Colonial Office and predecessors: Jamaica, Miscellanea
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 142
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (official language of the state)
Colonial Office and predecessors: Jamaica, Miscellanea
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
Board of Trade
Colonial Office
Secretaries of State
Date(s)
1658/1945
Language(s)
eng
Extent
155 volumes
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
This collection is part of the subdivision of the Colonial Office fonds that comprises records of local bodies and other colonial miscellanea relating to the internal administration and business of colonies. It contains newspapers, shipping returns, miscellaneous records, blue books of statistics and other documents relating to the Jamaica trade. By analysing the shipping returns from this collection, Elias Faber (2000) identified several Sephardic merchants and firms involved in exporting enslaved people from Jamaica to other Caribbean ports. Among them were A. M. Bonito & Co, David and Jacob Bravo, Isaac Mendes da Costa & Co., Moses Ferro & Co., David Orobio Furtado, Jacob Gabay Henriques, Aaron Lamera, Abraham Alexander Lindo, Aaron Lopez, Jacob Mendes & Co., Isaac Monis & Co., Benjamin Pereira & Co. and Daniel Ximenes.
CO 142/31 contains a list of the landowners in the island of Jamaica annexed to a letter sent by Governor Knowles on December 31, 1754. Among the landowners, there are several Sephardic Jews. See a transcription of the list here:
CO 142/31 contains a list of the landowners in the island of Jamaica annexed to a letter sent by Governor Knowles on December 31, 1754. Among the landowners, there are several Sephardic Jews. See a transcription of the list here:
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, 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 initially 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 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. However, the same person sometimes held the offices of Secretary of State for the Colonies and of Secretary of State for Dominions Affairs. The remaining geographical departments were grouped in a Crown Colonies Division. The territories mandated to Britain following World War I 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, 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 initially 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 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. However, the same person sometimes held the offices of Secretary of State for the Colonies and of Secretary of State for Dominions Affairs. The remaining geographical departments were grouped in a Crown Colonies Division. The territories mandated to Britain following World War I 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: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The collection is composed of bound volumes arranged chronologically.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2023
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| The National Archives | Collections (official language of the state) |