Colonial Office and predecessors: Jamaica, Original Correspondence
Item
Country
GB
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
eng
Contact information: postal address
Kew, Richmond TW9 4DU London
Contact information: phone number
0044 020 8876 3444
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
Reference number
CO 137
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (official language of the state)
Colonial Office and predecessors: Jamaica, Original Correspondence
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
Board of Trade
Colonial Office
Secretaries of State
Date(s)
1689/1951
Language(s)
eng
Extent
906 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
This collection is part of the subdivision of the Colonial Office fonds that comprises correspondence with the colonies, entry books and registers of correspondence relating to the administration of individual colonies, as well as a few records of governments of colonial and mandated territories that were sent to London for various reasons. It contains original correspondence relating to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, including records regarding the Jewish community of Jamaica. Some examples are the following:
CO 137/2, no. 112 ii: “Memorandum of the Jews of Jamaica,” which is a petition of certain Jews of Jamaica to the Queen to be admitted as denizens in consideration of their misfortunes through the earthquake. It includes a memorandum reporting that the Jews had long enjoyed liberty to trade in Jamaica, but that lately there had been a movement, supported in the Council, to deprive them of their privileges. It also includes a list of the Jews' plantations and houses in Barbados (9) and Jamaica (12). Published by Faber (2000).
CO 137/5, no. 19: “Answer of the Governor and Council to Lord Bellmonte’s Memorial About the Jews, 1700,” and “Baron de Belmonte to the King on Behalf of the Jews, 1700”. In this petition, Belmonte alleges that, the Assembly, without regard to the letters of denization and naturalisation previously granted, has imposed a special tax of £3000, besides general taxes, upon the Portuguese Jews. Belmonte asks the King to instruct the Governor to observe the Jews' privileges, and to allow them to enjoy the free observance of their religion.
CO 137/5, no. 98: petition of Antonio Gomez Serra, Andrew Lopez, and Moses de Medina on behalf of the Jews of Jamaica to the Queen, against special taxes imposed on the Jews of the island. February 26, 1703.
CO 137/5, no. 100: Memorial of Mr. Pereyra on behalf of the Jews in Jamaica, addressed to the Council of Trade and Plantations, regarding taxes imposed on Jews. March 8, 1703.
CO 137/14, no. 50: petition of the Jews of Jamaica to the Lords of Committee Council, 1721.
CO 137/22, no. 34: Benjamin Bravo’s answers to the Board of Trade and Plantation, 1735.
CO 137/22, no. 7: letter by William Wood regarding Benjamin Bravo's answers. February 19, 1736. The same volume contains "Account of the money Raised in the Island of Jamaica by Taxes and Dutys payable by the Inhabitants thereof between the 1725 and 28th March 1735 being 10 years", including the amounts of the "tax on the Jews". Published in Rosenbloom (1959).
CO 137/22, 177-79: "On a Petition Against Extraordinary Taxes Laid upon the Jews in Jamaica, 1738."
CO 137/56, 111–19d: “Reasons Relating to the Jews, 1738."
CO 137/32, 108: deposition of Moses Pereira Dacosta, 1762.
CO 137/23, no. 10: letter by Governor Edward Trelawny to the Council of the Colony sharing his opinion on the issue of a special tax on the Jews of Jamaica. May 10, 1739. Published in Rosenbloom (1959).
CO 137/2, no. 112 ii: “Memorandum of the Jews of Jamaica,” which is a petition of certain Jews of Jamaica to the Queen to be admitted as denizens in consideration of their misfortunes through the earthquake. It includes a memorandum reporting that the Jews had long enjoyed liberty to trade in Jamaica, but that lately there had been a movement, supported in the Council, to deprive them of their privileges. It also includes a list of the Jews' plantations and houses in Barbados (9) and Jamaica (12). Published by Faber (2000).
CO 137/5, no. 19: “Answer of the Governor and Council to Lord Bellmonte’s Memorial About the Jews, 1700,” and “Baron de Belmonte to the King on Behalf of the Jews, 1700”. In this petition, Belmonte alleges that, the Assembly, without regard to the letters of denization and naturalisation previously granted, has imposed a special tax of £3000, besides general taxes, upon the Portuguese Jews. Belmonte asks the King to instruct the Governor to observe the Jews' privileges, and to allow them to enjoy the free observance of their religion.
CO 137/5, no. 98: petition of Antonio Gomez Serra, Andrew Lopez, and Moses de Medina on behalf of the Jews of Jamaica to the Queen, against special taxes imposed on the Jews of the island. February 26, 1703.
CO 137/5, no. 100: Memorial of Mr. Pereyra on behalf of the Jews in Jamaica, addressed to the Council of Trade and Plantations, regarding taxes imposed on Jews. March 8, 1703.
CO 137/14, no. 50: petition of the Jews of Jamaica to the Lords of Committee Council, 1721.
CO 137/22, no. 34: Benjamin Bravo’s answers to the Board of Trade and Plantation, 1735.
CO 137/22, no. 7: letter by William Wood regarding Benjamin Bravo's answers. February 19, 1736. The same volume contains "Account of the money Raised in the Island of Jamaica by Taxes and Dutys payable by the Inhabitants thereof between the 1725 and 28th March 1735 being 10 years", including the amounts of the "tax on the Jews". Published in Rosenbloom (1959).
CO 137/22, 177-79: "On a Petition Against Extraordinary Taxes Laid upon the Jews in Jamaica, 1738."
CO 137/56, 111–19d: “Reasons Relating to the Jews, 1738."
CO 137/32, 108: deposition of Moses Pereira Dacosta, 1762.
CO 137/23, no. 10: letter by Governor Edward Trelawny to the Council of the Colony sharing his opinion on the issue of a special tax on the Jews of Jamaica. May 10, 1739. Published in Rosenbloom (1959).
