Wills (Jamaica Jews)
Item
Country
JM
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
eng
Contact information: postal address
Twickenham Park, Saint Catherine
Contact information: phone number
001 876 749 0550
001 876 619 1260
001 876 619 1260
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
information@rgd.gov.jm
Reference number
IRO
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (official language of the state)
Wills (Jamaica Jews)
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
Registrar General's Department (Island Records Office)
Date note
bulk (Sephardic-related documents): 17th century/19th century
Language(s)
eng
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Island Record Office holds wills probated in Jamaica as early as 1622. Other wills that were sent to London or Edinburgh to be proved are now preserved at The National Archives in Kew.
Among the collection preserved in the Island Record Office, there are numerous wills and probates of Jews living in Jamaica since the 17th century, a part of them of Iberian origins. Recently, Stanley Mirvis (2020) based most of his research on the 18th-century Sephardic community in Jamaica on Jews' wills. However, scholars soon understood the importance of these documents to get a comprehensive knowledge of the social and economic Jewish life on the island. By 2000, Madeleine Enid Mitchell published an index of wills of Jamaica from 1644-1816, including those preserved at the Island Record Office (1662-1750), whose content is currently available online (see links for finding aids). This index is a good starting point for researching this collection.
Among the collection preserved in the Island Record Office, there are numerous wills and probates of Jews living in Jamaica since the 17th century, a part of them of Iberian origins. Recently, Stanley Mirvis (2020) based most of his research on the 18th-century Sephardic community in Jamaica on Jews' wills. However, scholars soon understood the importance of these documents to get a comprehensive knowledge of the social and economic Jewish life on the island. By 2000, Madeleine Enid Mitchell published an index of wills of Jamaica from 1644-1816, including those preserved at the Island Record Office (1662-1750), whose content is currently available online (see links for finding aids). This index is a good starting point for researching this collection.
Administrative / Biographical history
In 1825, the Registrar's Office was set up. The churches sent the Registrar copies of the registers that they had accumulated until then and sent annual transcripts thereafter. The annual transcripts were then copied into books, which contained records from all the parishes. Indexes were prepared by the Registrar's Office, listing the volume and page for each of the copy registers. For the period from the earliest register up through 1870, each parish has an index of from two to four volumes. There is also a separate and incomplete index for 1860-71.
Until 1879, the governor of Jamaica was the person responsible for probating wills. In 1879, the records were transferred to the Island Record Office. The records of probates and administrations after this date are kept in the office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court.
The Island Records Office (former Registrar General's Department) moved from Spanish Town to Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, in July 1996.
Until 1879, the governor of Jamaica was the person responsible for probating wills. In 1879, the records were transferred to the Island Record Office. The records of probates and administrations after this date are kept in the office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court.
The Island Records Office (former Registrar General's Department) moved from Spanish Town to Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, in July 1996.
Sources:
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
Access, restrictions
A fee is charged for research in the archive.
Mormons have microfilmed the original Supreme Court Wills in Jamaica.
Mormons have microfilmed the original Supreme Court Wills in Jamaica.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2023
Bibliography
Published primary sources
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Jamaica Jews wills | Existence and location of originals |
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Island Records Office | Collections (official language of the state) |