Antigua and the Antiguans Volume II Part 25

William Byam, son and heir, of Cedar Hill, and Sunny Hill, co.

Pembroke, member of the privy council, Antigua, m. 26 June, 1766, Martha, dau. of Edward Rogers, of Lanwnda, in Pembrokes.h.i.+re, died, and was buried at St. George's, Antigua, 1 Oct. 1779, leaving issue, i. Edward, son and heir.

ii. Samuel, D.D. of University Coll., Oxford, vicar of Catterick, co. York, and chaplain in ordinary to George III., born in 1769, and m. Jane, dau. of John Welsh, of the island of St Christopher's, dying at Brusselles, 24 April, 1816, leaving issue, 1. William-Geo.-Munton, born 5 Aug. 1804, late lieut. in 43rd Light Infantry.

2. Adolphus-Elizabeth, born 5 Sept. 1805, capt in Madras artillery, and secretary to the court of Hydrabad, died at the Cape of Good Hope, in 1839, s. p.

3. Henry-James, born in 1813, an officer in the service of the Queen of Spain, died at San Sebastien, 5 Aug. 1837, s.

p.

4. Cornelia-Rachel-Munton, born 23 Feb. 1803, m. Baron Augustus de Firkes, of Mittau, in Courland, and died in 1826.

5. Augusta-Louisa-Anne, born 4 Nov. 1806, and m. Frederick Shallet Lomax, of Netley Park, co. Hants.

iii. Lydia, bapt. 4 Sept. 1772, died on her pa.s.sage from Antigua, unm.

Edward Byam, the son and heir, was a member of the house of a.s.sembly of Antigua, born in 1767, and m. Christiana Matilda, dau. of Matt. Ryan, of Dublin, barrister-at-law, died 27 May, 1795, leaving issue by his wife, i. William, son and heir.

ii. Edward, late major in the 15th Hussars, now lieut.-col. in the army. He served in the battles of Salamanca, Vittoria, Orthes, and Waterloo, of Warblington Lodge, co. Hants, born 24 Dec. 1794, and m. 10 Sept 1829, at the residence of the British minister at the court of Florence, Elizabeth Augusta, dau. of Sir Grenville Temple, Bart., and has issue, 1. Willoughby-Temple, born 15 Aug. 1832.

2. Henry-Edward, born 22 Aug. 1835.

3. Edward, born in April, 1842.

4. Matilda-Augusta-Anne, born 28 June, 1830.

5. Agnes- Welthian, born 7 June, 1831.

6. Maria-Christiana-Elizabeth, born 6 Jan. 1834.

7. Augusta-Temple, born 10 May, 1837.

William Byam, the present representative of the Cedar Hill branch, and of Westwood House, co. Hants, member of the council, Antigua, and late lieut.-col. of the Local Dragoons, m. in 1815, Martha, dau. of Thomas Rogers, of Antigua, and has issue, i. Edward-Gamage, an officer in the 59th regt. born 30 June, 1823.

ii. Thomas-Rogers, born 12 Dec. 1826.

iii. William, born 10 Feb. 1828.

iv. Lydia, born 31 Dec. 1818, m. 18 May, 1837, to Francis Shand, Esq. of Liverpool, and of Everton, co. Lancaster; and v. Martha, born 29 Aug. 1821.

Col. William Byam served under the "hero of a hundred fights,"

the Duke of Wellington, in the battles of Orthes, Toulouse, and Waterloo, in which latter he was dangerously wounded, and in those ensanguined plains he belied not his high name, nor the deeds of his fathers, whom we find so often figuring in the annals of Antigua, leading its troops to battle, filling some high official situation, or spilling their hearts' best blood in defence of their native sh.o.r.es!

[78] Ancestor of the now Earls of Cadogan.

[79] This pedigree, and that of the Byam family in general, has been authenticated by Herald's College, by certificate, dated "College of Arms, 27 July, 1841."

[80] So termed by the Heralds of the College of Arms, although only mentioned in Antiguan history as lieut.-governor of the island.

No. 5.

_Copy of the Grant of Land to Col. Philip Warner, after the Restoration of Antigua to the English Crown, in_ 1667.

