The fortifications at Monk’s-hill were cracked and rent in many places; and near to the spot, a huge rock was lifted up by the oscillations of the earth, from the place where it had reposed for centuries, and hurled to the opposite side of the road.

Dows Hill, the country residence of the governor, suffered great injury, and his excellency Sir C. A. Fitzroy lost furniture to the amount of 1000l. sterling. De Witts, the seat of Sir Robert Horsford, Knt., solicitor-general of Antigua, was nearly levelled with the ground, and several other delightful country residences partly destroyed. The lately established villages were nearly all dismantled—their neat little stone cottages in ruins. Many of the Moravian and Wesleyan settlements throughout the island have suffered very much, as well as several of the forts. Rat Island battery is also much damaged, as well as the new lunatic asylum erected there. In many parts of the island, pools of water were formed, where hitherto no appearance of moisture was to be found; while in other places, established ponds were completely dried up.

The boats and ships in the harbour were fearfully affected. The island could not be seen for the space of ten minutes, from the dense cloud which arose from it. The hills which encircle the harbour were fearfully shaken; and at that part known as “Hatton’s-hill” the effects were truly terrific. The whole of this eminence, which rises rather conically, is rent into yawning fissures to the extent of about eighteen or nineteen acres. This spot had been appropriated to the negroes’ provision ground; and in one place, a portion of their well-cultivated gardens slipped from the brow of the hill, and, still clothed with its vegetable productions, half way filled up one of the chasms, (in breadth from three to four feet,) cleft in the solid ground. Upon the margin of the sea, another deep abyss presents itself. The solid rock is rent asunder, in extent to about forty feet long, thirty feet deep, and near seventy feet wide. That peculiarly shaped rock known to mariners as “Ship’s Stern,” and which has proved for so long a time a sure landmark to pilots, was shivered to pieces; and McNish’s mountain (the highest in the island) very much rent and fissured. Several shocks were felt during the next forty-eight hours, and the ground appeared to have a tremulous motion for several weeks after. A proclamation was issued by his excellency Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, setting apart Friday, the 14th of February, a day of “public humiliation and thanksgiving before God, in acknowledgment of his Divine power, so fearfully and wonderfully displayed, as well as his mercy and forbearance in sparing the island from utter destruction,” which was kept throughout Antigua. At Barbuda, the earthquake was also severely felt—all the stone buildings, with the exception of a small school-room, fell.

Barbados, St. Vincents, Martinique, Dominica, and St. Thomas, felt the shock but slightly. Guadaloupe was the greatest sufferer of the group. One whole town. Point à Pitre, was entirely destroyed, and upwards of 4000 souls perished, while about 600 were severely wounded. A few days after the earthquake. Admiral Gourbeyre, the governor of Guadaloupe, despatched the “Papillon” man-of-war to Antigua to inquire into its state, and render all the assistance possible. She brought the intelligence, that out of the inhabitants of one entire street, only one individual (a female) was saved alive. Soon after the earthquake, a fire broke out, and consumed what the earthquake had spared. An American master of a ship was taken into custody for secreting many articles of value, (the property of the sufferers,) on board his ship. His sentence would have been death; but on account of his having been seen to render assistance to some of the poor creatures who were partly buried beneath the fallen buildings, it was mitigated, and he was condemned to serve on board the galley for a certain term.

At Monserrat, the effects of the earthquake were severely experienced. Scarcely a house in the island that had the least particle of brick-work about it was uninjured; and some were so rent, that they were obliged to be pulled down. A great many of the buildings on the sugar estates were levelled with the ground, and otherwise severely injured. The fall of earth was so great from the mountain, and the dust so thick, that it was at first supposed to be a fresh eruption from the Souffrière, a volcanic mountain.

The following is an extract from a letter from a resident upon the island:—

“I was about five hundred yards from the sulphur pit, opening an old spring of fresh water; the earthquake commenced gradually—the oscillation slow. Though sensible it was an earthquake, I was under no apprehension, till of a sudden I heard a dreadful noise. On looking towards the mountain over the sulphur, it was enveloped in one mass of smoke as I thought. It was then time to move my quarters, but I was thrown upon my back by the violent motion. The path that I returned I observed cracking; I called to the man to be cautious—it was giving way—he came instantly forward, saying it was well we got over as we did, for the path was fallen in. The mountain, to the extent of a mile, is rent in various places. A man this moment has returned from the sulphur, stating that the crater is open, but does not perceive any greater appearance of smoke from it than usual.”

We passed Monserrat three days after the earthquake. From the deck of the steamer we could perceive that large slips from the mountains were still falling; and every now and then a cloud of dust arose.

St. Christopher’s also suffered very severely, the damage done being immense. The stone dwellings and stores in Basseterre, the capital of the island, fearfully shook and rent,—some of the finest, but a mass of ruins, and others rendered unsafe. The north and south vestibules of the parochial church of St. George were severely injured, as well as the walls of the main building, which in some places were rent from top to bottom. The clock stopped at half-past ten, the time the earthquake commenced; many of the mural monuments which adorned the interior of the church were also destroyed. The Female Benevolent Institution was much damaged, and the West Indian Bank rent and split. The reading-rooms also suffered, the south gable having fallen into the street beneath. One large dwelling, situated in the square, and known as “Wall House,” fell a complete prey to the violence of the rockings. The entire side walls fell down, which striking upon a horse-stable beneath, buried the unfortunate animals in the ruins. Some of the private dwelling-houses were completely gutted, nothing remaining of them but the exterior walls. The gaol was so shattered, that the prisoners had to be removed, and accommodated for the night in the hospital adjoining. The square was crowded with a concourse of persons of every age, sex, and condition—pride, rank, power, were alike forgotten—as upon bended knees, or with clasped hands and pallid lips, they invoked the aid of that Great Being “who rideth upon the wings of the wind,” and at whose rebuke “the earth shook and trembled, and the foundation also of the hills moved, and were shaken.”

The estates in the country suffered greatly; steam-engines, windmills, boiling-houses, proprietors’ dwellings, &c., the labour of many years, were in one moment levelled with the ground. The works and dwelling-house at Bevan Island, (in the parish of St John’s,) situated upon a cliff, were lifted from their foundations, and hurled into the ravine below. St. Peter’s church was also greatly injured, as well as the Moravian church at Cayon. Upon one estate, report said, that three negro-houses sank into the earth; and in the vicinity, the ground opened, and a pool of water, of a particularly white and clear quality, was formed. In the neighbourhood of Sandy Point, at an estate belonging to the Payne family, the earth also opened, and vomited forth from its secret depths fumes of sulphureous vapour. Fort George, at Brimstone Hill, has felt the shock in a serious manner; while the mountain itself is, in many places, despoiled of its beauty, from the land-slips which have taken place. From Mount Misery, the highest point of the island, a long spiral cloud of white smoke was seen to ascend during the time of the earthquake; and the sulphureous spring situated in its centre is said to have overflowed its bounds.

At Johnstone’s, or French River, a melancholy catastrophe occurred. It is a spot chosen by the washerwomen of Basseterre as the scene of their necessary avocations; and upon the eventful morning of the earthquake, about ten of these females were busily employed in washing, in a natural basin, (formed by huge rocks,) at the moment of the shock taking place. Seven of these women fortunately escaped by flight; but the three, who were exactly underneath the cliff, met a more melancholy fate. At the commencement of the awful commotion, an immense rock parted from this cliff, and fell into the stream below. The affrighted females fled from the scene of danger; but, alas! the increased oscillations of the earth caused it to rebound with fearful velocity, and striking against a larger rock, it split into three or four pieces, and thus dealt destruction to each of the poor panic-stricken women! From some parts of St. Christopher’s, the Dutch island of St. Eustatia was seen to tremble like an aspen-leaf. Nevis also felt the dire commotion; the streets of the capital presented but one mass of ruins. The bath-house, an immense pile of the strongest masonry, was split and rent in every direction, and some of the massive stones riven in two. The court-house was greatly injured—many of the finest of the stores and dwelling-houses levelled, and the busy marts become mere heaps of rubbish. In many parts of the island, the earth was rent open to the extent of several inches—cliffs toppled down—columns of water were thrown up, and pools formed, where, prior to the awful visitation, nothing of the kind was to be perceived. Many of the estates also suffered great devastations; and some of the inhabitants left their tottering houses, and took shelter beneath sheds and outhouses.

