U.S. History
Graybill
BACON'S REBELLION
A Documentary Source Problem
Early in the 17th century Virginia was a small, insecure enclave of European civilization amid a
“howling wilderness.” But in just a few decades, by the late 17th century, Virginia had become a settled,
prosperous colony. Nevertheless, it experienced unusual political and economic stresses characteristic of
an unstable, rapidly expanding society.
The colony nearly collapsed in the first few years after its founding in 1607, but by the 1620s, the
development of a prosperous economy that revolved around tobacco cultivation and export saved the
Virginia enterprise. But in the second half of the 17th century, Virginia tobacco farmers faced several
difficult problems. The Navigation Acts passed by the English Parliament in the 1660s placed
restrictions on American tobacco exports, and prices for tobacco fell as European demand for it leveled
off. The price decline was a particularly difficult problem for those farmers who had barely been able to
survive when prices were higher. Furthermore, tobacco cultivation rapidly depleted the soil of nutrients,
and because Virginia planters chose not to rotate crops to sustain soil fertility, they frequently exhausted
their land after just a few years, then moved on to new land on the frontier in western Virginia. But that
land belonged (at least legally) to the King, Charles II, far away in England; he often granted huge tracts
to his associates and allies in London or to the friends of his Royal Governor in Jamestown, Virginia's
capital. Many of these wealthy people, however, were exempt from land taxes, which annoyed (and
sometimes infuriated) poorer American farmers who were not exempt from taxation.
At the same time, the problem of soil exhaustion led to nearly constant westward expansion by the
colony, which, in turn, led to frequent violent confrontations between white settlers on the frontier and
Indians attempting to protect their lands from European encroachment. Some Indians became desperate
and angry, raiding and stealing from neighboring white farmers just to survive. And white farmers
frequently retaliated blindly against any Indians they could find while demanding from the colonial
governor in Jamestown military offensives against the Indians.
Class conflict was also becoming an increasing irritant it Virginia society and politics. The lower classes
in the Virginia colony increasingly criticized the colonial government that, like the English government
in England, often arbitrarily favored the interests of wealthy, privileged individuals. Virginia’s poor
whites especially resented the great landlords in the eastern, settled Virginia counties alongside
Chesapeake Bay. Consequently, by the early 1670s, Virgnia’s poor whites, and a number of other more
prominent colonists, particularly those who lived in the Western, frontier counties, generally disliked the
Royal Governor, William Berkeley (pronounced Barkley), because they thought he ignored their
concerns.
These colonists’ loss of faith in their officials stemmed from a number of sources. First, ambitious
young Virginians wanted to obtain money, political power and social standing, but felt that the “eastern
establishment arbitrarily confined them. Second, many settlers thought that Berkeley and his friends
profited too much from their government positions and resented it. Third, many settlers believed that
Berkeley too frequently arbitrarily overruled the decisions of local judges and sheriffs. At the same time,
the poorer farmers were growing impatient with the domination of their local governments by a few
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wealthy families. But, above all, colonists in the western counties increasingly believed that the colonial
government was betraying them in their nearly constant conflicts with Indians.
Throughout the early 1670s, the settlers in the western counties, hungry for new land, repeatedly asked
the colonial government in Jamestown to organize an offensive to drive Indians from the lands that
white settlers coveted. In early 1675, they more forcefully demanded that the colonial government
remove the Indians, but the Jamestown authorities hesitated. Many of them, especially the governor,
Berkeley, profited by trade with some of the friendlier Indian tribes. This hesitation and resistance by the
colonial government on the matter of the Indians antagonized Virginia frontiersmen.
In July 1675, a dispute between a group of Doeg Indians and a frontier settler, Thomas Mathew, erupted
into violence. The Doegs believed Mathew had squatted on a part of their land and had obtained some of
their possessions without proper payment. A Doeg raid on the Mathew plantation led to a retaliatory raid
by settlers. In September a larger group of settlers capriciously attacked another tribe, the
Susquehannocks, even though the Susquehannocks hadn’t been involved in the Doeg-Mathew dispute
the previous July. The Susquehannocks then launched a series of retaliatory raids against white settlers
that killed hundreds by the beginning of winter. By the end of 1675, a full-blown Indian war raged on
the Virginia frontier.
The western frontiersmen now simply assumed that the colonial government would launch, at last, a
full-scale offensive against all Indians. But Berkeley, the governor, astonished them. Instead of
mobilizing the colony’s resources to crush the Indians, as they assumed, he tried to negotiate a peace
before the situation escalated into a wider war.
Difficult economic changes had produced a volatile social and political mixture in the Virginia colony in
the 1670s. Now, in 1675, an external catalyst – conflict with Indians – threatened to ignite an explosive
rebellion that might tear the colony apart.
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ASSIGNMENT -- PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION!!!!!
Prepare for writing the paper by reading (and then rereading) the documents until you have a
knowledgeable command of them. You should also consult the textbook for insight into the causes and
consequences of Bacon's Rebellion.
In an essay of approximately 4 typed pages, double spaced, 1" margins, write an interpretive account of
Bacon's Rebellion in 1676 based on your analysis and interpretation of the documents in this collection.
USE ONLY THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS AS SOURCES TO WRITE YOUR ACCOUNT (You
may consult other sources to help you understand the context, but you may quote only the introduction
to this document collection, the textbook, and the supplemental text, Contending Voices - no other
sources are allowed). Since there are many more issues and facts in these documents than you can
possibly include in a four page paper, do not attempt to discuss all of them. Concentrate on writing a
coherent interpretation of the major events, supporting your conclusions with relevant facts and
examples drawn primarily from these documents.
Begin by reading through the documents several times. After you begin to get the feeling that you have a
good general command of the documents, you might make an annotated timeline of the events to help
you keep track of the major sequence of events. Then consider how to reconstruct the crucial sequence
of events in a way that makes sense of the diversity of sources and in a way that makes chronological
sense. Above all, your paper should demonstrate a clear understanding of the major sequence of events
leading to and from Bacon's Rebellion.
Consider the documents in this packet as kind of puzzle. In the broadest sense, your task in this paper
assignment is to arrange the pieces of the puzzle so that they make sense - that is, so that they help you
explain WHAT happened, WHY it happened, WHO were the important figures in this event, WHERE
the events took places, and WHEN the most significant events occurred. Above all, be sure to make the
SEQUENCE OF MAJOR EVENTS in this incident clear!
Your essay should include numerous examples and evidence drawn directly from documents provided in
this package. ESSAYS MUST CONTAIN EVIDENCE DRAWN FROM THE DOCUMENTS,
THOUGHTFULLY COMPOSED AND ORGANIZED, IN ORDER TO SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETE THIS ASSIGNMENT!
In short, construct an account that makes the most sense to you based on the available evidence.
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Rules of Composition
Each essay should also possess an introductory paragraph, a body, and a conclusion.
The introduction should provide just that - an introduction to the topic you're going to examine. A good
introduction provides a thesis statement (a sentence or sentences that decisively state an argument or
position that you will develop and demonstrate in your essay) and a brief statement of the main points
you intend to develop in your essay.
The body should be composed of several paragraphs that support your thesis and main points of your
essay. Above all, the body provides the EVIDENCE that proves your thesis. More than any other single
criteria, your work will be judged on the quantity and quality of the evidence you provide and your
analysis of it. So you should devote most of your time to assembling and intelligently examining
evidence.
Good essays will provide numerous pieces of evidence from the documents to support the argument.
Poor essays will provide little or no evidence drawn from the documents.
For the purposes of the essays you will be writing, the term "evidence" includes examples and major
ideas drawn from the documents. Thus your essays should contain numerous quotations drawn
specifically from the documents.
The conclusion can be constructed in a variety of ways: it may be a brief summary of the main points of
your essay; it may also be a restatement of your thesis; but the best conclusion is one that demonstrates
the historical significance of the issue at hand and your analysis of it.
Papers will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
1. Organization, logic, coherence (that is, introduction, thesis, body, conclusion, etc.).
2. Content (quantity and quality of evidence, level of analysis, level of command of subject matter).
3. Grammar, syntax, spelling.
A Warning on Sources
These documents should be the only source upon which you base your paper. Do not write a paper based
on sources other than those that are provided for you here! There are numerous other accounts on
Bacon's Rebellion available in the library and on the web. But they are based on other - or additional
evidence, and they would be more likely to confuse you than to help you in working with this specific,
limited set of documents. In any case, your grade on this assignment will depend on how well you
analyze and interpret the documents in this collection!
A Warning on Plagiarism
Plagiarism is literary thievery. It is the use of somebody else’s material (as if it were your own) in a
paper or an essay without giving credit to the author.
Plagiarism is a serious offense (and I treat it seriously). It can lead to dismissal from the college and
severe long-term consequences for completing a college or university education in the United States.
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The questions below may assist you in making sense of the documents.
1. What were some causes of Bacon's rebellion that are not mentioned by Robert Beverly in
DOCUMENT #1?
