Proprietary Governors, 1670-1718 by Nora Davis

Elias Haskett

2025-05-12 23:08:01 UTC

Elias Haskette arrived to the Bahamas in 1701. He had found about 500 inhabitants in New Providence at this time. His Attorney-General and Speaker of the House was an open pirate. A few days after he arrived, his collector of customs duties offered him bribes of gold and other goods. The inhabitants of New Providence had later rose in arms, seized and imprisoned Haskette and took away his money and title. He was driven away and had to leave for New York in a small boat called the Katherine. Because of the lack of stable government, the Spanish and French invaded the island. Haskette had already left.

- Ashana Smith

Proprietary Govenors

2025-05-14 22:47:45 UTC

In the year 1671 Hugh Wentworth was appointed as the first official proprietary governor. Unfortunately he died before he arrived to the islands. He drowned at sea. His Brother John Wentworth was named governor, Which was later confirmed by the lord Proprietors. - Garranique Brown

Nicholas Trott

2025-05-14 23:32:55 UTC

The one and only Nicholas Trott was made a proprietary governor in the year 1693 but was later replaced by Nicholas Webb. But while in his time of governor Nicholas Trott built a new fort for protection against the Spanish and he also built a new town called Nassau, in honor of the Prince of Orange -Nassau, who eventually became King William the third. Nicholas would even go as far to rebuilt churches and houses which were sadly destroyed later in 1648 though that happened he was able to buy an island which is located in front of the Harbour. This island grew hogs which gave the island its name Hog Island but this name was later changed to Paradise Island in 1959. Now in February 1697 Fort Nassau was finally completed and fully equipped with 28 guns. Still Trott was released that same year because he got corrupted and allowed a pirate (Who was know as Captain Avery)to come into Nassau with stolen goods simply because Captain Avery had paid Nicholas Trott.

Juliet Brennen

Aniecia Hamilton

akeemculmer27 — 2025-05-15 02:08:45 UTC

1690 – Cadwallader Jones
Cadwallader Jones became governor after Thomas Bridges. His time as governor was full of dishonesty and unfair rule. He did things to help himself instead of helping the Lord Proprietors or the settlers. He sold gunpowder to pirates and did nothing to punish them for their crimes. Jones also put people in jail without giving them a fair trial. He used threats and fear to control the Council and even pointed the guns of a warship at the Council building to make them pass his laws. Because of his bad leadership, the people became angry. In January 1692, they rebelled and put him in jail. - Akeem Culmer

Edward Birch

isabellaingraham27 — 2025-05-15 14:38:08 UTC

In 1702 Sir Edward Birch, the new English governor, upon landing in Nassau, was so distraught at the ruin he found, that he returned to England after only a few months, without "unfurling his company-issued commission".

Isabella Ingraham

Dunetrelle Gray

Nicholas Webb

2025-05-15 21:46:08 UTC

In 1697, Nicholas Webb was appointed and confirmed by the British government to serve as Governor of The Bahamas. During his administration, the colony got worse, due to the increasing threat of piracy. To address these pressing issues, the British government established a Vice Admiralty Court in The Bahamas. This special court handled maritime matters, distributed proceeds from ships captured during wartime among captains and crew, enforced English trade laws to prevent illegal trading, and supervised pirate trials. Nicholas Webb made efforts to stop piracy, but he lacked soldiers to take effective action. He was also criticized by the Lord Proprietors for spending money on defense without results. Because he was unable to improve the colony’s condition, Webb secretly left The Bahamas by boat in 1699 and traveled to Pennsylvania. During his two year stay in New Providence, it was reported that he made $8,000, which was believed to have come from dealings with pirates. Before leaving, he appointed Deputy Reed Elding to act as his replacement, but the Lord Proprietors did not approve recognize him as governor. This may have been due to the fact that he was a pirate.

-Nylah Peterson

-Brinique Hanna

-D’Nyah Sands

Richard Lilburne

2025-05-16 00:19:29 UTC

In August 1682, Richard Lilburne replaced Clarke as governor of the Bahamas. Upon his arrival, he found the economy in a poor state. On January 18, 1684, the Spanish attacked. This was because Lilburne refused to punish a man who attacked Spanish settlements, and also because of Robert Clarke's commission of privateering. About 150 men landed east of Charles Town (Nassau). As this attack took place, Robert Clarke was captured, wounded, and eventually died while in captivity. The Spanish burned much of the town while Lilburne hid in the woods. Shortly after, there was a second raid that completed the destruction of the town. Women, children, and slaves were taken to Havana. The people left and went to Jamaica and Massachusetts because they were upset that Lilburne would not let them go after the Spanish. Lilburne went home because there were no people or houses in Charles Town.

