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Page 54
[1] From Brodhead's "History of New York."
[2] Now called Governor's Island.
[3] A fortification from which has come the modern name of Wall
Street.
BACON'S REBELLION IN VIRGINIA
(1676)
BY AN ANONYMOUS WRITER[1]
There is no nation this day under the copes of Heaven can so
experimentaly speak the sad effects of men of great parts being
reduc't to necessity, as England; but not to rake up the notorious
misdemeanours of the dead, I shall endeavour to prevent the sad
effects of so deplorable a cause, by giving you an account of the
remarkable life and death of this gentleman of whom I am about to
discourse. And because when a man has once ingag'd himself in an ill
action, all men are ready to heap an innumerable aspersions upon him,
of which he is no ways guilty, I shall be so just in the History of
his Life as not to rob him of those commendations which his Birth and
Acquisitions claim as due, and so kind both to Loyalty and the wholsom
constituted Laws of our Kingdom, as not to smother any thing which
would render him to blame.
This Gentleman who has of late becconed the attention of all men of
understanding who are any ways desirous of Novelty, [or] care what
becomes of any part of the World besides that themselves live in, had
the honour to be descended of an Ancient and Honourable Family, his
name Nathanael Bacon, to whom to the long known Title of Gentleman, by
his long study [at] the Inns of Court he has since added that of
Esquire. He was the Son of Mr. Thomas Bacon of an ancient Seat known
by the denomination of Freestone-Hall, in the County of Suffolk, a
Gentleman of known loyalty and ability. His Father as he was able so
he was willing to allow this his Son a very Gentile Competency to
subsist upon, but he as it proved having a Soul too large for that
allowance, could not contain himself within bounds; which his careful
Father perceiving, and also that he had a mind to Travel (having seen
divers parts of the World before) consented to his inclination of
going to Virginia, and accommodated him with a Stock for that purpose,
to the value of 1,800l. Starling, as I am credibly informed by a
Merchant of very good wealth, who is now in this City, and had the
fortune to carry him thither.
He began his Voyage thitherwards about Three years since, and lived
for about a years space in that Continent in very good repute, his
extraordinary parts like a Letter of recommendation rendring him
aceptable in all mens company, whilst his considerable Concerns in
that place were able to bear him out in the best of Society. These
Accomplishments of mind and fortune rendred him so remarkable, that
the worthy Governour of that Continent thought it requisite to take
him into his Privy Council.
That Plantation which he chose to settle in is generally known by the
name of Curles, situate in the upper part of James River and the time
of his revolt was not till the beginning of March, 1675-6. At which
time the Susquo-hannan Indians (a known Enemy to that Country) having
made an Insurrection, and kild divers of the English, amongst whom it
was his misfortune to have a Servant slain; in revenge of whose death,
and other dammage(s) he received from those turbulent Susquo-hanians,
without the Governeur's consent he furiously took up Arms against
them, and was so fortunate as to put them to flight, but not content
therewith; the aforesaid Governour hearing of his eager pursuit after
the vanquisht Indians, sent out a select Company of Souldiers to
command him to desist; but he instead of listning thereunto, persisted
in his Revenge, and sent to the Governour to intreat his Commission,
that he might more chearfully prosecute his design; which being denyed
him by the Messenger he sent for that purpose, he notwithstanding
continued to make head with his own Servants, and other English then
resident in Curles against them.
In this interim the people of Henrico had returned him Burgess of
their county; and he in order thereunto took his own Sloop and came
down towards James Town, conducted by thirty odd Souldiers, with part
of which he came ashore to Mr. Laurences House, to understand whether
he might come in with safety or not, but being discovered by one
Parson Clough, and also it being perceived that he had lined the
Bushes of the said Town with Souldiers, the Governour thereupon
ordered an allarm to be beaten through the whole Town, which took so
hot, that Bacon thinking himself not secure whilst he remained there
within reach of their Fort, immediately commanded his men aboard, and
tow'd his Sloop up the River; which the Governour perceiving, ordered
the Ships which lay at Sandy-point to pursue and take him; and they by
the industry of their Commanders succeeded so well in the attempt,
that they presently stopt his passage; so that Mr. Bacon finding
himself pursued both before and behind, after some capitulations,
quietly surrendered himself Prisoner to the Governours Commissioners,
to the great satisfaction of all his Friends; which action of his was
so obliging to the Governour, that he granted him his liberty
immediately upon Paroll, without confining him either to Prison or
Chamber, and the next day, after some private discourse passed betwixt
the Governour, the Privy Council, and himself, he was amply restored
to all his former Honours and Dignities, and a Commission partly
promised him to be General against the Indian Army; but upon further
enquiry into his Affairs it was not thought fit to be granted him;
whereat his ambitious mind seem'd mightily to be displeas'd; insomuch
that he gave out, that it was his intention to sell his whole concerns
in Virginia, and to go with his whole Family to live either in
Merry-land or the South, because he would avoid (as he said) the
scandal of being accounted a factious person there.
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