It is impossible to describe the appearance presented in these different islands; indeed, it baffles all description. The scene cannot be painted, and language fails to impart the terror and alarm which prevailed. It was a beautiful day throughout the archipelago—the sun was abroad in all its glory, shedding a fervid ray over every object, and gilding the waters of the blue Caribbean, which lay quietly smiling beneath its influence. The breeze was as soft as an infant’s sigh, and the wide canopy of heaven was spread aloft in all its beauty. Little then did

“Coming events cast their shadows before them.”

A few minutes more, and darkness brooded over the land; and then, as it cleared away, the devastations presented themselves to the wondering gaze, and caused the strongest mind to quail! Yet, who could repine? for how signal was the mercy of God, who, amid all the dire convulsions, spared the lives of so many of his trembling creatures!

At the Savannah, besides many other places in the Union, the shock, which extended north as far as New York, was felt.

On the 8th February, the day of the great earthquake, the waters of the river Tiber, which washes the city of Rome, rose suddenly to such an immense height, as to inundate the houses to the first story. In Portugal, about the same time, loud subterranean thunder was heard; and soon after, the earth opened, and sent up large volumes of water, which overflowed the country for some miles. In the course of the following month, (March,) shocks of earthquake were felt in several places, from Liverpool and London north, as far as Van Dieman’s Land south. In Jamaica, several smart shocks were experienced, which caused great excitement, and a day of public fast and humiliation was set apart by the government. The Grand Cayman (one of the three islands called Caymanas, lying between Jamaica and Cuba) has disappeared. This group of islands is inhabited principally by the descendants of the old buccaneers, who used to frequent these seas in former years, and negro turtle-fishers. They take their name from being a resort for the cayman, or alligator, who frequent these shores for the purpose of depositing their eggs in the sand. Trinidad has also been visited by several shocks of earthquake.

These several instances shew how very general these awful convulsions have been within the space of a few weeks; and prove to us (setting aside superstitious notions) that we ought seriously to consider “the signs of the times.” Great fears were expressed by many of the credulous in America, upon feeling, or hearing of the earthquake; as on 1st January, the same year, a proclamation had been issued, by an American Millerite, in the following alarming words:—

“Great Earthquake!—To all the people far and near, to dreadful warning give ear. Jan. 11, 1183, there will be a great earthquake; three shocks in succession in all the whole world. Let all the people believe, and tremble before God; for the time will come when the saints will possess the kingdom. Jan. 31, 1843, the door of mercy will be shut against the whole world.—Now, my dear friends, I would advise you to flee for mercy, while the door of mercy is open. The Spirit of God testifies these things which are coming on the earth.”

As soon as the events of this distressing earthquake became known in the sister colonies, meetings were held by the legislature, to take into consideration the best means of alleviating the wants and distresses of the Antiguan and other sufferers. Barbados was the first island which despatched a grant for the relief of the sufferers in the several islands. Trinidad granted 1000l. sterling; St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Jamaica, the Bahamas, &c., joined in their benevolence.

The subject of the great earthquake, and the loss met with by Antigua, was brought before the House of Commons on the 14th of March, 1843, by W. A. Mackinnon, Esq., M.P. for Lymington. A meeting was held in London on the 11th of March, for the purpose of taking measures for the relief of the sufferers in Antigua. The agent for the island, Dr. Nugent, presided at the meeting, at which also the bishop, Dr. Davis, was present, and was requested by the meeting to attend Dr. Nugent in his interview with the principal secretary of state for the colonies, for the purpose of soliciting aid from government.

Extensive subscriptions have been entered into at London and Liverpool,^[[73]] &c. Her most gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, the Duchess of Kent, and that exemplary and benevolent lady the Dowager Queen of England, with many of the nobility and commoners of England, have all most kindly and liberally bestowed that aid, so truly wanted by the distressed colonists.

It must be remarked, that the sufferers by this most awful and unprecedented occurrence are not to be found among the humbler grades of life, but in most instances are those who move in the higher and middle classes—individuals who are, generally speaking, endued with keener sensibilities, and who will thus feel more the change which, no doubt, will reduce many of them from comparative luxury to extreme want, unless most effectual aid be rendered to them.

Soon after the earthquake, the Royal Mail Steam-packet Company’s ship Actæon was dispatched from St. Thomas’s, to learn the fate of the colonies.

The “Thames,” the Royal Mail Steam-packet Company’s ship, Capt. Haste, was passing Antigua at the moment of the shock. Capt. Haste says, “The Thames was brought up as if on a reef of rocks, to his own dismay, and the dismay of all on board, and continued for a short period to jump and kick as if beating on rocks.”

The shock was felt severely at sea. “The brig British Queen, Capt. Kennedy, from Whitehaven, lat. 17° 3′ north, long. 58° 45′, ship going six knots, felt a severe shock of earthquake, which stopped her way when 160 miles due east of the island, on the 8th, which lasted about four minutes.” A French brig coming to St. Thomas’s, “off Tortola, felt the shock so severely, he (the captain) thought that the vessel had struck on a rock.”

Soon after the earthquake. Admiral Sir Charles Adams arrived at Antigua, in order to inspect the dock-yard. Before the earthquake, the barometer was noticed to vary from 30° to one-tenth higher; and on the 8th of February it stood at 30·2 in.

The next event of importance was the appearance in the heavens of a most beautiful comet. The first time this beauteous stranger was observed in Antigua, was on the 3rd of March, 1843. Its first appearance was like a scarf of clear white, shooting up from the horizon, and forming an arch of about 30°. The nucleus not being above the horizon, this phenomenon was supposed to be similar to the aurora-borealis; but as it gradually ascended the heavens, this idea was dissipated, and it was clearly seen to be a comet. Upon the evening it was first observed, a very splendid meteor passed over the town. Admiral Sir Charles Adams, on his way from Port Henderson to Spanish Town, Jamaica, observed this wondrous traveller, and made the following observations upon it, on board her Majesty’s ship “Illustrious:”—

“March 4th, 1843. About fifty minutes after sunset, observed a strong ray of light in the west-by-south quarter, supposed to be a zodiacal light.

“March 5th. The same seen.

“March 6th. It proved to be a comet, the tail subtending an angle of 37° 14″.

“March 7th. At forty minutes past seven, p. m., angular distance from Sirius 83° 50″, length of tail 34° 28″

“March 8th, At forty-seven minutes past seven p. m., angular distance from Sirius 80° 19′; length of tail 29° 54″

“March 9th. Cloudy.

“March 10th. At fifty-four minutes past seven, p. m., angular distance from Sirius, 74° 48′ 20″; length of tail, 24° 16′.

“March 11th. The same was seen,—much less brilliant.”

The appearance of this eccentric body caused great excitement, occurring as it did so recently after the earthquake. When first perceived, it was supposed by many to be a lunar rainbow; but its steady movements and long continuance soon dispelled this idea. At times the stars could be distinguished through it, while at other periods they were hidden from observation. This comet, it appears, was discovered by Mr. Glaisher, of the Cambridge Observatory, as far back as the 28th of October, 1842. When discovered, “its north declination was nearly 69°, with right ascension of 16h. 40m. Now (Dec. 3) it has south declination of 34°, and right ascension of 19h. 16m. From the immense rapidity of its motion as it approaches its perihelion, it is probable that it is a comet of very long period. It seems this comet is not identical with the Chinese one of 1301, but coincides with the comet of Halley.” This is Mr. Glaisher’s own statement of the appearance of this wonderful heavenly body.

On Good Friday, being the 14th April, 1843, the cathedral of St. John’s was re-opened for public worship, after being temporarily repaired for that purpose. An appropriate and impressive sermon was preached by the archdeacon, to a numerous congregation. All the other places of worship were crowded with attentive hearers. About eight o’clock in the evening, a sharp shock of earthquake was felt, which caused many of the inhabitants to rush from their houses, or from the respective chapels they had congregated in. Providentially, it did not continue long, and no accident happened; but from the recent awful convulsion of a similar nature, it was a moment of extreme terror to many.

During the month of April, 1843, another comet made its appearance. This coincides strangely with events of the year 1690, the period of the great earthquake in Antigua, which devastated great part of the town of St. John’s, and rent “Hatton’s Hill,” and which was followed by the appearance of two comets.

Up to the time of this work going to press, more than 35,000l. currency have been received from the British West Indian Colonies, and subscriptions raised in England, for the relief of the sufferers in the late awful earthquake. Since that dreadful occurrence, agricultural wages have risen from 4s. to 8s. currency per diem; and great complaints are made by the planters for not being able to obtain a sufficient number of labourers to carry on with expediency the culture of the sugar-cane.

[[73]] Francis Shand, Esq., gave 100l.

