Nathaniel Bacon

January 2, 1647, Suffolk County, England, Elizabeth Brooke gave birth to Nathaniel Bacon. Though Nathaniel had his father, Thomas Bacon, in his life, he spent a lot of time with his tutor, John Ray. Mr. Ray described Nathaniel in a way that only someone that has spent a lot of time with him could do. Ray describes Nathaniel as a youngster of: "very good parts, and a quick wit, but impatient of labor, and indeed his temper will not admit long study."

Nathaniel, like most during that time period, met that special someone. This special someone was Elizabeth Duke, daughter of Sir Edward Duke of Benhall. Though Nathaniel expressed his love for Elizabeth, Sir Edward was not pleased. When it became clear that they aspired to be married, Sir Edward became so enraged that he cut her out of his will and repudiated his relationship he had with his daughter. Nonetheless, the couple decided to marry despite her father's wishes and had one child together. But once again Nathaniel ran into trouble. After becoming involved in a scheme, his father booked him a one-way ticket to the next tobacco ship to Virginia.

Soon after settling in Virginia, Bacon was granted a position on the governor's council. The governor, Governor Sir William Berkeley, was in fact Nathaniel's cousin by marriage. With his new job and new life, Nathaniel Bacon still would run into trouble. Virginia provided homes to some English colonists, as well as some Indian tribes. While there were some that were kind and cordial, there were those that were unfriendly and antagonistic. Bacon, who now owned a plantation, joined with others who shared the same point of view that "no Indian had any rights that an Englishman need respect." Governor Berkeley was dragged into this erupting battle, for he was accused of being in favor with the Indians. This quarrel erupted into what is now known as Bacon's Rebellion. This became a rapidly changing, repetitive situation where one side would have the advantage and the other side wouldn't, and vice versa. The main problem was that Bacon and his men were attacking peaceful Indian tribes. And the effect of this resulted in retaliation from the Indian tribes. The Susquehannocks for instance attacked several plantations, and killed many employees, because they were assaulted prior to their retaliation.

Even though Bacon was murdering peaceful Indians he was still addressed as a hero when he returned from his expeditions. He also wanted permission to have the authority to freely do what he wanted to do with the Indians. After being refused by Berkeley, he and his men surround the legislators. They were later granted the commission. With this power, Bacon published his "Declaration of the People." This was his way of claiming that he was doing what he had to do in order to defend the colony from Indian threat. Once again this "see-saw" battle went back and forth.