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CHAPTER VII.

Governor Knowles's attempt to remove the Seat of Government from Spanish-town to Kingston.-Rebellion of the Negroes in the Year 1760.-Great Droughts of the Year 1764, and from 1768 to 1770.-American War.-French Revolution.-State of St. Domingo.--Maroon War.--Execution of Sas Portas.-Conclusion.

THE island advanced rapidly in improvement, cultivation, and commerce under the auspicious administration of Governor Trelawney, who was succeeded by Governor Knowles in the year 1752. Governor Knowles distinguished himself by proposing a measure, which, at first view, appeared extremely plausible, but which, if adopted, would not, in all probability have been conducive to the true interests of the colony. This was, to remove the seat of government from Spanishtown to Kingston. The reasons assigned for this proposal, were, that Kingston being the centre of the commerce of the colony, and the chief place of communication with the mother country, it would facilitate the dispatch of business, if the courts of justice, and the seat of government were established in the same place. But to this, the members of the house of assembly, with great truth, objected, that Spanish-town had for more than two centuries, been considered the most eligible spot for the administration of the affairs of the island; that, being a place of comparative retirement, it was better fitted for the purpose of cool deliberation, than Kingston; that their removal to a populous town would not only render their

attendance on the house of assembly more expensive, but would introduce a taste for luxury, and a vain desire of distinction, which would be destructive of the morals of the members, and might eventually become the causes of their corruption; and that Kingston, being, from its populousness and situation, more unhealthful than Spanish-town, they might often be prevented by disease, or a fear of being exposed to it, from an attendance on their duty, These reasons, besides others equally forcible, were urged with great earnestness by the planters, and the governor was necessitated to abandon the

measure.

No event, deserving our particular attention, happened during the administration of Governor Knowles. The happiest state of society, as well as of individuals, is that which furnishes the fewest materials to the historian. A gentle, unruffled progress down the current of life, being exposed to no danger, excites little exertion; and, incapable of rousing our affections, neither affords lessons of wisdom, nor makes us anxious to acquire them. Jamaica, exposed to no danger from foreign enemies, had ample leisure to attend to the peaceful occupations of cultivation and trade, while the wealth and increasing commerce of the mother country, raised the value of, and augmented the demand for, her commodities. Governor Knowles was succeeded by Henry Moore, who was appointed lieutenant-governor in the year 1756.

During the administration of Governor Moore, an alarming insurrection of the Negroes happened in the year 1760. It was instigated and planned by one Tacky, a Coromantine Negro, who had been a chief in Guinea. He had been only a short time before, sold, along with about a hundred of his countrymen, to a planter in the parish of St. Mary. Tacky appointed Easter Monday as being the time when he was most likely to

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find the white inhabitants unprepared. At one o'clock in the morning, ninety of them met at a place of rendezvous, on Trinity estate, belonging to Zachary Bailey, and marched with great celerity and secresy to Port Maria, where they killed the centinel, and seized four barrels of powder, a keg of musket-bullets, and all the small arms which the fort contained. They were now joined by a considerable number of their countrymen, and Tacky, with another leader called Jamaica, at their head, marched back to Ballard's Valley, adjoining to the estate which they had lately left. Here they arrived at four o'clock in the morning, killed the overseer of the estate, and three other white men. They then proceeded to Esher, where they also killed the overseer, and four other white persons; after which, they marched to Whitehall, Haywood-hall, and other estates, where they set fire to several cane-pieces, and destroyed all the white inhabitants they could find. Before eleven o'clock of the forenoon, the insurgents had killed between thirty and forty white persons and mulattoes, murdering indiscriminately all that they met with, not sparing, it is said, even infants at their mother's breasts. But it is worthy of remark, and it is but justice to even these barbarous savages to relate, that while they were ferociously murdering white persons within their reach, they suffered Abraham Fletcher to pass through them unmolested. He was a man, singularly benevolent, and ever displayed towards the Negroes, the most exemplary kindness and humanity. The rebels, though strangers, had heard his character; and from gratitude, a principle which is strongly impressed upon the minds of the most ferocious and unjust, and from that respect to a virtuous conduct, which is implanted in the breasts of all men, spared his life;at a time too, when they considered the destruction of the whites, as essential to their own safety!

They halted at Haywood-hall, where they roasted an ox by the flames of the buildings, and while engaged in this occupation, they were attacked by about one hundred and thirty white persons and trusty Negroes. Eight of the insurgents were killed, a considerable number were taken prisoners, and the rest retreated to the woods, where they acted on the defensive. On the Thursday following, they were also attacked by a party of the Maroons, who had displayed the most ardent loyalty; but they, being much inferior in numbers, were obliged to retreat. On this occasion, young Cudjoe, son of the Maroon chief, was killed, and Tacky, the rebel chief, was wounded. They were, a few days afterwards, again attacked by a party of whites, who came up with them at a valley in the woods, where Tacky and Jamaica, with nearly the whole of their followers, were killed. This prompt and fortunate suppression of the rebellion, prevented a more general carnage of the white inhabitants, as it was afterwards ascertained, that the conspiracy was general among the Coromantine Negroes throughout the island.

In order to strike terror into the Negroes, it was, on this occasion, thought prudent to make a terrible example of some of the insurgents. Of three of them, who had been concerned in the murders committed at Ballard's Valley, one was condemned to be burnt, and the other two to be hung up alive in irons, and left to perish with hunger in that dreadful situation. The wretch condemned to be burnt, was made to sit on the ground, and his body being chained on an iron stake, the fire was applied to his feet. He never uttered a groan, but saw, with the most perfect composure, his lower extremities reduced to ashes; after which, one of his arms having been accidentally loosened, he snatched a brand from the fire that was consuming him, and flung it in the face of his executioner.

The other two unhappy wretches were suspended on a gibbet, erected on the parade in Kingston. They were indulged very improperly with a hearty meal, before they were hung up. They never uttered the least complaint, except that of being cold during the night. They often conversed freely with their countrymen; and on the seventh day from the time of their suspension, so far were they from being exhausted, or making any sorrowful complaints, that they laughed immoderately at something that occurred. The next morning, one of them silently expired; and on the ninth day, the other died without a groan. These examples had, no doubt, their intended effect, and struck terror into the breasts of their ferocious countrymen.

Though Jamaica was doubtless a sufferer in consequence of the numerous wars in which England has been engaged, yet it does not appear to be within our province, whilst narrating the affairs of the colony, to give a particular account of the rise, progress, and consequences of these wars. Such narrations are with propriety confined to the history of the mother country. The injury which this colony sustained, has consisted rather in that stagnation of trade, and a consequently decreased demand for its produce, which war never fails to effect, than in any direct losses or attacks, to which it has been exposed. But even these consequences have been sufficient to retard the prosperity of the colony, and have often put a stop to its rapid progress in the career of civilization. England was again at war with France and Spain, and the new world was the great theatre, on which the warlike exploits of both parties were chiefly performed. But for reasons just mentioned, it must be evident, that this is not the place proper for the narration of them.

The insecurity of the property and of the happiness of the

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