Danekall Gibson (the top banana)

Skylar Turnquest

Thomas Bridges

2025-05-17 02:29:17 UTC

Thomas Bridges was made the next Proprietary Governor after Richard Lilburne. He was assisted by a council of 12 men. He was a Jamaican preacher who was the leader of a group of immigrants to The Bahamas without the permission of his governor in 1686. During these times, The Bahamas was desolated. After the first colony was destroyed by the Spanish. Thomas Bridges' colony, known as Georgia, was established in 1732. It was named after King George II of Great Britain, and the colony was intended as a place for the poor. They made a living by selling salt and wood which were collected from other islands, ambergris from beaches and shipwrecks. The new economy succeeded, and trade was a factor again with the mainland colonies (Carolinas). Thomas Bridges passed away on the 15th of July 1898 and he was believed to be between the ages of 55 and 56.

- Jordan Smith

Thomas Bridges

2025-05-18 17:58:27 UTC

Thomas Bridges was a Proprietary Governor of the Bahamas, serving from 1687 to 1690. He was appointed by the Lords Proprietors, who were granted the rights to administer the Bahamas after the Restoration. Prior to Bridges, Charles Chillingworth had been a governor for a short period, and there was a period of disruption due to a joint Spanish and French raid on Charles Town. After Bridges, Cadwallader Jones became the next Proprietary Governor.

Nathan Thompson

Charles Chillingworth

2025-05-19 12:03:51 UTC

Charles Chillingworth became a Proprietary governor in 1676 and ended in 1677. during a time of serious instability and weak colonial control. The Bahamas, under the nominal rule of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina, were facing widespread piracy, lawlessness and poor infrastructure. Chillingworth’s main challenge was trying to govern an island group that had little real support from the British crown and was essentially under the influence of pirates and privateers, who used the islands as a base. His short reign ended due to the continued chaos, lack of support and failure to control piracy. The islands returned to a largely ungoverned state shortly afterward. Chillingworth’s term is generally seen as a , failure though not entirely of his own making. He faced overwhelming problems with no real tools to solve them The Bahamas remained unstable for years, and it wasn't until 1717, when Britain declared the Bahamas a crown colony and sent Woodes Rogers as Royal Governor, that real order was established.

In short, Chillingworth tried to impose order in a lawless, pirate-dominated territory but was ultimately unable to succeed, largely due to circumstances beyond his control.

John Wentworth

2025-05-19 23:35:21 UTC

John Wentworth was both a sea captain and a pirate before he became the first Proprietary Governor of the Bahamas. His responsibility was to enforce the laws and regulations of the proprietors. They proprietors wanted John to get their share of the money from The braziletto wood that the settlers were selling along with good from the ship wrecks. The settlers did not agree with the rules so they rebelled against Wentworth. John Wentworth was dismissed for not maintaining law and order and for not looking after the Proprietor's interest.

~Peteria Brown

~Amanda Bowe

2025-05-20 00:57:34 UTC

Cadwallader Jones served as the Governor of the Bahamas from 1690 to 1693 during a turbulent period in the colony's history. Jones attempted to establish law and order but faced resistance from both local settlers and pirates who benefited from the lack of strong governance. He was largely unsuccessful in curbing piracy. It is reported in history that he sold gunpowder to known pirates and failed to prosecute the theft of guns. It is said that he and his agent reigned in terror the citizens and imprisoned them without trials, practiced censorship and oppressed traders. He forced the General Assembly to adopt his previous proclamations by having his son point the guns of his ship on the Council Chamber from the harbour during the session. There was then rebellion and imprisonment of Jones followed by the leader of that faction being arrested and tried by a Grand Jury who convicted him. Cadwallader Jones's time as governor is often seen as unsuccessful because he couldn’t bring strong leadership to the Bahamas. During his time in charge, the islands were still full of crime and disorder.

Robert Clarke

2025-05-22 02:37:08 UTC

Robert Clarke was a Proprietary Governor of the Bahamas from 1677 to 1682. During his time, the Bahamas faced significant instability, particularly due to external threats. In 1684, two years after Clarke's governorship ended, a joint French and Spanish fleet attacked and destroyed Charles Town (now Nassau), disrupting British rule in the region. This suggests that Clarke likely had to contend with growing tensions and threats from European powers during his time in office.

The Bahamas during this period were largely left to govern themselves, with pirates and privateers exerting influence over the islands. Clarke may have struggled with maintaining order and defending the colony against external threats, as the region was vulnerable to raids and lacked strong military support.

Skii Morley

Ambria Percentie