2. What were the differences, if any, between Bacon's and Berkeley's responses to the Indian attacks?
Were the Indian attacks serious enough to deserve Bacon's actions? Would Berkeley's policy have been
effective if given time? How did Bacon justify his actions and the "Indian policy" of his followers?
3. What attitudes toward the Indians are shown by the documents? What do these attitudes reflect about
English ideas regarding their own culture? What was the role of violence in their perceptions?
4. What would many of the Indians have said about Bacon? About Berkeley?
5. To what degree are Bacon's and Berkeley's actions due to personal self-interest (the desire for money,
power, prestige) or to principles and ideals? To what "higher authority" or principles of morality and
justice did each man appeal in order to justify his actions?
6. How important is the length of Bacon's residence in Virginia?
7. What did the Rebellion accomplish? Did Berkeley and his followers appear to learn a lesson from the
uprising? For example, did they propose any reforms?
8. How was this historical episode illustrative of a conflict between white people about how to treat
Indians?
The questions above are intended only as a general guide to help you understand important historical
issues; they are not commands to which you must conform.
Your main concern should be to construct an eloquent, fluid narrative and interpretation. Do not
interrupt the narrative at inappropriate points merely to answer one of the questions above. Your account
should be as flawlessly and gracefully written as you can make it.
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DOCUMENT #1
Robert Beverly, The History and Present State of Virginia, 1705, excerpt, (Robert Beverly, ca. 16731722, son of the Robert Beverly referred to in some of these documents – the Beverly family was an
influential family in Virginia in the early eighteenth century).
The occasion of the Rebellion is not easy to be discovered. But 'tis certain that there were many things
that concurred towards it. For it cannot be imagined, that upon the Instigation of Two or Three Traitors,
as some pretend to say, the whole Country would have fallen into so much distraction; in which People
did not only hazard their Necks by Rebellion: But endeavored to ruin a Governour, whom they all
entirely loved and had unanimously chosen; a Gentleman who had devoted his whole Life and Estate to
the Service of his Country; and against whom in Thirty Five Years Experience there had never been one
single Complaint... So that in all Probability there was something else in the Wind, without which the
Body of the Country (would have) never been engaged in that Insurrection.
Four things may be reckoned to have been the main Ingredients towards this intestine Commotion. First,
the extreme low Price of Tobacco, and the ill usage of the Planters in the Exchange of Goods for it,
which the Country, with all their earnest Endeavours, could not remedy. Secondly, the Splintering [of]
the Colony into [numerous] Proprieties, contrary to the original Charters; and the extravagant taxes
[many colonists] were forced to undergo, to relieve themselves from those Grants. Thirdly, the heavy
restraints and Burdens laid upon their Trade by Act of Parliament in England. Fourthly, the Disturbance
given by the Indians. . . .
DOCUMENT #2
A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, By the Royal Commissioners, 1677, excerpt.
[Editor's Note: In September 1676 news of Bacon's uprising reached England. The Crown immediately
dispatched a force of soldiers to suppress the rebellion and a royal commission to investigate it. The
King also ordered that Gov. Berkeley be removed from office and recalled him to London. In February
1677 the commissioners, their assistants, and several hundred royal troops arrived in Virginia. The
commissioners received petitions of grievances, sworn testimony from private citizens, and reports from
local officials. The final report entitled, A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, By the Royal
Commissioners 1677, was presented to the King's Privy Council in October 1677.]
…in July, 1675, certain Doegs and Susquahanok Indians on the Mary-land side, stealing some Hoggs
from the English at Potomakeon, on the Virginia shore (as the River divides the same), were pursued by
the English in a Boate, beaten or kill’d and the hoggs retaken from them; whereupon the Indians
repairing to their Towne, report it to their Superiors, and how that one Mathewes (whose hoggs they had
taken) had before abused and cheated them, in not paying them for such Indian trucke as he had
formerly bought of them, and that they took his hogs for Satisfaction. Upon this (to be Reveng’d on
Mathews) an Indian warr Captain, with some Indians, came over to Potomake and killed two of
Mathewes servants, and came also a second time and kill’d his sonne.
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DOCUMENT #3
Thomas Mathews, The Beginning, Progress, and Conclusion of Bacon's Rebellion, 1675-1676 (written,
1705)
[In August 1675, Col. George Mason and Capt. George Brent went searching for the Doegs who
attacked the Mathew plantation. Upon finding a group of Indians across the Potomac river in Maryland,
Capt. Brent] speaking the Indian Tongue, Called to have a Matchacomicha Weeship (i. e., a Councill)…
Such being the usuall manner with Indians. The King came Trembling forth, and wou'd have fled, when
Capt. Brent, Catching hold of his twisted Lock (which was all the Hair he wore) told him he was come
for the Murderer of [Virginians on the Mathew plantation], the King pleaded Ignorance and Slipt loos,
whom Brent shot Dead with his Pistoll. The Indians Shot Two or Three Guns out at the Door and fled,
The English Shot as many as they cou'd, so that they Kill'd Ten, as Capt. Brent told me, and brought
away the Kings Son of about 8 Year old, Concerning whom is an Observable Passage, at the End of this
Expedition; the Noise of this Shooting awaken'd th' Indians in the Cabin which Col. Mason had
Encompassed, who likewise Rush'd out and fled, of whom his Company (supposing from what Noise of
Shooting Brent's party to be Engaged) shott (as the Col. Inform'd me) Fourteen before [a friendly] Indian
Came, who with both hands Shook him (friendly) by on Arm Saying Susquehanougs Neoughs [i.e. these
are Susquehannaugh, our friends], and fled, Whereupon [the Col.] ran amongst his Men, Crying out,
"For the Lords sake Shoot no more, these are our friends the Susque-hanoughs."
DOCUMENT #4
A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, By the Royal Commissioners, 1677, excerpt
[In September 1675, Col. Mason and a thousand Virginians trapped the Susquehannocks in an Indian
fortress across the Potomac river in Maryland and laid siege to it.] … the Indians sent out 5 greate men
to Treate of Peace, who were not Permitted to return to the Fort, but being kept Prisoners Some tyme
were at last murdered by the English…
At length (whether through negligence or cowardize) the Indians made theire escape through the
English, with all their wives, children and goods of value, wounding and kill-ing some at their sally and
going off…
But about the beginning of January, 1675 – 6, a Party of those abused Susquahanocks in Revenge of the
Maryland businesse came suddainly down upon the weak Plantations at the head of Rappahanock and
Potomaque and killed at one time 36 persons and then immediately (as their Custome is) ran off into the
woods.
Noe sooner was this Intelligence brought to the Governour [William Berkeley] but he immediately
called a court and ordered a competent force of horse and foot to pursue the Murderers under the
Comand of Sir Henry Chicheley and some other Gentlemen of the County of Rappahanock, giving them
full Power by Comission to make Peace or Warr. But the men being ready to march out upon this
Service the Governor on a suddaine recalls this comission, Causes the men to be disbanded, and without
any effectual course being taken for present Preservation, referrs all to the next assembly; in the
meantime leaving the Poore Inhabitants under continual and deadly feares and terrors of their Lives.
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DOCUMENT #5
Unknown author, The History of Bacon’s and Ingram’s Rebellion, 1676 (exact date of authorship
unknown), excerpts.
[Editor’s note: The author of The History of Bacon’s and Ingram’s Rebellion is unknown, but he was
certainly a Virginia resident at the time of the rebellion and was familiar with the course of the rebellion
from first hand observations. The manuscript is probably contemporary with the events described, and it
was discovered in the 18th century.]
For in a very short time [in January 1676, the Susquehannahs] had, in a most inhumane maner,
murthered no less then 60 innocent people, no ways guilty of any actuall injury don to these ill
disarning, brutish heathen…
[Then] these Indians draw in others (formerly in subjection to the Verginians) to there aides: which
being conjoyned (in seperate and united parties) they dayly commited abundance of ungarded and
unrevenged murthers, upon the English; which they perpretated in a most barberous and horid maner.
By which meanes abundance of the Fronteare Plantations became eather depopulated by the Indians
cruletys, or de-sarted by the Planters feares, who were compelled to forsake there abodes, to finde
security for there lives; which they were not to part with, in the hands of the Indiands, but under the
worst of torments. For these brutish and inhumane brutes, least their cruilties might not be thought cruill
enough, they de-vised a hundred ways to torter and torment those poore soules with, whose reched fate
it was to fall in to there unmercyfull hands. For som, before that they would deprive them of there lives,
they would take a grate deale of time to deprive them first of there skins, and if that life had not, through
[the ang]uish of there paine, forsaken there tormented bodyes, they [with] there teeth (or som
instrument,) teare the nailes of [their fingers and their] toes, which put the poore sufferer to a wo[ful
condition.
DOCUMENT #6
Unknown author, The History of Bacon’s and Ingram’s Rebellion, 1676 (exact date of authorship
unknown), excerpts.
At last it was concluded [in March 1676], as a good expedient for to put the countrey in to som degree of
safety, for to plant Forts upon the Fronteres,1 thinkeing there by to put a stop unto the Indians
excurssions: which after the expence of a grate deale of time and charge, being finished, came short of
the designed ends.
