Bacon's Rebellion

     The news of the uprising in Virginia reached England in
September, 1676, and immediately steps were taken to meet
the emergency. At first, the plans of the British authorities
went no further than the recall of Berkeley, and the appoint-
ment of a successor with power to exercise martial law and
grant pardons. But soon it became evident that a special
commission must be sent over to settle the affairs of the
colony; and as disturbing rumors of the extent of the rebellion
continued to come in, the decision was reached to send over
also a body of English troops. The members of the commis-
sion, as finally made up, were Captain Sir John Berry, in charge
of the fleet, Colonel Herbert Jeffreys, in command of the
troops, with a commission to succeed Berkeley as governor,
and Francis Moryson, a former acting governor of the colony
and at this time its agent in England.

      Captain Sir John Berry (1635-1690) was a Devonshire
man who went to sea early in the merchant service, and in
1663 entered the navy. He served in the West Indies, 1665-
1668; in the Mediterranean against the Barbary pirates,
1668-1671; he was knighted in 1672, and rose to the rank
of vice-admiral in 1683. Later he became one of the Navy
Commissioners.

      Colonel Herbert Jeff'reys was a relative of Alderman John
Jeffreys, of Bread Street Ward, London. The alderman was
a friend of Sir Joseph Williamson, secretary of state, and,
though not a relative, had aided young George Jefreys, later
the chief justice and chancellor, when a struggling barrister
in London. As the Duke of Monmouth was at this time
captain- general of the forces, it is quite possible that Herbert

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