Antigua and the Antiguans (Vol. 1&2). Mrs. Lanaghan
of which island he was appointed governor in 1663, and where he resigned his breath in 1679. The Earl of Warwick had been appointed captain-general of all the West Indies in 1643, but he does not appear to have assumed the command; for, in 1648, after the demise of Sir Thomas Warner, we find Colonel Rich become governor of St. Christopher’s, Colonel Lake7 of Nevis, and Colonel Edward Warner of Antigua. How long this latter gentleman retained his situation is uncertain; but, about the year 1651–2, a Mr. Everard is mentioned as holding the government of the leeward West India islands. An official document, however, written in the year 1655, speaks of a gentleman of that name as governor of St. Kitt’s only.
Antigua, among most of the other colonies in this quarter of the globe, refusing to acknowledge the rights of the Protector, Sir George Ayscue was sent with a squadron to reduce them. This island soon yielded to the Commonwealth’s banner, and Colonel Christopher Reynall was appointed governor, instead of the individual who had so daringly withstood the parliamentary power.
In 1654, the Caribs again made a descent upon Antigua; but the English were enabled to repel their invaders, and effect such slaughter among them, that but few escaped to tell the tale. This victory appears to have intimidated the Indians; and for the next two or three years, the island had rest from their relentless invasions. About this period, Antigua was a prey to great dissensions between the governor and the governed. Complaints were forwarded by the inhabitants to Barbados, praying the governor of that island to use his influence in endeavouring to put a stop to their internal distractions. On the other hand, the Governor of Antigua, Colonel Christopher Reynall, wrote to the Lord Protector, imploring his Highness to take the island under his more particular command, and, by his authority, quell the disaffections which had so unfortunately crept in among them. The following letter from the Governor of Antigua, and the extract from one written by Daniel Searle, Esq., Governor of Barbados, are taken from “Thurloe’s State Papers”:—
Copy of a letter from Christopher Reynall, Governor of Antigua, to the Lord Protector of England, Oliver Cromwell.
“May it please your Highness,
“Upon the reducement of these parts in that expedition of Sir George Ayscue’s employ, I was by him and the other commissioners, then empowered and commissioned to be governor and commander-in-chief of this island of Antigua, in relation and obedience to the Commonwealth of England, which, to the best of my endeavours, I hope in my instrument, I have faithfully performed; in the progress of which my employ being, I have received by several advice, that it was and is thought meet, and so established by the Great Council and Estate of England, with your Highnesses consent and acceptation, that the government of our nation and dominions remain in yourself as Lord Protector; a thing most acceptable to me, who do most faithfully wish your Highness and the Commonwealth welfare and happiness; and, in manifestation thereof, have cheerfully acknowledged and submitted to all such mandates or expresses which hath hitherto come in the name of the Lord Protector. But in our private consultations, considering of many spirits amongst us, doubting their satisfactions have not attained the title of our … … or … … ; according to our desires and intentions, lest an ill-affected party should presume to take an advantage thereby in pretending, as some have already given out, that there were no power of government, but all as libertine, until a new commission came from your Highness; which, by that means might endanger the place to a confusion and ruin: so render us incapable of that service we desire to perform to your Highness and the Commonwealth. The place of itself (if encouragement and small help were afforded) being of consequence, by reason of the fertility of the soil, and exceeding all others settled in these parts, in convenient and safe harbours—I, in relation to the promises and my loyalty to your Highness and the Commonwealth, do prostrate my humble desire at the feet of your Highness’s care and justice, as so far to take up the people and place into your consideration, as to give such orders and directions as may put us not only in the condition of walking inoffensively, but also as we may be serviceable to your Highness and the Commonwealth, which is the hearty desire of
“Your most obedient subject and servant,
(Signed) “Christopher Reynall.
“From the Island of Antigua, in the parts of America,
“Aug. 20th, 1654.”
The extract from Governor Searle’s letter, dated from Barbados, Nov. 7th, 1655, and addressed to Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, &c., is as follows:—
“Some addresses have likewise been made unto me, by Mr. Jos. Lee, Mr. Benjamin Langham, and Richard Farley, inhabitants of Antego, in behalf of themselves and the people of that colony, concerning some distractions among them, and the present unsettled and desturbed condition of that colony. But finding I have no power to take cognizance of anything of that nature, without the bounds of this colony, without a special order from your Highness, I have transmitted their complaints, and the state of the matter in difference betwixt them and the governor going off, which your Highness will here receive.”
In 1665, Antigua joined with Barbados, St. Christopher’s, and Nevis, in levying troops to join the intended expedition of Admiral Pen and General Venables, (of which accounts had been received from England,) in their projected attack upon St. Domingo—an island at that period under the power of Spain, but which Cromwell was very desirous of obtaining. From the copy of a State paper, it appears, however, that upon the arrival of the Commonwealth fleet, the Governor of Antigua, Christopher Reynall, represented to the commanders of the expedition, the disastrous state of the island, from the frequent, and particularly the late, molestations of the Caribs;—a fact so clearly presented to Pen and Venables, that they would not lessen the force of the place, by impressing any of its inhabitants for soldiers. They, therefore, remained only two days at Antigua, during which period they proclaimed the Protector with great pomp; and then proceeded to St. Christopher’s, and the other leeward islands, where they procured a sufficient complement of men. I am sorry, however, that an historian of great fame states, “the troops raised in the West Indies were the most profligate of mankind.”
As Antigua did not eventually join in this expedition, it will be sufficient to remark, that the attack upon St. Domingo was very disastrous; for, although upon the first approach of the English, the Spaniards left their town and fled into the woods, the troops did not follow up their advantage. Venables allowed the soldiers to disembark, without a guide, ten miles from the capital; and, wandering about without any fixed purpose for the space of four days, they gave the Spaniards time to recover themselves from their alarm, and, rushing from their place of concealment, they fell upon the English, who were almost dead with fatigue and hunger, killed six hundred of them, and drove the remainder on board their vessels. In order to atone for their indiscretions, the English commanders resolved to proceed against Jamaica, also under the dominion of Spain, and which island immediately surrendered to the English flag, without a blow being struck in its defence. Colonel Doyly being appointed governor of the new gained colony, with about 3000 land forces under his command, and a fleet of men-of-war under Vice-Admiral Goodson, Pen and Venables prepared to return home. Landing the West India troops at their respective islands, the commanders sailed for England; but, upon their arrival, they were both sent to the Tower, for their failure upon St. Domingo, entirely owing to their want of proper conduct as English officers.
Upon the Restoration, Antigua held out for the Commonwealth, as strenuously as in 1651 it had opposed the pretensions of Cromwell, and for this cause, Charles II. appointed Major-General Poyntz, a former deserter from the Parliamentary power, to act as governor, which situation he filled until 1663, when Lord Francis Willoughby, of Parham, obtained a grant of the entire island from Charles II. as a reward for his eminent services in the cause of that monarch; and Major-General Poyntz retired to Virginia. During the period this latter gentleman resided at Antigua as governor, he owned and planted an estate called by him Cassada Garden, a title which it still bears.
4 The following extract alludes to the invasions of the Caribs (Rochfort’s Histoire des Antilles, published at Rotterdam, 1665, tome 4, page 310):—“Les Caraibs ont fait des descent dans les isles de Montserrat, d’Antigoa, et en d’autres qui sont occupées par les Anglais, et après avoir brulé quelques maisons, et pillé quelques meubles; ils ont enlevé