For the Indians quickly found out where about these Mouse traps were sett, and for what purpose, and so
resalved to keepe out of there danger; which they might easely ennough do, with out any detriment to
there designes. For though here by they were compeld (tis posible) to goe a litle about, yet they never
thought; much of there labour, so long as they were not debar’d from doing of Mischeife; which was not
in the power of these forts to prevent: For if that the English did, at any time, know that there was more
ways in to the wood then one, to kill Deare, the Indians found more then a thousand out of the wood, to
kill Men, and not com neare the danger of the forts neather.
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DOCUMENT #7
Royal Commissioners Narrative, 1677, excerpt: Petition of grievances from the citizens of Isle of Wight
County (on the frontier) to the Royal Commissioners, dated March 5, 1677.
. . .Also we desire that there may be a continual war with the Indians that we may have once done with
them.
Also we desire that every man may be taxed according to the tracks of land they hold [thus, the rich
would pay taxes, just as the poor did, and the rich would also pay a higher share than the poor].
We desire you to call our Burgesses to account and examine the collectors for the collecting of the 2
[shilling] and 2 [pence] a hogshead, which hath been this many years received but to what use it is put
we the poor, ignorant inhabitants knows [not].
We desire to know for what we do pay our Levies every year and that it may no more be laid in private
but that we may have free liberty to hear and see every particular for what it is raised, and that there may
be no more [allotments] be given to no particular persons whatsoever neither in public or private.
Whereas there are some great persons both in honor rich in Estate and have several ways of gains and
profit [that] are exempted from paying Levies and the poorest inhabitants being compelled to pay the
great taxes which we are burdened with.
DOCUMENT #8
Robert Beverly, The History and Present State of Virginia, excerpt, 1705.
This Addition of Mischief [Indian attacks on white frontier settlements] to Minds already full of
Discontent, made People ready to vent all their Resentment against the poor Indians. There was nothing
to be got by Tobacco; neither could they turn any other Manufacture to Advantage; so that most of the
poorer Sort were willing to quit their unprofitable Employments, and go Volunteers against the Indians.
At first they flocked together tumultuously, running in Troops from one Plantation to another without a
Head; till at last the seditious Humour of Colonal (sic) Nath. Bacon, led him to be of the Party. . . .[He]
harangued them publickly (sic). He aggravated the Indian Mischiefs, complaining, that they were
occasioned for want of due Regulation of the Trade. He recounted particularly the other Grievances and
Pressures they lay under; and pretended that he accepted their Command with no other Intention, but to
do them and the Country Service, in which he was willing to encounter the greatest Difficulties and
Dangers. He farther assured them, he would never lay down his Arms, till he had revenged their
Sufferings upon the Indians, and redressed all their other Grievances.
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DOCUMENT #9
Elizabeth Bacon (Nathaniel Bacon's wife), letter to her sister in London, June 29, 1676.
Dear Sister,
I pray God keep the worst Enemy I have from ever being in such a sad condition as I have been in since
my (previous letter to you), occasioned by the troublesome Indians, who have killed one of our
Overseers at an outward plantation which we had, and we have lost a great stock of cattle, which we had
upon it, and a good crop that we should have made there, such plantation Nobody durst come nigh,
which is a very great loss to us.
If you had been here, it would have grieved your heart to hear the pitiful complaints of the people, the
Indians killing the people daily, the Governor not taking any notice of it for to hinder them, but let them
daily do all the mischief they can; I am sure if the Indian were not cowards, they might have destroyed
all the upper plantations and killed all the people upon them; the Governor so much their friend, that he
would not suffer any body to hurt one of the Indians; the poor people came to your brother to desire him
to help against the Indians, and he being very much concerned for the loss of his Overseer, and for the
loss of so many men and women and children's lives every day, he was willing to do them all he good he
could; so he begged of the Governor for a commission in several letters to him, that he might go out
against them, but he would not grant one, so daily more mischief done by them, so your brother not able
to endure any longer, he went out without a commission. The Governor being very angry with him put
out high things against him, and told me that he would most certainly hang him as soon as he returned...
The fight [with the Indians] did continue nigh a night and a day without any intermission. They did
destroy a great many of the Indians, thanks be to God, and might have killed a great many more, but the
Governor were so much the Indians' friend and our enemy, that he sent the Indians word that Mr. Bacon
was out against them that they might save themselves.
DOCUMENT #10
Royal Commissioners Narrative: Excerpt from petition of grievances from citizens of Isle of Wight
County, March 1677.
... We having a long time lain under great oppressions, and every year being more and more oppressed
with great taxes, and still do load us with greater and unnecessary burdens; it was enacted by the
Governor and assembly for the building of forts back in the woods upon several great men's Lands,
under pretense of security for us against the Indians, which we perceiving and well knowing that their
pretense was no security for us, but rather a ruin to the country, which was the cause of our [up]rising
with intents to have our taxes Lowered, not that we rose in any ways of Rebellion against our most
[dear] Sovereign Lord the King as by our actions may appear, for we no sooner rose. But we sent in a
petition our grievance to Sir William Berkeley, who was not at home but the Lady Berkeley promised
that she would acquaint his Honor with our business, and by her request or command, we every man
returned home...
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DOCUMENT #11
Robert Beverly, The History and Present State of Virginia, excerpt, 1705.
[Nathanial Bacon had received a good education in England] and had a moderate Fortune. He was
young, bold, active, of an inviting Aspect, and powerful Elocution. In a Word, he was every way
qualified to head a giddy and unthinking Multitude. Before he had been Three Years in the Colony, he
was, for his extraordinary Qualifications, made one of the Council. And in great Honour and Esteem
among the People.
DOCUMENT #12
Nathaniel Bacon (his own account of the Indian troubles), June 18, 1676.
By an Act of State [in March 1676], it was provided for the better security of the country, That no Trade
should be held with the Indians, notwithstanding which our present Governor monopolized a trade with
the Indians and granted licenses to others to trade with them for which he had every 3rd skin [beaver or
fox pelt], which trading with the Indians has proved so fatal to these parts of the world, yet I fear we
shall be all lost for this commerce having acquainted the Indians ... with our manner of living and
discipline of war, has also brought them generally to the use of Fire Arms with such dexterity, that
ourselves often hire them to kill Deer....
Things standing in this posture, they have entered into general bloody war... the murders and
depradations they have committed here are horrible and continual, laying a great part of the country
desolate, and forcing the inhabitants to fly from their dwellings to their ruin; the Governor, who from the
Neighbor Indians receives this tribute and benefit by the trade, still protecting them for these many years
against the people and tho the complaints of their murders have been continual yet he hath connived at
the great men's [Indian chiefs?] furnishing them with ammunition (which by the Law is death) and the
sad effects thereof. Now the Governor having placed me here in a place of trust, I thought it my duty to
discharge my conscience in it, by introducing a looking after the welfare of the people here, they being
poor, few, and in scattered habitations on the Frontiers and remote part of the country, nigh these Indians
... ; I sent to the Governor for a commission to fall upon them, but being from time to time denied, and
finding that the country was basely for a small and sordid gain betrayed, and the lives and fortunes of the
poor inhabitants wretchedly sacrificed, resolved to stand up in this ruinous gap, and rather expose my
life and fortune to all hazards than basely desert my post and by so bad an example make desolate a
whole country in which no one dared to stir against the common Enemy...
Upon this I resolved to march out upon the Enemy with which volunteers I could then get, but by so
doing found that I not only lost the Governor's favor, but exposed my very life and fortune at home as
well as abroad... ; but considering the necessity, I still proceeded, and returned with a greater victory
from sharper conflict than ever yet has been known in these parts of the world....
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DOCUMENT #13
A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, by the Royal Commissioners, 1677, excerpt.
[Sometime in April 1676]... Bacon had got over the [James] River with his Forces and hastening away
into the woods, went directly and fell upon the Indians and killed some of them [which] were some of
our best Friends .... the people [would not] understand any distinction of Friendly Indians and Indian
Enemies, for at that time it was impossible to distinguish one nation from another, they being deformed
with paint of many colours...
So the common cry and vogue of the Vulgar was, away with these Forts, away with These distinctions,
we will have war with all Indians ... we will spare none.
DOCUMENT #14
Royal Commissioners Narrative: Testimony given by Mrs. William Bird (in 1677), Bacon’s neighbor.
[She stated] that before ever Mr. Bacon went out against the Indians, there were said to be above two
hundred of the English murdered by the barbarous Indians, and posts [messages] came in daily to the
Governor, giving notice of it, and yet no course was taken to secure them, till Mr. Bacon went out
against them. And that [Mrs. Bird's] husband had 3 men killed by the Indians before Mr. Bacon stirred,
which was made known to the Governor, who notwithstanding was so possessed to the contrary that he
would not believe it to be any other than a mere pretence, for to make war against the Indians, and that
the 3 men were alive and well, and only shut up in a chamber to make the world believe they were
murdered. She further affirmed that neither Mr. Bacon nor any with him had injured any English man in
their persons or Estates, and that the country was generally well pleased with what they had done, and
she believed most of the council also, so far as they durst show it.
