CSEC

CARIBBEAN HISTORY
SCHOOL BASED ASSESSEMENT
(S.B.A)

Candidate Name: Celando Matchevelli

Candidate Number: 1000672058

Centre: Manchester High School

Center Number: 100067

Territory: Jamaica

Name of Teacher: Mr. R. Smith

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Theme…………………………………………………………………………………….........3

Rationale…………………………………………………………………………………….....4

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………5

Reasons for the formation of Free Villages in Jamaica………………………………………..6

The establishment of Free villages in Jamaica………………………………………………...7

The contributions of Free Villages to Jamaica………………………………………………...8

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………..9

Bibliography……………………………..…………………………………………………...13

Appendices …………………………………………………………………………………..14

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 TITLE

Theme

Adjustments to Emancipation(1834-1900)

Research Question

Identify and explain the importance of three Free

Villages in Jamaica during the period 1834-1900

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 RATIONALE

This research project is focused on Free-villages, particularly aimed at identifying and

explaining the importance of free villages in Jamaica during the period 1834-1900. The

researcher chose this topic because he seeks to learn of how the formation of free villages

contributed to the complete freedom of our ancestors and how they were formed.

The objectives of the research are:

1. Explain three reasons for the formation of free villages in Jamaica.

2. Identify and explain the establishment of 3 free villages in Jamaica.

3. Discuss 3 contributions of these free villages to Jamaica.

Conducting this research project will be beneficial to the researcher as he will be aware of

important British Caribbean History, and the researcher will learn to appreciate how

important the free villages were to our ancestors.

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 INTRODUCTION

By the mid-17th century, the West Indies saw the beginning of the ‘sugar revolution’.

“The term ‘Sugar Revolution’ refers to the changes which occurred in the Caribbean as a

result of the change of crop from tobacco to sugar”(Morton-Gitters, Dawson, Pemberton,

Watson, 22). “The production of sugar was labour intensive, resulting in the import of large

numbers of workers, enslaved Africans”(Morton-Gitters, Dawson, Pemberton, Watson, 22).

“A new trading pattern, the ‘triangular trade’, emerged, linking Europe, Africa, and the

Caribbean”(Morton-Gitters, Dawson, Pemberton, Watson, 22). Britain became the world’s

leading slave trade country.

Plantation life was hard. “Punishment was a regular part of estate life and ranged from

lashing, to maiming and ultimately death”(JNHT). Experiencing the harsh treatments and the

racist behaviors of the planters, the slaves desired freedom and so they began to resist

slavery: both passive and active. After many rebellions such as the Haitian, Berbice,

Barbados, Demerara, and Jamaica revolts, people in England began to question whether

enslavement was legal. “ The first Englishmen to agitate publicly against slavery by taking

these issues before the courts was Granville Sharp, who was joined by Thomas Clarkson,

James Ramsay, and William Wilberforce. They worked together to make the public aware of

the evils of slavery and demanded the abolition of the British slave trade” (Morton-Gitters,

Dawson, Pemberton, Watson, 61).

“The abolition of the slave trade in 1807, marked the beginning of the end of slavery.

Consequently, in 1833 slavery was abolished in the British West Indies and a system of

Apprenticeship was adopted. The abuses of the system brought about a premature and to

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slavery and in 1838, full freedom was given. And so, “the abolition of slavery saw a rise in

the construction of Free Villages” (JNHT).

REASONS FOR THE FORMATION OF FREE VILLAGES IN JAMAICA

Free Villages were settlements with lands for freedmen, who were no longer apprentices

of plantation owners. “A number of conditions led ex-slaves to leave the estates, and to

establish themselves in free villages” (Hamilton-Willie, 55):

 “The most powerful enabling factor was the determination of the freed Africans to

attain real freedom” (Morton-Gitters, Dawson, Pemberton, Watson,84). After the

abolition of slavery in 1838, the planters vowed not to sell any land to the ex-slaves

because they wanted them to remain on their plantations as agricultural workers. They

highly increased the price of lands so free men could not afford them. But “The ex-

slaves wanted to get a piece of land for themselves, as they saw the possession of land

as the key to independence” (Hamilton-Willie, 55).

 “Some landowners were willing to sell some of their land in order to ease their

financial problems, and to clear off longstanding debts” (Hamilton-Willie, 56). These

planters saw the opportunity and willingly sold some of their land, which meant that

ex-slaves could raise enough money and purchase lands, ‘a key to complete freedom’.

This gave ex-slaves the opportunity to reinvent themselves as a separate unique

society.

 “The Baptist Church, under the leadership of James Phillipo and William Knibb,

played a major role in the establishing post Emancipation free-villages through the

purchase and subdivision of properties” (Cockpit country), which were sold off in

small lots to freedmen. This solved the problem ex-slaves had in not getting land to

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 buy from landowners. “They wanted to remove ex-slaves away from the exploitation

of the planters. As long as ex-slaves remained on the estates, the planters could

continue to exploit them" (Hamilton-Willie, 60).

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FREE VILLAGES IN JAMAICA

There are a number of free villages that were established between the 1830s and the

1840s. They included Sligoville, Granville, and Sturge Town.

