Creating a Plantation
Agreement for creating a plantation in Jamaica (reference: DD/P6/1/22/20)
The Harley family was one of the leading gentry families in Nottinghamshire and Sir Robert Harley was involved in establishing new plantations in Barbados and Jamaica in 1662 and 1663. These plantations involved African and native American slave labour.
This agreement, made in Surinam, relates to the creation of a plantation in Jamaica. Dated 18 February 1662/3, it allowed for the establishment of a plantation of forty acres for growing plantains, yeams, casava, potatoes, sugar canes and corn.
Colonel William Byam and Captain George Strange agree to plant the forty acres in return for Sir Robert Harley delivering 'four able young Negroes - two men and two women' by the end of July 1663; and by 1 February 1663/4 making a payment in 'negroes' to the value of 33,000lbs of merchantable Muscovado sugar.
Find out more...
- Larger version: see an extract of the agreement in more detail here [PDF 627KB]
- Transcript: read the extract in more detail here [PDF 25KB]
- Using slaves: read about the value that was placed on slaves
- The Slave Trade: find out more about the history of the slave trade here
- Terminology: find out more about some of the terms used
- Further information: explore other web sites and online resources
What do you think about this document? Contact us
