Description:

Slavery
St. James, Jamaica, June 16, 1832
Nearly 200 Slaves Listed, Important Plantation Inventory of an American Aristocrat in Jamaica
MD

Slavery. Manuscript Document, 8pp, on two bifold sheets measuring 8" x 13", St. James, Jamaica, June 16, 1832, an inventory of nearly 200 enslaved people on three Jamaican sugar plantations: Ironshore Estate, Hartfield Estate, and Irving Tower Estate. Remnants of thin string for binding at top left. Expected folds and creases with mostly minor separation and loss excepting a 3" separation at central horizontal fold of final page. Toning, soiling, and scattered foxing. Overall, in near very good condition.

An extremely detailed listing of enslaved people owned by the heirs of Jamaican sugar plantation owner James Irving (1713-1775), as divided between three plantations and four of his grandchildren. Irving acquired the Ironshore and Hartfield plantations in 1755, and the Irving Tower plantation in 1759. By 1832, he had been dead for several decades, but his descendants (scattered across the globe) were still enjoying the profits. Listed are approximately 180 of the enslaved inhabitants of the plantations, with their "old names," "Christian names," occupations, "condition," age, value as of 1831 and 1832, and yards of cloth allotted.

For example, Caesar at the Ironshore plantation was renamed William Green. He was aged 34, a "driver to grass cutter," and his value had depreciated from £80 to £60 over the past year. The occupations are wide-ranging: "1st gang," watchman, "exempt having 6 children," "3rd gang cook," "cattle boy," "head boiler," etc. Most are "able" or "healthy," or "weakly," with one "idiot," one blind, one "venereal," and several small children "weaning." Most intriguing is Cassius of the 1st gang, aged 52, who is recorded as "absent during the rebellion & since." This likely refers to the recent Baptist War or Christmas Rebellion, in which several hundred enslaved people were killed or executed, and many others escaped to freedom in the island's interior.

Within each plantation, the enslaved people are organized by the cousin who had inherited them: Jacob Aemilius Irving (1797-1858) of Ontario, Canada; Lucy Ann Irving (1806-1848) and her mother Susanna; James Irving III (1792-1857); and John Serocold Jackson (1777-1850) of Australia. Each grouping is given an appraisal; as the appraiser signatures are all in the same hand, this must be a contemporary transcript. It offers a vivid portrait of plantation life, rendered even more dramatic by the mention of a man who escaped during the recent revolt.

Jacob Aemilius Irving (1767-1816) was the son of James Irving. He was born at Ironshore in Jamaica, then was educated in England. In 1796, at Charleston, South Carolina, he married Peggy Corbett (1775-1865), and they lived at her childhood home, the Corbett House in Charleston, before moving to Ironshore where Irving ran the family sugar plantation. In 1803, they sailed for London and lived there until 1805, when Irving, followed shortly by his wife, returned to Jamaica to manage his plantations in anticipation of the Abolition Act, which was passed in London the following year. He remained there until 1809, sailing via Charleston to Liverpool. Irving returned to Jamaica once more before his death.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 13"
  • Medium: MD

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