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From Publications of Southern History Association.
SIR RICHARD 5:yERARD, BARONET, GOVERNOR
OF THE COLONY OF NORTH CAROLINA,
1725-1731, AND HIS DESCENDANTS
IN VIRGINIA.
By Marshali. DeLancdy Haywood.
Sir Richard Everard, Baronet, of Much Waltham, in the county of Essex, England, was the last Governor of North Carolina under proprietary rule. His administration was brought to a close in 1731, two years after the sale of that province to the Crown, by the Lords Proprietors, in 1729. He came of ancient lineage in the land of his nativity.
From Betham's Baronetage of England* we learn that the family's earliest ancestor, of whom any record is preserved, was Ralph Everard, who flourished in the thirteenth century, during the reign of Henry III. His descendants lived at Much Waltham — or Waltham Magna, as we first find it
* Vol. I, 368, 369
written — and were among the landed gentry of the shire. Sir Anthony Everard received the honor of knighthood in 1603, and was succeeded by his brother, Hugh, who held the office of High Sherifif, in 1626. The latter's son, Sir Richard, was advanced to the dignity of Baronet, in 1628, and became the father of another Richard, who inherited his title and es- tate. Sir Hugh Everard, a son of the last named, "signalized himself" in the Flemish Wars, and was the father of Gover- nor Everard, fourth baronet.
Wright, in his History of Essex,* says that Governor Ev- erard sold the family's ancestral estate, Langleys, to dis- charge debts with which it was encumbered, and afterwards purchased a much smaller one at Broomfield.
To avoid confusing the similar surnames, it may be well here to observe that there was likewise a family of Everard (seated at Ballybay, county of Tipperary, Ireland), which in- cluded a line of baronets whose title was created in 1622, and finally became extinct. f Several of these also bore the name Richard, but no relationship seems traceable between them and the Everards of Much Waltham, in Essex.
In 1725, Governor George Burrington, who had made things a trifle too hot for his adversaries in North Carolina, was removed from office by the Lords Proprietors. There- upon a memorial was presented by Sir Richard Everard, of Essex, asking that he might be appointed to the vacancy. This request being granted, he set out for America, and on the 17th of July was sworn in, before the Provincial Council at Edenton, as governor, captain general, admiral, and com- mander-in-chief of the colony."J
On the 1st of November, 1725, the Assembly of the Pro- vince met at Edenton, and was prorogued by Governor Ev-
* Vol. I, 196.
t Burke's Extinct and Dormant Baronetage (1844 edition), p. 604.
I Colonial Records of North Carolina, II, 559, 556.
erard until April, in the following year. Upon inquiry from the burgesses, as to his reason for such a course. Sir Richard refused to discuss the question; and replied that, since they had seen fit to dispute his authority, he would stand by the decision. It was thereupon unanimously resolved, by the members of the Assembly, that their pretended prorogation was illegal, contrary to the laws of the province, and an in- fringement upon the liberties of the people. It was further resolved that, at its next meeting, the House would proceed to no further business until the privileges, then withheld, were restored and confirmed. The Assembly further pro- ceeded to make itself pleasant by sending a memorial to the Lords Proprietors, wherein the loss of Burrington was greatly deplored and deep concern expressed at the prospect of so vile an administration from the new Governor, who was declared to be entirely influenced by a few irreligious persons of immoral character.*
Soon after this Sir Richard became involved in a dispute with the Rev. Thomas Bailey, on account of some praise be- stowed by the latter upon the recent administration of Gov- ernor Burrington and that gentleman's "vast character." A riot resulted, led by the Burrington faction, which carried Bailey in triumph to the court house, where he was pre- vailed upon to favor his friends with a sermon. After this, Everard had the pleasure of paying his respects to the Rev. Thomas, in a letter to the Bishop of London, wherein he de- scribed the missionary as a riotous individual, much given to drunkenness, whose vile actions had caused him to be run out of Philadelphia into Virginia, whence he escaped to North Carolina. But the vestries of Hyde and St. Thomas soon came to the rescue of their parson's reputation, and de- clared him to be a most pious and exemplary minister, well deserving of encouragement. f
* Colonial Records II, 576, 577, 578.
t Colonial Records II; 579, 580, 581, 604, 624.
