Antigua and the Antiguans (Vol. 1&2). Mrs. Lanaghan

long.

      In 1699, the gallant Admiral Benbow arrived at Antigua with a squadron of men-of-war, having on board Colonel Collingwood’s regiment, (or, more probably, Col. Whetham’s regiment, known as the “Enniskillen,” or 27th regiment of the line;) part of which was intended to be stationed upon the island, and the remainder to be sent to the other colonies within the government.

      ²⁸ For the Genealogy of the Williams family, see Appendix, No. 7.

      ²⁹ Sir Nathaniel Johnson was appointed, in 1704, Governor of Carolina.​—​Vide History of Carolina.

      ³⁰ For further particulars of this family, vide Appendix, No. 8.

      ³¹ The persons to whom these rewards were given, owed their residence in Antigua to the following cause:—​To increase the white population, great encouragement was given to persons importing white protestant men-servants into the island, paying to the importer to much per head from the public treasury. These white servants were sold for a certain number of years, and at the end of that time they became free, and were incited to settle, by having small grants of land given to them. Every proprietor was obliged to have one of these white servants to so many slaves; and they were to be furnished with clothes and arms, and to serve in the militia. It was customary to sell them upon hogsheads, which I shall have further occasion to mention when I come to treat of the white inhabitants.

      ³² Extract from the London Gazette, No. 2602, published by authority, from Thursday, October 16th, to Monday, October 20th, 1690, giving an account of the capture of St. Christopher’s, the forces for which service arrived in Frigate Bay, in that island, 20th June; the French offered to surrender on the 12th July, and articles agreed to on the 14th July:—

      “Colonel Byam was dangerously wounded in the neck.”

      Extract from “London Gazette,” 4th to 8th September, 1690. No. 2590:—

      “Bermudas, July 24th.

      “On the 20th June, the English arrived at St. Christopher’s, consisting of eleven men of war, besides fire-ships and tenders, and other vessels, under command of Captain Wright, who was himself in the Mary of 64 guns, and 450 men. These ships had on board 3000 land forces​—​viz., 700 English soldiers, commanded by Colonel Holt; 800 Nevis and Barbados soldiers, commanded by Sir Timothy Thornhill; 800 Antigua, commanded by Colonel Rowland Williams; 400 Montserrat men, commanded by Colonel Blackstone, and 200 gentlemen volunteers, commanded by Colonel Willoughby Byam, which served as a life guard to Colonel Codrington, governor of the Leeward Islands, and general on this expedition. The conduct of which forces was much commended in the second Gazette from 16th to 20th October.”

      ³³ The colonists of North America had, for the last few years, been greatly addicted to piracy: a practice which it behoved the English government to put an immediate stop to, if possible. A person of the name of Kidd, the owner of a small sloop, and who had been early inured to a maritime life, proposed, that if a vessel of thirty guns, well manned, was placed under his command, he would agree to suppress the pirates, and effectually clear those seas from such dangerous frequenters. After some delay, a vessel was equipped by private subscription, and Kidd appointed to the command; but instead of proceeding upon his mission to the American seas, he sailed for the East Indies, where he engaged in the unlawful traffic himself, captured some traders, and, after burning his own vessel, sailed in the largest of his prize ships for the Leeward Islands. After remaining there for a short period, he proceeded in his piratical career to the coast of North America, where, in his search after wealth, he perpetrated those revolting cruelties which have rendered his name infamous, and long caused the inhabitants of those colonies to chat around their winter’s hearth of the deeds and fate of the redoubted Captain Kidd, the lawless rover of the seas.

      CHAPTER VI.

       Table of Contents

      Governor Colonel Christopher Codrington​—​Establishment of the first market​—​Accession of Queen Anne​—​Arrival of Admiral Benbow​—​Attack upon the island of Guadaloupe, in conjunction with the Antiguan troops​—​Bravery of Colonel Edward Byam​—​Arrival of Captain Hovenden Walker​—​Second attack upon Guadaloupe​—​Colonel Codrington quits the government​—​His death​—​Sir William Mathew​—​Hon. John Johnson.

      At the period of his father’s death, Christopher Codrington, Esq., the eldest son of the preceding governor, was in Holland, with his sovereign and his army; but upon the news arriving of General Codrington’s demise, William III. immediately appointed Christopher to succeed his late father as Captain-General and Commander-in-chief of the Leeward Islands, in which capacity he arrived at Antigua, in the year 1700.

      In the same year, regulations were framed by the legislature, to further increase the number of white inhabitants, and encourage the soldiers who had been lately disbanded, to settle in the island, by giving them grants of ten acres of land, and authorizing the treasurer to advance to each of them, as a loan, the sum of 3l., a barrel of beef, and a cask of flour. Such soldiers as were unprovided with grants were to be allowed 6d. per day, until the time they were put into possession; and those who chose to emigrate from the islands to leeward of Antigua, were allowed 12s. for their passage-money. All tavern-keepers, owners of sloops, &c., were also obliged to employ white men, under a penalty of 30s. for each offence.

      In 1702, the first market-place was established, cross streets laid out, and the town of St. John’s otherwise improved. A clerk of the market was appointed, who was also to be the public whipper and crier; town-wardens were elected, whose duty was to assess houses and lands; and a cage, pillory, stocks, whipping-post, and ducking-stool,³⁴ put up at the public expense. Night-watches were also appointed, to have the same power as watchmen in London, and a watch-house built in a convenient spot. Many of the wharfs were also constructed, and other improvements made.

      William III. having died the 8th of the preceding March, Queen Anne, his successor, was proclaimed at Antigua, in June, 1702, with some pomp; as also at Nevis, where the captain-general was holding a general council and assembly. Punishments were also enacted this year for the offences of slaves, and for the better government of free negroes. If a slave struck a white person, and in any way hurt or disfigured him, such slave was to have his nose slit, or any member cut off, or to suffer death, at the discretion of a justice of peace. Any slaves running away from their owners for the space of three months, were also to suffer death, have a limb cut off, or be publicly whipped​—​the treasurer paying to the owner 18l. in case of death. If, in pursuit of a runaway slave, the parties killed him, they were not liable to prosecution.

      With regard to free negroes, and mulattoes, by which was meant all persons of colour, they were obliged to choose a master or a mistress to live with, unless they possessed land of their own; and if they dared to strike a white servant, they were to be severely whipped. No free negro could possess more than eight acres of land; nor could any minister marry such person to a slave, under a penalty of fifty pounds.

      The military affairs were also regulated. The island militia were to consist of infantry and carbineers, under one of which all the male white inhabitants, from the age of fourteen to sixty-five, were to be included. One day in every month was to be set apart for the troops to be exercised; and once in a year a grand rendezvous was to take place at Boyer’s Pasture, in the division of North Sound, when prizes were to be distributed to those who made the best six shots at a target. The prizes consisted of six silver-hilted swords, with belts, valued at 6l. currency. Martial law was also ordained to be in full force at any period when there were fears of insurrections or invasions. Fines were also imposed for various offences, such as absence from parade, &c. Privates who could not raise the money, were, in default of paying such fines as they had incurred, to be picketed, or tied neck and heels for an hour.

      This year (1702) Admiral Benbow again visited Antigua, and war having broken out with France, the captain-general, Colonel Christopher Codrington,