The Scots

The Scots

The first Scottish arrivals in Jamaica dates back to the mid seventeenth century when prisoners of war (Cromwellian Outbreak) were sent to the island as indentured servants. Another influx of Scottish migrants came between 1745 and 1746, following the demise of the last Jacobite Rebellion. Other Scottish migrants who came to the island include: hundreds of former Darien (failed Scottish settlement in Panama) settlers, a significant amount of voluntary immigrants, as well as beggars, gypsies and criminals. The Scots were one of the more dominant white ethnic groupings. It is estimated that by 1750, Scots made up approximately one third of the white population (Senior, 434). Remnants of their presence on the island are observable in various aspects of life and have also become a part of Jamaica’s European heritage.

 Prior to the institution of black slavery in the English speaking Caribbean, white indentureship served as the main means of labour supply and Scots were the most requested white workers. They held many of the skilled jobs on the plantations. However, with the establishment of black slavery much less Scots were recruited. The little that was recruited filled bookkeeping and similar posts. As a result, some migrated to other territories while others stayed and eked out an existence outside of the plantation (Senior, 434).

A notable portion of Scots, especially sojourners (those who migrated with the intention of returning to their native land) (Karass, 9-13), were doctors, lawyers, and attorneys/ estate managers. Even the poorest of them who occupied average managerial positions tended to advance to estate/ plantation owners.

After Emancipation and until 1845, Scots were again recruited to meet labour demands as well as augment the white population, which proved to be largely unsuccessful. One of the townships built, particularly for the Scots, was the Surrey Township of Altamont on the upper Rio Grande, close to the Moore Town Maroon settlement. Many of the Scots who settled this township in 1837, died from illnesses, while the others became a part of the Maroon settlement. Consequently, such assimilation led to the adoption of Scottish names in the Maroon community and to a larger extent, culture. These include: Brodie, Hepburn, Stevenson, Allan and Christian (Senior, 435).

Lewis Hutchinson, nicknamed Mad Master is an infamous Scottish immigrant, who is said to have used his estate, Edingburgh Castle to kidnap and torture several travelers who would stop by to rest. Travellers would stop here to rest as it was the only residence along the great distance from South St. Anns Bay. It is also believed that killing was more of a pass time for Hutchinson. Though he pleaded guilty, he was tried and sentenced to hanging in Spanish Town Square (Tortello, 38).

Place names such as: Auchenbreck and Auchendown in Westmoreland; Edingburgh Castle and Blackstonedge in St. Ann; Carlisle Bay in Clarendon; and Dressikie in St. Mary are all reflective of Jamaica’s Scottish heritage (Senior, 435).

Among other Scottish remnants are: the celebration of St. Andrews Day, St. Andrews Scots Kirk Church and the Scotch Reel Dance and Scottish influence on Jamaican English.

Sources

Karass, Allan L. Sojourners in the Sun: Scottish Migrants in Jamaica and the Chesapeake, 1740- 1800. New York: Cornell University Press, 1992.

Senior, Olive. Encyclopedia of Jamaican Heritage. St. Andrew: Twin Guinep Publishers, 2003.

Tortello, Rebecca. Pieces of the Past: a stroll down Jamaica’s Memory Lane. Kingston: Ian Randle Publishers, 2007.