USA > Virginia > A history of the valley of Virginia, 1st ed > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
"The author considers the foregoing extracts sufficient to enable the reader to form some opinion of the spirit und character of the early settlers of our state, particu- tarly as it relates to their sufferings and difficulties with the Indian tribes. It is not deemed expedient or neces- sary to go into a detailed history of the first settlement of our country, as there are several general histories of Virginia now to be obtained, written by authors, whose abilities and means of information the author could not expect to equal.
The author will close this brief sketch of the first settlement of Virginia, with a few general remarks in relation to the first introduction of slavery. It appears from our early historians, that negroes were first intro- duced into our state from "a Dutch ship in the year 1620." : O woful day for our country ! To use the lan- guage of Mr. Snowden, this was " an evil hour" for our
" Healing's Statutes at Large, vol. i. p. 127, 198.
+ Idem, p. 140. # Idem, p. H41. § Idem, p. 167.
xx
INTRODUCTION.
country-It truly brought " new sins and new deaths" to the new world. The present generation have abun- dant cause to deplore the unhallowed cupidity and want of all the finer feelings of our nature, manifested in this baleful and unrighteous traffick. It has entailed upon us a heavy calamity, which will perhaps require the wisdom of ages yet to come to remove. 'That it must and will be removed, there can be but little doubt. History furnishes no example of any part of the human race being kept in perpetual slavery. Whether the scheme of sending them to Africa will ultimately pro- duce the desired effect, can only be tested by time: it is however most "devoutly" to be desired.
BACON'S REBELLION IN VIRGINIA IN 1675-76.
The document which follows relates to one of the most singular events which ever occurred in Virginia, and its interest is a sufficient inducement for its inser- tion in this work. It was published many years ago in the Richmond Evangelical Magazine, but is now out of print. " The editor of that work, (the late reverend and highly esteemed Dr. Rice,) in introducing it into his pages, says : " It was taken verbatim from a copy in the library now belonging to congress, but formerly the property of Mr. Jefferson. Who the author is we can- not discover. He was certainly a man of much clever- ness, and wrote well. But our readers will judge for themselves. The name of Bacon is very little known to our citizens in general : and this part of our history has been vailed in great obscurity. There are two re- membrances of this extraordinary man in the neighbor- hood of Richmond. A brook on the north west of the city, which bears the name of " Bacon-quarter branch," is said to have received its name from the fact, that on that brook Bacon had his quarter. Buck says that he owned a plantation on Shockoe creek. of which the stream just mentioned is a branch. One of the finest springs in Richmond, or its vicinity, is on the east of the
..
----
XX1
INTRODUCTION.
city, and is called Bloody-run spring. Its name is said to be derived from a sanguinary conflict which Bacon had with the Indians, on the margin of the streamlet which flows from this spring."
The following account of the original from which this document was taken, is given by Mr. Jefferson, in his own words:
"The original manuscript, of which the following is a copy, was communicated to me by Mr. King, our late minister plenipotentiary at the court of London, in a let- ter of Dec. 20, 1803. The transaction which it records, although of little extent or consequence, is yet marked on the history of Virginia as having been the only re- bellion or insurrection which took place in the colony during the 168 years of its existence preceding the Ame- rican revolution, and one hundred years exactly before that event: in the contest with the house of Stuart, it enly accompanied the steps of the mother country. 'The rebellion of Bacon has been little understood, its cause and course being imperfectly explained by any au- thentic materials hitherto possessed; this renders the present narrative of real value. It appears to have been written by a person intimately acquainted with its ori- gin, progress and conclusion, thirty years after it took place, when the passions of the day had subsided. and reason might take a cool and deliberate review of the transaction. It was written, too, not for the public eye, but to satisfy thedesire of minister Lord Oxford; and the candor and the simplicity of the narration cannot fail to command belief. On theoutside of the coverof the man- uscript is the No. 3047 in one place, and 5781 in an- other. Very possibly the one may indicate the place it held in Lord Oxford's library, and the other its mwunter in the catalogue of the bookseller, to whose hands it rame afterwards: for it was at the sale of the stock of a book + ller that Mr. King purchased it.
" To bring the authenticity of this copy as near to that of the original as I could, I have most carefully copic! it with my own hand. The pages and lines of
xxii
INTRODUCTION.
the copy correspond exactly with those of the original; the orthography, abbreviations, punctuations, interlin- cations and incorrectnesses, are preserved, so that it is a fac simile except as to the form of the letters. The orthography and abbreviations are evidences of the age of the writing.