William Lord Willoughby of Parham Captn Generall and Chief Governor of Barbados and the rest of the Caribee Islands, To all whom these presents shall come greeting-Whereas the King's most excellent Majestie hath by due Conquest regained to himself ye sole and absolute right and propriet unto and in ye said Island of Antigua and every part thereof. The said Island having been lately taken and conquered by the f.french and since retaken and reduced to his Majestie's obedience by his Majestie's forces. And Whereas the a.s.sembly or Representatives of the said Island have acknowledged and recognized His Majestie's said t.i.tle by Conquest and have wholly submitted to ye same. Now know ye by virtue of the power and authority to me given by His Majestie's Letters Pattents under the great Seale of England bearing date the third day of January in the yeare one thousand six hundred sixty and six and by his instructions under his privy signett bearing date the fourth day of February in ye said year enabling me to grant and confirm estates in His Majestie's behalfe in the said Caribee Islands. I the said William Lord Willoughby for divers good and lawful considerations Have given granted remised released and confirmed and doe by these Presents give grant release remise and confirme unto Coll Phillip Warner his Heires and a.s.signes for Ever all ye right t.i.tle interest or demand which his said Majestie now hath or heretofore had to a certaine plantation or parcell of land situate laying and being ye Island Antigua aforesaid commonly called and known by the name of the Savanna The Westward part of which is bounded upon ye lands of _Thomas Compton_ in Falmouth Division and part of ye lands called Picadilla the North East thereof in part bounded with ye ... .

of _George Mould_ the land of _William Phillips_ ye lands of _John Andrews_ and ye land of _Phillip Lenird_ and part wth ye sea. The Southward part thereof is bounded by a line drawn from the head of English Harbor Creeke through the Valley towards Crosse Cove in falmo harbor and from ye head of ye aforesaid Creeke two hundred foot or forty geometricall paces from ye high water marke observing ye turnings and windings of English Harbor to ye Southermost end of the Sandy Bay at ye mouth of the said Harbor, and part with ye sea The Eastermost part wholly bounded wth ye sea side. Together withall and singular the Houses Edifices, Buildings Timber, Timber trees, Woods, Underwoods, Waters, Water-courses, Rights, Members Jurisdictions, Wayes, Easemts Proffits, Priviledges, Commodities, Hereditaments, and Appurtenances whatsoever to ye same belonging or any wayes apertaining To Have and to Hold the said Plantation or parcell of land wth all and singular ye appurtenances to him ye said Coll Phillip Warner his Heires and a.s.signes and to ye only use benefitt and behoaf of him ye said Phillip Warner his heires and a.s.signes in Free ... . Yielding and paying therefore yearly for ever unto His Majestie his heires and Successors one Eare of Indian Corne att or upon ye feast of ye Birth of our Lord Christ in full satisfaction of all rents and services for ever. In Witness whereof, I have hereunto sett my hand and caused His Majestie's Seale appointed for Barbados and ye rest of the Caribee Islands to be affixed the Eleventh day of Aprill in the twentieth yeare of ye Reigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles the Second King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of ye Faith Anno que Domini One thousand Six hundred Sixty Eight.

_Copy of the Grant of Land to Col. Philip Warner, restored to him after his acquittal upon the charge of murdering his half-brother, the Indian Warner, in_ 1676.

