Blissland Complaint

Sir William Berkeley, the British governor, had refused to allow the settlers to elect any new assemblymen since 1662. He had simply dismissed the assembly before new elections could be authorized each year. The assembly was composed of mostly royalists. The sheriff and the justices o f the counties were appointed by the governor. The vestrymen were virtually self-perpetuating. These two bodies accessed taxes without a voice by the people. The assembly of 1670 then substituted property ownership qualifications for voters, and excessive taxes and fees were demanded by the tax accessors and the sheriffs with little recourse by the common people. Earlier in 1651 and 1660 the English Navi ation Act restricted colonial shipping to English Vessels . The monopolies reduced the price of tobacco and other goods, and the excessive shipping fees and increased taxes reduced profits to the point that farmers often were tempted to quit farming. With these things in mind, it is not difficult to see why the Lawnes Creek settlers had the unlawful meeting. A second secret meeting was held in "Old Devil' s Field". When these meetings were reported, arrests were made of all, and fines were accessed. Matthew Swan was apparently the ringleader, and his sentence was far heavier than the others. Some think that these things broke the back of the rebellion in Lawnes Creek Parish because when the rebellion really broke two years later, most of the followers of Bacon were from Southwark Parish of Surry Count . With the passage of time, increasing Indian raids on the settlers in Henrico and Charles City and Stafford brought increasing demands for the Governor to give protection . Berkeley had established a profitable trade in fur wit the Indians, and he did little to satisfy the settlers . By March 1675, it was said that 300 settlers had been killed in Indian raids. When the assembly met that month, they voted to call 500 men from the counties for military service and build 9 forts. Most of these forts seem to have b en located in areas where there was little danger from Indians. A two million pound tobacco tax was levied on the settlers to build these forts. It was apparent that contractors were Berkeley's friends because most of the forts were never started, or at the most, finished. The fort for Surr County was in Southwark Parish, and the Indians in the southern part had never made trouble for the settlers.

Henerico and Charles City Counties had problems with Indian raids and when 300 men gathered in Charles City Co unty they resolved to go after the Indians without Berkeley 's consent. Nathaniel Bacon, a young squire of Henrico Cou ty, had been educated in England, but he was in sympathy with the movement. He and others from Henrico Country rowed across the river the night of the meeting, and after a vo e, Bacon was elected leader. Late in April 1675, he and the band went after the Indians and Berkeley, having gotten word of the uprising, began organizing a group to stop the young rebels. He was too late and on May 10, he declared Ba on a rebel and a traitor. By that time, there were signs of rebellion throughout the region, and Berkeley reluctan tly ordered elections for a new House of Burgesses, the first in 14 years. Later in the month, Bacon and his group returned with word of victory over the Indians. Bacon was elected to the new Assembly, and Berkeley had to call a truce in arresting Bacon. The assembly of June and July enacted many new laws such as raising army from each county, allowing the men to elect their own officers. There was to be no trade with the Indians, all freemen were to be voters , legal fees were set, no sheriff could hold office more than one year in succession, no one could hold two county offices at once, and officials were taxed at the same rate as others.

Just at the end of the assembly, word was recieved that a massacre by the Indians had occurred 40 miles away, and Bacon and his men left almost immediately, apparently wi th the blessings of Berkeley. Berkeley repented of that act and issued an order for the arrest of Bacon shortly there after. But the second successful venture against raiding Indians brought Bacon home a hero. During this second encounter against the Indians, Captain Thomas Pitman, a former leader in the Virginia militia, and others from Surry Count joined Bacon. When Bacon's group returned, Berkeley and other leaders fled Jamestown. Bacon and his men realized the inportance of Jamestown and decided to cross the James river and take the unprotected royal capitol. Bacon decided to burn the town in order to prevent Berkeley from usin it as headquarters in the future. Jamestown, with most of the records before 1676, were destroyed by fire on Sept 1 9, 1676. It was said that many of the records were hidden before the burning, but they were never recovered. Bacon and his men set up headquarters across the river near Surry in the brick home and estate of Arthur Allen, who had fled with the governor. The house still stands and is known a s 'Bacon's Castle'.

With the return of Bacon and the absence of Berkeley and other local leaders, Bacon and the remaining leader s began reforms in that area during September and early Oct ber in 1676. But the reforms were short-lived for Bacon took sick with diarrhea and died 26 October l676.

Governor Berkeley had the new assembly meet Feb 20 , 1677, and all of the previous reforms were resended, but some relief was given the settlers. The representatives of the King had brought orders that people of the various counties were to have the right to freely express their grievances and make formal petitions to the Assembly. Thus ended the rebellion of 1676 against unjust taxes without representation in the government. Little did the settlers know th t about 100 years in the future, the Revolutionary War would be fought over the same problems.