Appendix.

No. 1.

Copy of the First Commission which was ever granted for the Government of Barbados and the Leeward Islands.

Whereas We have byn crediblie informed by our well-beloved subject Raphe Merifeild of London, Gentleman, for and on the behalf of our well-beloved subject Thomas Warner, Gent. That the said Thomas Warner hath lately descovered fower several Islands in mayne ocean toward the Continent of America, the one called the Island of St. Christopher’s, alias Merwar’s Hope; one other the Isle of Mevis; one other the Isle of Barbados; and one other the Isle of Monserate, which said Islandes are possessed and inhabited only by Savage and Heathen people, and are not, nor at the tyme of the descovery were in the possession, or under the gouernment of any Christian Prince, State, or Potentate. And thereupon, the said Thomas Warner beinge sett forth and supplyed by the said Raphe Merefeild for that purpose made entrie into the said Islandes for & on the behalfe of our deare ffather and hath sithence with the consent and good likinge of the natives made some good beginninge of a plantation & Colony, and likewise of an hopefull trade there, and hath caused diverse of our subjects of this our Realme to remove themselves to the said Islandes, with purpose to proceede in so hopefull a worke. Know ye therefore, That we in consideration of the premisses and to the intent that the said Raphe Merifeild and Thomas Warner may be encouraged and the better enabled with the more ample countenance and authority to effect the same, doe by these presents take as well the same Islandes as all the inhabitants there and alsoe the same Thomas Warner and other our lovinge subjects under his commande or government resident on the said Islandes or any of them, and all lands good or other thinges within the said Islandes or any other neighbour Islandes to them, or any of them adjoining already by the said Thomas Warner or his company inhabited or possessed, or hereafter to be inhabited or possessed, not beinge in the possession or governement of any other Christian Prince, State or Potentate, into our Royal protection. And of our especiall grace, certeyne knoledge, and meree motion have given and granted and by these presents doe give and grant unto the said Thomas Warner, duringe our pleasure the custodie of the aforesaid Islandes, and of everie of them together with full power and authority for us & in our name & as our Leuitenant to order and despose of any landes or other thinges within the said Islandes, and to governe, rule and order all and singular persons which nowe are ore hereafter shall bee abydinge in the said Islandes or any of them, as well our natural borne subjects, as the natives and Savages of the said Islandes and all other that shall happen to be or abyde there by such good & reasonable orders, articles and ordinances as were heretofore made and agreed upon betweene them the said Raphe Merifeild & Thomas Warner or such other good & reasonable orders & ordinances as shall be most requisite and needfull at the discretion of him the said Thomas Warner. And all such as shall disobey, chastise, correct and punish accordinge to their faults and demeritts. And alsoe with force and stronge hande to represse and anoye all such as shall in hostile manner attempte or goe about to encounter the said Thomas Warner or his Company, or to possess or invade the said Islandes or any of them, or to ympeache our possession thereof, or to hurt or to annoy him or our subjects there beinge or any others which hereafter shall goe or transporte themselves to the said Islandes or any of them. And generally to doe all such acts, as shall or may tend to the Establishment of our Government settling a Colony or plantation advance any trade or commerce there which they the said Raphe Merefeild & Thomas Warner or either of them shall find mete or beneficial for us or our Kingdom or subjects straightly chargeinge and commandinge all manner of persons which now are or hereafter shall be abydinge in the said Islandes or any of them, that they be obidient, ayding and assisting to the said Thomas Warner, in all thinges as to our Leiutenant. And foreasmuch as the said Raphe Merifeild hath at his owne charges not only furnished and set forth the said Thomas Warner in the preemisses, but alsoe byn the means of transportinge our well beloved John Jeffreson gentleman, & many other our subjects hither and hath byn the especial furtherer of that whole designe. We doe by these present give and grant to the said Raphe Merifeild and to his partners, deputies, factors, servants and assignes, full power and authority freely to trade and traffique to and from the said Island for all manner of goods, merchandizes & commodities whatsoever payinge the customs and other dutyes therefore due. And alsoe to transporte, send and convey unto the said Islandes and plantations or any of them, for the mayntenance & strengtheninge of the same all and everie such our lovinge subjects as already are or hereafter shall be willing or desirouse voluntary to enter into, be sent, transported or goe unto the said Islandes & plantation aforesaid upon with and under such covenant contract and agreement as betweene them are or shall be made and agreed upon and to defende themselves in the same by all lawfull wayes and meanes and generally to doe and performe all such acts as shall or may tende to the establishment of our said Government settling a Colony or Plantation uppon the said Islandes or any of them and the advancement of any trade or commerce there with the said Thomas Warner and his Company uppon the said Islandes or any of them without lett disturbance or interruption of any person or persons beinge our naturall borne subjects, denizens or strangers. And our further will and pleasure is, that in case the said Thomas Warner be at this present dead, or hereafter shall die, our Leiutenant as aforesaid, then and in that case, we doe hereby authorise and appoint the said John Jeffreson if he shall be then livinge, in his room and place. And We, doe hereby give and grant unto him the like power, authority and prehemience during our pleasure as is before by these presents lymitted, meant or mentioned to the said Thomas Warner, and if in case the said John Jeffreson be at this present dead, or hereafter shall die our Leiutenant as aforesaid then our English subjects being or which shall be resident in the said Islandes shall and may elect some other able and fitte person there resident, to be our Leuitenant whoe by virtue of these presents shall have the alike power, authority and preheemience during our pleasure, as is before lymitted meante or intended to the said Thomas Warner and soe from tyme to tyme upon the decease of the Leiutenant, the English subjects there residing shall and may elect a new Leiutenant whoe shall have the like privilege authority and prehemience during our pleasure as is above mentioned. In Witness whereof. We have caused these our Letters to be Patents.

Witness ourselvese at Southampton, the thirteenth day of September, in first yeare of our Reigne 1625

Per ipsum Regum

Dupl:

Great Seal of England

Wynn and Wolseley.

No. 2.

GENEALOGY OF THE WARNER FAMILY.

William Warner, of Framlington, co. of Suffolk, Esq., the representative of an ancient and distinguished family in that county, m. Margaret, dau. of Geo. Jermingham, co. Suffolk, Esq., by whom (among other issue) he left a son,

Sir Thomas Warner, first English governor, and colonizer of many of the West India Islands, and who, for his energetic exertions in extending his majesty’s dominions in the American seas, was graciously complimented, and had the honours of knighthood conferred upon him by his sovereign, Charles I., at Hampton Court Palace, 21 Sept. 1629. Sir Thomas m. 1st, Sarah, dau. of Walter Snelling, of Dorchester, Esq.; and 2ndly, Rebecca, dau. of Thomas Payne, co. Surrey, Esq. By his first marriage. Sir Thomas had issue,

1. Edward.

2. Mary, buried at Putney, co. Surrey, 29 Dec. 1635.

By his second wife Sir Thomas had

3. Philip.

Sir Thomas Warner, dying in 1648, was succeeded in his estates by his eldest son,

Edward, a captain in the army at the early age of thirteen. He was sent by his father, Sir Thomas Warner, in 1632, with a party under his command, to colonize Antigua, of which island he was the first English governor. His lady was made prisoner, and carried away, by the Caribs, in 1640, (vide p. 9, vol. i.,) and dying without issue, was succeeded by his brother,

Philip, colonel in the army, and governor of Antigua in 1674. He m. Henrietta Ashton, sole heiress of her brother, Col. Henry Ashton. Col. Philip Warner having acquired great wealth, d. 23 Oct. 1689, and was buried at St. Paul’s, Antigua, leaving issue, by Henrietta, his wife, two sons and four daus. His eldest son,

Thomas, inherited the family estates of the Folly and Savannah, m. Jane, dau. of — Walrond, of Antigua, Esq., by whom he had issue four sons and one dau. Col. Thomas Warner, dying in 1695, was buried at St Paul’s, Antigua, 11 Nov. of that year, and was succeeded in his estates by his eldest son,

i. Edward, a colonel in the army, and member of the Council for the Island of Antigua; m. Elizabeth, dau. of the Hon. Richard Scott, (one of King William III.’s counsellors for Barbados,) by whom he had (among other issue) a son and heir,

Richard-Scott, who dying a minor, at Eltham, in Kent, during the lifetime of his father, his three surviving sisters became the co-heirs of the family property—viz.,

1. Grace, born at Cobb’s Crop, Antigua, 13 Oct. 1717, died 31 May, 1754; m. 1st, (in 1735,) Samuel Byam, Esq., the son of Major S. Byam, and grandson of Col. Willoughby Byam; and 2ndly, William Fauquier, Esq., F.R.S. By her first husband (buried at St. George’s, Antigua, 14 Jan. 1738) she had issue one son and one dau.,

1. Samuel, who died 19 Nov. 1761, three weeks before the day appointed for his marriage, when his sister,

2. Phillis, became his heir.

By her second husband (buried at Eltham, 21 Dec. 1788, aged 80) she had, among other issue,

3. Thomas Fauquier, who died in 1827.

4. Georgiana, m. 25 May, 1787, George Venables Lord Vernon.

2. Elizabeth-Anne, born in 1718, and m. in 1739, to Godschall Johnson, of Bloomsbury-square, Esq., (which family are now in possession of the Warner estates of Savannah and Folly,^[[74]]) by whom she had issue.