The Assembly, which had been prorogued to meet in April, 1726, convened at the appointed time, and was ad- dressed in a spirit of conciliation by the Governor, who sought to impress upon it the necessity of harmonious ac- tion. The reply to this expressed pleasure at the good inten- tions avowed, but declared that the most effectual method of seeking redress would be to lay aside all formalities of speech. Then followed a catalogue of grievances, entitled "Exclamations of the Injured & Oppress'd." Shortly after receiving these "exclamations" the Governor became ill and again prorogued the Assembly, which was not much im- proved in humor thereby.*
Governor Burrington had lingered in the province, after his removal from office, and was an interested observer of these occurrences. Before the Assembly met, he had made himself rather disagreeable to Everard, by going to that gen- tleman's house and calling for satisfaction, also indulging in some questionable language, which the writer, having quoted in two previous sketches, does not deem it necessary here to repeat. Suffice it to say, that Sir Richard's "damn<^ thick skull," as Burrington politely termed it, remained un- scalped, contrary to the charitable intentions of his assailant, who soon found it convenient to leave Edenton.f
A few months later, Edmund Porter was also taken with a fit of belligerency and attacked Secretary Lovick, but fared worse; for the latter was joined by Governor Everard, At- torney General Little, Colonel Worley, and a few more offi- cial dignitaries, who soon gave the aggrieved Mr. Porter more satisfaction than he knew what to do with. J
The next bellicose individual, who ran amuck of the Gov- ernor, was Dr. George Allen (or Allynn, as he signed him-
* Colonial Records II, 609, 613, 622. t Colonial Records II, 647 ei seq. % Colonial Records II, 659.
self), a "Chyrurgeon" or "Practiser of Physick & Surgery.'' This gentleman was generously donated to North Carolina by the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, where an indictment had been found against him for cursing King George and Governor Drysdale. After his arrival in Edenton, he was again brought before the courts for damning the King "while a drinking of clarett." But, from the nature of an undertaking he had in view, one might suppose it was something stronger than claret which Dr. Allynn drank; for he wanted to go to Hanover and get King George's estate, as that monarch owed him money! Being ofifended by Gov- ernor Everard, the worthy chirurgeon armed himself with a sword, and two pistols "loaden with powder and ball," wherewith he went in search of his adversary. Sir Richard disarmed him of his horse pistol, but he then resorted to a pocket pistol "and did continue to raise sedition & mutiny" till driven off by numbers. On being summoned to court, he increased his arsenal by the acquisition of a gun, and it was some time before the provost marshal could get him into custody. When his trial came off, he plead guilty and was released upon payment of costs.*
Even this did not close the list of Everard's quarrels, for he afterwards figured in another altercation, with John Lovick; and had to defend his house against a motley as- semblage described by him as being composed of Major Jo- seph Jenoure, Thomas Betterly, Peter Osborne, Tom y^ Tinker alias Cockram, Robert Robinson, Peter Young, Charles Cornwall, James Roe, Richard Robbins, a carpen- ter, two foreigners, a tall Irishman, and divers others, who, when commanded to depart, refused to do so, and struck one of the Governor's servants, breaking his head.f
In additon to his disputes within the colony. Governor Everard had to contend with enemies in England, who repre-
* Colonial Records II, 653, 710, 718, 824 ; III, 220, 223. t Colonial Records II, 824.
sented him as too much given to intoxication.* Thereupon, the Provincial Council was requested to express itself as to the truth of this allegation, and unanimously declared that he had never come before the public "disguised in drink."
