1744

Minutes of Examination of a Negro Slave named Lucky the property of Mr James Cotton at Rio Bueno before Colonel William Robertson the Honourable Alexander Fullerton and Captain John Gordon this 31st day of December 1791.

CO 137/90 Williamson to Dundas

12/02/1792

Content:

'Saith that he has been runaway about seven months and has associated himself with about eighteen other Negroes men slaves and three women of different countries and owners among whom are three the property of John Blagrove Esquire of Orange Valley, two belonging to Georgia Estate in Trelawny one woman belonging to Mr William Nash one ditto to the estate of George Brown deceased and one to Wm Rock of Runaway Bay, one of the men who acts as a Captain named Quashee belongs to Mr Dawkins of Clarendon and the head Captain of the whole is Brutus the property of Richard Smart Fisher who has broke out of Trelawny workhouse where it is understood he was to remain for life. The above negroes have formed for themselves a Town and have planted provisions of different kinds and canes, and holds correspondence and are supplied with rum sugar salt and other necessaries by the negroes of Brampton Brian Estate and Tobolski Pens, and that Cooper Henry belonging to Brampton Bryan [sic] Estate is the particular friend of Captain Brutus and particularly supplies him with a gang of hunting dogs to the number of twelve. The reason Lucky gives of leaving the above party of runaway slaves is because he was understood by the head man of the party that as martial law had now taken place the white people would be called out to town to fight the French and Spaniards, it would be then a good opportunity which they meant to embrace of falling upon the remaining white people killing them burning and destroying their properties and altho’ the runaways doth not publish it he really is confident that the Brampton Bryan Negroes and many others will join in the rebellion Brampton Bryan Harry has endeavoured to supply them with powder in return of their [illegible] hogs they will send down that Harry has already procured for them a cask keg or bottle of powder but the Negroe Harry had employed was detected and sent to the workhouse of Trelawny at Martha Brae, he has never seen any fire arms with the above Negroes except one gun with Captain Brutus, but that they are well armed with long Iron Lances and cutlasses, procured them by Brampton Bryan Estate Negroes from Duncan’s and Rio Bueno’s stores and he further says that there are about twelve other runaway men slaves associated and have a settlement at the black Grounds of Trelawney whose Captain is named Quashy the property of William Ashley Fisher of Trelawny two of them the property of Mr Luton of Trelawny but says he is not acquainted with any of the rest, but understands that there is four of them the property of Mr Irving the jobber and that Captain Quashey and this party mean after Xmas holidays to join the other eighteen at their settlement called Wallinon when they can see many settlements in this parish and that the method of these slaves is before they’ll reveal any of their secrets to each other is to mix part of the blood of each in a calabash with water and money which is drunk by the person that is to swear and their oath is that they will not leave them or reveal any of their secrets but if catched to wait patiently until they have the opportunity of rejoining their party, that they have also a fortune teller, who can discover any of the party who will prove false to his oath and that the place where then mean to have their head quarters, when the two parties is joined is situated behind the present settlement of the eighteen on a high hill accessible only by one foot paths, but if alarmed they can let themselves down when no person can follow.'

The document continues onto the next page, including more testimony from Lucky and some from others, who confirm that Brutus had been in workhouse for life and had escaped.