The same Mr Straton (whose plantation knowledge John Hamilton berated in 1756) writes to Robert from Kingston, Jamaica, on 16 February 1760, to warn him of growing slave insurrection on the island:
The principal motive of writing you this letter, is to advise you that there was an insurrection at St Marys of about 110 Negroes, mostly Zackry Bayly’s belonging to Trinity plantation which happened the seventh xxx in the morning. They butchered and killed above twelve white people, and some Negroes, there was immediately ordered two companies of the Regulars, different partys of the Militia in those parts, and a Troop of Horse from Kingston, and the Negroes from the different Negro towns. By yesterday’s accounts from thence we have the agreeable news of most of them being killed or Taken, and I hope every one of them will be haunted out quickly, and will suffer that Shocking Punishment which their crimes deserve. Glad I am that there was none of Pemberton Valley Negroes any way concerned, the distance only being 8 miles, tho’ I should have been pleasd to have heard from Mr Hamilton in the occasion. [DC17/113]
Later the same year, a business associate of Robert’s – James Buchanan – writes both warning and assuring him:
There has been another Insurrection in Jamaica confined to Westmorland County about thirty white people said to be killed but it was entirely quash’d before the packet came away. [DC17/113]
To read more of the correspondence on this subject click here