Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library
Page 405
FEW of our older colonies have a more eventful and romantic history than Antigua, and its vicissitudes have been comprehensively narrated in a work entitled "Antigua and the Antiguans," from which the following Monumental Inscriptions have been extracted. In this island, as well as in those of St. Christopher and Montserrat, there are many more such records, but in the course of flying visits, the author had not the same opportunities, as in Jamaica, and in Barbados, of making, personally, additions to the present collection.
For an account of the Civil, Military, and Judicial establishments, see " The Colonial List." There is a House of Assembly, of twenty-five members, and a Council, which nominates the Governor, subject to the confirmation of the Crown.
N.B. The Governor-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands resides at St. John's, Antigua.
Page 406
1493. Antigua first discovered by Columbus, who named it after a church in Seville, called Santa Maria, La Antigua.
1623. First inhabited by a few English, under Col. Thomas Warner, who arrived there from Virginia.
1625. Colonel Warner constituted Governor, (Sept 13.)
1640. Descent on it by the Caribs. Great loss of life.
1651. Taken by Sir George Ayscue.
1654. Descent of the Caribs. Warner's wife carried off, and after a few days rescued.
1663. Charles II. made a formal grant of the island to Lord Willoughby, who sent out a large number of colonists.
1666. After an interval of French occupation, it is declared a British possession, by the Treaty of Breda.
1668. Lord Willoughby of Parham, appointed Governor.
1681. Divided into parishes: St. John, St. Peter, St. George, St. Paul, St. Mary, St. Philip.
..................... Governor - Rowland Williams.
1693. Abortive attack on Martinique.
..................... Governor - Christopher Codrington.
1702. Market Place established.
.................... Governor -Christopher Codrington.
1703. Sailing packet for letters established.
................... Governor -Christopher Codrington.
1710. Revolt and murder of Governor Parke, (Dec. 7).
1771. First appearance of sugar ants.
.....................Governor -Sir Ralph Payne.
1782. Great fire at St. John's, the capital.
................... Governor - Sir Thos. Shirley.
1798. Lord Camelford murders Lieut. Paterson, R.N. [Lord C., afterwards fell in a duel with Capt. Best, a Barbadian.]
....................John Nugent, (Lt.Gov.)
1798. Slaves tried by jury [of whites].
1825. Dr. Coleridge, Bishop.
................... Governor -Sir R. Durham.
1834. Negro Emancipation.
................... Governor -Sir E. M. McGregor.
1835. Hurricane.
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. Page 407
1625 - Colonel (afterwards Sir Thomas) Warner.
Governors............................................... A.D.
Lord Willoughby 1668
Philip Warner 1672
Rowland Williams 1675
Sir Wm. Stapleton 1682
Nathaniel Johnson 1682
Christopher Codrington 1689
Christopher Codrington 1698
Sir Wm. Matthew 1704
Lord Londonderry 1728
William Matthew 1730
Sir George Thomas 1752
James Verchild 1766
Sir Ralph Payne 1771
W. H. Burt 1776
Sir Thos. Shirley . 1781
Sir Thos. Shirley 1790
Maj. Genl. Leigh 1795
Lord Lavington 1801
Hugh Elliott 1810
Sir Jas. Leith 1814
Maj.Genl. Ramsay 1816
G. W. Ramsay 1817
Maj.Genl. Ramsay 1817
Sir R. Durham 1819
Sir P. Rose 1826
Sir E. M. McGregor 1834
Sir Wm. Colebrooke 1837
Sir C. A. Fitzroy 1842
Page 408 ANTIGUA.
Governors. A. D.
Sir C. A. Fitzroy 1845
J. M. Higginson 1827
R. J. MacIntosh 1850
K. B. Hamilton, C.B . 1855
K. B. Hamilton, C.B . 1860
Col. S. Hill, C.B . 1863
Col. S. Hill, C.B . 1867
Sir B. C. Pine 1869
Lt.-Gov, Dep.-Gov, and Presidents
(D.G.) Samuel Winthorpe 1668
(L.G.) William Woodley 1768
(L.G.) John Nugent 1788
(L.G.) William. Woodley 1792
(L.G.) John Stanley 1793
(p.) John Thomas 1796
(L.G.) William Woodley 1799
(p.) James Tyson 1809
(p.) John Julius 1810
(p.) John Julius 1813
(p.) Henry Rawlins 1815
(L.G.) Henry Light 1836
(L.G.) Major Macphail 1840
(L.G.) C. J. Cunningham 1845
(p.) M. H. Daniell 1845
(L.G.) Sir Hercules Robinson 1859
(p.) B. E. Jarvis 1859
(L.G.) E. J. Eyre 1859
(p.) Sir Wm. Byam .1860
(p.) Sir Wm. Byam 1863
(Adm.)Sir B. C. Pine 1866
Page 409
1.