3. Jane, born at Christ’s Church, Barbados, in 172O, m. at St. John’s, Antigua, 2 Jan. 1738, to the Hon. and Rev. Francis Byam, rector of St John’s, and counsellor of that island, by whom she had a son, the Hon. Edward Byam, president of Antigua for nearly fifty years, born at St. John’s, in 1740, who, failing of male issue, is now represented by his four granddaughters, i. Adelaid; ii. Anne-Byam; iii. Jane-Elizabeth; iv. Maria-Catherine, co-heirs of the barony of Lee de Spenser.

ii. Ashton, (second brother of Edward Warner, whose lineage is traced above,) speaker of the house of assembly, and attorney-general for Antigua, born in 1691, and m. 8 April, 1714, Eliza-Anne, (dau. of George Clarke, of Clark’s Hill, Antigua, Esq., and relict of Major Samuel Byam,) who died 2 June, 1748. The Hon. Ashton Warner died in Feb. 1752, and was interred in the same vault with his deceased wife, leaving a numerous issue.

iii. Henry, (third son of Col. Thomas Warner,) clerk of the assembly, Antigua, in 1724, born in 1693, and buried at the family vault on the Savannah Estate, in that island, in 1731, in the 39th year of his age.

iv. Philip, baptized at St Paul’s, Antigua, and mentioned in his father’s will, 27 Sept. 1695, as “my youngest son Philip.”

Among the numerous children of the Hon. Ashton Warner, Speaker of the house of assembly, his youngest sons were,

i. Samuel-Henry, born 11 Dec. 1733, and appointed deputy provost-marshal of Antigua, who, marrying in 1762, was father of the Hon. Samuel Warner, late president of Antigua, and brigadier-general of the militia in that island, and who died in 1838.

ii. Daniel, treasurer of Antigua, born in 1724, m. 2 Feb. 1746, Rebecca, dau. of Thomas Freeman, Esq.^[[75]] He was killed on board H.M. sloop of war, “Virgin,” 25 March, 1760, while defending that vessel from the attack of three French privateers, leaving, among other issue, a son,

Thomas, born 12 Feb. 1753, and m. in 1790, Dorothy, dau. of the Hon. Francis Ffrye, dying in 1825, at Sevenoaks, co. Kent, left, among other issue, three sons,

1. Daniel-Francis, rector of Hoo, co. of Kent, born 9 June, 1795, m. in 1818, Sylviana-Maria, dau. of Robert-Walter Vaughan, of the city of Bristol, by whom he has issue nine children.

2. Thomas-Shirley, stipendiary magistrate of Monserrat, born 24 May, 1797, and m. 9 May, 1825, Rebecca, dau. of the Hon. Henry Hamilton, of the island of Monserrat, by whom he has issue six children.

3. Samuel-Ashton, rector of St George’s, Antigua, in 1826, born 30 May, 1790, and m. 10 June, 1824, Mary, dau. of Stephen-Ross Willock, of Antigua, Esq., by whom he has six children.

I cannot conclude this detail of the Warner family without relating an anecdote of the celebrated ring, mentioned in Hume’s History of England, as given by Queen Elizabeth to the Earl of Essex, and which jewel is now in possession of a descendant of Sir Thomas Warner.

When Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex, the far-famed favourite of Queen Elizabeth, was in the hey-day of his power and her majesty’s regard, the queen presented him with a diamond ring, which she ordered him to keep with the strictest care, so that should he at any time want to beg a boon, or be so unfortunate as to fall under her majesty’s displeasure, and thus incur imminent danger from the malevolence of his enemies, he might return it to her as a talisman, when she pledged her word to accede to his request, or forgive him, and grant him her protection.^[[76]] It is unnecessary to enter into the various circumstances which led to the downfall of this accomplished young nobleman; suffice it to say, that, led astray by self-interested flatterers, and his own headstrong passions, which scorned reproof, the Earl of Essex engaged in a conspiracy against her majesty, and which being detected, he was tried by his compeers, and condemned to pay forfeit of his crimes, by suffering decollation. Queen Elizabeth, although deeply grieved at this defalcation of her kinsman from his loyalty, as well as from his gratitude towards her, still remembered with pity the unfortunate earl, then in the full bloom of manhood, and celebrated for every grace which can adorn a nobleman, and anxiously looked for the appearance of the ring she had given to him, in order that some excuse might be afforded her for granting him a pardon. Days, however, rolled by, and Essex made no appeal to her majesty’s clemency; until, at length, deeming him too haughty to return the talismanic jewel which might have saved his life, Elizabeth became incensed against him—the high blood of her father, “bluff old Hal,” rose in her veins, and, signing his death-warrant, he was beheaded on Tower Hill, 25th Feb. 1601. About two years after this tragic event, Catharine, the first Duchess of Nottingham, (daughter of Henry Lord Hunsdon, and a relative of the unfortunate earl,) was seized with a mortal illness, and finding her life drawing to a close, she despatched a messenger to the queen, beseeching her majesty to visit her immediately, as she had tidings to communicate to her, which, without doing, she could not die in peace. Elizabeth, anxious to soothe her last moments, complied with her request, and, little deeming what those tidings were, presented herself at the bed-side of the dying countess, who, summoning up all her failing energies, related, in the hollow tones of death, the following circumstances:—

That during the period the Earl of Essex was confined in the Tower, under sentence of death, he was desirous of obtaining a faithful messenger who would convey to her majesty a ring, which he had, at a happier hour, received from her hand, on the sight of which he hoped the queen’s mercy would be extended to him. Distrusting, however, those placed about him, he waited in vain for an opportunity; until, one morning, as he was gazing from his prison window, he perceived a boy, with whose open countenance he became so impressed, that he determined to trust him with his secret, and, making signals to him, (which were observed and answered by the lad,) the earl “engaged him by money and promises,” to convey the ring, which he took from his finger, to Lady Scroop,^[[77]] (a friend of his lordship’s,) and beg her to present it to her majesty. The youth readily undertook the commission; but, from some mistake, instead of conveying it to Lady Scroop, he carried it to her sister, the Countess of Nottingham. This lady shewed it to her husband, the admiral, the implacable foe to Essex, who commanded her, under pain of his heaviest displeasure, to conceal the jewel, and not to breathe a word of the event to mortal ears. The countess complying with her lord’s command, the queen was kept in ignorance, and the Earl of Essex fell a victim to his supposed stubbornness, for, according to Camden, the chief reason that prevented Queen Elizabeth from granting him a pardon was his obstinacy in not supplicating for mercy.

As soon as the countess had concluded her relation, she earnestly begged her majesty’s forgiveness; but the queen, losing all command of herself at this harrowing statement, violently shook the dying woman, and exclaiming, “God may have mercy upon you, but I never can!” left the apartment in an agony of grief. As soon as she gained her dressing-closet, she threw herself upon the floor, tearing her grey hair, and calling upon the name of Essex. She refused to sleep upon a bed, and, according to some authors, would never after receive any sustenance. This, however, must be a mistake, for the Countess of Nottingham died on the 25th February, 1603, and her majesty did not depart this life until the 24th of March following—a period of about twenty-seven days.

After the demise of Queen Elizabeth, this ring passed, with the other jewels to her successor, James I., from whom it was handed down to his unfortunate son, Charles I., and who, at the instigation of his queen, Henrietta Maria, presented it to Sir Thomas Warner. From Sir Thomas Warner, it passed (in a direct line) to his great grandson. Col. Edward Warner, who bequeathed it by will (dated 27th Dec, 1732, proved in the P. C. of Canterbury, 21st Feb. following) to his brother, Ashton Warner, as “a diamond ring, in shape of a heart, given by Queen Elizabeth to the Earl of Essex.”

