COLONELS WILLIAMS AND BYAM.
55
The following year (1691) passed in quietness. The French were too much taken up with their European engagements to have much force in the West Indies ; and Admiral Wright, cruizing about these seas, intimidated the few privateers still lurking about. It was deemed necessary by the legislature this year to enact a law, obliging all the members of the assembly to serve in such capacity when elected. The year 1692 was chiefly passed in settling island business, and making laws to redress several grievances which were severely felt by the inhabitants. One of these was as follows : after the reduction of this island, and its restoration to the English in 1667, a great many persons pretended to have a right to large portions of land, by virtue of grants prior to the war, but which they had failed to cultivate. The consequence of this was, that the country was rapidly going-to ruin; and the only way to avert it was, by government granting these lands to more industrious persons, as an encouragement to them to settle. When, after a lapse of time, the former possessors found their barren and uncultivated lands turned into profitable estates, they came forward and claimed them as their own ; and so annoying were these threatenings to those who had worked the change, that although they had spent both time and money, they preferred leaving the island, and seeking some other home. To rectify this, it was determined by the legislature this year, that all persons who possessed lands by grants from government should be confirmed in the same, providing they had held them for five vessels, under command of Captain Wright, who was himself in the Mary of 64 guns, and 450 men. These ships had on board 3000 land forces—viz., 700 English soldiers, commanded by Colonel Holt ; 800 Nevis and Barbado_s soldiers, commanded by Sir Timothy Thornhill ; 800 Antigua, commanded by Colonel Rowland Williams; 400 Montserrat men, commanded by Colonel Blackstone, and 200 gentlemen volunteers, commanded by Colonel Willoughby Byam, which served as a life guard to Colonel Codrington, governor of the Leeward Islands, and general on this expedition. The conduct of which forces was much commended in the second Gazette from 16th to 20th October."