DOCUMENT #15
William Sherwood, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and appointed Attorney General for the
colony in 1677, to Sir Joseph Williamson (a member of the King's Privy Council) in London, June 1,
1676.
... a nation of Indians called [Susquahannahs] having killed some of the Inhabitants of this Country [in
the fall of 1675] were pursued and several destroyed by the English and Sir Wm. Berkeley our
honorable Governor (who hath had long experience of war with the Indians) that he might provide for
the safety of this Country caused our Assembly... to...enact that forts should be built at the heads of
several rivers, being the most way for security of our frontier plantations, but as no good Law can be so
made to please all men, especially the rude sort of people, one Mr. Nathanial Bacon a person of little
experience and but of two years [residence] in the country, thinking himself wiser than the law, hath
stirred up a great number of indigent and dissatisfied persons to obstruct the proceedings upon the acts
of Assembly, raising forces [and] Marching in warlike posture [in April 1676], in terror of his Majesty's
good subjects, the intent of which so near as all sober men Judge, is the subversion of the Laws and to
Level all [ed. note - to level meant to "reduce" society to a democracy, impose political and social
equality] , this Mr. Bacon being styled by the rabble their General ... he having entered into Oaths to
stand by them and notwithstanding the great care of our Governour and his several proclamations....
This Country hath had thirty four years' experience of the valour, conduct, Justice and Impartial
12
proceedings of our honourable Governor, who hath endeavoured the General good of the Country, by
spending his estate amongst us, yet he and all authority ... are by the rabble condemned.
DOCUMENT #16
A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, by the Royal Commissioners, 1677, excerpt.
[In March 1676, the colonial] assembly met to consult for the Safety and defense of the Country against
the Incursions and destructions of the Indians...What care the Assembly took to prevent these massacres
was only to build Forts at the heads of each River and on the Frontiers and confines of the Country, for
erecting of which and maintaining Guards on them a heavy levy [tax] was laid by act of Assembly on
the People; throughout the country universally disliked, as being a matter from which was expected
great charge [cost] and little or no security to the Inhabitants. The Situation of the Virginia Plantations
being [surrounded] with thick woods, swamps and other cover, by the help of which the enemy might at
their Pleasure make their approaches undiscovered... Their sculking nature being apt to use these
advantages. The unsatisfied People finding themselves still liable to the Indian cruelties...gave out in
Speeches that they were resolved to Plant tobacco rather than pay the tax for maintaining of Forts, and
that the erecting of them was a great Grievance, Juggle and cheat, and of no more use to them than
another Plantation with men at it, and that it was merely a Design of the Grandees to engross all their
tobacco into their own hands. Thus the sense of this oppression and the dread of a common approaching
calamity made the giddy-headed multitude mad and precipitated them upon that rash overture of
Running out upon the Indians-themselves, at their own voluntary charge.. . only they first by Petition
humbly craved leave or commission to be led by any commander as the Governor should please to
appoint...But instead of Granting this Petition the Governor by Proclamation under great Penalty forbad
the like Petitioning for the future.
This made the People jealous that the Governor for the lucre of the Beaver and other trade etc. with the
Indians, rather sought to protect the Indians than them. Since after public Proclamation prohibiting all
trade with the Indians (they complain) he privately gave commission to some of his Friends to truck
with them, and that those persons furnished the Indians with Powder, Shot etc., so that they were better
provided than his Majesty's Subjects.
DOCUMENT #17
Unknown author, The History of Bacon’s and Ingram’s Rebellion, 1676 (exact date of authorship
unknown), excerpts.
It seems, in the first rise of the War, this Gentleman [Bacon] had made some overtures unto the
Governour for a Commission [in April 1676], to go and put a stop to the Indian proceedings. But the
Governour, at present, either not willing to commence the quarrel (on his part) till' more suitable reasons
presented, for to urge his more severe prosecution of the same, against the heathen: or that he doubted
Bacon's temper, as he [Bacon] appeared Popularly inclined; a constitution not consistent with the time,
and the peoples dispositions; being generally discontented, for want of timely provisions against the
Indians, or for Annual impositions [taxes] laid upon them, too great (As some said) for them to bear, and
against which they had some considerable time complained, without the least redress. For these, or some
other reason, the Governour refused to comply with Bacon s proposals.
13
DOCUMENT #18
A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, by the Royal Commissioners, 1677, excerpt.
[Nathanial Bacon was] of a most imperious and dangerous hidden Pride of heart, despising the wisest of
his neighbors for their Ignorance and very ambitious and arrogant. But all these things lay hid in him till
after he was a councillor (on the Governor's Council], and until he became powerful and popular....
[The] Forwardness of Bacon to lead the attack on the Indians [in April 1676] with or without a
commission' greatly cheered and animated the People, who looked upon him as the only Patron of the
Country and preserver of their Lives and Fortunes.
For he pretended and boasted what great Service he would do for the country, in destroying the
Common Enemy, securing their Lives and Estates, Liberties, and such like frauds he subtily and Secretly
insinuated by his own Instruments over all the country, which he seduced the Vulgar and most ignorant
People to believe (two thirds of each county being of that Sort) So that their Whole hearts and hopes
were set now upon Bacon. Next he charges the Governor as neglegent and wicked, treacherous and
incapable, the Laws and Taxes as unjust and oppressive....
DOCUMENT #19
A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, By the Royal Commissioners, 1677, excerpt. A
petition of grievance submitted to the Royal Commissioners by the Inhabitants of Surry County in
March or April 1677.
That great quantities of tobacco was levied upon the poor Inhabitants of this Colony for the building of
houses at James City which were not habitable by reason [of their not being] finished.
That the 2 shillings per hogshead [tax] Imposed by the act for the payment of his majesty's officers and
other public debts thereby to ease his majesty's poor subjects of their great taxes: we humbly desire that
an account may be given thereof.
That it has been the custom of County Courts at the laying of the levy [a "levy" is a tax] to withdraw into
a private Room by which means the poor people not knowing for what they paid their levy did always
[wonder] how their taxes could be so high.
We most humbly pray for the future the County levy may be laid publickly (sic) in the Court house [that
is, that all taxes should be created publicly, in the open, and not arranged in secret by a small number of
privileged people].
That we have been under great exactions of sheriff's and Clerk's fees [more taxes] for these several
years. The assembly having assertained (sic) [only] some fees and left the rest to ... the County Courts,
we most humbly pray that for the future all clerks and sheriff's fees may be [recorded and accounted for]
and a great penalty laid upon [those who refuse to comply].
That contrary to the laws of England and this Country... sheriffs have usually continued [in office] two
years...we humbly pray that for the future that no person may continue sheriff above one year.
[Editor's note: Since there was a shortage of hard currency in Virginia, taxes were usually paid with
specified amounts of tobacco, not in cash or currency.]
14
DOCUMENT #20
Thomas Mathews, The Beginning, Progress, and Conclusion of Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia in the
Years 1675 and 1676, (written in 1705), excerpt.
These [people] at the Heads of James and York Rivers [having now lost many of their number]
destroyed by the Indian Flight thither from the Patomack [River], grew impatient at the many Slaughters
of their Neighbors and rose for their own Defense, chosing Mr. Bacon for their Leader [in April 1676],
who went often times to the Governour, humbly beseaching a commission to go against those Indians at
their own Charge [i.e. at the own expense], which his Honour often promised but did not grant; The
Mysteries of these delays were Wondered at and which I never heard any could Penetrate into, other
than the effects of his Passion, and a new occasion of Avarice, to both of which he was (by the common
Vogue [or opinion]) more than a little Addicted....
DOCUMENT #21
Unknown author, description of a battle between the English and the Indians, May 1676.
Nathaniel Bacon, Esqr. being their General, the number of his men, two hundred and eleven.
We found the Indians in all places unwilling to assist us against the common enemy [the
Susquehannocks], they having received orders to the contrary from the Right Honorable Governor, so
that we were forced to go quite out of our way Southward, to get [out] of the Nottoways and
Mayherrings [English names for other Indian tribes] what assistance We could, who at last amounted but
to 24 men; during which time our provisions were much wasted...We entered an Island [where
"friendly" Indians had built a fortified camp] Hoping to find some small relief to the Weary and faint.
We had made our agreement that the Mannekins and Annelectons [other Indian allies] should at a sign
given, cut off the Susquehanocks, being in number but 30 men, besides Women and children. This
accordingly was effected and the prisoners by the King [of the friendly Indians] brought in several of the
Susquahanocks and put them to death. We again complained to the [Indian] King for Want of
provisions, and demanded the expected supply, but having viewed the Battle posture of our Men, who
were in great discontent, many of them left the Island at the very instant and returned home. The
[Indian] King began to alter his [plans] and desired us to stay six days, and went from us, gathered
together all his Indians, manned all his forts, and lined the other side of the River thick with men, so that
we neither could attack them, nor depart the Island, without some danger ... in this posture things stood,
when by a Watch word from the other side of the River, the [Indians] began and killed one of our men,
which we quickly repaid them, firing in at all their men (inside the fort) so thick that the groans of Men,
Women and Children were so loud, that with all their howling and singing, could not hinder them from
being heard. Immediately we fell upon the Men, Women, and Children [outside the fort], and disarmed
and destroyed them all ... what we did in that short time [a two day’s "battle"] and the poor condition we
were in, was to destroy the King of Susquahanock, the King of Ouhe, and the Mannekin King, with 100
men, besides what died unknown to us: The king's daughter we took prisoner, with some others ... what
we reckon most material, is that we have left all nations of Indians, where we have been engaged in a
civil war amongst themselves, so that with great ease we hope to manage the advantage to their utter
ruin and destruction.
