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THE STATE
GOVERNORS OF NORTH CAROLINA
No. 19-SIR CHARLES EVERARD
- By W. J. Sadler -
Til
К
administration of
Sir Richard Everard.
tilled nineteenth Gov-
ernor of the Albemarle ami
fifth Governor of North
Carolina, “a* featured by
the surrender by the Lord*
sea
Proprietor* in 1723 of their
interest* in the No* World
colony which they had held
continuously since IMS, or
n few month* Ion sir than
sixty-five years.
The agreement through which the
surrender wa« obtained waa ratified by
an act of the English Parliament, au¬
thorising the payment to the Lords Pro¬
prietor* of sum* reported as ranging
from 9262,600 to 9475,000 in terms of
present-day United States currency.
Historians differ regarding tho amount
involved, one asserting that the smaller
figure was paid, while another records
that the larger expenditure is correct.
Either would have been a splendid
bargain.
A Majority Ruling
Anyway, seven of the eight Lords
Proprietors agreed to nil their rights,
receiving either 937,800 or *125,000
each, with Lord Carteret refusing to
relinquish his rights in the Albemarle at
any price. However, the Parliamentary
legislation deprived him of any voice in
the government of the colony.
Thus it wa. that Sir Richard became
the first Chief Executive to rule over
North Carolina directly under the au¬
thority of the English Crown. He had
been appointed by the Lords Proprie¬
tors in 1725 when emissaries from the
colony had journeyed to England with
stories that George Burrington, Ever-
ard’s predecessor, was plotting a revolt
against the established order of govern¬
ment.
iturrington had made rather a aorry
nvets of governing the Albemarle, and
his violent temper exploded when he
learned that be was to be deposed. Ap-
parently acquainted with the man who
wns named to be hi* successor, he let
loose a final blast of personal tirade,
declaring Everard to be all kinds of a
fool, imbccilo, dolt and jackass.
Sir Charles Everard wasn't an out¬
standing success as the nineteenth
Governor of North Carolina. His
administration was marked by the
sale of the rights in the colony of the
Lords Proprietors to the English
Crown and the establishment of the
North Carolina-Yirginia boundary.
Made Many Enemies
The retiring Governor seemingly was
at least partially correct in his state¬
ments regarding Everard, because one
historical account says that the new ap¬
pointee "had few of Burrington'* good
qualities, and was nearly a* quarrel¬
some. It was not long before he too had
raised a host of cncmica’’
One of Everard’* acts which infuri¬
ated the settlers occurred a few months
after he had assumed the olive.- of Gov¬
ernor. He forbade the State Assembly,
chosen in a regular elect ion some time
previously, to hold its annual sewion.
The Assembly did meet, however, but,
apparently not caring further to muddy
the political waters, transacted no busi¬
ness and adjourned with an agreement
to gather again in the near future.
The second session actually did take
place, hut Ivyond adopting resolutions
condemning Everard for his dictatorial
tactics, little business was transacted.
The Assembly’s strong word* of censure
further angered the Governor and he
remained adamant in bis attitude to¬
wards that body, continuing to rule the
colony with an iron hand.
Boundary Line Fixed
Another event of importance occurred
during Everard’» administration. That
was the definite establishment of the
boundary line between North Carolina
and Virginia, a question which had been
the subject of much controversy for al¬
most a generation. This occurred in
1727, about two years after Sir Richard
first had occupied the gubernatorial
chair, and was a source of much grntifi-
eation to many of the more intelligent
and prominent colonists.
Thnt achievement, how¬
ever. did not enhance Ever-
ard’s popularity, complaints
being made to the Lord*
Proprietors that "great evils
were apprehended from the
vile administration which
the province was threatened
with from a Governor en¬
tirely influenced by a few
persons of the most irreligi¬
ous and immoral character.”
It must have been about then that the
Ltd' Proprietors Started negotiations
to rid themtelvc* of the possession* in
this state which had been the source of
so much annoyance and dissatisfaction
because of the apparent inability of the
Governors they had selected to get along
with their subjects. It was less than a
year later thnt announcement wa* made
of the ‘ale of their rights to the British
Crown.
Change Wax Welcome
History relate* that the colonists
staged wild celebration* of joy when
they learned that they no longer were
to lie under the dominion of the Lord*
Proprietor*. Mostly farmers, their lots
had been hard one» for almost three-
quarters of
я
century, and any change
in government wa* looked upon as a po¬
tential boost to their fortune*.
Everard remained in office for a year
and n half after the change in owner¬
ship of the colony, but all during that
time his enemies were plot! ing bis down¬
fall. Reverting their attitude towards
Burrington, who still reside! in the
region of the Gape Fear, settlers signed
petitions asserting that he bad been
dreadfully maligned nnd urging his re-
Spointment to the Governorship. They
irged Everard with being guilty of
all manner of misconduct in office, de¬
claring him unfit to continue ns Gov¬
ernor.
Burrington Again Governor
Meanwhile, Burrington had jour¬
neyed to England to lay his case before
the authorities, and that pcr*onal ap¬
pearance, together with the favorable
petitions, resulted in hi* selection in
1720 for a second term as Governor of
North Carolina.