From the Hon. Ashton Warner it descended, as an heirloom, to his son, Joseph Warner, and it is now in possession of Charles Warner, Esq., solicitor-general of Trinidad.

[[74]] This marriage accounts for the Savannah and Folly estates, having passed into another family.

[[75]] For further information of this gentleman, the reader is referred to [Appendix No. 19].

[[76]] The queen’s attachment to Essex might perhaps, in great measure, arise from the fact of his being her relative—as shewn in the following table, viz.,

Anne Boleyne, united to Henry VIII., king of England, had issue a daughter,

Elizabeth, afterwards queen of England.

Mary Boleyne, (sister to Anne Boleyne,) married to William Cary, had issue a daughter,

Catharine Cary, married to Francis Knolleys, K.G., had (among other issue) a daughter,

Lettice Knolleys, married to Walter Devereaux, Earl of Essex, K.G., who had issue a son,

Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex, the favourite.

[[77]] Philadelphia Cary, second daughter to Henry Lord Hunsdon, married to Thos. Scroop, of Bolton, in Yorkshire, who succeeded his father in his title, in 1592, made governor of Carlisle Castle, and warden of the West Marches, in 1593, and K. G. in 1599.

No. 3.

MEMORIAL OF THE WINTHORPE FAMILY.

This gentleman (Samuel Winthorpe, Esq. of Antigua) was the son of John Winthorpe, of Groton Hall, co. Suffolk, Esq., by his wife, Margaret, dau. of Sir John Tindall, Knt., master in Chancery, and ancestor of the present Chief Justice Tindall. Mr. Winthorpe’s family had early embraced the Protestant religion, and were among the most stanch supporters of that creed; and in those dark days, when Popery once again reared its head in England, the grandfather of this John Winthorpe attended the martyr Philpots to the stake, as one of his latest friends. In after years, Mr. J. Winthorpe, fearing religious persecution, sold off all his property, (bringing him in 500l. or 600l. per annum, a great sum in those days,) and emigrated to New England, then a forest waste, where, in process of time, he became its first governor, and from whence he kept up a private correspondence with Oliver Cromwell, then Protector of the Commonwealth. Besides Samuel Winthorpe, the ancestor of the Antiguan branch of the family, he had two sons,

i. Stephen, a colonel in the army, appointed by Cromwell to a command in Scotland, and was afterwards a member of his parliament, died in 1659, the year prior to the Restoration, and

ii. John, who succeeded his father in the government of New England, and was a regular correspondent and distinguished member of the Royal Society in Old England, died 5th April, 1676, aged 70.

Samuel Winthorpe, Esq., visiting Holland, espoused there a Dutch lady, (whose name we have not been able to ascertain,) with whom he immediately afterwards emigrated to Antigua, and died there about 1675. He left by his wife a numerous progeny of sons and daughters, among whom, Samuel, Joseph, and Henry, inherited a large estate from their father, but who (by means, it is said, little creditable to the parties concerned to relate) were deprived of their patrimony, and, consequently, their place and station in that insular community. The daughters married into some of the best Antiguan families, and became the ancestresses of the Williams, Thomas, and Ffry families. For further particulars of the Winthorpe family, the reader may consult “Mathew’s History of New England,” and “Farmer’s Genealogical Register” of that settlement, as well as later works upon the United States of North America.

No. 4.

GENEALOGY OF THE BYAM FAMILY.

Lieut.-Gen. William Byam was descended in a direct line, on his father’s side, from Caradoc Vraich Vras, Earl of Hereford, Lord of Radnor, one of the knights of the celebrated Round Table of King Arthur, (a.d. 540,) who himself sung his praises, emphatically styling him one of the “Pillars of Britain.” He was founder of a dynasty of princes not extinguished till after the Norman invasion, when Blethin, the last of the regal order, was slain by Bernard Newmarch, near Brecknock, in 1094, and his territory appropriated to himself and parcelled out amongst his followers.

His son, Cawrdave, was equally, if not more celebrated than his father, being also extolled in the Triads, and, like King Arthur himself chosen (besides the enjoyment of his own territory) to be “Unbennaeth,” or supreme monarch of Britain.

Caw succeeded his father in his patrimonial inheritance, at this time entitled the Principality of Ferlex and Brecon; and

Gloyw succeeded him; and

Hoyw him, flourishing a.d. 640.

Kynvard, regulus of Ferlex and Brecon, succeeded his father, Hoyw; and

Kyndeg, who was contemporary with Cadwallader, and lived a.d. 703, succeeded him.

Teithwalch, his son, gained a signal victory over his rival, the Mercian king, at Carno, in Brecknockshire, (opposite to the village of Crickhowell,) and in commemoration of which an immense circle and pile of stones is to be seen to this day.

But the encroachment of the Saxons in his son Tegyd’s time became more formidable than ever, considerably circumscribing his limits, that had originally embraced all the territories lying between the two rivers of Wye and Severn; and

Tangwyd, his son, succeeded to very straitened limits, being reduced to the lordship of Radnor, with parts of Montgomery and Brecon; and

Anarawd, his son, succeeded as regulus of Radnor and Brecon, in the time of Egbert, king of the West Saxons, who united the whole heptarchy into one entire kingdom, henceforward called that of “England.” To Anarawd succeeded his son,

Gwyngwy, who, though greatly reduced in territory, still affected the regal title, calling himself “Brenhin” Ferlex a Brecheiniog. And to Gwyngwy succeeded his son,

Hugan, called by John de Castares, “Prince of West Wales,” but by the Welsh historians, more modestly, the “Prince of Brecknock.” To Hugan succeeded

Druffin, so humbled as to be persuaded or compelled to row King Edgar in his barge on the river Dee, being one of the tributary kings who acted that derogatory part, which served to inflate the pride of that vain-glorious but powerful English monarch. Druffin m. Crusella, dau. of Idwal ap Meyrick, and was succeeded by his son,

Maynarch, who m. Ellen, dau. of Eineon ap Seliff, Lord of the Cantred of Seliff. Maynarch was succeeded by

Blethin, the last prince of his house and family; for William Rufus promising to Bernard Newmarch (England at that time having been effectually conquered and possessed by the Normans) all he could conquer in Wales, that adventurer (at the time gentleman of the bedchamber to this the second of the Norman kings) set out for the principality, and the enfeebled prince collecting, on a sudden, all his diminished forces, a battle ensued in the neighbourhood of Brecknock, in which he was worsted and himself slain. The conqueror and his eleven Norman knights (whom, tempted by the prize, he had invited to partake of his enterprise) entered into possession; and the last act of royalty shewn to this unhappy prince by his subjects and followers was the conveying his corse to the Abbey of Strata Florida, in Cardiganshire, and there interring it amongst the princes of Wales, with all the pomp the circumstances allowed. Thus, after a possession of between five and six hundred years, was this family divested of every mark of regal dignity. Rhys Goch, however, his brother, was permitted to retain a small possession on the confines of the county, entitled the lordship of Ystradew, (afterwards usurped by the Clares, and came into possession of the Herberts, Earls of Pembroke.) Rhys Goch, or Rhys the Red, married Joan, daughter of Cadogan^[[78]] ap Elistan Glorith, (whose arms are still quartered by the Byam family,) and by her had Kynwillen, who married Jonnett, dau. and co-heir of Hawell, Prince of Caerleon, (to whom Henry II. allowed that city, and twelve miles around circumadjacent country,) and by her, whose arms are still likewise borne by the Byams, Kynwillen had Kynwell, who married Gladwys, dau. of Sitsilt ap Duvenwall, Lord of Gwent, and seventh Baron of Abergavenny, by right of tenure of the castle thereof, (from the Norman conquest,) and by her had Arthur, who married Ellen, the dau. of Meirick ap Cradog, (ancestor of the Matthews, and of the present Earls of Llandaff,) and had Howell, who married Jone, dau. of Grono ap Llowarth, Lord of Kebor, and had Griffith, who married Jonnett, dau. and sole heir of Grono ap Treherne ap Blaith ap Elvarch, Lord of Penrose, in Monmouthshire, a possession which she conveyed to her husband’s family, in whose family it remained several centuries, and the ruins of the mansion are still extant, and by her (whose arms the Byams still bear) Griffith had David. David marrying Maud, dau. to Llewelyn Vaughan, of Lansamllo, had Howel Gam, who marrying Joan, dau. to Adam ap Rees ap Eineon Sais, had Meiric, and Meiric marrying Gwenllian, dau. to Gwyllim ap Jenkin, had Ievan ap Meirick, of Penrose, Esq., (from whom, in the time of his son and grandson, and by the blending of ap that followed their name with his of Ievan, or Evan, came the name of Abyam, and at length Byam;) for this Ievan, or Evan, had a son, Jenkin, or John, that was the first to whom the surname was assigned, and was of Maerdy, in Monmouthshire, and he a son, Thomas, of same place, and who marrying Johanna, dau. of Llewelyn ap Gwyllim, had a son, Edward, who was both of Maerdy, in Monmouthshire, aforesaid, and of Bath, in Somersetshire, in Subsidy Rolls of which city he is included, 45 of Henry VIII., 1545, under the name of Edward Abyam, (the ultimate name as now used being scarcely, as yet, determined,) and this Edward Abyam dying in Jan. 1594, was buried at the Abbey Church, 2 Feb. following, leaving by Welthian, his wife, the dau. of Robert Gamage, (of the Glamorganshire family of that name,) Thomas Byam, his son and heir, of Bath, and Lawrence Byam, ancestor of the family now in question.

