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

While these warlike deeds were going on in Europe, a squadron had been sent to the West Indies to protect the trade and harass the enemy. This squadron was placed under the joint command of Captain Robert Wilmot and Colonel Lillingston, and consisted of about 1200 land forces, augmented by troops from Antigua, and some other of the West Indian islands. This expedition, like that of Sir Francis Wheeler’s, proved unfortunate; the sea and land officers disagreed, and instead of acting with each other, they pursued opposite courses. Their first attempt was against St. Domingo; but instead of proceeding to take the capital, Captain Wilmot plundered the surrounding country for his own good; and although Colonel Lillingston remonstrated with him, he would not listen to reason. Finding the ill success of their endeavours, the West Indian troops determined to return to their respective homes: the Spaniards, who had joined them against their common enemy, the French, became disgusted, and withdrew; and the commanders themselves, disappointed of their expected captures, set sail for England. They lost one of their ships in the Gulf of Florida, and Captain Wilmot died on his passage. This year the Antiguans lost some of their merchant-ships, as did many of the other West India Islands, by their falling into the hands of the French privateers, who swarmed about the entrance of the English Channel.

The following year passed in quietness in Antigua. The secretary’s office was appointed as the place where all the island laws were to be lodged. Before this period, it appears that there was no particular place appointed to keep the public records; and consequently many valuable papers became mislaid or lost. This year, (1696,) the Hastings frigate was at Antigua, and sailed for London as convoy to a fleet of eleven ships, which were eleven weeks upon their voyage.

In 1697, public pounds were erected in the several towns of Antigua, and imposts laid upon all liquors imported into the island. This had been hitherto a custom, but had expired some short time before.

The year 1698 was a year of mourning to the Antiguans; their friend and patron, as well as governor, breathed his last sigh, and exchanged an earthly for a heavenly home. General Codrington was, as before remarked, the first person who planted the sugar-cane in Antigua: its chief productions before were indigo, ginger, and tobacco. He removed from Barbados (of which island he was a native) in 1674; and some authors make that year his appointment to the governor-generalship of the Leeward Islands, and that of Colonel Rowland Williams, deputy-governor of Antigua. This assertion is, however, evidently incorrect; for we have already seen, that Sir William Stapleton was acting as such at that period. The mistake must have arisen from General Codrington having removed to Antigua in that year.

After the demise of General Codrington, the captain-general of the Leeward Islands, Colonel John Yeamans, a resident proprietor of Antigua, exercised the office of governor of the island.

The Antiguans came to the resolution this year (1698) of appointing an agent for the island, who was to reside in London, and solicit the confirmation of such laws as should from time to time be made in Antigua, as well as to transact any other island business. The salary then given was 100 l. sterling per annum, to commence from 1st January, 1689; but since the year 1800, it has been augmented. About this period, the notorious Captain Kidd 33paid Antigua a visit; but finding the coast of North America would afford him a better harvest, he did not remain long.

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

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

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

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

31The 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.

32Extract 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.”

33The 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.

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.