Deeds (Barbados)
Item
Country
BB
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
eng
Contact information: postal address
Black Rock, St. James, Barbados
Contact information: phone number
001 (246) 424-1270
001 (246) 425-5150
001 (246) 535-0050 (Ingrid Thompson, chief archivist)
001 (246) 425-5150
001 (246) 535-0050 (Ingrid Thompson, chief archivist)
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
archives@sunbeach.net
bda@caribsurf.com
ingrid.cumberbatch@barbados.gov.bb (Ingrid Thompson, chief archivist)
bda@caribsurf.com
ingrid.cumberbatch@barbados.gov.bb (Ingrid Thompson, chief archivist)
Title (official language of the state)
Deeds (Barbados)
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
Barbados Department Archives
Date note
1647/19th century
Language(s)
eng
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Poor
Scope and content
This collection comprises deeds made in Barbados, including original deeds, deeds record books, recopied books, and indexes.
Deeds record books extend from April 1647, but only about half of the series up to 1718 is still extant, and the series is incomplete from 1718 to 1781. This series is composed of 400 volumes. However, many cannot be used because of their poor state of preservation. The numerical and chronological sequence of the volumes is irregular. Some of the earlier record books have individual indexes to grantors, but many have none. There are comprehensive indexes to grantors dating from 1801 and to grantees from 1879.
A number of deeds between 1636 and 1840 were entered into recopied record books (47 volumes), which had a comprehensive index (4 volumes) to grantors and grantees. Limitations and difficulties in using the original series usually made searches before 1800 only possible in the recopied series.
Considering the importance of the Sephardic community established in Barbados, this collection includes precious information on its economic activities on the island.
Deeds record books extend from April 1647, but only about half of the series up to 1718 is still extant, and the series is incomplete from 1718 to 1781. This series is composed of 400 volumes. However, many cannot be used because of their poor state of preservation. The numerical and chronological sequence of the volumes is irregular. Some of the earlier record books have individual indexes to grantors, but many have none. There are comprehensive indexes to grantors dating from 1801 and to grantees from 1879.
A number of deeds between 1636 and 1840 were entered into recopied record books (47 volumes), which had a comprehensive index (4 volumes) to grantors and grantees. Limitations and difficulties in using the original series usually made searches before 1800 only possible in the recopied series.
Considering the importance of the Sephardic community established in Barbados, this collection includes precious information on its economic activities on the island.
Administrative / Biographical history
In 1960 and 1961, a survey was carried out for the University of the West Indies (then the University College) to discover what historical records survived in Barbados. The survey covered most Government Departments, the local (parish) governments, secondary schools, Anglican, Methodist, Moravian and Roman Catholic churches, a few business firms, the Public Library, and the Barbados Museum and Historical Society. The results of the survey were published in Chandler (1964).
In 1964, a Department of Archives was established by the Barbados Government. The Department is the official repository of archives and, since its establishment, has been accumulating records which were formerly kept by the departments responsible for their creation. Many of the records listed in Chandler (1964) have already been transferred to the Archives, and transfers are continuing.
In 1964, a Department of Archives was established by the Barbados Government. The Department is the official repository of archives and, since its establishment, has been accumulating records which were formerly kept by the departments responsible for their creation. Many of the records listed in Chandler (1964) have already been transferred to the Archives, and transfers are continuing.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
Records are arranged chronologically.
Access, restrictions
Transcriptions of some 17th-century deeds are available on
Finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2023
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Barbados Department Archives | Collections (official language of the state) |