" The author says of himself that he was a planter; that he lived in Northumberland, but was elected a member of the assembly of 1676 for the county of Stafford, colonel Mason being his colleague, of which assembly Col. Warner was speaker ; that it was the first and should be the last time of his meddling with public affairs; and he subscribes the initials of his name T. M. Whether the records of the time (if they still exist), with the aid of these circumstances, will shew what his name was, remains for farther inquiry."
The manuscript.
To the right hono'ble Robert Harley esq'r. her Mag'ties Principal Secretary of State, and one of her most Hono'ble Privy Council. S'R.
THE great honor of your command obliging my pen to step aside from its habituall element of figures into this little treatise of history ; which having never before experienced, I am like Sutor ultra crepidam, and therefore dare pretend no more than (nakedly) to recount matters of fact.
Beseeching yo'r hono'r will vouch safe to allow, that in 30 years, divers occurrences are laps'd out of mind, and others imperfectly retained.
So as the most solemn obedience can be now paid, is to pursue the track of barefac'd truths, as close as my memory can recollect, to have seen, or believed, from credible ffriends with concurring circumstances:
And whatsoever yo'r celebrated wisdom shall finde amise in the composure, my intire dependance is upon vo'r candour favourably to accept these most sincere endeavo'rs of Yo'r Hon'rs
Most devoted humble serv't.
The 13th July: 1705. T. M.
--
.
INTRODUCTION.
xxiii
The beginning progress and conclusion of Bacons rebellion in Virginia in the years 1675 & 1676.
ABOUT the year 1675, appear'd three prodigies in that country, which from th' attending disasters were look'd upon as ominous presages.
The one was a large comet every evening for a week, or more at South-west; thirty five degress high stream- ing like a horse taile westwards, untill it reach'd (almost) the horison, and setting towards the North-west.
Another was, flights of pigieons in breadth nigh a quarter of the mid-hemisphere, and of their length was no visible end ; whose weights brake down the limbs of large trees whereon these rested at nights, of which the flowlers shot abundance and eat 'em; this sight put the old planters under the more portentous apprehen- sions, because the like was seen (as they said) in the year 1640 when th' Indians committed the last massa- cre, but not after, until that present year 1675.
The third strange appearance was swarms of filyes about an inch long, and big as the top of a man's little finger, rising out of spigot holes in the earth, which eat the new sprouted leaves from the tops of the trees with- out other hari, and in a month left us.
My dwelling was in Northumberland, the lowest county on Potomack river, Stafford being the upmost, where having also a plantation, servants, cattle &c. my overseer there had agreed with one Rob't. Hen to come thither, and be my herdsman, who then lived ten miles above it; but on a sabbath day morning in the sumer anno 1675, people in their way to church, saw this Hen Iving thwart his threshold, and an Indian without the door, both chopt on their heads, arms & other parts, as if done with Indian hatchetts, th' Indian was dead, but Hen when ask'd who did that ? answered Doegs Docgs, and soon died, then a boy came out from under a bed, where he had hid himself, and told them, Indians had come at break of day & done these murders.
from this Englishman's bloud did (by degrees) arise Bacons rebellion with the following mischiefs which
-
xxiv
INTRODUCTION.
overspread all Virginia & twice endangered Maryland, as by the ensueing account is evident.
Of this horrid action Coll: Mason who commanded the militia regiment of ffoot & Capt. Brent the troop of horse in that county (both dwelling six or eight miles downwards) having speedy notice raised 30, or more men, & pursu'd those Indians 20 miles up & 4 miles over that river into Maryland, where landing at dawn of day, they found two small paths each leader with his party took a separate path and in less than a furlong, either found a cabin, which they (silently) surrounded. Capt. Brent went to the Doegs cabin (as it proved to be) who speaking the Indian tongue called to have a " Matchacomicha wowhio" i. e. a councill called pre- sently such being the usuall manner with Indians (the king came trembling forth, and wou'd have fled, when Capt. Brent, catching hold of his twisted lock (which was all the hair he wore) told him he was come for the murderer of Rob't Hen, the king pleaded ignorance and slipt loos, whom Brent shot dead with his pistoll, th' In- dions shot two or three guns out of the cabin, th' Eng- lish shot into it, th' Indians throng'd out at the door and fled, the English shot as many as they cou'd, so that they killed ten, as Capt. Brent told me, and brought away the kings son of about S years old, concerning whom is an observable passage, at the end of this cxpc- dition: the noise of this shooting awaken'd th' Indians in the cabin, which Coll: Mason had encompassed, who likewise rush'd out & fled, of whom his company (supposing from that noise of shooting Brent's party to be engaged) shot (as the Coll: informed me) ffourteen before an Indian came, who with both hands shook him (friendly) by onearm saying Susquchanoughsnetoughs i. e. Susquehanaugh friends and fied, whereupon he ran amongst his men, crying out "for the Lords sake shoot no more, these are our friends the Susquehanoughe.
