ORIGIN OF THE APPELLATION "OLD DOMINION."[1]
There is in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society, a coin of the following
description: on one side is a head, and the words "Georgius III. Rex.;" on the
other side is a shield, on which are quartered the arms of England, Scotland, Ireland,
and Virginia. The whole surmounted by a crown, and encircled with the word, "Virginia,
1773."
A similar coin was dug up a few years since, and the following statement was published
with the description of it: During the usurpation of Cromwell, the colony of Virginia
refused to acknowledge his authority, and declared itself independent. Shortly
after, finding that Cromwell threatened to send a fleet and an army to reduce Virginia
to subjection, and fearing the ability of this feeble state to withstand this force, she
sent, in a small ship, a messenger to Charles II., then an exile in Breda, Flanders.
Charles accepted the invitation to come over, and be king of Virginia, and was on the
eve of embarking when he was recalled to the throne of England. As soon as he was
restored to the crown of England, in gratitude for the loyalty of Virginia, he caused her
coat of arms to be quartered with those of England, Scotland, and Ireland, as an independent
member of the empire.
The above coin is clearly confirmatory of these facts. Hence the origin of the phrase
"Old Dominion," frequently applied to Virginia.
History does not confirm all these statements, though it establishes some, and sufficiently
discloses, in the conduct of Virginia during the Protectorate of Cromwell, a cause
for the origin of the name Old Dominion, frequently applied to Virginia. The facts, as
gathered from a variety of creditable historians, appear to be these:
After the death of king Charles I., and the installation of Oliver Cromwell as Protector,
the colony of Virginia refused to acknowledge his authority; and Parliament having
subdued opposition elsewhere, were not disposed to submit to such a resistance of its
authority by the 20,000 inhabitants of Virginia. It issued an ordinance declaring them
notorious robbers and traitors; prohibited all intercourse with the refractory colonists,
either by the people of England, the inhabitants of the other American settlements, or
with foreign nations; and finally, sent over a fleet, under Sir George Ayscue, to overpower
the provincial royalists, and extinguish the last traces of monarchial authority
that still lingered in extremities of the empire. The commissioners appointed to accompany
this expedition were empowered to try, in the first instance, the efficacy of pardons
and other conciliatory propositions, in reducing the colonists to obedience; but if
their pacific overtures should prove ineffectual, they were then to employ every species
of hostile operations.
From Barbadoes, Captain Ayscue dispatched Capt. Dennis with a small squadron to
the Chesapeake, to land his forces, and drive Sir William Berkeley out of Virginia; for
during the whole preceding struggle of Charles I. and the Parliament, the Virginians
were firm on the side of their king, and enacted a declaration, "that they were born under
a monarchy, and would never degenerate from the condition of their birth, by being
subject to any other government." After the king was beheaded, they acknowledged
the authority of the fugitive prince, and actually continued the provincial government
under a commission which he sent to Sir William Berkeley from his retreat at Breda.
The young prince was not, however, actually invited over to establish a kingdom in
Virginia; though, according to Clarendon, Sir William Berkeley was so assured of the
loyalty of the inhabitants, and so impressed with confidence of ultimate success, that he
wrote to him, "almost inviting him to America!" In these acts consisted the enmity
of the Parliament to the governor; and for this open defiance of its power, Virginia
was to be ravaged by a fleet in her waters, and insidious assassins on her soil. Historians
differ greatly as to the proceedings of Sir William, after the arrival of the fleet
within the Capes of Virginia. Several, as Beverly, (p. 45;) Oldmixon, (i. 375;) Burke,
(European Settlements, ii. 223;) Graham, (i. 99,) have asserted that he made a great
show of resistance, assisted by the Dutch ships in the harbor, and the royalists, who
were a majority of the population.
Bancroft, (i. 223,) citing contemporary authorities of the highest value, says, no
sooner had the Guinea frigate entered within the waters of the Chesapeake, than (quoting
from Clarendon) all thoughts of resistance were laid aside. It marks, continues
Bancroft, the character of the Virginians; that they refused to surrender to force, but
yielded by a voluntary deed and mutual compact." "By the articles of surrender a complete
indemnity was stipulated for all past offences; and the colonists recognising the
authority, were admitted into the bosom of the English commonwealth, and expressly
assured of an equal participation in all the privileges of the free people of England. In
particular, it provided that the Provincial Assembly should retain its wonted functions,
and that the people of Virginia should have as free trade as the people of England to
all places and all nations," and "shall be free from all taxes, customs, and impositions
whatsoever, without the consent of their own Assembly." Berkeley disdained to make
any stipulation for himself, with those whom his principles of loyalty taught him to regard
as usurpers. Without leaving Virginia, he withdrew to a retired situation, where
he continued to reside as a private individual, universally beloved and respected till a
new revolution was to summon him once more to defy the republican forces of England
and restore the ascendancy of royalty in the colony.
This was in March, 1652: and affairs continued much in this state until 1660. In
the mean time, Richard Bennet, Edward Digges, and Samuel Matthews, had been severally
elected by the Burgesses, Governor of Virginia, under allegiance to Oliver Cromwell,
and on his death, 1658, to Richard Cromwell. But in 1660, Gov. Matthews died;
and the people, discontented with some commercial restrictions imposed by the Protectorate,
did not wait for a new commission from England, but elected Sir William Berkeley,
and "by an obliging violence compelled him to accept the government." He, however,
refused to act under the usurpation of the Cromwells, and would not consent, unless they
joined with him in joining their lives and fortunes for the king who was then an exile.
"This," says Beverly, "was their dearest wish, and therefore, with a unanimous
voice, they told him that they were ready to hazard all for the king." Now, this was
actually before the king's return to England, and proceeded from a broad principle of
loyalty for which they had no example. Sir William Berkeley embraced their choice,
and forthwith proclaimed Charles II. king of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Virginia,
and caused all processes to be issued in his name. Thus his majesty was actually
king in Virginia before he was in England. On the restoration of the king he
sent Sir William a new commission, and granted him permission to visit England.
He was received by the monarch with much kindness; and there is recorded a tradition,
that the king, in compliment to that colony, wore at his coronation a robe made of
the silk which was sent from thence. Such is a condensed narration of the causes and
incidents which gave to Virginia the honored title of the "Old Dominion."
