Sir Richard Everard, 4th Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard Everard, 4th Baronet
(c. 1683-17 February 1733) was the last Governor of North Carolina under proprietary rule, serving in that capacity from 1725 to 1731.
The previous governor, George Burrington
, had been removed from office in 1725 by the Lords Proprietors, following many complaints by colonists about his behavior (Burrington was known principally for physically threatening other North Carolina
officials).
Everard petitioned for the position, was granted it, and sailed for America. He was sworn in on 17 July 1725 as "governor, captain general, admiral, and commander-in-chief of the colony." In November of that year, Everard terminated (prorogued) the session of the Assembly
of the Province
, but refused to explain his reasons. The assembly then declared their prorogation was illegal and an infringement upon liberty, notifying the Lords Proprietors. They deplored the loss of ex-governor Burrington and expressed concern at the prospect "of so vile an administration". Everard then involved himself in disputes over the character of Rev. Thomas Bailey, who had defended Burrington.
Burrington, who had remained in the colony, nearly came to blows with Everard on 15 November 1725, asking Everard's servants, "Are all you country men such fools as Sir Richard Everard? He is a noodle, an ape...not more fit to be a governor than a hog in the woods."
Burrington again sought out Everard at his home on 2 December 1725, but was refused admittance. "Come out," demanded Burrington, "I want satisfaction of you for saying you would send me to England in irons. Therefore come out and give it me, you Everard, you a Knight, you a Baronet, you a Governor. You are a Sancho Panza
, and I'll take care of you, numbskull head." (This episode led to procedures at law in which several depositions were taken.)
The Assembly, meeting again in April, 1726, issued a catalogue of grievances, and was promptly prorogued once more by Everard.
Everard also had belligerent episodes with Edmund Porter, Dr. George Allen, and John Lovick. Everard's enemies in England maintained that he was "too much given to intoxication", though the Provincial Council, asked to voice its opinion on the matter, stated that Everard had never been publicly drunk.
Everard's sole accomplishment in office was the settlement of North Carolina's border with Virginia
, which had long been disputed.
Everard had married Susannah Kidder in December 1705. She had four children with Everard. Two sons, Richard and Hugh, succeeded serially to the baronetcy
following his death, but both died without male heirs, and the baronet
cy then became extinct. Everard's daughter Anne married George Lathbury, about whom nothing more is known. His daughter Susannah married David Meade, of Nansemond Co., Virginia, and they became the parents of (among others) Lt.-Col. Richard Kidder Meade, who was aide-de-camp to General George Washington
in the American Revolution
and who superintended the execution of Major John André
.
Everard's rule was even more unpopular than Burrington's had been, and his "pack of rude children who gave offence daily" were a particular sore spot. The Provincial Council complained that Everard had set up a sort of Inquisition
in which the servants of the gentry were questioned under oath about whether their masters had made private disrespectful remarks about the Governor.
The Lords Proprietors sold the province to the Crown in 1729, and the Crown appointed Burrington as Governor. Everard stayed in office for two more years, until Burrington had qualified. He then retired to London in 1731. Everard died two years later and was buried at Much Waltham, Essex
.
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
(c. 1683-17 February 1733) was the last Governor of North Carolina under proprietary rule, serving in that capacity from 1725 to 1731.
The previous governor, George Burrington
George Burrington
George Burrington was the governor of the Province of North Carolina, from January 1724 to April 1725, and again from February 1731 to 1734....
, had been removed from office in 1725 by the Lords Proprietors, following many complaints by colonists about his behavior (Burrington was known principally for physically threatening other North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
officials).
Everard petitioned for the position, was granted it, and sailed for America. He was sworn in on 17 July 1725 as "governor, captain general, admiral, and commander-in-chief of the colony." In November of that year, Everard terminated (prorogued) the session of the Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
of the Province
Province of North Carolina
The Province of North Carolina was originally part of the Province of Carolina in British America, which was chartered by eight Lords Proprietor. The province later became the U.S. states of North Carolina and Tennessee....
, but refused to explain his reasons. The assembly then declared their prorogation was illegal and an infringement upon liberty, notifying the Lords Proprietors. They deplored the loss of ex-governor Burrington and expressed concern at the prospect "of so vile an administration". Everard then involved himself in disputes over the character of Rev. Thomas Bailey, who had defended Burrington.
Burrington, who had remained in the colony, nearly came to blows with Everard on 15 November 1725, asking Everard's servants, "Are all you country men such fools as Sir Richard Everard? He is a noodle, an ape...not more fit to be a governor than a hog in the woods."
Burrington again sought out Everard at his home on 2 December 1725, but was refused admittance. "Come out," demanded Burrington, "I want satisfaction of you for saying you would send me to England in irons. Therefore come out and give it me, you Everard, you a Knight, you a Baronet, you a Governor. You are a Sancho Panza
Sancho Panza
Sancho Panza is a fictional character in the novel Don Quixote written by Spanish author Don Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in 1605. Sancho acts as squire to Don Quixote, and provides comments throughout the novel, known as sanchismos, that are a combination of broad humour, ironic Spanish proverbs,...
, and I'll take care of you, numbskull head." (This episode led to procedures at law in which several depositions were taken.)
The Assembly, meeting again in April, 1726, issued a catalogue of grievances, and was promptly prorogued once more by Everard.
Everard also had belligerent episodes with Edmund Porter, Dr. George Allen, and John Lovick. Everard's enemies in England maintained that he was "too much given to intoxication", though the Provincial Council, asked to voice its opinion on the matter, stated that Everard had never been publicly drunk.
Everard's sole accomplishment in office was the settlement of North Carolina's border with Virginia
Virginia
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...
, which had long been disputed.
Everard had married Susannah Kidder in December 1705. She had four children with Everard. Two sons, Richard and Hugh, succeeded serially to the baronetcy
Everard Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Everard, one in the Baronetage of Ireland, one in the Baronetage of England and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Only one creation is extant as of 2010....
following his death, but both died without male heirs, and the baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
cy then became extinct. Everard's daughter Anne married George Lathbury, about whom nothing more is known. His daughter Susannah married David Meade, of Nansemond Co., Virginia, and they became the parents of (among others) Lt.-Col. Richard Kidder Meade, who was aide-de-camp to General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and who superintended the execution of Major John André
John André
John André was a British army officer hanged as a spy during the American War of Independence. This was due to an incident in which he attempted to assist Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York to the British.-Early life:André was born on May 2, 1750 in London to...
.
Everard's rule was even more unpopular than Burrington's had been, and his "pack of rude children who gave offence daily" were a particular sore spot. The Provincial Council complained that Everard had set up a sort of Inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
in which the servants of the gentry were questioned under oath about whether their masters had made private disrespectful remarks about the Governor.
The Lords Proprietors sold the province to the Crown in 1729, and the Crown appointed Burrington as Governor. Everard stayed in office for two more years, until Burrington had qualified. He then retired to London in 1731. Everard died two years later and was buried at Much Waltham, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
.