“Sligoville was created under the auspices of the Reverend Phillipo, an English Baptist

Preacher of the British Baptist Mission who in 1835, purchased the land, subdivided it and

sold it on to ex-slaves” (Davis-Palmer, 25). The lands he purchased was in the St. Catherine

hills. It was the first free village. “The settlement was named Sligoville in honour of Howe

Peter Brown, 2nd Marquis of Sligo,” who was the Governor of Jamaica at that time (JNHT).

“Campaigning for the abolition of slavery, Phillipo, on July 10, 1835, bought 25 acres of land

for £100 in anticipation for full freedom for the black people. This became the site on which

the village of Sligoville was established” (face2faceafrica.com). Appendix 1.0 shows

Sligoville.

“Founded as a free village by William Knibb in 1845, Granville(Trelawney) was

established on 90 acres of land he bought. It was purchased to give the newly freed black

people a chance to start their own community and maintain some form of independence from

the plantations. It was also hoped that the free village would help to grow the congregation of

the Falmouth Baptist Church. Knibb named it ‘Granville’ in honour of British abolitionist

Granville Sharp” (jamaica-gleaner.com). Appendix 2.0 shows Granville.

“Sturge Town, named after Joseph Sturge, the Quaker philanthropist who advocated for

the end of the apprenticeship system, was established in 1839 by Reverend John Clark. The

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property was located near Brown’s Town and contained about 120 acres of good

land”(JNHT) . They purchased the land because the people needed a place to live. The cost of

the land was £700. Settlers paid about £7 per acre for their holdings. Shortly after its

establishment, Sturge Town had a church-run school and its own resident minister”(JNHT).

Appendices 3.0 and 3.1 shows Sturge Town

THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE FREE VILLAGES TO JAMAICA

The free villages tremendously contributed to Jamaica after their establishments. Three

contributions are: contributing to the economy, schools, and developing the landscape.

 The free villages contributed economically through peasantry. “Peasants proved that

other crops could be successfully grown along with the major export crops. They

diversified the economy, removing dependence on one or two export crops and

produced additional crops for export. Peasants reduced the dependence on imported

food” (Morton-Gitters, Dawson, Pemberton, Watson, 88).

 “The need to provide education for the children of freed Africans was recognized by

the provision of the Negro Education Grant, but Grants. The Mico Charity was set up

by Lady Mico. It became the main source of funding for Caribbean education through

day and teacher training schools” ( Morton-Gitters, Dawson, Pemberton, Watson,86).

The Mico University College was established as a result of funds from the Mico

Charity. Appendix 3.0 shows the Mico University College.

 The free villages contributed to the landscape. “The spread of cultivation and

settlements into new areas developed into modern towns and villages with expanding

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 road networks. They made use of the many uncultivated lands and also provided a

home for the many ex-slaves who had no land of their own.

The free villages also contributed to religion as the Missionaries taught the free people

Christianity which laid the foundation to our Christianity dominant Jamaica today.

CONCLUSION

Having conducted this research, it can be said that three free villages that were established

during the period 1834-1900 are Sligoville, Granville and Sturge Town. These free villages

were important to Jamaica as they provided land, freedom of culture and education for the

free Africans and to them, it was the key to independence. The free villages gave them escape

from the exploitation of the planters having to depend on their resources. By the free villages

Jamaica’s economy was diversified with a variety of crops, the landscape was developed and

more jobs were created. Most importantly, the formation of the free villages marked the

beginning of a truly free nation.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Morton-Gittens, Dane, et al. Caribbean History for CSEC®. Oxford Univesity Press, 2017.

Davis-Palmer, Yvonne Lois. Cultural Identity and Creolized Religion in Sligoville,

Jamaica’s First Baptist Free Village. University of London, 2004.

Hamilton-Willie, Doris. Lest You Forget: A Study and Revision Guide for CXC Caribbean

History. Adjustments to Emancipation 1838-1876. Jamaica Pub. House, 2007.

Dick, REV Devon, and Susanne Lyon. “Jamaica’s History.” Jamaica National Heritage

Trust – Jamaica, 2011, http://www.jnht.com/history.php.

Dick, REV Devon, and Susanne Lyon. “ Sligoville .” Jamaica National Heritage Trust –

Jamaica – Sligoville, 2011, http://www.jnht.com/site_sligoville.php.

Dick, REV Devon, and Susanne Lyon. “ Sturge Town .” Jamaica National Heritage Trust –

Sturge Town, 2011, http://www.jnht.com/site_sturge_town.php.

McLaughlin, Andewale. “Rise & Fall of Granville.” Lead Stories | Jamaica Gleaner, 21 July

2014, https://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140721/lead/lead3.html.

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 “Free Villages.” Free Villages, Windsor Research Centre , 2014,

https://www.cockpitcountry.com/freeVillages.html.

Taylor, Mildred Europa. “Sligoville: Jamaica’s First Free Village and Birthplace of

Rastafarian Movement.” Google, Google, 2019,

https://www.google.com/amp/s/face2faceafrica.com/article/sligoville-jamaicas-first-free-

village-and-birthplace-of-rastafarian-movement/amp.

APPENDICES

appendix 1.0: Sligoville

appendix 2.0: Granville

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Mico University College

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