[Jamaica]

Collection of Large-Format Early view of Jamaica, with many impressive birds-eye views and photos related to the Morant Bay Rebellion.

There are seven views of Kingston. Four are birds-eye views of the city, one of which is identified as “Upper King Street.” The other three images show Up Camp Park, the headquarters of the British Army in Jamaica from the late 18th-century until the country’s independence in 1962. One of these is a photo of a Silk Cotton Tree in the camp’s park and the other two are interesting group portraits of the 3rd West India Regiment and band. Raised by the British Army in 1795, The 3rd West India Regiment was composed primarily of African soldiers recruited from various colonies in the Caribbean. It was disbanded in 1819, reformed in 1837 and disbanded again in 1870 (which helps date the photographs to the late-1860s).The regiment faced routine discrimination and the men were often used for manual labor and other non-combat duties such as road construction. They were also tasked with maintaining colonial control and were involved in the Morant Bay Rebellion of 1865.

There are two views of Newcastle. One is a birds-eye view showing the “Sanatorium for white troops” and the other shows a group of men beside their tents with the caption “Canvas life during yellow fever.” There are two views of plantations, the Latium Sugar Estate in St. James and the Serge Island Sugar Estate in St. Thomas, and a photo of “coffee property shewing barbeques'' in Monklands. There are two other birds-eye views of the north coast, one showing Falmouth and the other Montego.

One photograph shows the remnants of the Morant Bay courthouse, the site of the Morant Bay rebellion in 1865. On October 11th, two large organized bands of people, mainly cultivators, many of whom were armed with sticks and cutlasses, marched into Morant Bay to protest poor economic conditions. The local police and militia were called and, despite pleas for peace, they opened fire on the advancing mob. In the ensuing violence the courthouse was burnt and several other militia men were killed, some of whom were high ranking. Governor Eyre declared Martial law. Paul Bogle, leader of the rebellion, was hanged and George William Gordon, a member of the House, was court-martialed and executed for his alleged involvement with Bogle. The present image has a caption which reads in part, “Court House…Gordon hanged” which indicates the photographs were taken after 1865 but before the 3rd West India Regiment was disbanded in 1870.

The last page There has eight-small format photographs, which are perhaps stereoview halves. Among these images are other Morant Bay Rebellion-related images, including one of Stony Gut, Paul Bogle’s, birthplace and another of his chapel, and an image of the grave of G.W. Gordon.