To all Xion People to whom these presents shall come William Stapleton Capn Genl over all His Majties Leeward Islands in America Sendeth Greetinge Know ye that I William Stapleton Capn Gen as aforesaid in pursuance of His moste Excellent Majties Charles the Second his Commission to me directed Bareing date the tenth day of February and by virtue of an article in ye same Impowering me to Sell Lett and dispose of all such lands tenements and Hereditaments in and upon any or either ye said Islands which shall fall or by Law Ellapse or otherwise become due or belonging unto our Said Soveraigne Lord ye King and the same or any part of Pall thereof from time to time to dispose of under such moderate quitt Rents acknowledgements or securities to be reserved to His Majestie his Heires and Successors by mee shall bee deemed meete and convenient. And further by one other Article in his Majties said Commission I am fully Impowered and authorized by his said Majtie to grant Letters and Charters of Incorporasion to all Citties, Townes, Boroughs and other places wthn any or either ye said Islands or plantations respectively wth all liberties, franchises, and priviledges requisite and usually granted to any such wthn the kingdom of England which said grants charters or priviledges soe by me granted and ------ His Majties great Scale appointed for his said Leeward Islands, and beinge duly Entered inrold and recorded shall be good and effectuall in Law against any Pson, Power or Authoritie what so ever. Know ye therefore that I the said William Stapleton Capn Genl &ca by virtue of my said Commission and ye severall Powers to mee therein given for and in ye behalfe of our Soueraigne Lord ye King, for divers good and lawfull causes and considerations hereinafter in the Psents mentioned and expressed and forasmuch as Coll Phillip Warner of the Island of Antigua stands possessed of a certain freehold and plantation or Pall of land in and upon ye said Island of Antigua commonly call'd or known by the name of the Savanna by virtue of a grant and Pattent had and obtained by the said Coll Phillip Warner from and under the hand of William Lord Willoughby of Parham late Capn Genl and Governor in Chiefe of Barbadose and the rest of the Leeward Islands and sealed wth the greate Seale then appointed by his Majtie for the said Islands bearing date the 11th day of April 1668. I have at the speciall instance and request of him ye said Coll Phillip Warner Given granted released remised and confirmed as I doe by these Psents give grant release remise and confirme unto the said Coll Phillip Warner his heires and a.s.signes for ever the said Plantation and freehold under the name and t.i.tle of the Manor of _fframingham_ and doe by virtue of this my Pattent invest him the said Coll Phillip Warner his Heires and a.s.signes for ever in Right t.i.tle and Interest of the said Plantation in a Mannor and Royaltie Lyinge wthn the Limits and bounds hereinafter mentioned and expressed. That is to say the Westward part of the said land being bounded wth the land of Mr _William Wainwright_ and Crowne land in Falmouth Harbor To the North wth the land of Mr _Nathl Monck_ and the land anciently call'd and known by name of Piccadille Hills and to the North East wth the land late of _George Mould_ the lands of _John Pinchin Richard Law_ and _Richard Willis_ and part wth the sea. The East and South East part thereof bounded wholie with ye low water marke upon ye Severall Bayes, Poyntes, and Clifts at ye sea side the South and South west part the said land and manner is alsoe bounded with the Sea in English Harbour to the low water marke observeing the severall turnings and windings of the said Harbor and Creeke thereunto belongeing and from the Head of the Eastmost Creeke through the Vallie to the adjacent round Hill next to Cobb's Crosse Cove. And from thence to the sea in Falmo Harbor, Together with all ye Ponds Creekes Coves inlets waters, watercourses.

Houses, Edifices buildings Orchards lands meadows Leasowes Pastures Commons Sugar Mills Timber and Timber Trees woods and underwoods Advowsons reversions rents Securitties, wrecks, wafes, Estrayes Royaltties Liberties Privileges Jurisdictions, hereditaments Together wth all other Rights, Privileges, and power by Law warranted or allowed to any Royaltie or Maner whatsoever saving onely and excepted to His Majtie his Heires and Successors all Mines and Mineralls of Gould and Silver which shall ly or be within the said Manor or the lands thereunto belongeinge or appertainge. To have and to Hold the said Manor lands tenements and all the premises in _fee simple_ to him the said Coll Phillip Warner his heires and a.s.signes for ever and of and in every part or Pall thereof wth the appurtenances Royallties, Jurisdictions and Privileges heretofore in these Psents mentioned and expressed to bee and Inure and shall bee deemed adjudged Esteemed reputed and taken to bee and Inure to the onely use benefit and behoofe of the said Coll Phillip Warner his heires and a.s.signes for ever. Yieldinge and payeinge therefore yearly for ever unto his Majtie his heires and successors a full growne _Bore_ at or upon ye Feast and Birth of our Lord Christ if lawfully demanded which payment shall be accepted reputed and taken in full satisfaction and discharge of all other rents services duties taxes or Impositions layed or to be layed by any Law authortie Custome or Usage Whatsoever. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and caused His Majtie's Great Seal prepared and appoynted for this and the rest of the Leeward Islands to be hereunto affixed the 3rd _of November_. In the one and Thirtieth Year of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles ye Second King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith &c Anno Domi 1679.

No. 6.

