William
Berkeley was born in Somerset,
England in 1606. Soon after graduating
from Oxford University in 1624 he was employed
in the colonial office. Knighted by Charles I in 1639, Berkeley was
appointed as governor of Virginia.
During the English Civil War he declared his support for the king.
When Oliver Cromwell achieved power Berkeley was forced into retirement
and until 1660 concentrated on developing his plantations in Virginia.
Berkeley started a second term as governor of Virginia after the restoration
of the monarchy in 1660. Berkeley led the military against the colony's
remaining Native Americans. He also organised the defence that prevented
a Dutch landing on the Virginia coast
in 1673.
Berkeley appointed Nathaniel Bacon to
his governing council but the two men soon fell out about the development
of the colony. Berkeley favoured a policy of containment, whereas
Bacon wanted to expand into areas controlled by Native Americans.
In 1676 Bacon organized his own expedition. Fearing a large-scale
war with Native Americans, Berkeley turned his forces against Bacon
and his men. Bacon captured Jamestown and Berkeley was forced to flee
to the Eastern Shore. However, when Nathaniel
Bacon died of fever in October, 1676, the rebellion quickly collapsed.
Berkeley took revenge by hanging all the leading figures. One settler
commented that he believed "the Governor would have hanged half
the country, if they had let him alone". This upset Charles
II who had pardoned the men and Berkeley was recalled to England.
William Berkeley died in Twickenham on 9th July, 1677.
(1)
A supporter of Nathaniel Bacon wrote a
detailed report of the rebellion but it was nor published in England
until 1705. He was critical of William Berkeley who he believed did
not do enough to stop attacks by Native Americans.
Frequent complaints of bloodshed were sent to Sir William Berkeley
from the heads of the rivers, which were as often answered with promises
of assistance. These at the heads of James and York rivers (having
now most people destroyed by the Indians) grew impatient at the many
slaughters of their neighbours and rose or their own defence, who
choosing. Bacon for their leader, sent oftentimes to the Governor,
humbly beseeching a commission to go against those Indians at their
own charge.
Mr. Bacon, with fifty-seven men, proceeded until the fired the palisades,
stormed and burned the fort and cabins, and (with the loss of three
English) slew 150 Indians.
(2)
Nathaniel Bacon was captured by William
Berkeley but he escaped and raised another army to fight Native Americans.
General Bacon marched with 1,000 men into the forest to seek the enemy
Indians; and, in a few days after, our next news was that the Governor
had summoned together the militia of Gloucester and Middlesex counties,
to the number of 1,200 men, and proposed to them to follow and suppress
the rebel Bacon.
Bacon stormed it (Jamestown) and took the town, in which attack were
twelve men slain and wounded, but Governor Berkeley, with most of
the followers, fled back down the river in their vessels. Here, resting
a few days, they agreed to the burning of the town. Mr. Lawrence and
Mr. Drumond, owning the two best houses save one, set fire each to
his own house, which example the soldiers following laid the whole
town (with church and statehouse) in ashes, saying the rogues should
harbor no more there.
Mr. Bacon returned from his expedition sick of a flux; without finding
any enemy Indians, having not gone far by reason of the vexations
behind him. Nor had he one dry day in all his marches to and fro in
the forest while the plantations had a summer so dry as stinting the
Indian corn and tobacco, etc. In a while Bacon died and was succeeded
by his lieutenant general, Ingram.
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