Edward Hyde (c. 1650-1712)
Encyclopedia
Edward Hyde was the first colonial governor of the separate colony of North Carolina from 1711 until his death in 1712. He governed during a time of great turmoil in the colony, including a revolt by the former governor known as Cary's Rebellion
and a Native American
uprising called the Tuscarora War
.
in England. Hyde, along with his sisters, Anne and Penelope, was raised by his grandmother, since his parents died when he was only three. He entered Oxford University in 1683, but did not complete a degree. In 1692, he married Catherine Rigby, whose family were prominent in Cheshire. Virginian William Byrd
referred to her in his diary as "an abundance of life".
’s provost marshal
. Hyde served in that postion without ever travelling to the Caribbean, but found it not lucrative.
border and the Cape Fear River was officially recognized as North Carolina as early as 1689, that territory and all of what would become South Carolina, was known as the Province of Carolina with the Governor maintaining his residence at Charleston
; a deputy governor was appointed for the Northern part of the province.
When he arrived in Virginia, Hyde discovered that Governor Edward Tynte who had been appointed Governor of the Carolina Colony in 1708, and from whom he was to receive his commission, had died. Hyde proceeded to North Carolina without his commission where he found dissension about to erupt in violence.
There had long been a large population of Quakers in North Carolina and there was growing friction between the Quakers and adherents of the Church of England
who wished to see it established as the official church of the colony by law. Quakers were unable, due to their beliefs, to swear oaths required of all officials on the coronation of Queen Anne.
Cary returned to the region and disputed Glover's right to office claiming support from the Quakers. From 1708 until Hyde's arrival in 1710 there was violence and a disputed Assembly election. Ultimately, Hyde's authority was established when Virginia Governor Alexander Spottswood sent a militia into Carolina. A company of royal marines from the guardships in the Chesapeake Bay arrived to aid Hyde in July 1711. Cary's forces laid down their arms and submitted to Governor Hyde.
was named for Governor Hyde. Hyde and Anne Rigby had a number of children but only one daughter, Anne Hyde survived them. She married George Clarke
who served as acting Governor of New York.
Cary's Rebellion
Cary's Rebellion was a rebellion in early North Carolina sparked by the removal of governor Thomas Cary. He was in charge until another governor arrived from England. Once he arrived, he was removed under the Vestry act of 1703. This called for the removal of Quakers and other non-Church of England...
and a Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
uprising called the Tuscarora War
Tuscarora War
The Tuscarora War was fought in North Carolina during the autumn of 1711 until 11 February 1715 between the British, Dutch, and German settlers and the Tuscarora Native Americans. A treaty was signed in 1715....
.
Early life and family
Hyde was born in 1667 to a prominent family in England and was a cousin of Queen Anne. He was a son of Robert Hyde and his wife Phillis Snyed of CheshireCheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
in England. Hyde, along with his sisters, Anne and Penelope, was raised by his grandmother, since his parents died when he was only three. He entered Oxford University in 1683, but did not complete a degree. In 1692, he married Catherine Rigby, whose family were prominent in Cheshire. Virginian William Byrd
William Byrd II
Colonel William Byrd II was a planter, slave-owner and author from Charles City County, Virginia. He is considered the founder of Richmond, Virginia.-Biography:...
referred to her in his diary as "an abundance of life".
Career in public life
In 1702 Hyde was appointed by Queen Anne as JamaicaJamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
’s provost marshal
Provost Marshal
The Provost Marshal is the officer in the armed forces who is in charge of the military police .There may be a Provost Marshal serving at many levels of the hierarchy and he may also be the public safety officer of a military installation, responsible for the provision of fire, gate security, and...
. Hyde served in that postion without ever travelling to the Caribbean, but found it not lucrative.
Arriving in North Carolina
In 1710, Hyde was appointed Deputy Governor for the Colony of Carolina by the Lords Proprietors of the Carolina colony. Though the territory between the VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
border and the Cape Fear River was officially recognized as North Carolina as early as 1689, that territory and all of what would become South Carolina, was known as the Province of Carolina with the Governor maintaining his residence at Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
; a deputy governor was appointed for the Northern part of the province.
When he arrived in Virginia, Hyde discovered that Governor Edward Tynte who had been appointed Governor of the Carolina Colony in 1708, and from whom he was to receive his commission, had died. Hyde proceeded to North Carolina without his commission where he found dissension about to erupt in violence.
Cary's Rebellion
Thomas Cary was appointed Deputy Governor of Carolina, with responsibility for North Carolina. While he was in the southern portion of the Colony in 1706 - 1708, William Glover as President of the Council was acting Deputy Governor. Meanwhile a petition had been presented to the Lords Proprietors in London by disgruntled Carolina settlers and Cary was ordered removed as Deputy Governor and the Council elected Glover as Deputy Governor.There had long been a large population of Quakers in North Carolina and there was growing friction between the Quakers and adherents of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
who wished to see it established as the official church of the colony by law. Quakers were unable, due to their beliefs, to swear oaths required of all officials on the coronation of Queen Anne.
Cary returned to the region and disputed Glover's right to office claiming support from the Quakers. From 1708 until Hyde's arrival in 1710 there was violence and a disputed Assembly election. Ultimately, Hyde's authority was established when Virginia Governor Alexander Spottswood sent a militia into Carolina. A company of royal marines from the guardships in the Chesapeake Bay arrived to aid Hyde in July 1711. Cary's forces laid down their arms and submitted to Governor Hyde.
Legacy
Hyde County, North CarolinaHyde County, North Carolina
-National protected areas:* Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge * Cape Hatteras National Seashore * Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge* Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge * Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
was named for Governor Hyde. Hyde and Anne Rigby had a number of children but only one daughter, Anne Hyde survived them. She married George Clarke
George Clarke (Governor)
George Clarke was also known as George Clarke of Hyde. He became Secretary of the Province of New York in 1703. Along with his wife, Anne, he purchased land in Hempstead, Long Island, New York, and built an estate called Hyde Park...
who served as acting Governor of New York.