_A Remonstrance of the inhabitants of the island of Antigua why they soe very earnestly craved authority and commission from his Excellency, William Stapleton Captain General and Governor in chief, in and over all his Majesties Leward Cariba Islands in America. To kill and destroy the Indians inhabiting in ye Island of Dominica and likewise for ye craveing ayde from the neighbouring Islands under his Excellency's command which was promised us._

It is to well knowne as well to ye inhabitants of this Island as to ye other merchants and traders amongst us since its first being inhabited by Christians, or very near that time that ye said Indians have not ceased by their continual incursions and very many horrid murders, ripping up women with child, burning of houses, and carrying away into miserable captivity, their children and others, allmost to ye utter ruine of this collony, whilst Indian Warner of late going under the name of Thomas Warner was a chief leader and actor amongst ye said Indians untill the year of our Lord 1657 when some of ye inhabitants of this Island with the a.s.sistance of Mountserrat and others went against them although by their subtility it proved almost ineffectual, yett in ye year 1660, ye said Indian Warner with other Indians came to Collo Xpher Keynell[81] then governor of this Island, to make peace which was then agreed unto and wee had for some small tyme rest from their allmost continual Alaroms, but they soon fell to their accustomed cruelltys by robing, murdering and carrieing away others of the inhabitants, so that we were again constrained to make war against them to our exceeding charge and ye losse of our crops at which tyme we requested Collo Phillip Warner to goe in pson against them in hopes he might by faire means have brought ye said Indian Warner to have been helpful to our party in finding out and persueing those othere breakers of ye sd peace, but all our endeavours proved fruit-lesse and procured us nothing more but fair promises, but he would not go or appear against those that himselfe would say were our enemies, but on the contrary would give them notice of our arrival, although we spared not, at any tyme, to furnish him and those he called his friends with what necessaries they wanted.

Notwithstanding in the year 1666 they began again their old villainies and outragious practices, not regarding that peace, but rather lookeing on us as their tributaries, a barbarous conclusion drawn from our kindnesses, Indian Warner being all this while amongst them, and would never give us any notice of ye designs against us, which drew us to conclude he was still against us, by consent, if not in pson, for those by him protected as his friends and nearest relations, were chief in comitting many outtrages murders, rapes and burneings, by which means we were wholly putt from labour, which if at any time wee attempted to follow their poisoned arrows were soon in some of our sides, which spake nothing but death, soon after ye said Indian Warner was carried prisoner by the French to St.

Xphers[82] being however his friends and nearest relations still persued their b.l.o.o.d.y practises against the poore Inhabitants of this Island for as often as ye men engaged the Ffrench enemy, the said Indians were comitting their murders, rapes and other villanyss amongst ye women and children, and when the Ffrench had subdued ye Island and disarmed our inhabitants and carried away our negroes and what else they thought fitt, then did these Indians prosecute all villanies imaginable against our naked inhabitants haveing nothing but the mercy of G.o.d to protect ourselves from their cruelties, at which time, we having submitted to the Ffrench on their promise of safety from ye barbarisme of the said Indians, ye said Indians came to the house of Collo Cardine late Governr of this Island who cyvilly treated them, but at their departure desired him in friends.h.i.+p to walk with them to the sea-side, where they cruelly murdered him, and those that were with him, cutting off Collo Cardine's head, broyled it and carried it to Dominica in triumph. But before their departure returned to Collo Cardine's house, and carried away his wife children and others, with them into captivity where some of them perished.

Neare to this same tyme they went to the house of Mr. Thomas Taylor pretending friends.h.i.+pp and by him they were kindly entertained, but before they departed they murdered ye said Taylor, Mr. Thomas Beadle minister, Mr. Robert Boyers, wounding others with poisoned arrows to death and carried away Mrs Taylor and children, Mrs. Chrew and children, Mrs Lynt[83] and children, with many to tedious to relate, and in these and ye like b.l.o.o.d.y practises they continued untill a peace was proclaimed betwixt our more gracious king, ye Ffrench, and Dutch. All which b.l.o.o.d.y cruelties were acted and done by ye Chiefs of Indian Warner's friends, without the least cause or provocation on our part.

And since ye peace made with them by the Lord William Willoughby, although they have been kindly received and entertained by our inhabitants out of respect to the said peace, yett they soon begain their accustomed cruelties fore comeing to Parham Hill plantation in agreeable manner were civilly and librally entertained at their departure murdered several seamen that were taking in tobacco, and planters that were carrying the same to ye boats with out any manner of provocation.

