CHAPTER III.

CHRONOLOGY OF BARBADOS FROM A. D. 1605 TO A. D. 1811.

THIS island was discovered by the Portuguese, it is supposed, about the end of the 16th century, although the exact period is not known. They put some hogs on shore, and then deserted it, after which we hear nothing of it till the year

1605. When the Oliph Blossom, Captain Cataline, from Portsmouth, touched here, and finding it unpeopled, the crew erected a cross, with this inscription, "James, King of England and this Island,” and departed, after refreshing themselves with birds, fish, and hogs.

1624. The ship William and John, Captain Powell, arrived in Barbados, and laid the foundation of James Town.

Earl of Marlborough received a grant of this island from King James; under this nobleman's

patronage Sir W. Courteen sent out two ships, and landed 30 men on the leeward part of the island. 1624. Fortifications commenced; Captain W. Dean acting Governor.

1627. King Charles I. granted Earl of Carlisle the Island of Barbados, who compromised his dispute with Lord Marlborough by agreeing to pay £300 a year to that nobleman and his heirs.

1629. Lord Carlisle's grant renewed.

July 5, Sixty-four adventurers landed at Barbados, with Charles Wolferstone as their Governor, and commenced a settlement at the bridge, now Bridgetown, on the windward side of the island.

Windward and leeward settlers disagree; leeward settlers submit.

Sir William Tufton comes out Governor.

Charles Saltonstall arrives with 200 more colonists, and other requisites for a plantation; population between 15 and 1600 persons.

1631. Captain Hawley arrives as Governor, vice Sir W. Tufton, who petitions against Hawley, and is shot for an act of mutiny.

1633. Richard Peers left Deputy Governor, vice Hawley recalled.

1634. Hawley reinstated in the governorship.

1638. Inhabitants of Barbados rebel against Hawley, who goes to England.

Earl of Carlisle appoints Mr. Henry Hunks Governor in his stead.

1639. Sir H. Hunks arrives in his government; a

Dutchman from Brazil teaches the use of the

sugar cane; value of land increased in conse

quence.

1641. Sir H. Hunks succeeded by Captain Bell, during whose government the constitution of the island is settled.

1646. Many emigrations to Barbados caused by the English rebellion; Lord Willoughby arrives, and is well received by the inhabitants.

1647. An epidemic disease rages; the living hardly able to bury the dead.

Exports from Barbados about this time—indigo, cotton, wool, tobacco, ginger, and fustic wood; tamarind trees first planted; palm trees brought from the East Indies.

An act passed by the legislature declaring their fidelity to King Charles; loyalty of the Barbadians very conspicuous.

1649. Plot of the negroes for massacreing all white inhabitants discovered by a slave :-eighteen of the principals put to death-cruel treatment pleaded

as a cause.

1650. Trade with Barbados forbidden by Parlia

ment, on account of the inhabitants continuing to acknowledge the authority of the Crown. The island at this time computed to contain 20,000 white men able to bear arms.

Trade of the island damaged by the piracies of Plunket, an Irishman who pretended to sail under commission from the Marquis of Ormond. 1651. Oct. 16, A fleet with 2000 troops under Sir

G. Ascue capture all the vessels in Carlisle Bay;

the fleet cruizes off the island till December; Sir G. Ascue is reinforced and lands at Speight's Bay; unable to defeat Lord Willoughby; addresses the inhabitants; the people, averse to hostilities, oblige Lord Willoughby to negociate.

1652. January 17, Treaty of peace ratified; Lord Willoughby proceeds to England; succeeded by Mr. Searle.

1655. The expedition for St. Domingo collected at Barbados, and sailed on 31st of March.

1656. Military force of Barbados 4500 foot, 800 horse.

Du Tertre says that Barbados this year contained two regular cities, in each of which more than 100 taverns might be reckoned, as well furnished as in Europe.

1661. King Charles created thirteen baronets in Barbados in one day.

1663. Mr. Kendall sent delegate to King Charles

by the Barbadians; makes terms which the latter refuse to ratify; Lord Willoughby arrives; badly received.

Sept. 23, Act passed for levying 4 per Cent. ; proprietary government terminated; Barbados under protection of the crown.

1666. July 28, Lord Willoughby left Deputy-governors, and sailed from Barbados in a fleet which, with the exception of two ships, was totally lost in a hurricane; Lord W. Willoughby, his brother, was appointed Governor of Barbados, in his stead. 1667. An English fleet arrived at Barbados.

SS

1668. Bridgetown, the capital, destroyed by fire. 1670. Population of Barbados 50,000 whites and 100,000 black and colored inhabitants, whose productive labor employed 60,000 tons of shipping. 1673. King Charles, by a new commission, appointed Lord Willoughby Governor of Barbados.

1674. Colonel Codrington left Barbados for Antigua.

Sir Jonathan Atkins appointed Governor, vice Lord Willoughby, deceased; total population 120,000; decrease since 1670 being 30,000.

August 10, Three hundred houses blown down by a hurricane, plantations destroyed, eight ships wrecked, 200 persons killed.

1675. Another dreadful hurricane in August laid the country waste; Barbadians petition government to take off the 4 per Cent tax; petition refused. 1676. April 21, Law passed by the legislature to prevent the slaves from attending Quaker's meetings; 400 ships of 150 tons employed in trade to Barbados; Population 21,725 whites, 32,473

negroes.

1678. Sir R. Dutton appointed Governor, vice Sir J. Atkins, recalled.

1680. Sir R. Dutton arrived at the seat of govern

ment.

1681. Law passed for prohibiting all negroes to attend any kind of meeting-houses.

1685. Sir R. Dutton laid an additional duty on sugar; government petitioned against it without effect; Sir R. Dutton returns to England; Colonel Stede left