Antigua and the Antiguans (Vol. 1&2). Mrs. Lanaghan
his historian,) had made arrangements for resisting any attack upon the governor.
Upon the approach of the armed party, Colonel Parke sent the provost-marshal (the man whose appointment to that office had given the Antiguans such offence) with a proclamation, ordering them to disperse immediately. This they refused to do; but in order, if possible, to save an effusion of blood, they despatched Nathaniel Crump, Esq., (the former speaker of the assembly,) and George Gamble, one of the council, to the governor, desiring him, in the name of the inhabitants, to discharge his guards, and quit the government, without any further contest. Colonel Parke returned for answer, “that neither threats nor fear of death should make him do so; for the queen had intrusted him with it.” Through the delegates, Mr. Crump and Mr. Gamble, he bid the assembly “sit at Parham, if they were afraid of the troops at St. John’s,” but consented at the same time to dismiss the soldiers, if six of the principal inhabitants would remain with him as hostages. As the negotiators considered the proposal of the governor’s to be far preferable to commencing hostilities, they agreed to be two of the hostages, and endeavour by their influence to obtain four more from among the assembled multitude. Many of their party, upon hearing this proposition of the governor’s, agreed with them in their opinions, and laid down their arms; but the majority of the people, fearful of any agreement made with the governor, and thinking that delays might induce others of the group to withdraw also, determined to commence the attack, and endeavour to secure the person of the governor. The two companies, headed by Captain Piggot and Captain Painter, immediately drew up before Government House, which they saluted with a warm discharge of musketry. This was returned by the governor’s party; volley succeeded volley from within and without; the balls whistled hotly around; until at length the assailants burst open the doors, and rushed into the dwelling. Captain Piggot fell by the hand of Colonel Parke, at the commencement of the affray, although it was the belief of many that Ayon, the provost-marshal and ci-devant foot-soldier, came behind him and shot him in the back. After some deaths on both sides, Colonel Parke, who had retired into his bedroom, received a shot in his thigh, which, breaking the bone, disabled him from further retreating, and the people rushing upon him, literally tore him to pieces while alive. They afterwards burnt down Government House, the ruins of which remain to this day a memento of his dreadful crimes and fearful punishment. Colonel Parke was dragged into the streets by some of his adversaries, where he remained for some time, still sensible, but suffering agonies impossible to describe, until at length his mutilated body was carried to the house of a person named Wright, who lived near to the spot, where he shortly expired. His body was deposited in the vault of the old church; but so detested was his memory, that the people broke down the pew which had been appropriated for him and his predecessors.
Some writers maintain that only the common people were concerned in the last act of this tragedy; that those of the higher rank proceeded to the house of John Yeamans, the lieutenant-governor, and quietly laid down their arms. Mr. French, the historian of Colonel Parke, writes, however, very differently upon this part of the subject; but it ought to be taken into consideration, that he was a particular friend of Colonel Parke, and consequently might give a higher colouring to the melancholy picture. He says, that when Colonel Parke lay in the street suffering the pangs of a dismembered body, the members of the house of assembly stood round reviling and insulting him in his last agonies; that among the number were Andrew Murray, Francis Carlisle, Mr. Tomlinson, and Captain Painter. I cannot believe this assertion. Although Parke was their common foe, still they must have been possessed of those feelings of honour, if not humanity, which would forbid them to triumph over a dying enemy. Mr. French goes on to state, that it was Colonel Byam who was most active in convening the inhabitants, and appointing a certain day for them to come into town well armed. This, too, has been contradicted. There were not many clergymen then upon the island; but among their number, Mr. James Field, rector of St. John’s, took the part of the people; and Mr. Baxter, rector of Parham, that of Colonel Parke.
All writers upon the West Indies mention the crimes and fate of Parke; and consequently I am obliged to follow in the wake, or else I should have buried his errors—or, more properly speaking, his vices—in oblivion.43
38 Barbuda is a small island, about twenty miles broad, and lies twenty-six miles to the north of Antigua. It has belonged to the Codrington family from about the year 1691, when William III. granted it to General Codrington, then governor-general of the Leeward Islands. It raises a great number of horned cattle, ponies, donkeys, &c., and its shores are very prolific in turtle and various kinds of fish; while its beach is strewed with many beautiful shells. Deer, also, range amid its sylvan glades; and their flesh occasionally affords another dish at a West Indian dinner. The chief emoluments arising from this island, however, are the number of wrecks; three or four sometimes occurring in a year. The reason of these frequent maritime disasters is, that the island lies so low, and is generally encompassed with fogs, that vessels are upon the reefs (by which it is almost entirely surrounded) before they are aware. It was upon one of this chain of reefs, that H. M. S. Woolwich was wrecked.
Barbuda contains about 1500 inhabitants, of which the greater part are employed as huntsmen and fishermen: the former make use of the lazo to catch the wild horses, &c.
39 This spot is now appropriated for the Wesleyan burial-ground.
40 The following is an authentic copy of Mr. Hinton’s commission and warrant, as drawn out in Colonel Parke’s own handwriting:—
“By his Excellency Daniel Parke, Esq., Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief in and over all her Majesty’s Leeward Caribbee Islands in Antigua.
“I do hereby authorize and appoint you, Gabriel Hinton, of the said island aforesaid, to be clerk to the assembly of this island, and which is this day appointed to meet; and to receive all fees, proffitts, and perquisites thereto belonging, for which this shall be your sufficient warrant and commission.
“Given under my hand and seal this twenty-second day of May, 1710.
(Signed) “Daniel Parke.”
41 At this period, the island had fallen considerably in debt; and the legislature not having met for some time, from the unhappy differences between them and the governor, they had no opportunity of relieving themselves from their burdens; which difficulties were pleasing to Colonel Parke, in the hopes of their being compelled to make a general compromise.
42 It may be well to remark, that any peculiarities in the diction of the foregoing extracts must be attributed to the time in which they were written: they having been copied verbatim.
For a list of the members of the house of assembly at this time, see Appendix, No. 11.
43 The last will of Governor Parke will be found in Appendix, No. 12.
CHAPTER VIII.
Governor Walter Hamilton—Walter Douglas’s Disturbances—Complaints against him sent to England—Queen Anne recalls him, and reappoints Walter Hamilton—Lord Viscount Lowther—John Hart—Lord Londonderry—Lord Forbes—Colonel William Crosbie.
After the death of Colonel Parke, the government, of course, devolved upon the lieutenant-governor of Antigua, John Yeamans, until such time as despatches could be forwarded to Nevis, where General Hamilton, who was next in command to the late captain-general, (and who had married the widow of Sir William Stapleton, a former governor,) was residing. Four of the members of the legislature were, accordingly, sent to General Walter Hamilton, advising him of the death of Colonel Parke, and inviting him to come to Antigua in order to assume the chief command. General Hamilton received the party with great urbanity and kindness, and accompanied them back to Antigua, where he took up his residence, for the time being, with Dr. Mackinnon, one of the actors in the late affray.44
Upon the intelligence of Colonel Parke’s death reaching England, Queen Anne was very much incensed against the inhabitants of Antigua; but,