Some of ye said Indians being soone after apprehended at Mountserrat by our generall, who intended to have given them a due reward for ye said murders, but such was our clemency towards them, that if by any means wee could have brought them to live peaceably by us, wee made our humble addresses unto our generall to lett them goe, which we hardly obtained from his Excellency, but no sooner were they loose but they comitted roberies upon ye said Island.

Such hath always been their requitalls of any kindnesses or civilities shewn them, and amongst these Indians were the freinds and a.s.sociates of the said Indian Warner and by him then interceeded for alledging they were not the persons that had done the said murders, although afterwards appeared that these whom he a called his friends were the men that comitted ye said murder.

And to manifest the truth thereof, one of his nearest allies, in the yeare 1674 came with other Indians to the plantation of Collo Phillip Warner and killed severall Christians and carried away sixteen negroes, and one Christian child, whom they afterwards cruelly murdered, and at the return of the said Indians from this Island, Indian Warner mett them at Guardeloup and craved share of the booty they had brought from Antigua, and afterwards some of ye goods [_obliterated_] Collo Warner's boyling house at their being last there comitting of murders aforesaid were found in the village belonging to Indian Warner in Dominica and were brought back by some of Collo Warner's servants.

Thus hath the said Indian Warner often dealt treacherously, pretending freinds.h.i.+pp, but proving and absolute enemy, not only to this Island, but to our whole nation, for himself declared that he had a Ffrench comission, and said that he would rather serve ye Spaniards then ye English and finding ourselves to be neare our utter ruine by his fraud and treachery, we were constrained humbly to crave ayde of our captain generall to give us his comission to make war against the said Indians, without exception that we might labour by his just power to redeem ourselves from those cruel practices which wee had long laine under, which he was pleased to grant.

We then besought Collo Phillip Warner, our governor to goe in person against them, which at our earnest request he was pleased to undertake and with very great difficulty and hazard did doe such service upon them which hath procured our ease and rest in some measure to this tyme, although not without continnall watching and warding to our great charge and trouble, they still threatening a b.l.o.o.d.y revenge upon this place.

And it is evident, had not Collo Warner's party beene quick in giving the first blow, upon those our b.l.o.o.d.y enemies, he and those with him had received the same measure from our pretended freinds but utter enemies. Who had agreed with those hee called our enemies to destroy Collo Warner and his party and to that end had them at rediness at hand, but G.o.d Almighty prevented them, not sufferinge him any longer to raigne in his barbarous practices of which this Island might give a large acompt for neare forty yeares past and whether ye said Indian Warner with his a.s.sociates received not a due recompense for their villanys and barbarous practices wee appeal to G.o.d and all ye world.

(Signed) Richard Boraston. Rowld. Williams.

(Autographs) Jonas Watts. Paul Hicks.

Jacob Hill. Jere. Watkins.

Saml. Irish. Richd. Ayres.

Daniel Pellar. John Cade.

Thomas Beck. Will Thomas.

Franc. Carlisle. John Mayer.

1676 Tho. Turner. Samuel Jones.

May it please your honours,

The sense wee have of the sufferings of Collo Phillipe Warner, our late governor by and for an action by which wee have received soe many advantages, and which the prayers of our inhabitants constrained him by --- comission to undertake, hath highly obliged us to suplicate your honours, on his behalfe. Not that we doubt his being justly dealt with, and according to law, but to give your honors to understand that it was not by any designe or private concern of Collo Phillip Warner that carried on that warr and that action wherein it is said Indian Warner fell. But it was founded on the supplication of the inhabitants here, that for many yeares enjoyed little rest from the incursions of those Indians of Dominica and amongst them those of Warner's family.

Some crying for their husbands slaine with poisoned arrows, others for their children s.n.a.t.c.ht from them. Those and the such like were the common complaints here. Until by their humble addresse to our generall they obtained comission to goe under the command of Collo Warner who was not easily wrought upon to undertake it; but being highly importuned by all, he at length complied and by that action we have since enjoyed much peace and they have not dared to putt foot uppon our sh.o.a.re, which we wholly attribute to G.o.d's mercy towards us, but that action as the second cause. This wee humbly offer unto your honors fearing you may not otherwise be given to understand, what was the first cause that moved to that action, as will appear if all papers relating thereunto may be perused. We have not more to request from your honrs than to give your favourable constructions of the matter humbly take leave and subscribe ourselves your most humble servants,