Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

William Blathwayt Papers, Manuscript #MS 1946.2, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Acquisition Information

Gift, 1946

Biographical Information

British colonial official, Secretary of the Lords of Trade and Plantations (1679-1710).

Scope and Content

Papers consist chiefly of letters written to Blathwayt by colonial governors and others. Includes some drafts of letters by Blathwayt. Subjects include French and Indian troubles, military defense, illegal trade, the Navigation Acts, charter of Massachusetts, piracy in the Caribbean, Virginia tobacco trade, wars in Jamaica, the slave question in the Leeward Islands, troubles between governors and the assembly in Bermuda. Included is a copy of "The Declaration of the People Against Sir Wm. Berkeley..." (1676) by Nathaniel Bacon, Jr.; and an original draft of the Charter of Pennsylvania (1681).

Arrangement

The items are arranged chronologically.

Index Terms

Persons:

• Bacon, Nathaniel, 1648-1676
• Bacon, Nathaniel, ca. 1620-1692
• Baltimore, Charles Calvert, Baron, 1699-1751
• Banister, John, 1650-1692
• Beeston, William, Sir, b. 1636
• Bellomont, Richard Coote, Earl of, 1636-1701
• Beverley, Robert, ca. 1673-1722
• Blair, James, 1656-1743
• Blathwayt, William, 1649?-1717
• Brattle, William, 1662-1717
• Byrd, William, 1652-1704
• Byrd, William, 1674-1744
• Chicheley, Henry, Sir, 1615-1683
• Codrington, Christopher, 1640-1698
• Codrington, Christopher, 1668-1710
• Cony, Richard
• Copley, Lionel, 1648-1693
• Cranfield, Edward
• Cranston, Abraham
• Culpeper, Thomas, Sir, 1626-1697
• Digges, Dudley, 1655-1710
• Dudley, Joseph, 1647-1720
• Fletcher, Benjamin, 1640-1703
• Hinckley, Thomas, ca. 1618-1706
• Howard of Effingham, Francis Howard, Baron, 1643-1695
• Jenings, Edmund, 1659-1727
• Leisler, Jacob, d. 1691
• Limerick, Thomas Dongan, Earl of, 1634-1715
• Ludwell, Philip, 1672-1727
• Lynch, Thomas, Sir, d. 1684
• Mather, Increase, 1639-1723
• Molesworth, Hender
• Morgan, Henry, Sir, 1635?-1688
• Nicholson, Francis, 1655-1728
• Page, John, d. 1710
• Penn, William, 1644-1718
• Pepys, Samuel, 1633-1703
• Phips, William, Sir, 1651-1695
• Plater, George
• Randolph, Edward, ca. 1632-1703
• Ritchier, Isaac
• Robinson, Robert
• Spencer, Nicholas, d. 1689
• Spotswood, Alexander, 1676-1740
• Stapleton, William, Sir
• Stoughton, William, 1632-1701
• Van Cortlandt, Stephanus, 1643-1700
• Watson, Francis, Sir
• Wharton, Richard
• Wormeley, Ralph, 1650-1701

Subjects:

• Bacon's Rebellion, 1676
• Slavery, Leeward Islands (West Indies), History, 17th century

Geographical Names:

• Bermuda Island (Bermuda Islands), History, 17th century
• Bermuda Island (Bermuda Islands), Politics and government, 17th century
• Jamaica, History, To 1962
• Jamaica, Politics and government
• Pennsylvania, History, Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
• United States, History, Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
• United States, Politics and government, To 1775