Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library
This territory was first partially settled, by the Dutch West India Company, in 1580. It was from time to time held by Holland, France, and England. It was restored to the Dutch, in 1802; but in the following year, retaken by Great Britain, to whom it was finally ceded, in 1814.*
List of Governors, who have administered the Government since the Union of the three provinces of Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice, in 1831
1831. Sir Benjamin D'Urban.
1833. Lt. Colonel Courtenay Chambers (Acting).
1833. Sir James Carmichael Smyth (Lt.Gov.)
1835. Sir Lionel Smith.
1836. Sir J. Carmichael Smyth.
1838. Major W. N. Orange (Acting).
1838. Colonel Thomas Bunbury (Acting).
1838. Henry Light.
1848. W. Walker (Acting).
1854. P. E. Wodehouse.
1857. W. Walker (Acting).
1858. P. E. Wodehouse.
1861. W. Walker (Acting).
1862. F. Hincks.
1866. Major Mundy (Lt.Gov.)
1867. F. Hincks.
1860. J. Scott.
__________________________________
"Colonial Office List," 1871.
1.
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF CAPTAIN WILLIAM PEAKE, THE BRAVE AND HIGHLY RESPECTED COMMANDER OF HIS MAJESTY'S BRIG "PEACOCK," WHOSE DEATH WAS GLORIOUS AS HIS LIFE WAS HONOURABLE ENGAGED IN UNEQUAL COMBAT WITH THE AMERICAN SHIP OF WAR, " HORNET," A CANNON SHOT, IN MERCY TERMINATED HIS EXISTENCE, ALMOST AT THE SAME MOMENT THAT HIS GALLANT VESSEL CONSIGNED TO THE DEEP GAVE A WATERY SEPULCHRE TO THE REMAINS OF HER LAMENTED CHIEF. TO COMMEMORATE THIS GLORIOUS, BUT FATAL ENGAGEMENT, WHICH TOOK PLACE ON THESE SHORES, ON THE 24th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1813, AND TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF A DISTINGUISHED OFFICER HIS EXCELLENCY GENL. CARMICHAEL, ACTING GOVERNOR, SYMPATHISING WITH THE GENEROUS FEELING OF THE INHABITANTS OF THIS UNITED COLONY IN THE UNIVERSAL EXPRESSION OF SINCERE REGRET,WAS PLEASED TO GRANT, IN THEIR BEHALF, THIS MEMORIAL TO HIS FAME.
Verses follow.)
CAPTAIN WILLIAM PEAKE was the brother of the late Sir Henry Peake, Kt., Surveyor of the Navy, from 1806 to 1822.
The subject of the above inscription is briefly referred to, in the " Naval Biographical Dictionary," as follows:" Captain William Peake was killed, and his ship, the 'Peacock,' 18 guns and 122 men, was sunk in a desperate action with the American sloop 'Hornet,' 20 guns and 165 men, 24th February, 1813."
It does not appear whether this officer was married and left any descendants. His brother, Sir Henry, however, was the father of two distinguished naval officers, viz., Captain T. L. Peake, who served on the Walcheren Expedition of 1809, and during the memorable action with the French ship " Rivoli," 74 guns, in 1812, and Commander H. F. Peake. There was also a Lieutenant Charles Peake, (born 1793, died 1847 who had done good service in his day, but whether he was a member of the above family is not known to the author.
2.
HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN MURRAY AND THE HONOURABLE COURT OF POLICY IN THE NAME, AND ON THE BEHALF OF THE INHABITANTS OF THIS UNITED COLONY, HAVE DEDICATED THIS MONUMENT TO THE MEMORY OF HUGH LYLE CARMICHAEL, ESQ., MAJOR-GENERAL OF HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES,
_____________________________________________________
The Rev. W. G. G. Austin, and the Rev. P. A. Stevenson, have contributed these inscriptions.
MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS, 425
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE DURING HIS GOVERNMENT, ON THE 11th DAY OF MAY, 1813 AGED 49 YEARS. AS AN OFFICER HE WAS BRAVE AND LOYAL. AS A GOVERNOR, ZEALOUS AND INDEFATIGABLE.
3.
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MAJOR-GENERAL SIR JAMES CARMICHAEL SMYTH, BARONET, C.B., K.M.T., K.StW. APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF BRITISH GUIANA, 1831 DIED 4 MARCH, 1838, AGED 58 YEARS. ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION.
SIR JAMES CARMICHAEL SMYTH, K.C.H., &c., born 22nd Feb., 1780, was created a Baronet 25th August, 1821. He was one of the eight sons of James Carmichael, M.D., F.R.S., Phys. Extraordinary to George III, by his wife, Mary Holyland; and married Harriet, daughter of Genl. Robert Morse.
The family assumed the name of Smyth, in compliance with the testamentary injunction of James Smyth of Atheury, maternal grandfather of James Carmichael, the father of the first Baronet.