It is little to be wondered at that, after a few years of ex- perience with the civil discords of North Carolina, Sir Richard was even melted into expressing some sympathy for his old enemy, Burrington, who had undergone a similar ordeal. Such, indeed, is the tone of a letter written by him in 1729, in which he deplores his hard lot in being sent to rule so incorrigible a people, whose sole occupation in life seemed to be the abuse of their ofificial superiors. f
The only event of importance, which marked Everard's administration, was the settlement of the long disputed boundary question with Virginia, by commissioners ap- pointed from the two colonies for that purpose. t Colonel Byrd's famous History of the Dividing Line gives a humorous account of the party's experiences; and a more modern dis- course, from North Carolina's standpoint, will be found in the able address, delivered November 26, 1879, before the Historical Society, in Wilmington, by the Honorable George Davis, of that city.
When appointed Governor of North Carolina, in 1725, Sir Richard was somewhat advanced in age. In December, 1705, he had married Susannah Kidder, a daughter and co- heiress of the Right Rev. Richard Kidder, Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, who was killed in his Episcopal Palace at Wells, by a falling chimney, during the great hurricane, in November, 1703. Governor Everard left four children. His sons, Richard and Hugh, both succeeded him, in turn, and died without issue, whereupon the baronetcy became extinct.
* Colonial Records II, 724. t Colonial Records III, 19. X Colonial Records II, 740.
The younger Sir Richard, fifth baronet, was an attorney- at-law, while in North CaroHna, and remained there after in- heriting his father's title. He was a representative in the Provincial Assembly from Beaufort county, in 1739; and from Bladen, in 1740.* His death occurred two years later, on the 7th of March, 1742.
Sir Hugh, sixth baronet, succeeded his brother and re- sided for a time in Georgia, where he married, but left no issue. f
As to the Governor's two daughters: Susannah miarried David Meade, an American gentleman who will be men- tioned later; and Anne became the wife of George Lath- bury.| Of Mr. Lathbury and his descendants — if he left any — the writer knows nothing.
Governor Everard's family does not seem to have made a very favorable impression on the people of North Caro- lina, and his "pack of rude children who gave offence daily" were the objects of special complaint. The Provincial Coun- cil declared that he had set up a sort of Inquisition, and would order servants of the colonial gentry to appear at his house, where they were questioned upon oath as to whether any disrespectful remarks had ever been privately made, by their masters, concerning the Governor's household. 1| In
* Colonial Records IV, 346, 493.
t So says Burke's Extinct and Dormant Baronetage (1844 edition), p. 190. The Secretary of State, however, writes from Atlanta, Georgia, as follows : " The name 'Everard' does not appear anywhere in the records of this office. If Sir Hugh ever came to Georgia, he never owned any land or held any official position." Though Burke gives 1745 as the date of Sir Hugh's death, it would seem that the title was thought to be still extant by Betham (in iSoi") and by Kim- ber (in 1771), when those authors compiled their baronetages ; for the works, here mentioned, do not treat of extinct titles. Kimber speaks of Sir Hugh Everard as "the present baronet, who now enjoys the title and estate." Vol. I, p. 348. All three of these works refer to Sir Hugh as residing in Georgia, but neither Betham nor Kimber mention his marriage.
t Betham 's Baronetage I, 369.
II Colonial Records II, 660.
8
addition to his immediate family, the name of James Everard — possibly a relative — also appears in the records, as an at- torney-at-law.*
One charge, more creditable than the average in its na- ture, stated that Sir Richard was an ardent Jacobite, who had figured in the Preston Rebellion of 171 5, and desired to celebrate the Old Pretender's birthday (June loth) in North Carolina.! When the death of George I. was announced, he is said to have exclaimed, "Then adieu to the Hanover fam- ily, we have done with them!"
As heretofore mentioned, Everard's administration was brought to an end by the sale of North Carolina to the Crown, by the Lords Proprietors, in 1729. During that year, Burrington was again appointed Governor; but did not qualify until the beginning of 1731,! and Sir Richard con- tinued in office for the space intervening.
