Caribbean Religious Trials - Case Source details

A Twelvemonth’s Residence in the West Indies during the transition from slavery to apprenticeship: with incidental notices of the state of society, prospects, and natural resources of Jamaica and other islands

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Id:

1740

Title/Headline:

A Twelvemonth’s Residence in the West Indies during the transition from slavery to apprenticeship: with incidental notices of the state of society, prospects, and natural resources of Jamaica and other islands

Publication/reference number:

Date:

01/01/1834

Case source details

Pages:

Vol 2, p. 69

Content:

'In the criminal record-book of the parish of St. Andrews, I find the following obeah cases:--
1773. Sarah, tried ‘for having in her possession cats’ teeth, cats’ claws, cats’ jaws, hair, beads, knotted cords, and other materials, relative to the practice of obeah, to delude and impose on the minds of the negroes.’ Sentenced to be transported.
1776. Solomon, ‘for having materials in his possession for the practice of obeah.’ To be transported.
1777. Tony, ‘for practising obeah, or witchcraft, on a slave named Fortune, by means of which, said slave became dangerously ill.’ Not Guilty.
1782. Neptune, ‘for making use of rum, hair, chalk, stones, and other materials, relative to the practice of obeah, or witchcraft.’ To be tranported.'

Date	Court or location	Territory	Defendant	Type of charge	Outcome	Punishment
14/07/1772	St Andrew slave court	Jamaica	Sarah	Possession of obeah materials	Guilty	Transportation	Select
21/04/1777	St Andrew slave court	Jamaica	Tony	Practising obeah	Acquitted		Select
09/07/1782	St Andrew slave court	Jamaica	Neptune	Possession of obeah materials	Guilty	Transportation	Select