Tucker was replaced by Nathaniel Butler in 1619, but after securing his title to property rather doubtfully acquired, returned to Bermuda where he died in 1632. It was probably during Butler's term that the first stone dwellings began to appear, replacing the earlier thatched roofed cedar houses.
"The history of the colony from 1620, when the first Assembly met, until 1684, or 1685, when the Company was ousted of its charter by quo warranto in the King's Bench in England, is made up of the struggles of the Company in London to make as much out of the colonists as possible; of the struggles of the colonists to remove restrictions on trade with others than the Company, imposed upon them by the proprietaries; and of the efforts of the Governors sent out to the islands to maintain order, enforce the rules of the Company and defend their authority and exercise too often arbitrary power."—(William Howard Taft.)
From 1685 on, the island became self-governing and was largely left to its own devices by England. Agriculture was neglected or left in the hands of ignorant slaves, while the white islanders were occupied in such maritime pursuits as whaling, fishing and shipbuilding, and were dependent to a great extent on the mainland of America, with which they were in constant contact.
The outbreak of the American Revolution brought divided opinion on the islands as on the mainland. There is, however, little doubt but that there was great sympathy for the cause of freedom in the American colonies. Secret aid was given and commercial relations were resumed with America before the close of the war. If the Continental Congress had possessed a considerable navy, or if the islands had lain closer to the mainland, they might this day have been part of the United States. As it was, they remained ostensibly loyal to the mother country.
The War of 1812 brought changes to Bermuda. She became a port for prizes taken by the British navy and later was intermediary port for trade between America and the West Indies with the result that Bermudians prospered in the shipping trade. To the English, this war called attention to Bermuda's strategic position, and a naval station was established there. Convict labor from England was used to build dock yards, fortifications and roads, to the general benefit of the whole island. Slavery was abolished in 1834, an act which, though a general advantage, hurt Bermudian shipping, compelling, as it did, the employment at pay of sailors. With this decline of shipping attention was again turned to agriculture.
The Civil War brought a great period of activity and prosperity to Bermuda. Through ties of blood and trade, sympathy was entirely with the South and the ports were full of blockade runners bringing cotton from the South for trans-shipment to England. The crews spent much of their high wages on the islands and the Bermudians also engaged in the gamble of blockade running. The end of the war brought losses to many, and Bermuda again settled down to its normal activities, agriculture and fishing.
In later years a new source of revenue to Bermuda has arisen, known there as the "tourist trade," and consisting in providing for the needs and desires of visitors to the island. This has grown to important size and promises a still further increase. The mild climate and charm of beautiful surroundings, excellent steamship service and luxurious modern hotels, attract thousands each year. Building is being revived and Bermuda's commercial future seems assured.