After his removal, Governor Everard went to Nansemond, Virginia, and thence to England. At Nansemond, his daughter, Susannah, was married to David Meade, by whom she became the mother of seven children. They were:
I. David Meade, of Macox, in Prince George county, Virginia, who afterwards removed to Kentucky. He mar- ried Sarah Waters, only child of Col. William Waters, of Williamsburg, Virginia.
H. Richard Kidder Meade (an aide-de-camp, during the Revolution, to General Washington), who married, first, Elizabeth Randolph, daughter of Richard Randolph, the elder, of Curies; secondly, Mrs. Mary Randolph, nee Grymes, widow of William Randolph, of Chattsworth, and daughter of Benjamin Grymes.
HI. Everard Meade, (an aide-de-camp, during the Revo- lution, to General Lincoln), who married, first, Mary Thorn-
* Colonial Records III, 4. (As Richard, Jr., was an attorney, this name may have been erroneously entered for his).
t Colonial Records III, 4.
X Colonial Records III, 211.
ton, daughter of John Thornton, of North CaroHna; second- ly, Mrs. Mary Ward, ncc Eggleston, widow of Benjamin Ward, and daughter of Joseph Eggleston, of Egglestetton, in Amelia county, Virginia. The distinguished Revolution- ary officer, Major Joseph Eggleston, of Lee's Legion, was Mrs. Meade's brother.
IV. Andrew Meade, of Octagon, in Brunswick county, Virginia, who married Susannah Stith, daughter of Captain Buckner Stith, of Rockspring, in the same county.
V. John Meade, who died young.
VI. Anne Meade, who married Richard Randolph, the younger, of Curies.
VII. Mary Meade, who married Colonel George Walker. It is not within the scope of this brief biography to give an
account of Governor Everard's more remote offspring. From his grandchildren, just named, many of the most noted families in Virginia, Kentucky, and throughout the South- ern States in general, trace their descent.
The marriage of Susannah Everard to David Meade, of Nansemond, is mentioned in Betham's Baronetage, and some of the other works on heraldry that we have had oc- casion to quote, and also in Campbell's History of Virginia,* which contains the following:
"Andrew Meade, first of the name in Virginia, born in County- Kerry, Ireland, educated a Romanist, came over to New York, and married Mary Latham, a Quakeress, of Flushing, on Long Island. He afterwards settled in Nansemond, Virginia, and for many years was burgess thereof ; from which it appears that he must have re- nounced the Romish religion. He was prosperous, affluent, and hospitable. He is mentioned by Colonel Byrd in his Journal of the Dividing Line run in 1728. His only son, David Meade, married, under romantic circumstances, Susannah, daughter of Sir Richard Everard, Baronet, Governor of North Carolina. Of the sons of David Meade, Richard Kidder Meade was aide-de-camp to General Wash- ington; Everard Meade aide to General Lincoln."
* History of Virginia, by Charles Campbell (i860), p. 690.
10
The same authority also says:
" The name of Richard Kidder is said to be derived from a bishop of Bath and Wells, who was from the same stock with the Meades of Virginia."
This personage will easily be recognized by the reader as Sir Richard Everard's father-in-law, Bishop Kidder, whose death in the great cyclone has already been mentioned. To have called him an ancestor of the Meades would be more explicit. As David Meade was an only son of the family's progenitor in America, all members of the connection who bear the name, as well as many other of his descendants, are also descended from Governor Everard. But Andrew Meade also left a daughter, Priscilla, who married Wilson Curie, of Hampton, Virginia, and her descendants, of course, are not of the Everard stock.
