Unrest
John Hamilton, writing the very same day, 24 August 1760, gives a more detailed and dramatic picture of the Westmoreland insurrection:
Inclosed you have list of Negroes and stock also one account of crops 1759 which should have gon home in June last by the Lyon Irvine but then was in grate confusion on account of the insurrections amongst the slaves.
Have shipped on board this Nesell 20 hhds sugar also thirtie on board ane other ship called the Live Oak (Captain Adams) which I wish safe and a good market, the estate will make this year verie near 110 hhds.
Thank God the rebellions and insurrections are al most over grate number of white people have lost their lives by the fatigue of going into the woods after the Negroes besides what have been killed otherways. Insurrections have been attempted in manie parts of the Countrie we was verie luckie in this Parish in getting the rebellion quelled so soon as we did. There was no less than 1200 Negroes out in the Westmorland the inhabitants were put to such a non plus that they were obliged to put the women and children on board ships that were lying in the harbours they murdered every white soule they could lay their hands on in a cruelle manner there is still one hundred out it will hurt the island much many fine estates are destroyed and people ruined that were worth £2000 beffore the affair hapned wee are just now quite burnt up have not had a shower of rain for this six months. [DC17/113]
To read more of the correspondence on this subject click here »