Governor Effingham Reveals a Planned Insurrection
by Slaves
October 24, 1687
His Excellency
was pleased this day in Councell to acquaint the Councell that he had even then
reced from Mr Secretary Spencer Intelligence of the Discovery of a Negro Plott,
formed in the Northern Neck for the Distroying and killing his Majties Subjects
the Inhabitants thereof, with a designe of Carrying it through the whole Collony
of Virga which being by Gods Providence timely discovered before any part of the
designes were put in Execution, and thereby their whole Evill purposes for the
present defeated, and Mr Secretary Spencer haveing by his Care Secured some of
the Principall Actors & Contrivers, and the Evill & fatall Consequences
that might have hapned, being by this Board Seriously considered, Have found fit
to Order that the Negro Conspirators now in Custody be either safely Secured untill
the next Genll Court, to the Intent they may then be proceeded against according
to Law, or if it be found more Necessary for the present Safety of the Country
that they be brought to a Speedy Tryall, that then his Excellcy will be pleased
to direct a Commission to Mr Secretary Spencer, Col Rich: Lee, and Coll: Isaac
Allerton three of this Majties Councell Inhabitants in the Northern Neck to Sitt
heare and try according to Law the Negro Conspirators, and to proceed to Sentence
of Condemnacon & Execucon, or to Such other punishmts as according to Law
they shall be found Guilty off, by such examples of Justice to deterr other Negroes
from plotting or Contriveing either the Death wrongs or Injuries of any of this
Majties Subjects. And this Board having Considered that the great freedome and
Liberty that has beene by many masters given to their Negro Slaves for Walking
on Broad on Saterdays and Sundays and permitting them to meete in great Numbers
in Making and holding Funeralls for Dead Negroes gives them the Opportunityes
under pretention of such publique meetings to Consult and advise for the Carrying
on of their Evill & wicked purposes & Contrivances, for prevention whereof
for the future, It is by this Board thought fitt that a Proclamacon doe forthwith
Issue, requiring a Strickt observance of Severall Laws of this Collony relateing
to Negroes, and to require and Comand all Masters of families having any Negro
Slaves, not to permitt them to hold or make any Solemnity or Funeralls for any
deced Negros.