This unhappy scene ended ;- Collo. Mason took the king of the Doeg» son home with him, who lay ten dayes in bed, as one dead, with eyes & mouth shutt, no
XXV
INTRODUCTION.
breath discern'd, but his body continuing warm, they believed him yett alive; th' aforenamed Capt. Brent (a papist) coming thither on a visit, and seeing his little prisener thus languishing said "perhaps he ispawewawd i. e. bewitch'd, and that he had heard baptism was an effectual remedy against witchcraft wherefore advis'd to baptise him Collo. Mason answered, no minister cou'd be had in many miles; Brent replied yo'r clerk Mr. Dobson may do that office, which was done by the church of England liturgy; Coll: Mason with Capt. Brent god fathers and Mrs. Mason godmother, my over- seer Mr. Pimet being present from whom I first heard it, and which all th"other persons (afterwards) affirm'd to me; the ffour men returned to drinking punch but Mrs. Mason staying & looking on the child, it open'd the eyes, and breath'd whereat she ran for a cordial, which he took from a spoon, gaping for more and so (by degrees) recovered, the' before his baptism, they had often tryed the same meancs but cou'd not by no endea- Yours wrench open his teeth. -
Thi, was taken for a convincing proofe against infi- delity.
But to return from this digression, the Susqueha- noughs were newly driven from their habitations, at the head of Chesepiack bay, by the Cinela-Indians, down to the head of Potomack, where they sought protection under the Pascataway Indians, who had a fort near the head of that river, and also were our ffriends.
After this unfortunate exploit of Mason & Brent, one or two being Kill'd in Stafford, boats of war were equipt to prevent excursions over the river, and at the same time murders being likewise committed in Maryland, by whom not known, on either side the river, both coun- trys raised their quota's of a thousand men, upon whose i oming before the ffort, th' Indians sent out 1 of their great men, who ask'd the reason of that hostile ap- pearance, what they said more or offered I do not re- member to have heard; but our two commanders caused them to be (instantly) slaine, after which the Indians
xxvi
INTRODUCTION.
made an obstinate resistance shooting many of our men, . and making frequent, fierce and bloody sallyes; and when they were call'd to, or offered parley. gave no other. answer, than "where are our four Cockarouses, i. e. great men ?
At the end of six weeks, march'd out seventy five Indians with their women children &c. who by moon light past our guardis hollowing & firing att them with- out opposition having 3 or 4 decrepits in the ffort.
The next morning th' English followed, but could not, or (for fear of ambuscades) would not overtake these desperate fugitives the number we lost in that scige I did not hear was published.
The walls of this ffort were high banks of earth; with fiankers having many loop-holes, and a ditch round all, and without this a row of tall trees fastened 3. feet deep in the earth, their bodies from 5. to 8. inches diani- eter, watled 6. inches apart to shoot through with the tops twisted together, and also artificially wrought, as our men could make no breach to storm it. nor (being low land) could they undermine it by reason of water neither had they cannon to batter itt, so that 'twas not taken, untill ffamine drove the Indians out of it.
These escap'd Indians (forsaking Maryland) took their rout over the head of that river, and thence over the heads of Rappahanock & York rivers, killing whom they found of the upmost plantations untill they came to the head of James river, where (with Bacon and others) they slow Mr. Bacon's overseer whom he much loved, and one of his servants, whose bloud hee vowed to evenge if possible.
In these frightfull times the most exposed small fa- milies withdrew into our housesof better numbers, which ive fortified with palisades & redoubts, neighbours in bodys joined their labours from cach plantation to others alternately, taking their arms into the fields, and setting centinels ; no man stirrd out of door unarm'd, Indians were (ever & anon) espied, three 4. 5. or. 6. in a party lurking throughout the whole land, yet [what was re-
INTRODUCTION.
xxvii
markable] I rarely heard of any houses burnt, tho' abun- dance was forsaken, nor ever, of any corn or tobacco cut up, or other injury done, besides murders, except the kill- ing a very few cattle and swine.