Lawrence Byam was of Brasennose College, Oxford, and entering into holy orders, he was, on 17th June, 1575, by letters patent under privy seal from Queen Elizabeth, presented to the rectory of Luckham. He married Anne, or Agnes, dau. of Henry Yewings, of Capton, in Stogumber, in co. of Somerset, by whom (who survived her husband, and was buried at Bicknoller, 8 Dec. 1623) he had four sons, all great loyalists in their day, and the three eldest, Henry, John, and Edward, all in holy orders, and of Exeter College, Oxford, (which they entered at the respective dates of 1597, 1599, and 1600.)

Henry, the eldest, succeeding his father in the rectory of Luckham, was chaplain in ordinary to Charles II., and the companion of that monarch in his exile, both by sea and land. “He engaged,” says Wood, in his “Athenæ Oxoniensis,” “his five sons in the royal cause, four of whom were captains in the regiment raised by their father in his majesty’s behalf. In 1636, he had become prebendary of Wells, and afterwards canon of Exeter. For his faithful adherence to the royal cause he was severely pointed at by the opposite party. His wife and daughter perished at sea, in their attempts to escape into Wales, in order to avoid the cruelties of the enemy. He attended the king in his exile to Jersey and the Scilly Islands. He was universally esteemed for his great sanctity, his knowledge of literature, his loyalty to his sovereign, and his charity to his fellow-creatures. His sermons were afterwards published by Hamnet Ward, vicar of Sturminster Newton Castle, in Dorsetshire, and who also wrote the epitaph on his tomb, still extant in Luckham church, (for which see ‘Collinson’s Somersetshire;’ and also for further account of him, ‘Echard’s History of England,’ under the year 1669.) He died at the advanced age of 89.”

His brother, John, D.D., rector of Clotworthy, in same county, following his footsteps, shared his fate, in suffering in his own person, and those of all his children, unmerited persecutions, but which to recount would fill a volume. Edward was the son from whom the Antigua Byams came. He was admitted a student of Exeter College, Oxford, 31 Oct. 1600, then aged 16, and instituted to the vicarage of Dulverton, co. of Somerset, 4 Aug. 1612. On 22 July, 1613, he married, at Walton, in same county, Elizabeth, the dau. of Anthony Eaglesfield, rector of that place, and vicar of Chewton Mendip, some time fellow of Queen’s Coll., Oxford, (being of kin with founder;) but in 1625, this Edward Byam transported himself into Ireland, where he became precentor of Cloyne Cathedral, (the next dignity therein to that of dean,) and dying at his seat at Kilwillin, on the river St. Bride’s, in co. of Cork, on 6 June, 1639, he was buried in the chancel of the parish church of Castle Lyons. His funeral certificate, signed by his widow, who survived him, being given in to Ulster’s office, Dublin, and letters of administration taken out for him in prerogative court of same place, his second son,

William Byam, born at the house of his uncle, (the aforesaid Dr. Henry Byam,) at Luckham, 9 March, 1622-3, entered at Trinity Coll., Dublin, as “Scolarium Commensalis,” 24 May, 1639, just before his father’s death, and he it was that was first of the name and family in the West Indies. The civil wars breaking out soon after the above-mentioned period, he entered on a military life, and distinguished himself in the manner already recounted, at Bridgwater and elsewhere. He married Dorothy Knollys, dau. of Frances Knollys, of Standford-in-the-Vale, co. Berks, Esq., son of Richard Knollys, next brother of William, the only lawful Earl of Banbury, K.G. By this marriage the Byams became connected with the first families in England, and even with royalty itself, as shewn by the following table^[[79]]—viz.,

Edward 1st, King of England, m. (2nd) Margaret, dau. of Philip III. of France, and had issue,

Thomas Plantagenet, surnamed “of Brotherton,” Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk, and grand mareschal of England, m. Alice, dau. of Sir Robert Halys, Knt., and had issue one dau.,

Margaret Plantagenet, Duchess of Norfolk, m. John Segrave, Lord Segrave, and had issue a dau.,

Elizabeth, one of the heirs of Lord Segrave, m. John Mowbray, Lord Mowbray, and had issue,

Thomas Mowbray, created Duke of Norfolk, 1398, earl marshal of England, and Earl of Nottingham. He m. Elizabeth, sister and one of the heirs of Thomas Fitz-Allen, Earl of Arundel; died in 1400, and left issue,

Margaret, eldest dau. and one of the heirs of Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, m. Sir Robert Howard, Knt., and had issue,

John Howard, created Duke of Norfolk, 1483, m. Catherine, dau. of William, Lord Moleyns. The Duke of Norfolk was slain at Bosworth Field, 22 Aug., and was buried at Leicester, 1485, leaving issue a son,

Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk. His father having been attainted, he was restored to the title, and m. Elizabeth, dau. and heir of Sir Frederick Tilney, Knt., and died in 1524, leaving issue a dau.,

Elizabeth, m. Thomas Boleyne, Viscount Rochford, created Earl of Wiltshire and Earl of Ormond, by Henry VIII., and had issue two daus. and one son,

1. George Boleyne, Viscount Rochford, beheaded, May, 1536.

2. Anne, youngest dau. of Thomas, Viscount Rochford, m. Henry VIII., King of England. She being beheaded, 19 May, 1536, left issue,

Elizabeth, Queen of England, born a.d. 1533, died a.d. 1603.

3. Mary, eldest dau. of Thomas, Viscount Rochford, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond, m. William Cary, esquire to the body of Henry VIII., and had, among other issue, a dau., Catherine, (sister of Henry Cary, created Lord Hunsdon,) lady of the bedchamber to her cousin-german, Queen Elizabeth, m. Sir Francis Knollys, K.G., and dying in 1568, was buried at Westminster Abbey, leaving issue a dau., Lettice, who m. Walter Devereaux, Earl of Essex, by whom she had Robert, Earl of Essex, the far-famed favourite of Queen Elizabeth, and a son, Richard Knollys, (brother and heir to William Knollys, created Earl of Banbury,) m. Joan, dau. of John Higham, co. Suffolk, and had issue, Francis Knollys, of Standford-in-the-Vale, co. Berks, m. Alice, sister and co-heir of Sir Wm. Beecher, Knt., clerk to privy council, and dying 4 Aug. 1640, left issue a dau., Dorothy, who, as already mentioned, m. Lieut.-Gen. Wm. Byam.

Lieut.-Gen. William Byam dying at Antigua, (will proved there 1670-1,) left, by Dorothy, his wife, among other issue, two sons, Willoughby and Edward. In this way the Byam family became divided into two distinct branches, Willoughby being the ancestor of the present Byams of “Cedar Hill,” and Edward that of “Pensive Hall,” or “Martin Byam’s,” and a dau., Mary, m. to Col. George Needham, of the island of Jamaica, the son of Sir Robert Needham, first Viscount Kilmoray, and by whom she was ancestress of the present Gen. Needham, of that island, and of the Lords Seaford and Howard de Walden.