AN EPITAPH UPON TH....... NOBLE & MUCH LAMENTED GENRL. SIR THO. WARNER, KT., LIEUTENANT-GENERAL OF YE CARRIBEE ISLANDS, & GOVERR. OF YE ISLAND OF ST. CHRISTOPHER,WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 10th OF MARCH, 1648.
FIRST READ, THEN WEEPE, WHEN THOU ART HEREBY TAUGHT,
THAT WARNER LYES INTERR'D HERE, ONE WHO BOUGHT,
WITH LOSS OF NOBLE BLOUD ILLUSTRIOUS NAME
OF A COMMANDER GREATE IN ACTS OF FAME.
TRAYN'D FROM HIS YOUTH IN ARMES, HIS COURAGE BOLD
ATTEMPTED BRAVE EXPLOITES, AND VNCONTROLD
BY FORTUNES FIERCEST FROWNES, HEE STILL GAVE FORTH
LARGE NARRATIVES OF MILITARY WORTH:
......... RITTEN WITH HIS SWORDS POYNT, BUT WHAT IS MAN
.........THE MIDST OF HIS GLORY, AND WHO CAN
........ THIS LIFE A MOMENT, SINCE THAT HEE
......... AL, MORTAL STROKE AT LENGTH DID YEELD
......... ACE) TO CONQUERING DEATH THE FIELD,
FINI CORONAT.
SEE Chronological Table, and Pedigree.
2.
Under the Communion table there is a Latin epitaph
TO THE MEMORY OF COLONEL WILLIAMS, WHO DIED, AGED EIGHTY YEARS, ON THE 20th .................... 1713.
Slab.
Founded in 1683-4.Re-erected 1721-31
1.
TO THE MEMORY OF MRS. GILBERT, WIFE OF MR. GILBERT.
Slab.
THE latter introduced Methodism in Antigua, and died in 1747.
________________________________
This church possesses a curious old silver communion service, inscribed 1. "Donum Domini Otto Baijer, Ad Templum Divi Johannis in Antigua." 2. " Gulielmus Jones parochialis hujus olim RectorDonum Dedit." " Donum Petre Lee, Ad Templum Divi Johannis in Antigua."
Page 410 ANTIGUA.
2.
NEAR TO THIS PLACE IS LAID, WITH THE REMAINS OF HER HONOURED PARENTS, THE BODY OF ELIZABETH WIFE OF RICHARD OTTLEY; WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE IN THE ISLAND OF ST. VINCENT, ON THURSDAY, 28th AUGUST, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SIX, IN THE THIRTY-SECOND YEAR OF HER AGE.
SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF ASHTON WARNER, ESQ., ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF ANTIGUA, BY ELIZABETH HIS WIFE, AND WAS BORN THE 7th JUNE, 1735, O. S.; MARRIED 25th OF OCTOBER, IN THE YEAR 1753, AND LEFT ISSUE SURVIVING HER, ONE SON AND THREE DAUGHTERS, VIZ. DREWRY, ELIZABETH, MARY TRANT, AND ALICE ....................................
HER INCONSOLABLE HUSBAND (IN WHOSE ARMS SHE EXPIRED, AFTER BEARING WITH ADMIRABLE FORTITUDE AND RESIGNATION THE EXCRUCIATING PAINS OF A LONG AND DIFFICULT LABOUR) CAUSED THIS MONUMENT TO BE ERECTED TO HER MEMORY.
THE SON WITH WHOM SHE DIED, RECLINES UPON THAT BREAST WHICH WOULD HAVE NOURISHED HIM, HAD THE ALMIGHTY SO PERMITTED.
Mural Monument, W. and B. Marble, with emblematic sculpture.
3.
.... THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY ELIZABETH MARY OTTO BAIJER, TO THE MEMORY OF HER BELOVED FATHER, THE HONOURABLE SAMUEL OTTO BAIJER, OF PARES ESTATE IN THIS ISLAND; WHO DIED AT PHILADELPHIA,ON THE 20th OF DECEMBER, 1835. AGED 54 YEARS.ALSO TO THE MEMORY OF HER MOTHER, ELIZABETH MARY OTTO BAIJER, WHO DIED IN 1813, AT DOVE HALL, IN THE ISLAND OF JAMAICA, IN THE 27th YEAR OF HER AGE. ALSO TO THE MEMORY OF HER BROTHER, ROWLAND ARCHIBALD OTTO BAIJER,
..................... WHO DIED AT PARES ESTATE, IN THIS ISLAND, ON THE 24th OF NOVEMBER, 1827, AGED 25 YEARS AND 8 MONTHS, AND WHOSE REMAINS REPOSE NEAR THIS SPOT.
