Barbados Slave Rebellion (1675)

Richard Ford’s New Map of Barbados (1675)
Original at The John Carter Brown Library, Brown University

GREAT
NEWES
FROM THE
Barbadoes.
OR,
A True and Faithful ACCOUNT
OF THE
Grand Conspiracy
OF
The Negroes against the English.
AND
The Happy Discovery of the same.
WITH
The number of those that were burned
alive, Beheaded, and otherwise Executed for
their Horrid Crimes.
With a short Discription of that PLANTATION.

With Allowance.

London, Printed for L. Curtis in Goat-Court upon
Ludgate-Hill, 1676

A
DISCRIPTION
OF
Barbadoes.

BEfore we proceed to the Particulars of
that Conspiracy, which had like in one
Moment to have defaced the most Flou
rishing Colony the English have in the
World, it will not be amiss a little to
consider the Nature, Situation, and Commodities
of the Place; not that we shall trouble the Reader
with a History of the Island, that being needless, Espe-
cially to such as have ever read Ingenious Mr. Ligon
on that subject; whose flourishes in Rhetorick,
though in some things Poetical, yet in the main do
keep such a Chain of truth, that the Romantick
part rather guilds then dislincks the History. My
3

[4]
own Experience of Barbadoes, in a time when it had
Received the most Improvement it was Capable of,
(which was not long before the discovery of this
Almost Fatal Plot; will not however suffer me to
go further in my Praises of it than he did (as I may
almost say by Prophecy): for Mr. Ligon happened to
be there in a time when all or most upon the Island
did not more sweat by occasion of the heat, than
they did for the bare necessities of life; few of those
many great Estates, that are now there, being then
in any other Essence then in Prospect: Nor was there
then any Houses which could boast a Grandeur much
more considerable than those, most of our Villages
are composed of: So that indeed he saw little more
to praise then that much Celebrated perpetual Ver-
dure that Adorns the several Native Trees of that
warm World.

Nor can indeed too much Commendation be
given to that Pleasant Prospect, which salutes
a Stranger’s Eye as he sayles along the Shoar to Carlisle
Bay, the Chief Road for Ships in the Island, secu-
red from Forraign Invasion by a Fort-Royal strong-
ly built of Stone, and situated in the Eastermost
Point of Land that Compasses that Bay, in which
there is constantly mounted 40 Guns, whose warm
Mouths spoke Terrour to De Ruyter in his Attempt
on that Island in the Year 1664. At the Bottom of
this Bay stands the Bridge-Town, which hath twice
since its first building been reduced almost to no-
thing by Fire; yet thereby hath not so warned the

[5]
Inhabitants, but that for hast and want of Conside-
ration it hath again been rebuilt without that Exact
Order in the Houses and Streets that might secure it
from having that dangerous Element so totally pre-
vail the third time. And should it do so, (which God
forbid) it would level many Costly and Stately Hou-
ses which Compose amongst many other little ones,
that Popular though something Confused Town;
which was it but contriv’d for proper Receits of the
Breese through its Streets for letting in through
Venteducts the Wind into their houses, would be
much more pleasant to live in the heat; As it is now
built, being to Strangers at their first coming there
scarce tolerable. For this Island which lyes betwixt
13 and 14 degrees of North Latitude, must needs
have the Sun twice a year in its Zenith, the Inhabi-
tants seeing him against their will make his Progress
over their heads as he goes and returns in his Visit
to the Tropick of Cancer; so that for some Moneths
being on the North side of them; And when fur-
thest off, not so far as to vary the length of their days
and Nights one hour, the Country must of necessity
be exceeding hot: Nor would it be more habitable
then the Ancients believe the Torrid Zone to be
(within in which Circle this Island stands) were it
not for the Refreshing Gales that for ever from some
Quarter of the East Fans Cool, and consequently
refresh the Inhabitants of this Flourishing Island.
Nor is the Conveniency from the Wind only this,
but perhaps the Inhabitants owe to it All or the grea-

[6]

test Part of the Success they have found in their Su-
gar Trade, the grinding of their Cane being never
to have been done by any other Engine then Horse-
Mills, to have been supply’d alwayes with that Crea-
ture at an Excessive Rate from Europe, had not the
Benefit of this Continual Gale encouraged them in
the Erecting of Wind-Mills, being about 400, the
number of whole flying Sailes, besides the Profit
they bring the Owner, being Remarkably pleasant
in the first Prospect from the Sea upon this Island.
For it cannot be expected that so narrow a Country
being not above Thirty miles long, and Twelve
broad, should have Streams continued to such a
length as might by the Conjunction of many make
them big enough to work Mills, the Fountains of
great Rivers in moisture Countries being rarely
Considerable; so that in the whole Island though it
sufficiently abounds in Water for Drink, and that
of the pleasantest and refreshingest quality that Ele-
ment is capable of, yet is there not above three Cur-
rents whole small Streams have obtained the Names
of Rivers, and those rather by Hyberbole or Compa-
rison within it self, then by any large Source that
can justly Challenge that Name.

