Some of Sir Thomas Warner’s descendants have filled the highest situations in Antigua, administering the government at times. Nor is the family extinct, for many there are who can trace their descent in a direct line from this great founder of four flourishing colonies. One of these was in 1838 “gathered to his fathers;” he was esteemed as an able legislator, and fulfilled his duties as president of the council, brigadier-general of the militia, and occasionally lieutenant-governor, with integrity. As this family ranks among the first aristocrats of the island, a more particular account of their lineal descent may not be deemed superfluous, and will be found in the Appendix, No. 2.
[[1]] The names of these adventurous few were as follows:—William Tasted, John Rhodes, Robert Bims, Mr. Benifield, Sergeant Jones, Mr. Ware, William Ryle, Rowland Grasscocke, Mr. Bond, Mr. Langley, Mr. Weaver, Sergeant Aplon, one sailor, and a cook.
[[2]] Vide copy of the first commission granted, No. 1, Appendix.
[[3]] Sir Thomas Warner died at St Christopher’s in 1648. His tomb is still to be met with in the parish church for the township of Old Road, (a place which derives its name from the involuntary exclamation of Columbus upon his second visit to St. Christopher’s, “Ah! we are at the old road again,”) the inscription upon which is as follows:—
An Epitaph vpon Th-------------------
Noble & Mvch Lamented Genrl Sir
Tho. Warner, Kt Lievtenant
General of ye Carribee
Ielands & Goverr of ye
Ieland of St Christopher
Who Departed This
Life the 10th of
March 1648.
First Read then weepe when thou art hereby taught,
That Warner lyes interr’d here, one that bought,
With losse of Noble bloud Illustrious Name,
Of A Comander Greate in Acts of Fame.
Trayn’d from his youth in Armes, his courage bold,
Attempted braue Exploites, and vncontrold
By fortunes fiercest Frownes, hee still gaue forth
Large Narratiues of Military worth.
----ritten with his sword’s poynt, but what is man
-------the midst of his glory, and who can
----------this Life A moment, since that hee
-------------by Sea and Land, so longe kept free
-----------al, Mortal Strokes at length did yeeld
------------ace) to conquering Death the field,
fini Coronat.
The black lines shew where the marble is broken, or the letters from some other cause are quite obliterated.
CHAPTER II.
History of the island continued—Sir Henry Hunks—Descent of the Caribs—Legend of Ding-a-ding Nook—Arrival of the Ship Nonsuch—Sir Thomas Modiford—Earl of Warwick, Captain-General—Captain Edward Warner—Colonel Rich—Colonel Lake—Mr. Everard—Sir George Ayscue—Colonel Christopher Reynall—Invasion by the Caribs—Dissensions among the inhabitants—Copy of Colonel Reynall’s letter to Cromwell—Attack upon St. Domingo and Jamaica—Major-General Poyntz—Grant of Antigua to Lord F. Willoughby.