15
DOCUMENT #22
Edmund S. Morgan (historian), American Slavery, American Freedom, 1975.
When Berkeley heard that the Susquehannahs had been seen at the falls of the James [River], he called a
special session of the [colonial] assembly. It met on March 7 [1676] and adopted measures … to build a
fort at the head of each great river [in the colony] and to man the forts with a standing army of 500….
DOCUMENT #23
Unknown author, The History of Bacon’s and Ingram’s Rebellion, 1676 (exact date of authorship
unknown), excerpts.
[Editor’s note: by mid-May 1676, Bacon commanded a large force of armed men, mostly ex-indentured
servants, who demanded that Gov. Berkeley grant them a legal commission to attack Indians.]
The Governour could not [tolerate] this insolent deportment of Bacon.... instead of seeking means to
appease [the Governor's anger at Bacon, the elite members of the Governor's Council] devised means to
increase it, by framing specious pretences, which they grounded upon the boldness of Bacons actions,
and the peoples affections. They began (some of them) to have Bacons merits in mistrust, as a Luminary
that threatened an eclipse to their rising glories….
However, according to there desires, Bacon and all his adhereance was proclamed a Rebell, May 29, and
forces raised to reduce him to his duty. With which the Governour advanced from the Midle Plantation
to finde him out, and if neede was to fight him, if the Indians had not knock’d him, and those with him,
on the head, as somwere in hope they had don, and which by som was ernistly desired.
DOCUMENT #24
Governor William Berkeley, "Declaration and Remonstrance," May 19, 1676.
[Editor’s note: In this official proclamation, Berkeley denounced Bacon as a rebel for assembling an
armed force and launching a war against the Indians without a first obtaining a legal commission from
the royal Governor to do so, and for continuing these actions despite emphatic orders from the
Governor to cease immediately. Berkeley also called for the election of a new Virginia Assembly in
June.]
... about the year 1660, Col. Mathews, then Governor died, and then in consideration of the service I had
done the Country, in defending them from, and destroying great numbers of Indians, without the loss of
three men in all the time that war lasted, and in [consideration] of the equal and uncorrupt Justice I had
distributed to all men, Not only the Assembly, but the unanimous votes of all the Country concurred to
make me Governor...
... perhaps I have erred in things I know not of, if I have I am so conscious of human frailty, and my own
defects, that I will not only acknowledge them, but repent of and mend them; and not like the Rebel
Bacon persist in error only because I have committed [the error] and tells me in [several] of his letters
16
that it is not for his honor to confess a fault, but I am of the opinion that it is only for devils to be
incorrigible...
Now, my friends, I have lived 34 years among you, as uncorrupt and diligent as ever [a] Governor was;
Bacon is a man of two years among you, his person and qualities unknown to most of you...
... if Mr. Bacon can show one precedent or example where such [actions] in any Nation whatever was
approved of, I will mediate with the King … and excuse him [Bacon]; but I can show him a hundred
examples where brave and great men have been put to death for gaining Victories against the command
of their Superiors.
Lastly... I would have preserved those Indians that I knew were hourly at our mercy, to have our spies
and intelligence to find out our bloody enemies, but as soon as I had the least [bit of information] that
they were also treacherous enemies, I gave out commissions to destroy them all...
To conclude, I have done what was possible both to friend and enemy, have granted to Mr. Bacon three
pardons, which he has scornfully rejected, [intending more to subvert than... to maintain the Laws, by
which only, and [with] God assisting grace and mercy, all men must hope for peace and safety....
DOCUMENT #25
The Beginning, Progress, and Conclusion of Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia in the Years 1675 and 1676,
Thomas Mathews, 1705 excerpt.
[After their "battle" with the Indians, late May 1676] they returned home where Writts were come up to
Elect Members of an Assembly, When Mr. Bacon unanimously chosen for One [seat], who coming
down the River was Commanded by a Ship with Guns to come aboard, where waited Major Hone the
High Sheriff of James Town ready to Seize him, by whom he was Carried down to the Governor and by
him received with a Surprizing Civility in the following Words "Mr. Bacon have you forgot to be a
Gentleman?" "No, may it please your Honour," Answered Mr. Bacon; "Then," replied the Governor, "I'll
take your Parole," and Gave him his Liberty.
[The day following Bacon's arrest and release during the opening session of the Assembly, June 9, 1676]
the Governour stood up and said "if there be joy in,the presence of the angels over one sinner that
repenteth, there is joy now, for we have penitent sinner come before us. call Mr. Bacon;" then did Mr.
Bacon upon one knee at the Bar, deliver a Sheet of paper Confessing his Crimes, and begging Pardon of
God the King and the Governour, Whereto (after a short Pause) He Answered "God forgive you, I
forgive you"...When Colonel Cole (one of the Council) said, "and all that were with him;" "yea," said
the Governour "and all that were with him," Twenty or more Persons being then in Irons Who taken
Coming down in the same and other Vessals with Mr. Bacon.
About a Minute after this the Governour, Starting up from his Chair a Third time said, "Mr. Bacon! if
you will live Civily but till the next [session of the] Quarter Court, I'll promise to restore you again to
your Place [on the Governor's Council]."
17
DOCUMENT #26
A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, by the Royal Commissioners, 1677, excerpt.
[Editor’s note: Despite Berkelely’s opposition, Bacon was elected to the new Assembly called by
Berkeley in his “Demonstration and Remonstrance, on May 19, 1676. But when Bacon arrived in
Jamestown, the Governor’s men arrested him on June 8, 1676 for disobeying the Governor and leading
an illegal war against Indians. Bacon was immediately presented for trial.]
[At his trial] Bacon feigns a most deep sense of shame and sorrow for his Guilt, and expresses the
greatest kind of obligation to Gratitude towards the Governour imaginable. And to make it looke the
more reall and sincere drew up an humble Submission for and acknowledgem’t of his soe late crimes
and disobedience, imploring thereby the Governor’s Pardon and Favor, which Bacon being in
readynesse to Present on his coming before the Governor hee told the Councill then Sitting, “Now you
shall see a Penitent Sinner.”
Whereupon Bacon in very humble manner and with many low bowings of his Body approacht the
Governor and on his knee [submitted] into the Governor’s hands, and soe withdrew himself…. After a
short while hee was sent for in againe and had his pardon confirmed to him, Is restor’d into favor and
readmitted into the councell [the governor’s council], to the wonder of all men.
DOCUMENT #27
Edmund S. Morgan (historian), American Slavery, American Freedom, 1975.
[By 1675, only a year after he arrived in the Virginia colony, Nathaniel Bacon had] acquired one attitude
of his upriver neighbors: their contempt for the Indians … In September 1675, he had taken it upon
himself to seize a number of [friendly] Appomattox Indians for allegedly stealing corn … Berkeley had
rebuked [Bacon] at the time, mildly but firmly, reminding him that he was the governor of Virginia, and
that attacking friendly Indians was just one way to produce what everyone wanted to avoid, namely, [in
Berkeley’s words] a Generall Combination of all the Indians against us.” But Bacon had his own ideas
about that.
DOCUMENT #28
Unknown author, The History of Bacon’s and Ingram’s Rebellion, 1676 (exact date of authorship
unknown), excerpts.
... in the morning, before his [Bacon's] trial, he was, in his Enemies hopes, and his Friends fears, judged
for to receive the Guardian due to a Rebel, (and such he was proclaimed to be) and ere night, [he was]
crowned the Darling of the Peoples hopes and desires, as the only man fit in Virginia, to put a stop unto
the bloody [depredations] of the Heathen; [but] with in two or three days, the peoples hopes, and his
desires, were both frustrated by the Governour's refusing to sign the promised Commission. At which
[time, June 10] being disgusted, [Bacon] begged leave of the Governour...to visit his Lady [wife] ... he
said, had informed him, [that she] was indisposed ... which request the Governour (after some contest
with his own thoughts) granted, contrary to the advice of some about him who suspected Bacons
designs, and that it was not so much his Lady's sickness, as the distempers of a troubled mind, that
caused him to draw to his own house, and that this was the truth, with in a few days was manifested
[June 22], when that he returned to Towne at the head of 500 Men in Arms.
18
DOCUMENT #29
William Sherwood (one of Berkeley’s allies) to Sir Joseph Williamson (prominent Virginia planter),
June 28, 1676.
Thursday [the] 22nd It was generally reported (and before night, confirmed) that Mr. Bacon was
marching hither with 500 men in Arms, the Governour thereupon orders that four great Guns should be
drawn from the fort to sandy Bay....