But to leave off speaking too much of this subject,
which hath occasioned the Reflection of a Negro
much quoted by the Inhabitants, for saying, The
Devel was in the English-man, that he makes every
thing work; he makes the Negro work, the Horse
work, the Ass work, the Wood work, the Water work,

[7]
and the Winde work. And no doubt, let others guess
what they please to be the Occasion of the Conspiracy
I am treating of, It could have its hopes of Success in
the general from nothing but their desire of being
Eased from that Continual Work, which by being
Slaves, they and their Posterity are lyable to: for
let some say what they please, I am of the Opinion,
That no man labours but by necessity; Or hopes at
last to gain that to live on which may give him rest.
Or whether it be my own Lazy Temper that preju-
dices me in the Point or no, I cannot tell: But I am
sure in my Conversing with them, or Inquiring into
the Natures and Desires of that People, I could ne-
ver find they desired any thing so much as to have
time for Play.

But not to trouble our selves to guess, what should
Occasion that, which no doubt besides the former
hath many Complicated Causes working in the dif-
ferent Persons Engaged in it, we will without losing
more time in Commendation either of the Hospita-
lity, or Number of the splendid Planters, who for
Sumptuous Houses, Cloaths and Liberal Entertain-
ment cannot be Exceeded by this their Mother King-
dome it self. Or in Reciting the Excellency of their
Fruits, especially the Pine so much Celebrated by
more learned Pens: Or of the Prodigious Success
they have found in the Improvement of several new-
ly introduced Fruits, especially of that called China
Oranges, the goodness of which exceeds any we have
ever had from Portugal. But to leave those, the Musk-

[8]
Melons, Grapes, Figs, Prickle Pears, Guavers, Pome-
granets, Citrons, Sour Sops, and sweet Lemmons of
a vast bigness, and delicate pleasant taste. And all
Kitching Garden-Herbs, and Fruits (are much bet-
ter and more fragrant then in England) that are
there at almost all times of the year to be had in their
Excellency. Besides, there are Medicinal Plants, as
Galingal, Colliquintida, Balsom naturale, Balsom
with Balsamick, Tar, Gumastick, Gumallemna,
Alloes, Guiacum, and several other Medicinal Herbs,
and all other things of this kind.

I will now proceed to the Particular of my Story,
wherein, if I have not so much Art as another
might have done it with, yet shall you have no un-
truth mixt with the short story of it.

[Page 9]
THE
RELATION of a CONSPIRACY in the
BARBADOES.

THis Conspiracy first broke out and was hatch-
ed by the Cormantee or Gold-Cost Negro’s
about Three years since, and afterwards Cun-
ingly and Clandestinely carried, and kept
secret, even from the knowledge of their own
Wifes.

Their grand design was to choose them a King,
one Coffee an Ancient Gold-Cost Negro, who should
have been Crowned the 12th of June last past in a
Chair of State exquisitely wrought and Carved af-
ter their Mode; with Bowes and Arrowes to be
likewise carried in State before his Majesty their in-

[10]
tended King: Trumpets to be made of Elephants
Teeth and Gourdes to be sounded on several Hills,
to give Notice of their general Rising, with a full
intention to fire the Sugar-Canes, and so run in and
Cut their Masters the Planters Throats in their re-
spective Plantations whereunto they did belong.

Some affirm, they intended to spare the lives of
the Fairest and Handsomest Women (their Mistresses
and their Daughters) to be Converted to their own
use. But some others affirm the contrary; and I
am induced to believe they intended to Murther all
the White People there, as well Men as Women: for
Anna a house Negro Woman belonging to Justice
Hall, over-hearing a Young Cormantee Negro about
18 years of age, and also belonging to Justice Hall,
as he was working near the Garden, and discoursing
with another Cormantee Negro working with him,
told him boldly and plainly, He would have no hand
in killing the Baccararoes or White Folks; And that
he would tell his Master. All which the aforesaid Ne-
gro Woman (being then accidentally in the Garden)
over-heard, and called to him the aforesaid Young
Negro Man over the Pales, and enquired and asked
of him What it was they so earnestly were talking about?
He answered and told her freely; That it was a ge-
neral Design amongst them the Cormantee Negro’s, to
kill all the Baccararoes or White People in the Island
within a fortnight. Which she no sooner understood, but went immediately to her Master and Mistris, and

[11]
discovered the whole truth of what she heard, say-
ing withal, That it was great Pity so good people as her
Master and Mistriss were, should be destroyed. Which
was the first discovery that I can learn came to the
knowledge of the worthy Inhabitants of that Noble
and most flourishing Island.

