University of Virginia Library

---

136

XLV.

SIR FRANCIS NICHOLSON.

XLV. Lieutenant-Governor.

XLV. December 9, 1698, to August 15, 1705.

Sir Francis Nicholson, having served a term as Governor
of Maryland, was for a second time appointed to the
administration of affairs in Virginia. One of his earliest
measures was to remove the seat of government from Jamestown
to "Middle Plantation," afterwards called, "Williamsburg."
An instructive provision in Act II. of his first Assembly,
April 27, 1699, reads as follows: "If any money, meat,
drink, or provision be given or promised to a voter, in order to
be elected, the election declared void." The XIV. Act of this
same Assembly was "directing the building the Capitoll and
the City of Williamsburg." Governor Nicholson did much
to encourage the immigration of settlers. They had a certain
quantity of land allotted to them, were to be exempt from
taxes or levies for twenty years, and from military service
except in their own defense. But in the midst of his plans
for the benefit of the Colony he became involved unpleasantly
with the clergy, and upon their complaint he was recalled to
England, and was succeeded August 15, 1705, by Edward
Nott. After this, Nicholson saw some military service; was
Governor of Nova Scotia for five years, was knighted, and
served as Governor of South Carolina from 1721 to 1725.
On his return to England he was made Lieutenant-General.
He died in London, March 5, 1728, and his career may be
said to have been a distinguished one.

During Governor Nicholson's administration in Virginia,
King William III. of England died, in his 52d year, and was
succeeded by Anne, Princess of Denmark, daughter of James
II.

---

THE HEART OF THE REBELLION,

Old Capitol, Williamsburg, Va.

---