The Jamaican Maroons

The second immigration of free Blacks into the province of Nova Scotia was similar to the first in that it developed from events entirely divorced from Nova Scotia history. From the time of British conquest in 1655, the Maroons in Jamaica, waged war against the British colonizers of the island. The Jamaican Government succeeded in overcoming the Maroons in 1796, which was after 140 years of intermittent warfare. The Legislature, vengeful and certainly tired of the cost of maintaining order, decided to rid themselves of "the problem". Immediate actions were put in place for the removal of one group of Maroons (Trelawney), with their settlements in lower Canada (Quebec). Upper Canada (Ontario) had also been suggested as a suitable place, however, it was eventually decided that this group of individuals be sent to Halifax, N.S. until any further instructions were received from England. Two gentlemen Messrs Quarrell and Octerloney, were sent from Jamaica with the Maroons as Commissioners.

On June 26, 1796, the Dover, Mary, and Anne sailed from Port Royal Harbour, Jamaica to Halifax. One arrived in Halifax on July 21, the other two followed two days later totaling 543 men, women and children. The Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in North America who at that time was The Duke of Kent, impressed with the proud bearing and other characteristics of the Maroons, employed the entire group to work on the new fortifications at the Citadel Hill in Halifax. The Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Wentworth believed that the Maroons would be good settlers. He then received orders from the Duke of Portland to settle them in Nova Scotia. Following this the two commissioners responsible with credit of $25,000 (pounds) Jamaican currency from the government of Jamaica, expended 3,000 (pounds) on 5,000 acres of land and built the community of Preston. Governor Wentworth also was granted an allowance of 240 (pounds) annually from England to provide religious instruction and schooling for the community. After the first winter, the Maroons, raised in an independent and dominating culture and not impressed with the apparently servile virtues of cultivating the soil, became less tolerant of the condition in which they were living in.

The Maroons proved themselves to be excellent fighters, they were said to have been organized shortly after they arrived into military units to the style of self-government they had been used to in Jamaica. Forty gross of coats with metal buttons, and sixty gross of vests were order for their use in 1796. The insignia on the buttons was an alligator holding a wheat sheaf and an olive branch.

This was the time period when the military authorities were afraid that the French might try to recapture Nova Scotia by an invasion. Wentworth later went on to inform the British Government that he believed the Maroons would "be useful and faithful corps to oppose an invading army.

The winters of 1796-98 were very severe which caused the Maroons to suffer from discomfort and shortened their tempers as well.

In the spring of 1799, Sir John felt obliged to dispatch Captain Solomon and 50 men of the Royal Nova Scotia Regiment to Preston where they withheld supplies from the most refractory so as to maintain order. Meanwhile, Wentworth became increasingly disillusioned with the Maroons as settlers; besides, the money that was given to the Jamaican government towards their support was wearing very thin. The Jamaicans were not in favour of the suggested ways of supporting themselves and seemed likely therefore, to become a charge on the public purse. The Lieutenant Governor, in accordance with the demands of the Jamaicans, came to the conclusion that the best resolution would be to remove them from Nova Scotia.

Sierra Leone had also been suggested as a possible place of settlement before in 1796 the Maroons had arrived in Nova Scotia. The Sierra Leone company, however, was not in favour of receiving a "body of Negroes whose reputation could not be held to warrant such a step." The reasons for the company’s objections to the Jamaicans was because the earlier settlers from Nova Scotia were now in rebellion against the Sierra Leone Government and the colony was said to be intended for Christian Blacks and many of the Maroons were not in the Christian faith.

The Secretary of State later reopened negotiations with the Sierra Leone Company on the topic of the Maroons in 1799, but the Company was still not interested in the previous proposal. Sir John Wentworth gave his approval to the scheme and mentioned that the inhabitants of Nova Scotia would be very content with the idea of the removal of the Maroons. Finally, the Sierra Leone, Company was persuaded to receive them and plans were then made for their transportation to Africa.

The second attempt to settle the free Blacks of Nova Scotia also ended in the emigration of this particular group. The Maroons arrived in Freetown Harbour, Sierra Leone on October 1, 1800. Upon arrival to Sierra Leone, the Maroons were instructed to put an end to the insurrection of the Black Loyalists who had revolted against the government one year after their placement in Sierra Leone.

Although the majority of the Maroons left Nova Scotia, there were a few who remained; for example, a census done in 1817 of the Black community called Tracadie, Guysborough revealed that several persons living in that community were descendants of the Maroons and also Preston Area of Halifax County.

References: Grant, John. "Black Nova Scotians" pg. 15-16

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