Friday 23rd: This morning all men [were] ordered to lay by their Arms...Mr. Bacon with at least 400
[on] foot, the scum of the Country, and 120 [on] horse entered the sandy Bay, there leaving a party to
secure the passage, then marched into Town... and draws his forces against the state house, where the
Governour's council and Burgesses were setting, expecting this firey man's actions, and first he sends
one of his Captains requiring the Governour to send some of the Council to him. . .[Bacon] demanded
1st that a commission should immediately be sent [proclaiming] him as General of all volunteers against
the Indians: 2ndly to know how the 1000 men ordered by the Assembly to be raised should be paid, if by
Levy, the declared they would not submit to it, all crying out No Levies ... The Governor went to him
saying for prevention of the [spilling] of Christian blood let you and I decide this controversy by our
swords, come along with me; Mr. Bacon answered that was not his business, he came for redress of the
peoples grievances. ...[the Governour] said to him his hand should be cut off rather than he would
consent to [grant the commission]; he [Bacon] swore his usual oaths he would have it, upon which...
these proposals were sent to the Burgesses to consider ... who debating longer than he thought fit, Mr.
Bacon comes under the window of the house, calls to them saying, you Burgesses I expect your speedy
result, his soldiers mounting their Guns ready to fire; Immediately (for in this minute if not all night
have been in a flame) the Burgesses make it their request to the Governour to Issue forth such a
commission....
Saturday 24th This morning the forced commission was delivered to Mr. Bacon, and some time after
Capt. Gardner [who arrested Bacon a few days before] coming to Town, was secured by the Soldiers,
and Mr. Bacon went into the house of Burgesses with his guard requiring 1st, that several persons who
had been active in obeying the Governour's Commands should be made uncapable of all offices, 2nd,
that being informed the Governour had writ[ten] to his Majesty desiring Aid for suppressing the tumults
here and declaring Mr. Bacon a Rebel, It should be discovered whether it was [true], and publicly
contradicted by the Governour, Council and Burgesses.... These demands were sent to the Governour
who declared he would rather suffer death than condescend to the [demand] but considered the Ruin that
threatened, the Governour was requested by the Burgesses to grant whatever Bacon demanded ... Now
raggtagg and bobtail carry a high hand, a Guard is set upon the Governour and the rabble are appointing
new Councilors.
Sunday 25th This day the house of Burgesses met to prepare business to Mr. Bacon's dispatch... now he
gives out he will punish some of the Councilors, many persons are forced to lie obscurely; yet we were
in hopes they would have marched out of Town in that they had the commission, and not loose time,
[some frontier counties] being left without any forces whilst they were Lording it over us... But about
Noon comes the sad news that the Indians had this morning killed 8 persons at the head of
Chickahomony [river] and in New Kent [county] ... on Monday morning Mr. Bacon with his men
marched out of Town....
19
DOCUMENT #30
A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, by the Royal Commissioners, 1677, excerpt.
[After the commission was granted and the oath administered] there was also an act of Indemnity passed
to Bacon and his party who committed the offenses on the assembly, and a Public Letter of applause and
approbation of Bacon's actions... signed by the Governour and assembly. Which upon the breaking up of
this Session, were sent [out] and read among the Ignorant People who believed thereby that all was well
and nothing coming forth of a long time to quash, contradict or disown this Commission, Indemnity,
Letter granted to Bacon... they were the more easily inclined to swallow so fair a bait not seeing
Rebellion at the end of it, and most men grew ambitious of the service as thinking it both safe and for
the Public good as having the approbation of the Governour and assembly, at least there yet appeared
nothing to the contrary nor of a good while after.
DOCUMENT #31
Unknown author, The History of Bacon’s and Ingram’s Rebellion, 1676 (exact date of authorship
unknown), excerpts.
Since the Governour could obtaine no more, he was, at present [late June 1676], to rest himselfe
contented with this, while those who had advised him to these undertakeings, was not a litle dissatisfide to finde the event not to answer there expectations. But he at present, seeing there was no more
to be don, since he wanted a power to have that don, which was esteemed the maine of the affaires, now
in hand to be don, namely, the gaineing of the Gloster men, to do what he would have don, he thought it
not amiss to do what he had a power to do, and that was once more to proclame Bacon a Tratour, which
was per- formed in all publick places of meetings in these parts. The noyse of which proclameation,
after that it had past the admireation of all that were not aquainted with the reasonsthat moved his honor
to do what he had now don, soone reached the Generall eares, not yet stopt up from lisning to apparent
dangers.
DOCUMENT # 32
A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, by the Royal Commissioners, 1677, excerpt.
While the Governour was in the Upper Parts [near the frontier] to wait Bacon's return [to arrest him] the
people below began to draw into armes, and to declare against the Forts. He [the Governor] to appease
the commotion of the People... comes immediately back to his own house, and caused ... the Forts to be
forthwith dismantled, and dissolving the assembly that enacted the [measure], gave the country a free
new election [late May 1676], which new assembly were to be for the Settlement of the then distracted
condition of Virginia.
At this new election (such was the Prevelency of Bacon's Party) that they chose instead of Freeholders
[men of property], Free men that had but lately crept out of the condition of Servants (which were never
before Eligible) for their Burgesses and such as were eminent abettors to Bacon, and for faction and
ignorance fit Representatives of those that chose them.
20
DOCUMENT #33
William Berkeley to Henry Coventry (one of King Charles II's Secretaries of State), Feb. 2, 1677 (the
day Berkeley returned England).
[No sooner was Bacon's Commission signed, June 24, 1676] but that all his Rabble verily believed I had
resigned all my power to their New General and Bacon himself made them believe he thought so too and
accordingly fell to work confiscating and Plundering diverse good mens' houses .... And hearing that
Bacon intended to make me and Sir Henry Chicheley prisoners, and perhaps deal more severely with us,
for he had proclaimed us both Traitors [to] his rebellious Army, I went to Sir Harry's house, perswading
him to retire with me to Accomach [Accomack county] which place I understood continued Loyal (and
indeed half of it was so) ... But now, Sir, begins God's Visible mercyes to shine uppon me, for though I
went to Accomach but with [only] four Gentlemen, yet I had in three days at least forty Gentlemen of
the best quality in Virginia that came over to me, many of them with their wives and children and left
their estates to the Repine of Bacon's Barbarous Soldiers.
DOCUMENT #34
Thomas Mathews, The Beginning, Progress, and Conclusion of Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia in the
Years 1675 and 1676, [1705], excerpt.
We [heard an] Account that General Bacon was Marched with a Thousand Men into the Forest to Seek
the Enemy Indians [late June 1676], and in a few days after our next News was, that the Governour had
Summoned together the Militia of Glocester and Middlesex Counties to the Number of twelve Hundred
Men, and proposed to them to follow and Suppress that Rebel Bacon; whereupon arose a Murmuring
before his face "Bacon, Bacon, Bacon," and all Walked out of the field, Muttering as they went, "Bacon,
Bacon, Bacon," leaving the Governour and those that came with him to themselves, who being thus
abandoned [sailed] over Chesepeake Bay 30 Miles to Accomac where are two Counties of Virginia.
Mr. Bacon hearing of this came back part of the Way, and sent out Parties of [mounted soldiers in July
1676] Patrolling through every County, Carrying away Prisoners all whom he Distrusted might any
more molest his Indian Prosecution, yet giving liberty to such as Pledged him their Oaths to return home
and live quiet; the Copies or Contents of which Oaths I never Saw, but heard were very Strict, tho' little
observed…
Bacon Calls a Convention at Middle Plantation [later to become Williamsburg] 15 miles from James
Town in the Month of August 1676, Where an Oath with one or more Proclamations were formed, and
Writs by him Issued for an Assembly; The Oaths or Writts I never Saw but One Proclamation
Commanded all Men in the Land on Pain of Death to Join him, and retire into the Wilderness upon
Arrival of forces expected from England, and oppose them until they should propose or accept to treat of
an Accommodation...
The Governour made a 2nd attempt coming over from Accomac [in early September 1676] with what
men he could procure in Sloops and Boats, forty miles up the River to James Town, which Bacon
hearing of, Came again down from his Forrest Pursuit, and... [landed on] the Penninsula there in James
Town, He Stormed it and took the Town ... But the Governour with most of his followers fled back,
down the River...
21
Here resting a few days [Bacon's men] Concerted the Burning of the Town [September 19, 1676],
wherein Mr. Laurence and Mr. Drummond owning the Two best houses, 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 harbour no more there…
DOCUMENT #35
The Humble Remonstrance and address of The Inhabitants of Charles City County within his Majesty's
Colony of Virginia - a petition of grievances from Virginia residents presented to the Royal
Commissioners, May 1677.
[Berkeley 's arbitrary rule and unjust taxation, his neglect of an adequate Indian defense; etc.] these we
humbly confess, were the greatest seducements that provoked most of us at first to take up arms [but]
only against the ... barbarous enemies the Indians...