Archival history
Until the early 19th century, the papers for each colony were stored loose in roughly chronological order. From then until 1926, they were bound in volumes by colony in order of registration, under various broad divisions: governor (or dispatches), offices (i.e. correspondence with other departments), individuals, etc. In 1926, these volumes gave way to numbered subject files. At first, the numbers allocated to each colony and subject changed each year, but from 1935 to 1951, standard numbers were employed.
As the importance of the subject departments grew, the amount of correspondence relating strictly to any particular country declined. Accordingly, between 1951 and 1953, the Colonial Office reorganised its registry, arranging country correspondence into single classes for each geographical department.
As the importance of the subject departments grew, the amount of correspondence relating strictly to any particular country declined. Accordingly, between 1951 and 1953, the Colonial Office reorganised its registry, arranging country correspondence into single classes for each geographical department.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Colonial Office was established as a separate body headed by a Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1854.
It was preceded by the Board of Trade, or Lords of Trade and Plantations, which was founded in 1696 and continued until 1782. Although from 1675, the secretaries of state were always lords of trade, their involvement in colonial affairs was at first slight and only developed in the 18th century. At first, either secretary might be concerned, but eventually, it became established that the colonies were the responsibility of the secretary of state for the Southern Department. He was the channel of communication between the Crown and the Board of Trade but depended on the board for effective action in many fields of colonial affairs. In 1768, a third secretary of state, the colonial or American secretary, was appointed, and the colonial functions of the southern secretary were transferred to him. From 1769 to 1779, he was also president of the Board of Trade. With the loss of the American colonies, the Board of Trade and colonial secretaryship were abolished by an act of 1782.
Until 1801, colonial affairs were in the hands of the Home Secretary. In 1801, he became Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The restoration of peace in 1815 and the increased demands that the acquisition of new colonies during the war had imposed meant that his colonial responsibilities then became paramount, and by 1822 the office included four Geographical Departments dealing with colonies in different areas of the world.
In 1854, the Colonial Office, headed by a Secretary of State for the Colonies, was established. The division of the office into geographical departments continued, general business being entrusted to the chief clerk. In 1870 a General Department took some of the work of the chief clerk, an Accounts Branch was set up in 1869, and there was a separate Emigration Department from 1878 to 1894. In 1907, a Dominions Division was set up; in 1925, this became the separate Dominions Office, though the offices of Secretary of State for the Colonies and Secretary of State for Dominions Affairs were sometimes held by the same person. The remaining geographical departments were grouped in a Crown Colonies Division. The territories mandated to Britain following the First World War were also administered by the Colonial Office. From 1907 to 1925, it was responsible for the work of the Imperial Institute.
From 1930 the number of subject departments increased considerably, a trend which was accentuated during World War II. The granting of independence to growing numbers of colonies in the post-war period and the termination of mandates led to a decrease in the responsibilities of the Colonial Office. Relations with the former colonies became the concern of the Commonwealth Relations Office and other newly created offices. In 1966, the Colonial Office was merged with the Commonwealth Relations Office to form the Commonwealth Office.
It was preceded by the Board of Trade, or Lords of Trade and Plantations, which was founded in 1696 and continued until 1782. Although from 1675, the secretaries of state were always lords of trade, their involvement in colonial affairs was at first slight and only developed in the 18th century. At first, either secretary might be concerned, but eventually, it became established that the colonies were the responsibility of the secretary of state for the Southern Department. He was the channel of communication between the Crown and the Board of Trade but depended on the board for effective action in many fields of colonial affairs. In 1768, a third secretary of state, the colonial or American secretary, was appointed, and the colonial functions of the southern secretary were transferred to him. From 1769 to 1779, he was also president of the Board of Trade. With the loss of the American colonies, the Board of Trade and colonial secretaryship were abolished by an act of 1782.
Until 1801, colonial affairs were in the hands of the Home Secretary. In 1801, he became Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The restoration of peace in 1815 and the increased demands that the acquisition of new colonies during the war had imposed meant that his colonial responsibilities then became paramount, and by 1822 the office included four Geographical Departments dealing with colonies in different areas of the world.
In 1854, the Colonial Office, headed by a Secretary of State for the Colonies, was established. The division of the office into geographical departments continued, general business being entrusted to the chief clerk. In 1870 a General Department took some of the work of the chief clerk, an Accounts Branch was set up in 1869, and there was a separate Emigration Department from 1878 to 1894. In 1907, a Dominions Division was set up; in 1925, this became the separate Dominions Office, though the offices of Secretary of State for the Colonies and Secretary of State for Dominions Affairs were sometimes held by the same person. The remaining geographical departments were grouped in a Crown Colonies Division. The territories mandated to Britain following the First World War were also administered by the Colonial Office. From 1907 to 1925, it was responsible for the work of the Imperial Institute.
From 1930 the number of subject departments increased considerably, a trend which was accentuated during World War II. The granting of independence to growing numbers of colonies in the post-war period and the termination of mandates led to a decrease in the responsibilities of the Colonial Office. Relations with the former colonies became the concern of the Commonwealth Relations Office and other newly created offices. In 1966, the Colonial Office was merged with the Commonwealth Relations Office to form the Commonwealth Office.
Sources:
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The collection is composed of bound volumes arranged chronologically, and from 1902 within the following subject headings: Despatches (letters of the governors), Offices (letters of government departments and other organisations) and Individuals (arranged alphabetically). Each volume with a contents list, or précis of each letter giving name of correspondent, date of letter and subject matter. From 1926, the correspondence is arranged in subject files.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2023
Bibliography
Published primary sources
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| The National Archives | Collections (official language of the state) |