W. M. Gothic Tablet.
4.
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF ELIZABETH JANE HARMAN, WHO DIED ON THE 16th APRIL, A.D. 1828, AGED 21 YEARS. WE HAVE THIS TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS.
Marble Tablet.
5.
................WILLIAM AND RUTH ATKINSON, ONCE INHABITANTS OF ANTIGUA, AND NOW OF DOMINICA, AS AN INADEQUATE EVIDENCE OF THEIR INTENSE AND AGGRAVATED ANGUISH FOR THE POIGNANT AND CRUSHING TRIAL THEY HAVE UNDERGONE, IN THE LOSS OF BOTH THEIR CHILDREN, PAY THIS MELANCHOLY
411 MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS. 411
TRIBUTE .............GEORGE ATKINSON, THEIR FIRST AND LAST SPARED HOPE, HAD NEARLY REACHED HIS TWELFTH YEAR QUITTED THIS LIFE WITHOUT A STRUGGLE, ON SUNDAY, 5th DEC., 1779 WILLIAM ATKINSON, THEIR YOUNGEST, DIED IN INFANCY (Verses) ...... 1782.
Pyramidal M. Monument. Sculptured with cherubs and scrolls, bearing texts from Scripture.
6.
IN MEMORY OF AUTHER TEAGLE, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE, ON THE 20th NOVEMBER, 1839,AGED 43 YEARS. THY WILL BE DONE.
W. and B. M. Tablet, surmounted by a laurel chaplet.
7.
TO THE MEMORY OF THE REV. WILLIAM THOMAS BERNARD, A.B. OF TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN, LATE CURATE OF THIS PARISH, WHERE, AFTER A SHORT RESIDENCE OF FOUR MONTHS ............. HE DIED OF FEVER, NOV. 2nd, 1835, IN THE 26th YEAR OF HIS AGE, THIS TRIBUTE OF ESTEEM AND AFFECTION IS ERECTED, PARTLY BY HIS MUCH AFFLICTED SISTER, ELLEN M. BAILY, AND PARTLY BY THE RIGHT REV. WILLIAM HART COLERIDGE, D.D. LORD BISHOP OF THIS DIOCESE, THE CLERGY OF ANTIGUA, AND OTHER FRIENDS IN THE ISLAND, WHO MOURN HIS EARLY LOSS.
W. M. Monument. Sculptured angel amid clouds Bernard Arms, with Motto, " Bear and Forbear."
8.
................ TO THE MEMORY OF THE HONOURABLE WILLIAM WARNER, ESQ., WHO WAS A MEMBER OF HIS MAJESTY'S COUNCIL, AND TREASURER OF THIS ISLAND, HONOURABLE BY HIS OFFICE OF COUNSELLOR, BUT MORE HONOURABLE AS A MAN: ............. HE DIED ON FRIDAY, 11 OCTOBER, 1771, IN THE FORTY-THIRD YEAR OF HIS AGE . TO COMMEMORATE HER ANGUISH FOR HIS LOSS ..........HIS. DISCONSOLATE WIDOW HATH CAUSED THIS MEMORIAL TO BE ERECTED. GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO.
W. M. Monument, with border of variegated brown marble. Female figure leaning on an urn.
9.
TO THE MEMORY OF HER ONLY AND BELOVED DAUGHTER SARAH KELSICK WIFE OF MR. JOHN KELSICK, MERCHANT IN ANTIGUA, WHO DIED ON 20th DAY OF MARCH, 1785, IN THE 19th YEAR OF HER AGE. THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY HER DISCONSOLATE MOTHER SARAH ECCLESTON,WIFE OF ISAAC ECCLESTON, ESQ, 1792.
EULOGISTIC lines follow.
White Pyramidal Monument. Female figure, urn, and flowers.
ANTIGUA. 412
10.
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF RALPH PAYNE, LORD LAVINGTON, OF THE KINGDOM OF IRELAND, ONE OF HIS MAJESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL, KNIGHT OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH, AND CAPTAIN GENERAL AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.
