Have you heard of Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676? Some people have and some people have no clue about the Rebellion conducted in the Jamestown area of Virginia. Have you heard of Captain John Francis Clement? No? he is my 9th Grand Father on the Vest and Baker side of my family.
John Clement came to the US from England with his Father, Jeremiah Clements before 1662 and moved to the Surry, Virginia and Jamestown area.
The Bacon Rebellion is named after Nathaniel Bacon and the reason for the rebellion is questionable today. Nathaniel came from England and lived in Jamestown near his cousin Governor Sir William Berkeley, who gave his cousin a seat in the House of Burgess.
In mid 1676, the tobacco farmers indentured servants and others higher in the community were becoming upset about the trade value of tobacco, local Native American Indian issues and a power struggle was going on with the egos of the two cousins.
Tobacco was a commodity and with other colonies like Maryland selling to the English, the colonists were not making as much money. The English government refused to let the colonist sell the Dutch or the French and the prices were getting pinched for the farmers. In Virginia, the people approached the Governor about selling furs and trying other avenues to make money. The fur trading idea was not approved and the war began.
Somewhere between 300 to 1,000 people started attacking the Indians and creating problems for the Governor Berkeley and the community. John Clement joined Bacon and his group of the outlaw farmers and quickly became one of the Captains of the small army. He and four other Captains captured Major Allen’s Grand Home in Surry, Virginia, called Bacon’s castle which was occupied for three months during the conflict.
Link to pictures and story of Bacon’s Castle
The group captured and burned Jamestown after running the Governor out of the area. The English dispatched their army to come to Virginia and put down the first rebellion in the new colonies but before they could arrive, Nathaniel died and the group lost control in early 1677. A very short but destructive conflict that impacted the community and the Native Americans greatly.
John Clement had to pay for his actions and the cost was 10,000 pounds and this cost saved his life. Many others could not afford to make payments for crimes committed and suffered capital punishment from the English.
Governor Berkeley was sent home in disgrace and Jamestown had suffered a great loss. For more about the rebellion, check out the following links
More information about the rebellion
John Clements relationship to me is through the Vest family through my Grand Mother Alta Mae Baker
- Alta Mae Baker
- George William Baker
- George Washington Baker
- Obed Baker
- John Baker who married Sarah Appling
- Sarah Appling’s father was Joel Appling
- Thomas Appling Jr
- Thomas Appling Sr who married Mary Clements
- Mary Clements father was William Clements
- Captain John Clements
John Clements died in 1710 in Surry, Virginia.
Originally posted 2018-04-08 17:12:01.
This is most interesting. I’m researching my ancestor Jesse Clements Houchins/Houchens (1825-1890) and eagerly read whatever info I’m finding with “Clement/s”. I appreciate your research, and your willingness to share what you’ve discovered. Thank you.