Early American Rebels by Noeleen McIlvenna

Author:Noeleen McIlvenna
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

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“BUT I … AM CONFIDENT of it that it is the mind of this country, and of Maryland, and Carolina also to cast off their governors … and if we cannot prevail by arms to make our conditions for peace, or obtain the privilege to elect our own governor, we may retire to Roanoke.”34

So declared Bacon when the rebellion had begun. Back in the summer of 1676, the radicals of Maryland and the Albemarle had interacted with Bacon, Drummond, and the others. John Culpeper, the young firebrand from Charleston, connected with Drummond, reminding him that he had written in 1667 that Albemarle was attractive to those who were “weary of Sir William’s Government.” They would offer a safe house to any who needed it. But Fendall and others up in Maryland thought the moment had come to take more deliberate action.35

Across the Patuxent River from St. Mary’s lay Calvert County, home to another nest of Quakers and democracy. Inspired by Virginia’s Declaration of the People, a group of militiamen drew up their own manifesto for the reform of Maryland and Calvert’s clique, and quickly built support in the area known as the Clifts. “Never Body was more repleat with Malignancy and Frenzy then our people were about August last, and they wanted but a monstrous head to their monstrous body” was how Deputy Governor Thomas Notley described the popular discontent. The main grievances concerned high and unfair taxes, but especially representation, demanding that all elected representatives be allowed to take their seats, but beyond that they sought a democratic franchise. “The great Clamour is against the greatnes of the Taxes; the debarring of some ffreemen who have nothing to Entitle themselves to a being in this Province, from voting in the Choice of the Delegates for makeing of the Lawes, & lastly that those poore ffreemen are Obliged to pay taxes equall with the rich.” Maryland’s poll tax had been means-tested before 1650, but no longer. And while at first it was small—in 1663 it amounted to 25 pounds of tobacco per worker—in 1675 the levy soared to 165 pounds each, with an increase in 1676. This had been approved after the disenfranchisement of so many.36

On September 3, “with fforce & Terror of Armes” sixty men gathered, led by William Davis and others, determined to press the governor and the Council to grant their demands. This was not in secret. Notley sent them a message, trying to defuse the situation. He offered to have their grievances discussed at the next Assembly, but given the success of the rebels in Virginia, the men of the Clifts would not settle so easily. Notley fumed, “they did from thence march away with drummes beateing & Collours flying … though they have since with drawne & dispersed themselves & lye lurkeing till they can find a fitter Opportunity to worke Out their wicked & malitious designes.”37

Notley had to admit that Davis and his allies had touched a nerve; the following day, he offered a general pardon to anyone but the leadership who might stand down.

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