(On the base of the Monument,)
HE WAS BORN IN THE ISLAND OF ST. CHRISTOPHER'S, OF AN ENGLISH FAMILY, DISTINGUISHED FOR ITS LOYALTY AND PUBLIC SPIRIT, HIS EDUCATION HE RECEIVED IN ENGLAND, AND IT PREPARED HIM FOR THE DISTINCTIONS WHICH AWAITED HIS RETURN TO HIS NATIVE ISLE, WHEN HE WAS ELECTED A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, AND, ON ITS FIRST MEETING, UNANIMOUSLY CALLED TO THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE ON HIS RETURN TO ENGLAND IN 1762, HE WAS ELECTED A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FOR THE BOROUGH OF PLYMPTON, DEVONSHIRE; AND FROM HIS PERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF COLONIAL AFFAIRS, HE WAS APPOINTED IN 1771, A PERIOD OF NATIONAL INTEREST, TO BE CAPTAIN-GENERAL AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS, AT WHICH TIME HE WAS INVESTED WITH THE MOST HONOUR ABLE ORDER OF THE BATH. HE REMAINED IN THE EXERCISE OF HIS GOVERNMENT UNTIL 1774, WHEN HE RETURNED TO ENGLAND, AND WAS APPOINTED A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF GREEN CLOTH. DURING THE PERIOD OF HIS RESIDENCE IN ENGLAND HE SAT IN FIVE PARLIAMENTS, AND, IN 1795, HIS MAJESTY WAS GRACIOUSLY PLEASED TO RAISE HIM TO THE DIGNITY OF A PEER IN IRELAND, BY THE STYLE AND TITLE OF BARON LAVINGTON OF LAVINGTON. IN 1798, HE WAS SWORN ONE OF HIS MAJESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL, AND AGAIN APPOINTED TO THE CHIEF COMMAND OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS, IN THE WISE AND ABLE ADMINISTRATION OF WHICH HE PASSED HIS LATTER YEARS, AND CLOSED HIS VENERABLE LIFE THE LEGISLATURE OF ANTIGUA HAVE ERECTED THIS MONUMENT. HE DIED AT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE OF THIS ISLAND, ON THE 3d DAY OF AUG., 1807, AGED 68; AND WAS INTERRED AT HIS OWN ESTATE CALLED "CARLISLES."
Marble Mont. Elaborate sculpture, and statue of the deceased, with his Arms.
11.
NO WARNING GIVEN! UNCEREMONIOUS FATE A SUDDEN RUSH FROM LIFE'S MERIDIAN JOYS! A WRENCH FROM ALL SHE LOVED."
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF ELIZA MUSGRAVE, WIFE OF WILLIAM MUSGRAVE, ESQ., OF THE INNER TEMPLE, BARRISTER-AT-LAW. SHE DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE MORNING OF THE 12th FEB., 1815, AGED 24 YEARS.
EULOGISTIC lines follow.
White M. Mont. Sculpture representing the death of the lady by being thrown out of her carriage.
See Young's "Night Thoughts."
MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS. Page 413
1.
(Ab.) ............MEMORY OF TROUHTON . .........1704.
Fragment.
2.
(Ab.) COLONEL PHILIP LEE, ..................1704.
HE presented the pair of candlesticks for the communion table. He was an Irishman by birth and education; but after serving in the wars in Flanders, he emigrated to Antigua, and became Speaker of the House of Assembly there, in 1702.
3.
(Ab.) CAPTAIN BASTIEN BAIJER, ......... 1715
Fragment.
4.
(Ab.) THOMAS OASTERMAN, ESQ.,..... 1724......
Fragment.
5.
(Ab.) ...... FREDERIC COPE........(1739). (An acrostic inscription followed by):
HE WAS BORN IN LONDON, OF HONEST PARENTS, ON THE 21st DAY OF MAY, 1710, AND DIED IN ANTIGUA ON THE 8th 1739.
6.
THE WIFE OF ASHTON WARNER, ESQ.......................1748.
7.
(Ab.) THE HONORABLE ASHTON WARNER, WHO DIED 11th FEBRUARY, 1762.
Large Marble Tomb.
8.
Inscription obliterated.
Sculptured Monument, flags and anchors, naval trophy.
9.
MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE W. RAMSEY, GOVERNOR-IN-CHIEF OF ANTIGUA, MONTSERRAT, AND BARBADOS, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE, NOVEMBER 1st, 1819, IN THE 58th YEAR OF HIS AGE.
TO THE MEMORY OF PATRICK KIRWAN.
White Marble.
MR. KIRWAN was a planter, and proprietor of estates in Antigua, where he had resided for many years. He was a native of Galway, and noted for his eccentricities.
414 ANTIGUA.
11.
TO THE MEMORY OF JAMES CULLEN, ......... ERECTED BY HIS BROTHER ROBERT CULLEN, THE ARCHITECT OF THE CHURCH.
Mural Mont.
1.
ANTIGUA.
HERE LIETH THE BODY OF MRS. ELIZABETH WARNER, LATE WIFE OF EDWARD WARNER, ESQ...... SHE DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE THIRTEENTH OF AUGUST, 1723 IN THE, 37th YEAR OF HER AGE.
2.
HERE LIES THE BODY OF MR. HENRY WARNER, WHO DIED ON THE 17th DAY OF SEPT., 1731, MUCH BELOVED AND LAMENTED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM IN MEMORY OF WHOM HIS AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS EDWARD AND ASHTON WARNER ERECTED THIS MONUMENT.
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