But after that grand Imposter Bacon had, by these and many other specious pretences, allowed many of
us to join with him in the forcing [of] his commission [June 24, 1676]. And that Sir.Wm. Berkeley not
only permitted the levying and raising [of] the thousand horses and foot [soldiers] but with great
numbers of volunteers in several parts, but [several] of his council and all magistrates ...assisted therein
(as by the pretended act in June they were enjoined) without any declaration or prohibition of Sir Wm.
Berkeley to the contrary for the space, of one month or more, until such time that Bacon was by these
means furnished with the power of the whole country, or the greatest part thereof, And was then arrived
to that height of fierceness and cruelty he afterwards exercised over us.
We were then as unable to resist his will and commands... as his Honor had been in granting his
commission... and for fear of death were all of us forced to do what we did in opposing Sir Wm.
Berkeley's power, raised for suppressing the Rebellion...
DOCUMENT #36
A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, by the Royal Commissioners, 1677, excerpt.
Bacon goes up again to the [frontier in July 1676] where he bestirs himself lustily in order to [conduct] a
speedy march against the Indians, in prosecution of his first pretentions which were against the
Occannechees and Susquahannocks ... he marched to pursue the Pamunkey Indians... although it was
well known to the whole country that the Queen of Pamunkey and her People had never at any time
betrayed or injured the English. But among the Vulgar it matters not whether they be Friends or Foes, So
[long as] they be Indians.
They marching ... at random (yet hoping and aiming still to find them out) at last met with an Indian
Path against which led them to a main Swamp, where several nations of Indians lay encamped... [After a
day's march Bacon's party] falls upon the Pamunky Indians, who lay encamped beyond a small branch
of [the] swamp... As the onset was given they did not at all oppose, but fled, being followed by Bacon
and his Forces killing and taking them Prisoners, and looking for Plunder...
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DOCUMENT #37
Nathaniel Bacon, “Manifesto Concerning the Present Troubles in Virginia,” July 1676.
We appeal to the Country itself what and of what nature their Oppressions have been or by what Cabal
and mystery the designs of many of those whom we call great men have been transacted, but let us trace
these men in Authority and Favor to whose hands the dispensation of the Country's wealth has been
committed; let us observe the sudden Rise of their Estates and see what sponges have sucked up the
Public Treasure and whether it hath not been privately contrived away by unworthy Favourites and
Juggling Parasites whose tottering Fortunes have been repaired and supported at the Public charge....
Another main article of our Guilt is our open and manifest aversion to all, not only the Foreign but the
protected and Darling Indians, this wee are informed is rebellion... Wee doe declare and can prove that
they have bin for these many years enemies to the King and Country, Robbers and Theeves and Invaders
of his Majesty's Right and our Interest and Estates....
Another main article of our Guilt is our Design not only to ruin and extirpate all Indians in General but
all Manner of Trade and Commerce with them...
Another article of our Guilt is to Assert all those neighbor Indians as well as others to be outlawed,
wholly unqualifying for the benefit and Protection of the law.... They have been unjustly defended and
protected these many years [by authorities such as Gov. Berkeley].
Judge therefore all wise and unprejudiced men who may or can faithfully or truely with an honest heart
attempt the country's good, their vindication and libertie without the aspersion of Traitor and Rebell,
since as soe doing they must of necessity gall such tender and dear concernes, But to manifest Sincerity
and loyalty to the World, and how much wee abhorre those bitter names, may all the world know that
we doe unanimously desire to represent our sad and heavy grievances to his most sacred Majesty as our
Refuge and Sanctuary, where wee doe well know that all our Causes will be impartially heard and
Equall Justice administred to all men.
[Editor’s note: Bacon wrote this “manifesto” to respond to the charge that he and his followers were
rebels and traitors.]
DOCUMENT #38
Nathaniel Bacon, "Declaration of Nathaniel Bacon in the name of the People of Virginia," July 30, 1676,
excerpts.
For having upon specious pretences of Public works raised unjust Taxes upon the Commonality for the
advancement of private favourites and other sinister ends...
For having wronged his Majesty's Prerogative and Interest by assuming the monopoly of the Beaver
Trade.
By having in that unjust gain Bartered and sold his Majesty's Country and the lives of his Loyal Subjects
to the Barbarous Heathen.
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For having protected, favored and Emboldened the Indians against his Majesty's most Loyal subjects...
For having, when the Army of the English was Just upon the Track of the Indians ... expressly
Countermanded and sent back our Army.
For having...against the Consent of the People... raising and effecting a Civil War and
distractions...thereby calling down our Forces, from the defense of the Frontiers...
Of these the aforesaid Articles we accuse Sir William Berkeley as guilty ... and as one who hath
Traitorously violated and injured his Majesty's Interest here...
And we do further demand, that the said Sir William Berkeley with all the Persons in this List ed. note,
the list contained 19 names, mostly intimates of Berkeley and members of the Governor's Council;
Robert Beverly and William Sherwood were included in this list] be forthwith delivered up, or surrender
themselves, within four days... or otherwise we declare that in whatsoever house, place, or ship, any of
the said Persons shall reside, be hide or protected, We do delcare that the Owners, masters or Inhabitants
of the said places to be Confederates, and Traitors to the People, and the Estates of the, as also of the
aforesaid Persons to be Confiscated. This we the Commons of Virginia do declare desiring prime Union
among ourselves ... And Let not... the Faults or Crimes of the Oppressors divide and separate us, who
have suffered by their oppression.
DOCUMENT #39
Alleged Conversation between Nathaniel Bacon and John Goode, September 1676.
[Editor’s note: Goode claimed to have recorded this conversation in writing in the summer of 1676 and
reported the discussion to Governor Berkeley in January 1677.]
Bacon: There is a report that Sir Wm. Berkeley has sent to the King for two thousand Redcoats [English
soldiers], and I do believe it may be true; Tell me your opinion, may not five hundred Virginians beat
them, we having the same advantages against them the Indians have against us?
Goode: On the contrary, I think five hundred Redcoats may either subject [subdue] or ruin Virginia.
Bacon: You talk strangely; Are we not acquainted with the country, so that we can lay in [ambush]? Can
we not hide behind trees to render their discipline of no avail? Are we not as good or better shots than
they?
Goode: They can accomplish what I said without hazard or coming into such disadvantages by taking
opportunities of landing where there is no opposition, firing our houses and fences, destroying our cattle,
preventing trade and cutting off supports.
Bacon: We can prevent their making any progress in such mischiefs.
Goode: You see, sir, that in a manner all the principal men in the country, who disliked your
proceedings, will, may you be sure, make a common cause with the Redcoats.
Bacon: I will see to it that they do not have the opportunity.
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Goode: Sir, you speak as though you design a total defection from the King and our native country.
Bacon: Why, have not many princes lost their dominions so?
Goode: [There] have been such people as have been able to subsist without their prince. The poverty of
Virginia is such that the major part of the inhabitants can [scarcely survive] one year without supplies
from England. You may be sure that the people who so fondly follow you, when they come to feel the
miserable want of food and clothing, will be in great haste to leave you...
Bacon: I know, of nothing; with which this country could not in time supply itself, save ammunition and
iron, and I believe the King of France or the States of Holland would be glad to trade with us.
Goode: Sir, our King is a very great Prince and his amity is infinitely more valuable to these countries
than any advantage they could reap from Virginia. They will not provoke his displeasure by supporting
rebels here. Besides, your followers do not think themselves engaged against the King's authority, but
merely against the Indians.
DOCUMENT #40
William Berkeley to Henry Coventry (one of King Charles II's Secretaries of State), Feb. 2, 1677 (the
day Berkeley returned to England following the rebellion).
... within a week [after I fled to Accomach – July 1676]] Bacon sent a ship with two hundred men under
the Command of one [named] Bland and Captain Carver with a joint commission to take me and all my
friends and Bring us to him dead or alive. . . [Carver was tricked by my men and captured, which] put all
the soldiers into our hands who, having not Victuals for eight hours, surrendered themselves and Arms,
took the Oaths of allegiance and Supremacy.... However this action gave the Loyal party a great
reputation in the country and now the fear of me made many declare for the King who never after dared
go back to Bacon... [E]levated with this success we resolved with all speed to make for James-Town ...
where we found five hundred of Bacons men, but our numbers being trebled in the opinion of the
Enemy and I issuing out a Proclamation pardoning all the Common soldiers that would lay down their
Arms and all officers but Bacon, [William] Drummond and [Richard] Lawrence, though they would not
lay down their Arms Yet the same night we arrived at James-Town they all fled to Bacon, who was
about fifty miles from us, ...without shooting one Gun at us...
But, Sir, twice Bacon's forces [would have] not been able to hurt us if our officers and soldiers had had
Courage or loyalty, but there was a want of both in both, for the common soldiers mutinied and the
officers did not do their whole duty to suppress them, but some of them, as I afterwards found, did all
they could to foment the mutiny.
One night having rode from Guard to guard and from quarter to quarter all day long to encourage the
soldiers, I went to bed about six at night. I was no sooner lain down but there came three or four of the
chief officers to me and told me I must presently rise and go to the ship, for the soldiers were all
mutinying and running away …. The next day came more officers to me and represented to me again the
necessity of my quitting the Town....