Afterwards the Discreet and Prudent Justice sent
presently for the young Negro Man, who discovered
and impeached several, as well his own Master’s
Negro’s as others belonging to the adjacent Planta-
tions who hand a hand in this Plot.

Of all which the said Justice sending the true In-
formation to that Noble Person (now Governour
there) Sir Jonathan Atkins, he with his Life-Guard
presently came to the house of the aforesaid Justice
Hall, and granted him and others Commissions to
apprehend the guilty and impeached Negroes, with
the Ring-leaders of this fatal Conspiracy; which in
pursuance was put in Execution with much Celerity
and Secrecy, that the Heads and Chief of these un-
grateful wretches (who I have often heard confess
to live better in Servitude there, then at Libertty in
their own Native Country) were apprehended and
brought to Tryal at a Court of Oyer and Terminer
granted by the aforesaid Governour to a Dozen or
more of the Colonels and Field-Officers as Judges of
that Island; Who after strict and due Examination
of the matter of Fact of their Conspiracy, at first Se-

[12]
venteen were found guilty and Executed, (viz.) Six
burnt alive, and Eleven beheaded, their dead bodies
being dragged through the Streets, at Spikes a plea-
sant Port-Town in that Island, and were afterwards
burnt with those that were burned alive.

One of those that were burned alive being chained
at the stake, was perswaded by that honest Gentle-
man Mr. George Hannow, the Deputy Provost-Mar-
shall, That since he was going to suffer death, Ingeniously
to Confess the depth of their design. The Negro cal-
ling for water to drink (which is a Custome they use
before they tell or discover any thing) he just then
going to speak and confess the truth of what he knew
in this Matter; The next Negro Man chained to him
(one Tony, a sturdy Rogue, a Jew’s Negro) jogged
him, and was heard to Chide him in these words,
Thou Fool, are there not enough of our Country-men
killed already? Art thou minded to kill them all? Then
the aforesaid Negro that was a going to make Con-
fession, would not speak one word more.

Which the spectators observing, cryed out to Tony,
Sirrah, we shall see you fry bravely by and by. Who an-
swered undauntedly, If you Roast me to day, you cannot
Roast me to morrow: (all those Negro’s having an opi-
nion that after their death they go into their own
Countrey) Five and Twenty more have been since
Executed. The particulars of whose due Punishment
are not yet come to my hands.
Five impeached Hanged themselves, because they
would not stand Tryal.

[13]
Threescore and odd more are in Custody at the
Hole, a fine Haven and small Town in the said Island,
and are not as yet brought to Tryal.

Thus escaped from Eminent dangers, this flourish-
ing and Fertile Island, or to say more properly Spa-
tious and profitable Garden, one of the chiefest of
his Majesties Nurseries for Sea-men.

This little Spot imploying every year above 100
good Merchants Ships, to carry off its product; viz.
Sugar, Ginger, Cotton, and Indigo; of which I have
heard it affirmed, That that Earth and Rich soyl be-
ing so thinly placed on most part of the said Island, as
not exceeding above half a foot in depth, the said pro-
duct since its first manuring carried off in several
years, much exceeds in bulk and weight the surface of
the Island, it being only a Rock. So leaving to others
the giving an account of the great plenty of fresh Fish
there, though of different shapes and names from
ours, which it exceeds in pleasantness and nourish-
ment, especially the Turtles there caught; their ad-
mirable Pork, Poultry &c. Their Wood Pidgeons,
Turtle-Doves of several kinds, wild Fowls, Plovers,
Thrushes, Crabs, Lobsters, Prawns, and all other ne-
cessary and pleasant Provisions in abundance, both
Fish and Flesh. But above all, admirable (considering
it is so small an Island) is the Populousness thereof;
for I have seen at a General Rendezvous in Hethersals
Pasture 12000 well Armed fighting men, Horse and
Foot, of the Train-Bands, besides Negro’s that waited

[14]
on their Masters: And I have lately seen a list taken
by Authority that amounts to above 80000 Souls.
‘Tis fortified (besides the stone Wall all a long the
places of most danger for Landing, near the Sea-side)
with several strong uniform Forts Alla-Modern, well
mounted with store of great Guns; so as considering
the strength, Riches, Pleasant scituation, Populous-
ness and good Hospitality of those Noble Gentlemen
there now inhabiting, I conclude it to be the finest
and worthiest Island in the World.

FINIS.

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