Account of Increase and Decrease of Slaves and Stock on Spot Valley and Maccaw-River Estates from 1st January 1830 to 1st August 1831.

Manuscript in ink. Copy in a secretarial hand. Seven folio leaves measuring approx. 255 by 400mm, the first docketed. Folded in three and pinned together. Toning, some minor soiling and chipping, but very good. Np,

This copy of the accounts for Spot Valley and Maccaw-River estates belonged to John Bush, who was a banker with the firm Bush and Were. Both plantations were owned by Samuel Wisdom Barrett, who passed away on 7 December 1826. In 1829, control was entrusted to executor William Alexander Weightman, who also secured £1539 7S 9D in compensation for the estate in the wake of the 1833 Act for complete abolition. This accounting would have submitted as part of dealing with Barrett's estate and the subsequent sale of the plantations.

 

The first three leaves document the births and deaths of the enslaved workers. The account is quite discursive, noting their name, skin colour, and parents. For example, "Mary Ann Barritt delivered at M.B. of a Male Mulatto Child names Sam Mac Leann." The deaths are more prosaic, notably: "A weakly woman named Armenia died suddenly, an inquest was held on the body. Verdict died by the visitation of God."

 

Both plantations were in the St James parish. Spot Valley is found just to the east of Montego Bay on Jamaica's north coast. A stark reminder of the nature of sugar industry comes in that the plantations' property included not only the enslaved work force, but also the livestock, which are similary described and accounted for on the final three leaves of this document.

 

Stock Code: 231259