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I no sooner quitted the Town but Bacon entered it, burned five houses of mine and twenty of other
Gentlemen [September 19, 1676], and they say that a very commodious Church he set afire too, with his
own sacreligious hands...
DOCUMENT #41
A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, by the Royal Commissioners, 1677, excerpt.
But so great was the Cowardice and Baseness of the [great majority] of Sir Wm. Berkeley's Party (being
most of them men intent only upon plunder or compelled and hired into his service) that of all, at least
there were only some 20 Gentlemen willing to stand by him, the rest (whom the hopes or promises of
Plunder brought there) being now all in haste to be gone, to secure what [loot] they had gotten; so that
Sir Wm. Berkeley ... was at last persuaded [and] hurried away [in early September 1676] against his
own Will to Accomack and forced to leave the Town to the mercy of the enemy.
DOCUMENT #42
A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, by the Royal Commissioners, 1677, excerpt.
[After his forces put Jamestown to the torch, September 19, 1676] Bacon now begins to show a more
merciless severity and absolute authority than formerly, Plundering and imprisoning many and
condemning some by power of martial law.
Bacon finding that his Soldiers' Insolence growing so great and intolerable to the People (of whom they
made no due distinction) and binding their actions to reflect on himself, he not only betake himself to a
strict Discipline over his men but also to more moderate courses himself, Releasing some Prisoners,
Pardoning others that were condemned, and calling those to account against whom any complaints came
for seizures or Plundering their Estates without his order or knowledge.
DOCUMENT #43
“A List of the names of those worthy persons, whose services and sufferings by the late Rebel Nathaniel
Bacon, Junior, and his party, ...during the late unhappy troubles in Virginia, And Particularly of such
whose approved Loyalty, constancy and courage hath rendered them most deserving of his Majesty's
Royal Remark,” Report by the Royal Commissioners, 1677
[Editor’s note: The list below contained 45 names and a general statement about the many unnamed
"other poor Inhabitants of James Town” who lost homes and possessions in the fires set by Bacon and
his followers. The items below are excerpts of individual cases.]
Sir Henry Chichely, Barbarously Imprisoned and treated Bacon and his party for many months and
much [damage to] his Estate...
Col. Philip Ludwell, one that was constantly in the Governor's service, and was not only plundered in
his own Personal Estate, but also of the Estate of an Orphan committed to his trust...
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Mr. Thomas Ludwell, Secretary of Virginia, whose stock was utterly ruined and taken away by the late
Rebel, though at the same time he was acting here in England (as the Country's agent, at his own
[expense]
Col. Daniel Parkes, then also n England, and one of the Treasurers for the country's money, who was
plundered (according to the computation we have made... of at least 1500 [pounds sterling] ...
Major Richard Lee, a Loyal discreet Person ... was Imprisoned by Bacon [for over] seven weeks, at least
100 miles from his own home, whereby he received great [damage] in his health by hard usage [ill
treatment?] and very greatly in his whole Estate by his absence.
Col. John Smith sustained great losses by the Rebels, his stock and other estate being taken and
destroyed by them.
Mr. Charles Roane, one that had his dwelling House and other Houses Burned down to the ground, and
most part of his goods and provisions destroyed and carried away by a party of the Rebels Commanded
by Gregory Wolkate after Bacon's death.
Mr. Philip Lightfoote, a great Looser and sufferer both in Estate and person being both Plundered and
imprisoned by the Rebels.
DOCUMENT #44
William Berkeley to Henry Coventry, Feb. 2, 1677.
...But within three weeks after [Bacon seized and burned James Town] the Justice and Judgement of
God overtook [Bacon]. His usual oath which he swore at least a Thousand times a day was, “Goddamn
my Blood,” and God so infected his blood that it bred Lice in an incredible number so that for twenty
days he never washed his shirts but burned them.. To this God added. the Bloody flux [ed. note, this was
a severe case of dysentery Bacon probably contracted while marching through the swamp in pursuit of
the Pamunkey Indians] and an honest Minister wrote this Epitaph on him:
Bacon is Dead, I am sorry at my heart
That Lice and flux should take the hangman's part.
And now [it is] Right honorable that God has brought this most Atheistic man to his deserved end, I
must [summarize] the rest and say that Bacon being dead, the Rabble chose another General which had
been [a man named] Bland but he was out of their reach; continued the other officers who soon
disagreed among themselves, mistrusting one [to] the other. In the meantime my soldiers Killed four of
their most obstinate officers, two are dead in Prison, and fourteen Executed. Their Lieutenant General
first, and after, their General gave up all their men and Arms into my hands and are pardoned. More than
one hundred I had in prison before this surrender.
[Editor’s note: In early October 1676, Nathaniel Bacon fell ill with dysentery, perhaps cholera. After
suffering with the illness for approximately two weeks, Bacon died on October 26, 1676. His rebel army
disintegrated within a matter of weeks.]
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DOCUMENT #45
A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, by the Royal Commissioners, 1677, excerpt.
After Bacon's Death, one Joseph Ingram, a stranger in Virginia and came over but the year before this
Rebellion, under whose conduct the Faction began to fall into several parties and opinions, which gave
Sir Wm. Berkeley's party opportunity by these divisions to surprise the Rebels in small Bodies as they
sculked up and down the country….
After Ingram had [surrendered] to the Governor ... Lawrence, that notorious Rebel, fled.... Some others
were taken Prisoner after they had laid down their arms, and the rest went home in Peace. About the
16th of January, 1677, the whole country had submitted to the Governor and the 22nd he came home to
his house at Green Spring, and had issued out new... summons for the convening of a free assembly at
his own house, the State house being ruined with the rest of James Town.
DOCUMENT #46
“A List of the names of those worthy persons, whose services and sufferings by the late Rebel Nathaniel
Bacon, Junior, and his party, ...during the late unhappy troubles in Virginia, And Particularly of such
whose approved Loyalty, constancy and courage hath rendered them most deserving of his Majesty's
Royal Remark,” Report by the Royal Commissioners, 1677
Major Robert Beverley, clerk of the Assembly, a person very active... in surprizing and beating up of
Quarters and small Guards about the country, and as himself says (and we have no reason to believe the
only person that got by the unhappy troubles) in Plundering (without distinction of honest mens Estates
from others) as will be found when accounts are adjusted... and [he] was one that had the confidence to
say he had not plundered enough, so that the Rebellion ended too soon for his purpose; Besides we
ourselves have observed him to have been the Evil Instrument that fomented the ill humors between the
two Governors [Berkeley and Bacon] then on the place and was a great occasion of their clashing and
Difference.
DOCUMENT #47
A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, by the Royal Commissioners, 1677: The following
was titled, “The Humble Remonstrance of the Inhabitants of Charles City County” to the Royal
Commissioners, 1677, excerpt.
And since your Honors are willing to be informed of such other matters (besides what seduced us into
the Rebellion...) ... we have of late feared that our representatives (of which for this country in nine years
time past there hath been very doubtful elections as we conceive) have been overswayed by the power
and prevelency of Sir Wm. Berkeley and his council (diverse instances of which we conceive might be
given and have neglected our grievances ...) we are moved humbly to present the following to your
Honors:
That besides the great quantities of Tobacco raised and paid for building of forts which were never
finished but suffered to go to ruin... great quantities of Tobacco have been raised upon us his Majesty's
poor Subjects... for erecting a [public] house for the use of the country which Colonel Edward Hill
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[friend of Gov. Berkeley and one of his principal officers during the Rebellion] received... and converted
to his own use....
That on or about the 15th of January last past [1677], when the late commotions were appeased and
quieted, the Colonel Edw. Hill without any warrant or authority unlawfully took upon him to raise by
impress a company of men within this country... whom he presumptuously did take upon him to lead out
of the county at his will and pleasure..
That the Col. Edw. Hill covetously minding to enrich himself by the ruin of diverse of us his Majesty's
subjects, hath endeavoured most arrogantly to smother, conceal and [invalidate] his Majesty's late
gracious proclamation of pardon, and by menaces and threats extorted diverse compositions and
Rewards from diverse of us (not to inform against them as he said and to procure their pardon) namely
from [ed. note, here the petition lists nine names]...although he well knew the said persons and every of
them were not only absolutely pardoned by the King's proclamations as aforesaid but also by Sir Wm.
Berkeley's proclamation likewise .... And the more to terrify and frighten his Majesty's subjects... Edw.
Hill by his interest and prevelency with Sir Wm. Berkeley procures warrants to be to him directed from
Sir Wm. Berkeley for seizing and securing the persons and estates of diverse in this county that had (and
that he knew had) laid hold of and were pardoned by the Governor's and the King's proclamations...
That Edw. Hill contrary to his duty and trust in him reposed by the warrants aforesaid, converted diverse
of the goods by him seized for the use of the King to his own use….
[Editor’s note: Hill was a member of the ruling elite that had been so terrified by Bacon’s rebels. His
actions in late January 1677, after the rebel army had disintegrated, can be seen as an attempt to punish
Bacon’s former followers and as a campaign, endorsed by Gov. Berkeley, take revenge upon them for
the rebellion.]
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