Bacon's Rebellion and Jamestown's Fate

Ann Woodbury Moore

In the summer and early fall of 1676, a young planter named Nathaniel Bacon led a revolt against Virginia's governor, Sir William Berkeley. Although the revolt was short-lived, the incident marked the beginning of the end for Jamestown.

Bacon and his followers were angry with Berkeley for many reasons, including high taxes and a government that favored large plantation owners. But protection from Indian raids was the issue that fueled the rebellion. Bacon and his followers claimed that they were taxed for protection that did not exist, and Bacon demanded the authority to lead a militia against the Indians. After Berkeley angrily denied Bacon's request, the rebellion began.

In the struggles between the two groups, Bacon and his followers took over the House of Burgesses. Berkeley and his supporters, who had fled to Virginia's Eastern Shore, fought back. Control of Jamestown shifted between the groups until Bacon, realizing that he could not defend Jamestown indefinitely, burned it to the ground.

On October 26, Bacon died suddenly of dysentery. By December, the rebellion had collapsed, and most of Bacon's supporters surrendered. Governor Berkeley hanged twenty-three of the rebel leaders. Today historians continue to debate the merit of both Bacon's and Berkeley's actions in the rebellion.

Jamestown never recovered from the chaos. Although the township was rebuilt, its influence gradually diminished. In 1699, after another (accidental) fire, the center of government was moved to Middle Plantation (Williamsburg). The last few families living in Jamestown moved away, and the settlement fell into a peaceful slumber.

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