William Scarborough, Baconian rebel

Exactly where this character fits into the Scarborough family tree is highly unclear. He is said to have been the first cousin of Sir Charles Scarborough, who was the son of Capt. Edmund Scarborough (Sr. or I) - and therefore William was the son [or grandson, which would make him a first cousin once removed] of one of the Captain's brothers (he had several).

The situation has not been helped by mismerges that made a horrendous tangle of his section of the tree. NEITHER HAS IT BEEN HELPED BY MALICIOUS VANDALISM.

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William married a fairly well to do woman named Naomi "Amy" Davis Holdsworth. This was her second marriage, her previous marriage was to Walter Holdsworth (spelling is varied for "Holdsworth"). [That first marriage must have been quite short-lived, as she was born in 1640 and having children by Scarborough by 1662.]

William's family settled in Surry County, Virginia. William was an active adherent of Bacon in his rebellion in Virginia. Triggered by grievances against the Royal Governor, Bacon and his followers took matters into their own hands and fought against marauding indians in Virginia since the Royal Governor did not want to take that step. Bacon eventually forced the Governor to call a general assembly to grant political reforms as well. The governor labeled Bacon a rebel. A casualty of the escalating conflict between Bacon and Royal Governor Berkeley was the burning of the Jamestown settlement on September 19, 1676. Due to illness, Bacon died on October 26, 1676 which ended the rebellion.

Royal Commissioners were appointed by King Charles to investigate the grievances that led to the rebellion. [It is possible that William's cousin, Sir Charles Scarborough, may have influenced King Charles' action.] Governor Berkeley was still in power but stubbornly refused to receive the Commissioners at his mansion at Green Springs. The Commissioners had brought pardons from the King for the rebels, but the Governor carried on his series of trials and executions. On March 16, 1677, William Scarborough was summarily convicted of treason and hanged. Shortly afterwards, the Governor was recalled to England.

William Scarborough was born circa 1630 at North Walsham, Norfolk, England.1 He married Amy (Naomi) Davis circa 1665 at Surry, VA.1 William Scarborough died on 6 March 1677 at Surry, VA; Executed by order of Governor Berkeley for taking part in Bacon's Rebellion