ABSTRACT
WHEN the alarm occasioned by the earthquake had a little subsided, the legislature was convened, and almost its first act was to appoint the anniversary of that eventful day as a solemn fast. Kingston, to which considerable numbers were now flocking, was constituted a parish, and a new city laid out by Colonel Lilly, an engineer of considerable ability. The defenceless state into which the whole colony was thrown afforded great facilities to filibustering attacks, and they were of frequent occurrence throughout the whole of the following year.1 In May, 1694, the safety of the island generally was imperilled by an expedition of a really formidable character, of which a full account has been preserved from the pen of Sir William Beeston, who at the time administered the government. White, who was president and acting governor during the earthquake, died on the 22nd of August following, as appears by the registry of burials in St. Andrews. John Bourden succeeded him for a short time; then Beeston commenced his career, which lasted for about nine years. He was descended from an ancient English family, long settled at Beeston Castle, in Cheshire, and emigrated to Jamaica in 1660. He became a member of the assembly, of which he was for some time speaker, and greatly distinguished himself in opposition to Poyning’s Act. He enjoyed not only the confidence of the people
“good, discreete person;” and Sir Thomas Lynch had spoken highly of his “courage and conduct.” All these qualities were soon put to the test. There was at this time in the island a considerable number of Roman Catholics, chiefly Irishmen, who were anxious if possible to create a diversion in favour of James II. There were many others ready for any desperate enterprise, and who, prohibited from buccaneering by Jamaica law, found the desired liberty with the French in Hayti. These uniting together, formed a really dangerous confederacy. Among the desperadoes thus brought together, one named Grublien was much dreaded on account of the frequency and success with which he landed at sea-side plantations, and carried off negroes and other plunder. Among his exploi’s was the capture, not only of all the slaves of a Mrs. Barrow, a minister’s widow, residing in St. Elizabeths, but of her daughter Rachel. But an enterprise far more serious than these sudden raids was in contemplation, though happily discovered in time for plans to be organised for defence. A Captain Elliot, whose ship contained a valuable cargo, was captured and carried into Petit Grave. There he picked up some valuable information, and then managed to effect his escape in a small canoe, and after five days and nights at sea, reached Jamaica. He hastened to inform the gcvernor that Stapleton and Lynch, two Irishmen, had given information that Port Royal was almost defenceless, and that five hundred men favourable to King James would at once join an invading force. Twenty ships and some three thousand men had been prepared to effect a landing, under the command of Ducasse. This intelligence was communicated by Elliot on the 31st of May, at nine o’clock. That night the council was convened, and martial law proclaimed.1