Edward Byam, youngest son of Lieut.-Gen. Byam, was governor of the Leeward Islands,^[[80]] 1715, and president of the council of Antigua in 1707, born at Surinam, 1663-4, and m. 1st, Mary, dau. of Samuel Winthorpe, and granddau. of John Winthorpe, first governor of New England, and of Groton Hall, co. Suffolk; 2ndly, Lydia, dau., of William Thomas, aunt of Sir George Thomas, and relict of Samuel Martin, of Green Castle, Antigua, (ancestor of the present Sir Henry and Sir Byam Martin.) Col. Edward Byam is described by Oldmixon, in his “British Empire in America,” as a man of the best head and fortune in British America; and also as the most popular man in the Leeward Islands. He commanded, in the attack upon the island Guadaloupe, on the breaking out of the war of succession, in the reign of Queen Anne, a regiment raised by himself in Antigua, and a part of the Enniskillen, or 27th regt. of the line. At the head of this force, he attacked and carried in gallant style the port called “Les petits Habitans,” and obliged the enemy to retire. He is honourably mentioned in the London Gazette, No. 3912, from May 6th to May 10th, and also in the “Annals of the Reign of Queen Anne.” By his first wife, Mary, he had one son and one dau.—viz.,

Edward, m. Walthian Devonshire, and died at Antigua, 29 May, 1745.

Mary, born 13 Oct. 1690, m. Col. Thomas Williams, of the Old Road, Antigua.

By his second wife, Lydia, relict of Samuel Martin, he had three sons and two daus.—viz.,

i. George, born at Antigua, 24 April, 1704, m. Henrietta- Maria, dau. of Col. John Ffrys, of Antigua, and died 12 Nov. 1734, leaving issue two sons and four daus.—viz.,

1. George, of Apps Court, co. Surrey, m. Louisa, dau. of Peter Bathurst, Esq., M.P., of Clarendon Park, co. Wilts, and niece of Earl Bathurst, and was buried at St George’s, Antigua, 7 Nov. 1779, had issue, 1. George Byam, died an infant, in 1774; 2. Selina, m. Rev. William Hony, of Liskeard, co. Cornwall, and has issue; 3. Elizabeth, m. Mark Batt, of Lawell House, Co. Devon, and d. s. p.; 4 and 5. Louisa and Henrietta-Maria, both d. unm.

2. John, died at Antigua, 26 Oct. 1754, unm.

3. Mary, m. 1st, —— Lyons, of Antigua, and 2ndly, Daniel Mathew, of Antigua, and Felix Hall, co. Essex, some time high-sheriff for that county, had issue, 1. Daniel-Byam Mathew, of Felix Hall, who m. Elizabeth, dau. of Sir Edward Deering, Bart.; 2. George, who m. Euphemia Hamilton, and had issue a son, the present George B. Mathew, capt. in Coldstream Guards, and late M.P. for Shaftesbury, who m. at St George’s, Hanover Square, April, 1835, the dau. and heir of Henry Hoare, Esq., and granddau. of the celebrated antiquary, Sir Richard Colt Hoare, Bart.; 3. Elizabeth, who m. Robert, fourth Viscount Galway; 4. Louisa, who m. Admiral Lord Gambier; and 5. Jane, who m. Samuel Gambier, commissioner of the navy.

4. Elizabeth, d. unm. in 1806.

5 and 6. Henrietta Maria and Lydia, both d. unm.

ii. William, of Byams, Antigua, and of Westbourn House, co. Middlesex. He was a colonel in the army, and member of the privy council, Antigua; born 3 July, 1706; admitted of Christ’s Coll., Cambridge, 21 June, 1720, B.A. 1724, m. 1735, Anne, dau. of Col. John Gunthorpe, member of council, Antigua, and had issue,

1. Martin, member of the council, Antigua, born 29 Sept. 1742, admitted a fellow commoner of Sidney Coll., Cambridge, 30 April, 1761, m. in 1771, Elizabeth, dau. of Stephen Blizard, judge of court of common pleas, Antigua, and relict of William Warner, of Antigua. He died June, 1805, s. p., and was buried at Lyndhurst, Hants.

2. Edward, lieut. R.N., born 15 Sept. 1743, m. Anne, dau. of William Gunthorpe, of Antigua, Esq. He was lost in the “Ville de Paris,” after her capture, in 1782, leaving, by Anne, his wife, a son and dau.,

1. William-Henry, capt. R.N., who m. his first cousin, Alicia, dau. of Anthony Wyke, Esq. of Monserrat, and died 26 Nov. 1838, s. p.

1. Louisa, only dau. of her father, Edward Byam, d. unm. at Kensington, in 1835.

3. Anne, eldest dau., born 27 Sept. 1744, m. 13 Jan. 1763, to Anthony Wyke, Esq. of Monserrat, and died 18 June, 1814, leaving a dau., Alicia, m. to her first cousin, William Henry Byam, (see above.)

4. William, capt. in 68th regt. of foot, and of Woodborough, in Somersetshire, born 7 Nov. 1753, m. in 1781, Mary, only dau. of Rev. Richard Burgh, of Mount Bruis, co. Tipperary, Ireland, and died in France, 27 April, 1830, leaving issue three sons and three daus.—viz.,

1. Martin-William, born 19 Aug. 1783, m. Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas Bull, of Bostock Hall, co. Chester, and died 22 April, 1836.

2. Rev. Richard-Burgh, member of council, Antigua, fellow of King’s Coll., Cambridge, vicar of Kew and Petersham, Co. Surrey, born 26 Jan. 1785.

3. Edward-Samuel, late commissary-general of the police in the Mauritius, and civil commissary of Port Louis, in which situation he distinguished himself by his undaunted zeal and inflexible efforts to suppress the slave trade in that island, as may be seen in a recent work of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, Bart. on the slave trade, p. 220. Mr. Byam is also a gentleman of great antiquarian research, and a Celtic scholar, as well as the compiler of a “Genealogical Table of the Kings of England,” reckoned one of the best that has been published; born 5 Aug. 1788, m. at the ambassador’s chapel, Paris, 26 March, 1818, Eleanor, eldest dau. of Andrew Murray, prior of Rathdowney, in Queen’s County, and of Claremonts, co. Wicklow, and niece of Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency, and had issue, Edward de Montmorency Byam, who died an infant, and was buried at Harpenden, in co. of Herts.

4. Martha, eldest dau., born 7 May, 1782, and living unm.

5. Anna-Maria, born 15 March, 1786, living unm.

6. Alicia-Juliana, born 10 April, 1787, m. 21 Aug. 1805, Wm. Leeves, Esq. of Tortington House, co. Sussex.

5. Alice, second dau. of William Byam, born 29 Sept. 1746, m. 23 April, 1763, Samuel Eliot, Esq. of Antigua, and died 13 Dec. 1827, and was buried in the family vault of Lord Lee Despencer, at Mereworth, leaving four daus., 1. Anne, m. Lieut.-Gen. Sir Henry Crosby, of Barnesville Park, co. Gloucester; 2. Elizabeth, m. Sir Thomas Stapleton, Lord Lee de Spenser; 3. Mary, m. Robert Cambden Cope, colonel of Armagh militia; and 4. Alice, m. to William Hay Carr, Earl of Errol, father of the present peer.

iii. Alice, born 19 May, 1711, m. 11 July, 1728, Robert Freeman, of Antigua, Esq., and had issue.

iv. Lydia, born 14 Aug. 1713, m. 9 Nov. 1734, to her cousin, Edward Byam, of Cedar Hill, Antigua, and of Clay Hill, co. Middlesex, from whom descends that branch of the family.

v. Francis, clerk, M.A., rector of St. John’s, Antigua, and member of the privy council at that island, born 8 May, 1709, admitted a student of Trinity Coll., Cambridge, 1728, and m. 1738, Jane, dau. and co-heir of Edward Warner, of Eltham, co. Kent, member of privy council, Antigua, dying at Antigua, left issue four sons and one dau.—viz.,

1. Edward Byam, judge of the court of vice-admiralty, and president of the council of Antigua for near half a century, born 21 Dec. 1740, and m. 7 July, 1763, Rebecca, dau. of Stephen Blizard, judge of court of common pleas, Antigua, dying 8 Feb. 1817, left issue an only child and heir,

Jane, m. 10 June, 1784, Thomas Norbury Kerby, of Weir’s Estate, Antigua, who died while in the execution of his office of commander-in-chief, (for the time being,) his wife, Jane, dying at Hampton Court Palace, in 1837, left by him an only child,

Anne-Byam Kerby, born in 1796, and m. the Hon. Miles Stapleton, rector of Mereworth, co. Kent, third son of Lord Lee de Spencer, by whom she had issue,

Adelaide, for whom her majesty the queen-dowager most graciously stood sponsor, born 22 Oct. 1822; Ann-Byam, born in 1823; and two other daus.

2. Sir Ashton-Warner Byam, Knt., A.B. of Sidney Coll., Cambridge, attorney-general of Grenada, and a great luminary of the law in the Western world, born 1 June, 1744, d. unm. 25 Dec. 1790, and was buried in St John’s, Antigua.