4.
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MAJOR-GENERAL STEPHEN ARTHUR GOODMAN, C.B. AND K.H., BORN 19th JANUARY, 1780, DIED 2d JANUARY, 1841. HE SERVED THROUGHOUT THE WAR IN THE PENINSULA AND THE NETHERLANDS UP TO ITS TERMINATION BY THE GLORIOUS VICTORY OF WATERLOO. IN 1821, HE RECEIVED FROM HIS SOVEREIGN, THE OFFICE (PATENT) OF VENDUE MASTER OF DEMERARA AND ESSEQUIBO, WHICH HE HELD TO HIS DECEASE.IN 1823 HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE COMMAND OF THE MILITIA, AND DURING THE MANY YEARS HE HELD IT RENDERED ESSENTIAL SERVICE TO THE COLONY, IN THE PRESERVATION OF ITS INTERNAL TRANQUILLITY. THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY THE SURVIVING OFFICERS OF THE MILITIA WHO SERVED UNDER HIM, AND BY FRIENDS WHO SYMPATHISE WITH HIS SORROWING FAMILY FOR THE IRREPARABLE LOSS THEY HAVE SUSTAINED. HE WAS BELOVED IN LIFE AND HIS DEATH WAS LAMENTED BY THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. HIS REMAINS WERE INTERRED WITH THE HONOURS DUE TO HIS RANK, IN THE MILITARY BURIAL GROUND AT EVE LEARY.*
5.
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF ALEXANDER MILNE, ESQ., LATE LIEUTENANT COLONEL 19th REGIMENT, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 5th OF NOVEMBER, 1827, AGED 46 YEARS, 30 OF WHICH HAD BEEN MOST ZEALOUSLY DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY. THIS TABLET HAS BEEN ERECTED BY THE OFFICERS OF THE 19th REGIMENT, AS A MARK OF THEIR SINCERE ESTEEM AND RESPECT, TO THE MEMORY OF THEIR MUCH LAMENTED COMMANDING OFFICER WHOSE REMAINS, BY HIS OWN PARTICULAR DESIRE, ARE INTERRED IN THE MILITARY BURIAL GROUND AT EVE LEARY.
____________________________________________
Eve Leary is the name of the Cantonment of George Town, Demerara. N.B. The author, while staying there in 1857, witnessed precisely such a phenomenon as that described, in Mr. Waterton's work on South America, as probably due to subterranean volcanic agencies.
Page 426
The following are old Dutch Epitaphs, from a Plantation at Coomacha, 150 miles inland.
HIER LEYT BEGRAVEN, MONSIEUR CORNELIS RASSCHE IN SYN LEEVEN, RAAT DERER COLONIE, MR PLANTER OP MARKEY, GEBOOREN DER 17 NOV. Ao. 1689, IS OVERLEDENDEN 15 MAY, Ao. 1726.
Translation.
Here lies buried, Master Cornelis Rassche, during his life Member of Council of this Colony, Master planter of Markey: born the 17th Nov., in the year 1689: deceased 15th May, in the year 1726.
HIER BENEDEN LEYT BEGRAVEN SYN
SUSTER JESABETHR (R)ASSCHE GEBORN
DER 19 JUNY, Ao. 1694,
EN OVERLEDEN EN YAER DAERNA.
EN SYN BROEDER JOHANNES RASSCHE GEBOREN DER 18 JANUUWARY, Ao. 1692. EN OVEREEDEN ANNO 1696.
Translation.
Hereunder, lies buried his sister, Elizabeth Rassche, born the 19th June, in the year 1694, and deceased a year thereafter. And his brother, John Rassche, born the 18th January, in the year 1692, and deceased in the year 1696.
2.
HIER LEYT BEGRAVEN DE HEER DAVID BALLE, RAATEN MESTER PLANTER OP DE PLANTAGIE EN MARKAY. IS GEBOEREN DER 15 NOV., 1692, EN GERLONEE DE 8 NOV., 1734.
Translation.
Here lies buried the Master (Squire?) David Balle, Member of Council and Master (chief) planter in the Plantation of Markay,* born on the 15th Nov., 1692, and died on the 8th Nov., 1734.
_____________________
* Probably named after "the Isle of Marken, a little north-east of AMsterdarn."[R. S. Charnock, in "Notes and Queries," 5th S., 11, 15.
SEARCH THIS SITE
GO TO:
Help - Frequently Asked Questions
Jamaica Almanacs Slave-owners, Civil & Military officers, Magistrates etc.
Items in the Samples Directory
Items in the Members Directory
Transcriptions from Registers and Wills (Church of England, Dissenters, Civil Registration)
Jamaican Roman Catholic Church Registers - transcriptions
Jamaican Methodist Baptisms - transcriptions
Jewish births marriages deaths - transcriptions