The Welsh

The Welsh

The Welsh are a small, but important part of Jamaica’s ethnic background and historical heritage. Migration from Wales to the island can be traced back to as early as the 1600s. A notable portion of these individuals were ministers of religion and plantation managers especially from the Anglican and Moravian faiths. Yet, they were more popular in Congregationalists and Methodist spheres. Dr. Thomas Coke, born in Brecon, Wales, in 1747 is one such individual who has left his mark on Jamaica’s religious landscape. Described as the founder of Methodism in Jamaica and a ‘fiery little Welsh man abounding charm, culture and character’ (Davies & Jones, 2), Coke ministered in several islands of the West Indies and was also a part of the anti-slavery movement. This explains why the ‘Parade’ Chapel in Kingston is now referred to as ‘Coke Memorial’ (ibid) (Davies & Jones, 1). Others included artisans, sailors and labourers (Senior, 511). Nonetheless, their numbers were significantly less in comparison to the Irish and Scots, who were mostly indentured servants and prisoners of war (Davies & Jones, 1&2). Remnants of Welsh’s presence in Jamaica are evident in religion, culture, architecture, appellation and culture.One of the main reasons why Port Royal is a major historical site is because it was once the base of the notorious Welsh buccaneer, Henry Morgan, who was very wealthy and believed to have died in 1688.

The usage of low walls made of free stones as perimeters for pastures and fields, that is common in the parishes of St. Ann and Trelawny and that has been transmitted to future generations; slate roofing of eighteenth and nineteenth centuries sugar works; and supposedly slate material used for the construction of primary school buildings up to the second half of the 1900s are all Welsh legacies (Senior, 511).

Undoubtedly the most common aspect of Welsh remnants can be seen throughout Jamaica. Place names include: Welsh Woman Point in Portland; Landeway in St. Thomas; Llandovery Falls, Llandovery- Richmond estates and Cardiffe Hall in St. Ann; Luidas Vale (debatable) in St. Catherine; Pantrepant in Trelawny; Denbigh in Clarendon; Llandillo in Westmoreland; and Mona in St. Andrew (Davies & Jones, 7-10).

Among personal names of Welsh origin are: Williams, Boyd, Davies, Evans, Jones, Morgan, Owens, Thomas, Howell, Hughes, Griffiths, Vaughan and Welsh/ Welch. Albergaveny, Aberstwyth, Brecknock, Llandudno, and Radnor, these were common suburban house names in Kingston and St. Andrew up to the mid 1900s, but faded thereafter (Senior, 511).

Sources

Davies, J.W. Dossett &Jones, Ifor Tegwyn. The Influence of the Welsh on the History and Development of Jamaica from 1655. Oxfordshire, England: Eastways, 1987.

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.