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About George Archer, lV
George Archer IV took a different path in life than his father and grandfather. He sought the life of adventure through foreign conquest. In 1739 the British embarked on a war to remove some of the Spanish naval bases in the Caribbean and Central and South America, including Havana, Cuba; Cartagena, Colombia and Portobelo, Panama. The ostensible reason for the war was the attack of a Spanish privateer on an honorable British captain, Robert Jenkins, that ended with the Spaniard cutting off the ear of the Brit. The war was then, and since, called the “War of Jenkins’ Ear”.
Though principally a collection of naval engagements, the point of the various battles was to occupy the Spanish settlements. These bases were key to defending the Spanish territories in the Americas. Once they were in the hands of the British, Britain would be able to take the territories for herself. To take and hold these settlements, the British needed troops. The closest source for these troops was the British colonies in North America. So, they recruited adventurers from Virginia with promises of “mountains of gold” in the Spanish territories.
George Archer IV decided to try his luck in the soldiering line. Since he never expected to return, he started selling his lands prior to departure. Before he sold much, his uncle William, son of his grandfather, George II, convinced George IV to sell the land to him. That way, George could buy them back if he returned. George then left with the British.
Unfortunately, the war was not as successful as everyone (other than the Spanish) had hoped. Though the British had early luck and conquered Portobelo, Panama, they were not so fortunate in other battles. Before the War of Jenkins’ Ear merged into a wider war call the “War of the Austrian Succession”, the British had attacked Cuba and Cartagena. In Cartagena, the Spanish commander was able to hold the British off long enough for the summer heat and tropical diseases to reduce their forces to a useless number.
It is uncertain in which portions of the war George fought. After the war it seems that he also spent several years in prison (undoubtedly presumed dead). However, he eventually returned to Virginia empty-handed. Given the number of people who died in conflict, this was actually one of the better possible results.
For unexplained reasons, he wasn’t able to buy his land back for Uncle William. Actually, over the next several years, it seems he sold most of the rest of his land. Somehow or another, he got tied up in several legal situations. He was receiving subpoenas for years after returning.
By the time George died around 1757, most of his land was gone. At some point, his wife, Rachel, even had to relinquish her dower rights to some of the land. This would explain why his son George headed for North Carolina to settle in a different colony.
- Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Apr 24 2017, 20:29:44 UTC
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George Archer, lV's Timeline
| 1703 |
1703
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Virginia, United States
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| 1748 |
1748
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Henrico or, Chesterfield County, Virginia
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| 1757 |
1757
Age 54
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