Sir Richard Everard, Baronet, governor of the colony of North Carolina, 1725-1731, and his descendants in Virginia

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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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