Frequent complaints of bloudsheds were sent to Sr. Wm. Berkeley (then Govern'r) from the heads of the rivers, which were as often answered with promises of assistance.
-
These at the heads of Jamesand York rivers (having now most people destroyed by the Indians flight thither from Potomack) grew impatient at the many slaughters of their neighbours and rose for their own defence, who chusing Mr. Bacon for their leader, sent oftentimes to the Govern'r, humbly besceching a commission to go against those Indians at their own charge which his hono'r as often promised but did not send; the miste- ryes of these delays, were wondred at and which I ne'er heard coud penetrate into, other than the effects of his passion, and a new (not to be mentioned) occasion of avarice, to both which he was (by the common vogue) more than a little addicted ; whatever were the popular surmizes & murmurings viz't.
"that no bullets would pierce bever skins.
" rebells forfeitures would be lovall inheritances &c.
During these protractions and people often slaine, most or all the officers, civil & military with as many dwellers next the heads of the rivers as made up 300. men taking Mr. Bacon for their command'r met, and concerted together, the danger of going without a com- iss'n on the one part, and the continuall murders of their neighbors on the other part (not knowing whose or how many of their own turns might be next) and came to this resolution viz't to prepare themselves with neces- s tries for a march, but interim to send again for a com- i sion, whichif could or could not be obtayned by a certaine day, they woud proceed comission or no comis- sion.
This day lapsing & no com'n come, they marched into the wilderness in quest of these Indians after whom
3
XXVII
INTRODUCTION.
the Govern'r sent his proclamation, denouncing all re- bells, who shoud not return within a limited day, where- upon those of estates obey'd; but Mr. Bacon with 57. men proceeded until their provisions were near spent, without finding enemy's when coming nigh a ffort of friend Indians, onth' other side a branch of James river, they desired reliefe offering paym'i. which these Indians kindly promised to help them with on the morrow, but put them off with promises untill the third day, so as having then eaten their last morsells they could not re- turn, but must have starved in the way homeward and now 'twas suspected, these Indians had received private messages from the Govern'r & those to be the causes of these delusive procrastinations; whereupon the English waded shoulder deep thro' that branch of the ffort pali- sado's still intreating and tendering pay, for victuals ; but that evening a shot from the place they left on th' other side of that branch kill'd one of Mr. Bacon's men, which made them believe, those in the ffort had sent for other Indians to come behind 'em & cut 'em off.
Hereupon they fired the palisado's, storm'd & burnt the ffort & cabins, and (with the losse of three English) slew 150 Indians. The circumstances of this expe- dic'n Mr. Bacon entertain'd me with, at his own cham- ber, on a visit I made him, the occasion whereof is here- after mentioned.
ffrom hence they return'd home where writts were come up to elect members for an assembly, when Mr. Bacon was unanimously chosen for one, who coming down the river was commanded by a ship with guns to come on board, where waited Major Houe the high sheriff of James town ready to seize him, by whom he was carried down to the Govern'r & by him receiv'd with a surprizing civility in the following words " Mr. Bacon you had forgot to be a gentleman." No, may it please yo'r hono'r answer'd Mr. Bacon; then replyed the Goven'r I'l take yo'r parol, and gave him his liberty: in March 1675-6 writts came up to Stafford to choose their two members for an assembly to meet in May ;
..
INTRODUCTION.
xxix
when Collo. Mason Capt. Brent and other gentlemen of that county, invited me to stand a candidate; a matter I little dreamt of, having never had inclinac'ons to tam- per in the precarious intrigues of Govern't. and my bands being full of my own business: they press't se- verall cogent argum'ts, and I having considerable debts in that county, besides my plantation concerns, where (in one & th' other) I had much more severely suffered, than any of themselves by th' Indian disturbances in the summer & winter foregoing. I held it not [then] discreet to disoblige the rulers of it, so Coll: Mason wich myself were elected without objection, he at time con- venient went on horse back; I took iny sloop & the morning I arriv'd to James town after a weeks voyage, was welcom'd with the strange acclamations of All's Over Bacon is taken, having not beard at home of these Southern com'otions, other than rumours like idle tales, of one Bacon risen up in rebellion, no body knew for what, concerning the Indians.