The list of 87 or 88 signatures from Blisland Parish appears page xliv - xlvii of The Vestry Book of Blisland (Blissland) Parish, New Kent and James City Co. VA 1721-1786 by Chamberlayne.Chamberlayne notes that 21 of the 88 men who signed were later listed as processioners in St. Peter's Parish -- that's not counting the ones located on Pamunkey Neck which became King and Queen Co. James Nuccol was an active member and leader of the Church. St. Paul's Parish was created in 1706 in that portion of New Kent County that became Hanover County in 1721

"We whose names are hereunto subscribed having heard and read of his Majesty's (Charles II) gracious and most surpassing acts of pardon and Mercy.....do with all humility and earnestness implore and lay hold on his Majesty's most gracious act of Pardon aforesaid....and in comformity to his Majesty's royal instructions (pray imposed upon us yearly, especially the sixty pounds per poll which for two years together was levied upon the Countrie, over and beside all ordenaries and legall (-----?) for the publique, Counties and parishe.

Wee present as a most Heavie Greivance the late frequent Horrid and barbarous Murthers Committed and perpetuated upon our ffellow Subjects by the perfidious Indians, the Manifould Rapes and depredations by them Committeed upon our stocks and estates, and still Expectinge releife, but no order was taken but only that wee should drawe together at Least tenne able men to one house, Whereupon ensued the Lamentable burninge of Houses, and Several Kild per the Indians, in adventuringe to goe to there plantation to make some Corne.

We present as a greivance the Greate exactions of shirriffes, althoughe the Compleate Sallarie of Tenn in the Hundred be raised with the Leavie, yet in Case a man hath not tobacco readie at his owne house, he will not receive it at any other place w'thout the alowance of Tenn pounds more for every hundred more.

We present as a greivance, the sellinge of strong drinke at any place where the Countie Courte is kept during the Courte day or what time the Courte shall sitt or Continue, it breeding Matter of protraction in the Countie afayres, to the great expence and Losse of time to those that live remote.

We present as a maniffest Greevance the fort Duties Mentioned in the printed booke of Acts of Assemblie Levied upon the ships for and towards a Magazeene, it being as we Conceive for the use of the publique, notw'hstandinge when we are at any time Called fourth by publicke authoritie upon any Millitarie occation, we are forced to find our selves Amunition upon our private Charge, nor canne we understand, who have, or to what use imployed the sayd Amunition soe raysed to soe Nessesarie and good intent.

We present as a great greevance the imposition of two shillinges the Hogshead, we humbly Conceive if Narrowly Looked into, and imploy'd accordinge to the true intent and Meaninge of the express words of the acte, it would Lessen the Leavie and give Mutch Creaditt to the publicke Dated the 2nd day of Aprill 1677 we the subscribers have sett our names or markes

REES HUGHES
JOSEPH PEASE
WILLIAM ADKINS
(JOHN) HILL
JOHN LUCERIE (DUCERIE)
DAVID CRAFFORD
JAMES BLACKWELL
GEORGE PHILLIPS
LEWIS WILLIAMS
JOHN LONGWORTHIE
JOHN MACKOY
JOHN ROE
NICHOLAS BARNHOUSE
THOMAS TILSLEY
ROBERT HARMAN
PETER MASSIE
JEFFERY DAVIS
EDWARD GRAY
FRANCIS LITTLE
JAMES PERRINE
EDWARD BURTON
JOHN FLEMING
ROBERT ANDERSONE
ANDREW SPRAGLINGE
CHARLES MILLSFORD
THOMAS PAGE
THOMAS GITTINS
MARTIN MIDDLTON
THOMAS GLASSE
JOHN DAWES
CHARLES LOVALL
GILES ANDREWES
HENRY SNEAD
ROBERT HUGHES
RICH CORLEY
ROWLAND HORSLEY
JAMES AUSTIN
WILLIAM DANIELL
THOMAS GEEVES
JAMES MOORE
WILL WRIGHTE
EDWARD DORRELL
ROGER POUNCIE
WILLIAM GARNATIS(?)
EDWARD HARRISON
THOMAS MIMS
RICHARD SIDWELL
ROBERT SPEARE
HENRY GREENE
JOHN WADELL
WM FALCONER
ANDREW SHARP
EDWARD WALTON
HENRY WINIFRIDE
SAM WRIGHTE
WILL ROSSE
LUKE HAWARD
CHARLES BOSTIKE (BOSTWICK)
THOMAS MOOREMAN
JAMES GARRETT
THOMAS LOWNELL
JOHN BAUGHAN
JAMES NUCCOL
NICHOLS LAWSONE
EDWARD JOHNSON
EDWARD MORGAN
EDMUND PRICE
WTLLIAM CARTER
HENRY TURNER
WILL MOSSE
JOHN WAKEFEILD
HENRY STRANGE
JOSI ADDISON
ROGER BURGIS
JOHN BARNETT
JOHN VAUGHAN
GREGORY BARNATT
RICHMOND TERRELL
JOHN BLOMEFIELD
WM PLANT
JOHN BRIGHT
GEORGE COXE
THO STUBS
GEO SMITH
JOHN ROPER
JOHN LANE