Augustine Warner

Background

Warner was born June 3, 1642. He was the only son of Augustine Warner, who in 1628 had settled in the Virginia Colony and by 1642 patented the plantation called "Austin"s Desire" in Gloucester County, building Warner Hall on the property.

Education

The younger Warner went to London in 1658 and attended the Merchant Taylors" School.

Career

He served in the House of Burgesses 1666-1677 and was its Speaker in two separate sessions in 1676 and 1677, before and after He then served on the Governor"s Council from about October 1677 until his death. Warner is the last common ancestor of George Washington and Queen Elizabeth World War II The elder Warner served on the Council from 1659 until his death in 1674. They settled on a farm in Gloucester County, living there until he inherited Warner Hall in 1674.

In March 1676 the General Assembly called by Governor Sir William Berkeley in 1661 held its last session.

Warner was elected Speaker, replacing Robert Wynne, who died the previous year. On May 10, as the Nathaniel Bacon crisis was building, Berkeley dissolved the House of Burgesses and called new elections.

lieutenant is not known if Warner served in the new House that met in June. Fighting began in late July.

Warner remained loyal to Berkeley, joining his forces.

Bacon captured Jamestown and burned it on September 19, then crossed the York River and seized Warner Hall. Bacon died in October, but the rebellion continued until early January 1677. Warner served on a court-martial headed by Berkeley on January 11, 1677.

Berkeley called for elections, and Warner was elected Speaker of the new House when it convened in February.

The Assembly met until early April. lieutenant revoked all acts of the June 1676 Assembly, and then reenacted some.

In late September – early October 1677 Warner was appointed to the Council. Although he was aligned with the "Green Spring faction" of Berkeley loyalists after Berkeley"s removal as governor, he was not removed from the Council, unlike such diehards as Philip Ludwell and Thomas Ballard.

Byrd claimed in his defense that he was Bacon"s captive, not his supporter, and was not responsible.

Warner died June 19, 1681, and was interred at Warner Hall.

Connections

ally:

William Byrd I