The next forenoon, th' Assembly being met in a chamber over the Generall court & our Speaker chosen, the dovern'r sent for us down, where his hono'r with a. pathetic emphasis made a short abrupt speech wherein were these words.
" If they had killed my grandfather and my grand- "mother, my father and mother and all my friends, yet " if they had come to treat of peace, they ought to have " gone in peace, and sat down.
The two chief commanders at the forementioned seige, who slew the flour Indian great men, being pre- sent and part of, our assembly.
The Covern't stood up againe and said " if there be "joy in the presence of the Angels over one sinner that " repenteth, there is joy now, for we have a penitent sin- " ner come before us, call Mr. Bacon ; then did Mr. Da- con upon one knee at the bar deliver a sheet of paper confessing his crimes, and begging pardon of god the king and the Govern'r whereto [after a short pause] he answered " God forgive you, I forgive you, thrice repeat-
XXX
INTRODUCTION.
ing the same words ; when Collo. Cole [one of council] said, " and all that were with him, Yea, said the Gover- nor & all that were with him, twenty or more persons being then itt irons who were taken coming down in the same & other vessels with Mr. Bacon.
About a minute after this the Govern'r starting up from his chair a third time said " Mr. Bacon ! if you will live civilly but till next Quarter court [doubling the words] but till next Quarter court, Ile promise to restore you againe to yo'r place, there pointing with his hand to Mr. Bacons seat, he having been of the Councill be- fore these troubles, tho' he had been a very short time in Virginia but was deposed by the foresaid proclamac'on, and in the afternoon passing by the court door, in my way up to our chamber; I saw Mr. Bacon on his quon- dam seat with the Govern'r & councill, which seemed a marveilous indulgence to one whom he had so lately proscribed as a rebell.
The Govern'r had directed us to consider of means for security from th' Indian insults and to defray the - charge &c. advising us to beware of two rogues amongst us, naming Laurence and Drumond both dwelling at James town & who were not at the Pascataway siege.
But at our entrance upon businesse, some gentlemen took this opportunity to endeavour theredressing severall grievances the country then labour'd under, motions were made for inspecting the publick revenues, the Col- lectors accompts &c. and so far was proceeded as to name part of a committee whereof »Mr. Bristol [now in Lon- don ] was and myself another, when we were interrupted .by pressing messages from the Govern'r to medle with nothing untill the Indian business was dispatch't.
This debate rose high, but was overruled and I have not heard that these inspections have since then been insisted upon, tho such of that indigent people as had no benefits from the taxes groaned under our being thus overborn.
The next thing was a Co'mittee for the Indian af- faires, whereof in appointing members, myself was un-
INTRODUCTION.
willingly nominated having no knowledge in martiall preparations, and after our names were taken, some of the house moved for sending 2. of our members to in- treat the Govern'r wou'd please to assign two of his councill to sit with, and assist us in our debates, as had been usuall.
When seeing all silent looking each at other with many discontented faces, I adventur'd to offer my hum- ble opinion to the Speaker " for the co'mittec to form " methods as agreeable to the sense of the house as we " could, and report 'em whereby they woud more clearly " sce, on what points to give the Govern'r and Councill " that trouble if perhaps it might be needfull .??
These fetr words rais'd an uproar; one party urging hard " it had been customary and ought not to be omit- ted ;" whereto Mr. Presley my neighbor an old assem- bly man, sitting next me, rose up, and [in a blundering manner replied] " tis true, it has been customary, but if " we have any bad customes amongst us, we are come " here to mend'em" which set the house in a laughter.
This was huddI'd off without coming to a vote, and so the Co'mittee must submit to be overaw'd, and have every carpt at expression carried streight tothe Govern'r.
Our co'mittee being sat, the Queen of Pamunky [descended from Oppechankenough a former Emperor of Virginia] was introduced, who entred the chamber with a comportment graceful to admiration, bringing on her right hand an Englishman interpreter, and on the left her son a stripling twenty years of age, she having round her head a plat of black & white wampam peague three inches broad in imitation of a crown, and was ,cloathed in a mantle of dress't deerskins with the hair outwards & the edge cut round 6 inches deep which Inade strings resembling twisted fringe from the shoul- Gers to the feet ; thus with grave courtlike gestures and a majestick air in her face, she walk'd up our long room to the lower end of the table, where after a few intrea- ties she sat down ; th' interpreter and her son standing by her on either side as they had walk'd up, our chair-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.