Surrender of Surinam to the Dutch. agreed upon by Colonel William Byam and Commander Crynssens on 16th March 1667, and confirmed by the Treaty of Breda, wherein it was provided that if any of the inhabitants should at any time intend to depart they should have power to do so and sell their estates, but this not having been performed was, by the Treaty of Westminster of February 1673, agreed to be executed. It was not, however, until early in 1675 that the States General issued their orders to Captain Vorsterre, then Governor of Surinam, to conform to this resolution, and King Charles appointed Commissioners to effect the entire execution of the treaty, and to embark on His Majesty's ships the King's subjects and transport them with their slaves, goods, and estates to some of the English colonies (487). We have a complete account of the proceedings of the King's Commissioners in their correspondence, and more particularly in the "Narrative" presented by Edward Cranfield to the Lords Committee for Plantation on 18th May 1676 (683-4). From this it appears that they sailed from the Downs on 6th April 1675, and arrived at Surinam the beginning of the following June. The King's Commissioners then visited in person the several "divisions' to confer with His Majesty's subjects and encourage them to embark. But Governor Vorsterre demurred to allowing the Jews to go, who said his orders were only to let the English go, for he found more Jews would depart than he expected, and feared it might too much weaken the Colony. From a list taken it was found there were but 130 Dutch inhabitants besides the garrison, who, with the merchants in the town, made up about 140 more. Having prepared a list of the passengers and proportioned them to the ships it was found absolutely necessary to employ all to Jamaica. (three) ships. (three) ships. The Commissioners took leave of the Governor on 12th August 1675, and all His Majesty's English inhabitants transported subjects petitioned to be transported to Jamaica without touching elsewhere, no person wishing to go for England or Virginia. After a tedious passage they arrived at Jamaica on 8th September, and His Majesty's letters were delivered to the Governor, who afforded them all the accommodations His Majesty directed (932). A list of the names of the King's subjects and slaves transported in His Majesty's "Hercules," "America," and "Henry and Sarah," from Surinam to Jamaica, show the total to have been 1,231 persons (675 vII.). The list of those of the Hebrew nation willing to go, but hindered by the Dutch Governor of Surinam, comprise 10 persons with 322 slaves (675 v.). The Lords of Trade and Plantations reported to the King on 30th May 1676 that they found, by a particular narrative of Cranfield's proceedings, that he had conveyed from Surinam to Jamaica 250 of His Majesty's subjects, all whites, and 981 slaves; that he had adjusted all differences in accounts, and brought them off as much savers as could be expected, leaving very few or none, unless Jews whose coming away the Governor obstructed; and that this number has been of considerable advantage to Jamaica, so their Lordships "presume to signify that he has in all points discharged himself with "fidelity and success, and to recommend him to His Majesty's favour" (684, 932); the King approved of this report by an Order in Council of 31st January 1677. 66 66 African A list of ships "entertained" by the Royal African Royal Company, and the number of " negroes delivered," and the "negroes ordered" from Christmas 1674 to Christmas 1675 for Barbadoes, Nevis, Jamaica, and Virginia shows a total of 7,025 negroes (512). An account of negroes laden aboard five ships by the agents of the Royal African Company, and sold at Barbadoes between March and June shipped 1676, gives the total number shipped 1,588, and sold 1,372, and sold: Negroes besides 224 (sic) which could not be sold there, and were sent to Nevis, and 200 for Jamaica (1102 1.). In reply to a complaint that they very scantily supplied Barbadoes with negro servants, the Company said (July 1676) that they had been settled little above four years, and in the first two, navigation was obstructed by the Dutch war. The third year the Company most vigorously prosecuted their trade and sent out 15 ships to the coast of Africa, and ordered six of them to Barbadoes with about 2,000 negroes. Last year (1675) they sent 20 ships to Africa, and appointed eight of them with about 3,000 negroes to that island. It was alleged the Company sold their negroes at 20l. and 221. per head, but their books show the price to have been 15l. per head, and that there remained owing to them about 70,000l. This present year the Company have sent ships and intend more (911). The rebellions of negroes in Barbadoes, and more Jamaica and particularly in Jamaica, were a frequent source of Barbadoes. anxiety and of great danger to the inhabitants. "When "the negroes found any English straggling in the woods. price. Rebellion they butchered them with lances," wrote Vice-Admiral Goodson from Jamaica in 1656; and another of Cromwell's officers reported they received opposition from the negroes, who slew about 40 of our soldiers a month since (251-7), so the English soldiers were obliged in self-defence, and for their own safety, to destroy the negro settlements in the Island (335). "The enemy in our bowels, to whom our "lives have been a prey, and many men subjected to "their mercy, the negroes I mean (wrote the Steward "General in Jamaica), are now become our bloodhounds, "and we are daily making depredations on them, and they are in our behalf more violent and fierce against "their fellows than we possibly can be" (345). 66 In 1675, Governor Atkins reported from Barbadoes "a damnable design" of the negroes to destroy them all. He found the rebellion far more dangerous than was at first thought, for it had spread over most of the plantations, especially amongst the Cormantin negroes, who are much the greater number, and a warlike and robust people. He had been forced to execute 35 of them, which he believed had set a period to that trouble (690). At a meeting of the Assembly of Barbadoes on 25th November 1675, it was ordered that the freeing of Fortuna, a negro woman belonging to Gyles Hall, "sent in recompense of her " eminent services in discovering the intended rebellion "of the negroes, be recommended to the succeeding Assembly" (712). In Jamaica a proclamation was issued by the Governor and Council to put in execution all the clauses of an Act for the right ordering and government of the negroes, there having "lately been "several insurrections and rebellions of negroes to the 66 negro called taking and killing great disturbance and peace and planting of this island" (661-741). At a meeting of the Council early in 1676 Governor Lord Vaughan reported that the rebellious negroes were not yet reduced, and 20 good men were ordered to be kept in pay at least two months, or until said negroes be reduced, and rewards were promised for Rewards for the taking and killing the ringleaders; for the Peter 201. sterling, for Scanderberg 15l., for Doctor 101., Negroes. and for all the rest of the rebellious party 51. per head, according to the Act. Six Spanish negroes were to be sent over to assist with their lances (793). "Some Hunters," who had offered their services in pursuing and subduing the negroes, were encouraged and furnished with all things necessary at the public charge (820). Then the Governor wrote home that he had had some trouble with rebellious negroes, eight or nine have been taken and executed, and the rest not heard of for a y 72843. Christening of Negroes; their ad mission to Quakers Meetings. fortnight, "so I hope they are wholly reduced or dispersed" (822). The question of christening negroes and "what the French and other nations practise in this particular was considered by the Lords of Trade and Plantations (783-4), while in Barbadoes the Assembly were debating whether the actings of the Quakers, which may be of dangerous consequence, were to be reformed by law, in relation to their admitting negroes to their meetings under pretence of converting them to the Christian religion (p. 364). In conclusion, I wish to say that every statement in this Preface is taken from the papers abstracted in the volume. 151, Sutherland Avenue, W., 5th December 1893. W. NOEL SAINSBURY. |