3. William, of Santa Crux, d. s. p.

4. Richard-Scott, M.D., born 20 Dec. 1753, and died at Bath, unm., 17 Dec. 1832.

5. Grace, only dau., born 1 Jan. 1752, and m. 3 March, 1767, to Thomas Ottley, Esq. of the island of St. Vincent, by whom she had a numerous issue—viz., 1. George W. Ottley, of Parry’s Estate; 2. Francis-Byam Ottley, of Wier’s Estate; 3. Matilda Ottley, m. to Hastings Elwyr, barrister; 4. Jane, m. 1st, Valentine Horsford, Esq., by whom she had five sons, and 2ndly, to Lord James O’Brien, brother and presumptive heir to the Marquis of Thomond; and 5. Rebecca Ottley, m. to the Hon. Langford-Lovel Hodge, who dying 24 Jan. 1817, left issue a son, Langford-Lovel Hodge, Esq., m. the dau. of — Hart, Esq. of Dorset Square, Brighton, by whom he has issue.

The remaining son of Lieut.-Gen. William Byam was Willoughby Byam, (from whom the present family of the Cedar Hill Byams descend.) He was a lieut.-col. in the army, and commanded the body-guard of the commander-in-chief, Gen. Codrington, in the expedition against the island of St. Christopher’s, in 1690, when he received a mortal wound in the neck, of which he soon after died. He is honourably mentioned in the London Gazette of that period, Nos. 2590 and 2602, and left, among other issue, two sons, William and Samuel. Samuel Byam, the younger son, was a major in the army, and dying early in life, (in 1712,) left, by Elizabeth, his wife, the dau. of George Clarke, of Parker’s Hill, in Antigua, (and who re-married Ashton Warner, Esq.,) a son, a second Samuel, who marrying Grace, dau. of Col. Edward Warner, left Phillis, the heir of her brother, a third Samuel, (that d. unm.,) and she (Phillis) m. 1st, Charles Wollaston, Esq., M.D., F.R.S., (physician to her majesty Queen Charlotte,) and 2ndly, James Frampton, Esq. of Moreton, in Dorsetshire, and for whose issue, vide “Burke’s Commoners”—1st, “Shirley, of Eatington Park, co. Warwick,” vol. i. p. 49; 2ndly, “Wollaston, of Shenton,” vol. iii. p. 419; 3rdly, “Frampton, of Moreton, in co. Dorset,” vol. iv. p. 193.

William Byam, son and heir, of Cedar Hill, Antigua, colonel in the army, member of the privy council, and also one of the general council of the Leeward Islands, m. Mary, dau. of John Yeamans, of Mill Hill, Old Road, Antigua, lieut.-governor of that island, and had issue,

i. Willoughby, died young, and was buried, 7 July, 1714, at Oxford.

ii. Yeamans, died young, and was buried at Oxford, in 1714.

iii. Edward, of Cedar Hill, Antigua, and Clay Hill, co. Middlesex, admitted a student of Trinity Coll., Cambridge, m. (his first cousin) Lydia, dau. of Edward Byam, governor of Antigua, in 1734.

iv. John-Sampson, died in 1766, unm.

v. Willoughby, (second of the name, the first having died an infant,) died unm. in 1764.

vi. Henry, D.D., m. Hester, dau. of John Gunthorpe, of Antigua, Esq., and dying, left issue by his wife, 1. Hester Byam, m. 7 Aug. 1781, Anthony Munton, d. s. p.; 2. Mary-Gunthorpe Byam, born 9 Nov. 1748, m. in 1771, to Col. William Dundas, brother to Lord Viscount Melville; 3. Anne Byam, living at Pear Tree Lodge, near Southampton, unm. in 1838; 4 and 5. Henry and Edward Byam, died infants.

vii. Anne, (second dau. living,) m. in 1727, Crooke Thomas, of London, merchant.

viii. Mary, (eldest dau.,) m. 21 March, 1738, to Warner Tempest, Esq. of Antigua, and of Moulsey, co. Surrey; and

ix. Rebecca, m. to Thomas Freeman, Esq. of Antigua.

Edward Byam, son and heir of William Byam, dying 13 June, 1768, left by Lydia, his wife, issue,

i. William, of Cedar Hill, son and heir.

ii. Samuel, who m. 30 June, 1764, Elizabeth, dau. and heir of Thos. Sheppard, Esq. of Antigua, and died in 1786, leaving issue one dau., Lydia, m. to the Rev. Robt. Sutton, of East Dereham, Norfolk, and has issue.

iii. Edward, buried at Antigua, in 1795.

iv. Lydia.

v. Rebecca, m. to — Davies, R.N., died s. p.

William Byam, son and heir, of Cedar Hill, and Sunny Hill, co. Pembroke, member of the privy council, Antigua, m. 26 June, 1766, Martha, dau. of Edward Rogers, of Lanwnda, in Pembrokeshire, died, and was buried at St. George’s, Antigua, 1 Oct. 1779, leaving issue,

i. Edward, son and heir.

ii. Samuel, D.D. of University Coll., Oxford, vicar of Catterick, co. York, and chaplain in ordinary to George III., born in 1769, and m. Jane, dau. of John Welsh, of the island of St Christopher’s, dying at Brusselles, 24 April, 1816, leaving issue,

1. William-Geo.-Munton, born 5 Aug. 1804, late lieut. in 43rd Light Infantry.

2. Adolphus-Elizabeth, born 5 Sept. 1805, capt in Madras artillery, and secretary to the court of Hydrabad, died at the Cape of Good Hope, in 1839, s. p.

3. Henry-James, born in 1813, an officer in the service of the Queen of Spain, died at San Sebastien, 5 Aug. 1837, s. p.

4. Cornelia-Rachel-Munton, born 23 Feb. 1803, m. Baron Augustus de Firkes, of Mittau, in Courland, and died in 1826.

5. Augusta-Louisa-Anne, born 4 Nov. 1806, and m. Frederick Shallet Lomax, of Netley Park, co. Hants.

iii. Lydia, bapt. 4 Sept. 1772, died on her passage from Antigua, unm.

Edward Byam, the son and heir, was a member of the house of assembly of Antigua, born in 1767, and m. Christiana Matilda, dau. of Matt. Ryan, of Dublin, barrister-at-law, died 27 May, 1795, leaving issue by his wife,

i. William, son and heir.

ii. Edward, late major in the 15th Hussars, now lieut.-col. in the army. He served in the battles of Salamanca, Vittoria, Orthes, and Waterloo, of Warblington Lodge, co. Hants, born 24 Dec. 1794, and m. 10 Sept 1829, at the residence of the British minister at the court of Florence, Elizabeth Augusta, dau. of Sir Grenville Temple, Bart., and has issue,

1. Willoughby-Temple, born 15 Aug. 1832.

2. Henry-Edward, born 22 Aug. 1835.

3. Edward, born in April, 1842.

4. Matilda-Augusta-Anne, born 28 June, 1830.

5. Agnes- Welthian, born 7 June, 1831.

6. Maria-Christiana-Elizabeth, born 6 Jan. 1834.

7. Augusta-Temple, born 10 May, 1837.

William Byam, the present representative of the Cedar Hill branch, and of Westwood House, co. Hants, member of the council, Antigua, and late lieut.-col. of the Local Dragoons, m. in 1815, Martha, dau. of Thomas Rogers, of Antigua, and has issue,

i. Edward-Gamage, an officer in the 59th regt. born 30 June, 1823.

ii. Thomas-Rogers, born 12 Dec. 1826.

iii. William, born 10 Feb. 1828.

iv. Lydia, born 31 Dec. 1818, m. 18 May, 1837, to Francis Shand, Esq. of Liverpool, and of Everton, co. Lancaster; and

v. Martha, born 29 Aug. 1821.

Col. William Byam served under the “hero of a hundred fights,” the Duke of Wellington, in the battles of Orthes, Toulouse, and Waterloo, in which latter he was dangerously wounded, and in those ensanguined plains he belied not his high name, nor the deeds of his fathers, whom we find so often figuring in the annals of Antigua, leading its troops to battle, filling some high official situation, or spilling their hearts’ best blood in defence of their native shores!

[[78]] Ancestor of the now Earls of Cadogan.

[[79]] This pedigree, and that of the Byam family in general, has been authenticated by Herald’s College, by certificate, dated “College of Arms, 27 July, 1841.”

[[80]] So termed by the Heralds of the College of Arms, although only mentioned in Antiguan history as lieut.-governor of the island.