During the Revolution, it was Colonel Richard Kidder Meade's painful duty to superintend the execution of Major Andre. In recounting that tragic event to Colonel Theo- dorick Bland, junior, under date of October 3, 1780, he wrote: "Poor Andre, the British adjutant-general, was exe- cuted yesterday; nor did it happen, my dear sir, (though I would not have saved him for the world,) without a tear on my part. You may think this declaration strange, as he was an enemy, until I tell you that he was a rare character. From the time of his capture to his last moment, his conduct was such as did honor to the human race. I mean by these words to express all that can be said favorable of man. Tlie compassion of every man of feeling and sentiment was ex- cited for him beyond your conception."'^
Both Colonel Richard Kidder Meade and Major Everard Meade were original members of the Virginia Society of the Cincinnati.
In his well-known work on Old Churches and Families
* Bland Papers, II, 34.
11
in Virginia,* the Right Rev. William Meade, late Bishop of that State, who was a son by the second marriage of Colonel Meade, f of Washington's staff, gives an account of the union of his ancestor, David Meade with Susannah Everard, as follows :
" The God of Love was present at their first interview, and made them feel the effects of his disposition at the same moment. But there was a considerable lapse of time between their first meeting and marriage. Her father was Governor Everard, of North Carolina, then living with his family in Edenton, and was unwilling to leave his daughter in the wilds of America when he should return home. When about to sail — the ship in which they were to embark lying in Hamp- ton Roads, then called Nansemond River — there was no other house at that time, convenient to the place of embarkation, at which they could be well accommodated but Andrew Meade's. To this they went ; and, being detained some weeks by adverse winds, or other causes, the earnest entreaties of a most affectionate father, almost distracted with the thought of parting with his only son (who was determined to follow her) at length prevailed, and they were imme- diately married."
Here endeth the "Story of Susannah," and, with it, we close our account of the descendants of Governor Everard. In returning to the old baronet's personal history, little re- mains to be said. As his successor qualified on the 25th of February, 1731, Sir Richard probably left Virginia during the following summer, though history fails to give us the exact date. His death occurred on the 17th of February, 1733, in London, two years after his retirement from office.
The Daily Journal, for Monday, February 19, contains the following obitnary :
" On Saturday morning at 6 o'clock, died at his house in Red Lyon street, Holbourn, Sir Richard Everard of Much Waltham in Essex, Bart : late Governor of North Carolina, descended from a very
* Vol. I, Article XXIV, p. 292 (edition of 1872).
fCol. R. K. Meade left no surviving children by his first marriage. For the issue of his second marriage, see Memoir of Bishop Meade, by Bishop Johns, p. 10, note.
12
ancient family in the county of Essex. Sir Richard married Susanna, one of the daughters and co-heirs of Dr. Richard Kidder, formerly Bishop of Bath & Wells, by whom he has left two sons and two daugh- ters, and is succeeded in his honours and estate by his eldest son, now Sir Richard Everard."
In its issue of Wednesday, February 21, the Daily Courani says:
" On Tuesday, the corpse of Sir Richard Everard was conveyed from his late dwelling house in Red Lyon street, Holbourn, with great solemnity to be interred at Much Waltham, Essex."
At his old home in Essex, here mentioned as the burial place of Sir Richard, many memorials of the family were preserved, including recumbent efifigies of Sir Anthony Everard and his lady, who lived in the sixteenth and seven- enteenth centuries. Among other persons of note, there in- terred, are also Sir Hugh Everard, Baronet — father of the Governor — who died in 1706, and Sir Richard Everard, Knight, who died in 161 1.
Again reverting to North Carolina, it must be confessed that little good accrued to the province from Governor Ever- ard's administration. He had been born and reared in the upper class of English society and was too far advanced in age to adapt himself to a change of situation. In a colony which required more than ordinary activity to develop its resources, he sought to preside with dignified ease; and, when aught unclean came "betwixt the wind and his nobil- ity," dignity and temper, alike, were too quickly cast aside. But, before indulging in overmuch adverse criticism, we should remember the difficulties with which he was forced to contend. Though endowed with less patience than the average mortal, his trials and vexations were indeed suf- ficient to test the forbearance of a saint.
" So may he rest ; his faults lie gently on him !"
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