Jamaica Maps 1755 and 1804 to accompany Gazetteers

Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library

MAPS OF JAMAICA MAP 1755 AND 1804

The following work has been done by Antony Maitland, and is reproduced here on jamaicanfamilysearch.com by his kind permission.

Introduction

Two map series of Jamaica have been scanned. They were published in 1755 and 1804. There has been some loss of quality during the rejoining process on the 1804 maps.

Links to copies of these maps are given below with a Gazetteer for both 1755 & 1804 maps. 1100 names are recorded on the 1755 map and about 4400 on the 1804 version.

1755 MAP

The map is at a large scale (1:300,000 approx) and shows geographical features and properties, usually with the owners name. Different symbols are used to differentiate between the different types of property. In comparison with later charts, the coast is reasonably accurate, but inland features are not as accurately shown.

It is in 2 parts, split east/west.

Also shown is a map of Port Royal.

The Title is as follows (although rather more ornate!):

A
New Map
of
Jamaica
In which the several Towns Forts and Settlements are accurately laid down as well as y situations and depts of y most noted Harbours & Anchoring Places wi the limits and boundarys of the different Parishes and they have been regulated by the law or settled by custom; the greatest part Drawn or Corrected from actual surveys made by Mr Sheffield and others from the year 1730 to the year 1740.

Inscribed to the Gentlemen of the Island
By their humble servant
Patk Browne

Printed for and sold by John Bowles in Cornhill and Carrington Bowles in St Paul's Church Yard, London Price 5 shillings

Neatly fitted up on cloth Eight shillings and sixpence

Also shown:

A
Scale of Miles
69 to a degree

Footnotes below lower border:

I Bayly Sculp.

published according to Act of Parliament 1755.

1804 MAP

The 1804 survey of Jamaica by James Robertson was the basis of later maps. It seems to have been reasonably accurate. Sugar estates are usually shown by estate name, with symbols indicating mill type (water, cattle or wind), other properties (generically listed as pens) are usually shown by owners' name; around Kingston in particular, many of these are fairly obviously residences, and I have indicated as such on the copies.
It is drawn at a scale of 1" = 1 statute mile.

The map were published in three parts, one for each County, each "inscribed" to a different Royal Duke. Each part was copied in 6 sheets (each about 22" x 30"): these 6 sheets were scanned in 2 rows of 4 images and then stitched together.

A typical Title is transcribed below:

To
His Royal Highness
THE PRINCE OF WALES
This Map of
THE COUNTY of CORNWALL
in the
ISLAND of JAMAICA
Constructed from Actual Surveys under the Authority of
THE HON HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
By whom it hath been
Examined and universally Approved
Is, with permission
Most humbly inscribed
By
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS'S
Most faithful and devoted servant
James Robertson, A.M.
1804.

Published November 1st 1804 by James Robertson, A.M., late of Jamaica
Engraved by SJ Neele, 352, Strand, London.

Each of the three counties is inscribed to one of the Royal Dukes:

Cornwall: inscribed to the Prince of Wales

Middlsex: inscribed to the Duke of York

Surrey: inscribed to the Duke of Clarence.

1804 Copy & File Layout

The originals show each county on one sheet. Each of these sheets had been photocopied in 6 sheets; each of these was scanned in 9 A4 sections. These sections were then recombined into 2 images for each county, split north & south.

Gazetteer & Copies for Download.

The maps have beed saved in suitable sections of the Island, in line with the original hard copies used. A grid has been placed on each map and a Gazetteer made. There is some overlap on the copies, so there may be multiple entries for the same property: it should be self evident where this has happened.

The entries on the Excel sheets of the gazetteer have the name from the map with a description derived from the symbol on the map. Sugar plantations in 1804 have a column showing the type of mill.

The entries have the name from the map with a description derived from the symbol on the map. Sugar plantations in 1804 have a column showing the type of mill.

The names on the 1804 maps are easily readable on the original copy file before joining, and where necessary, these originals have been used for the exact spelling on the Gazetteer.

The names on the 1755 maps are sometimes difficult to read but are mostly recognisable. Question marks indicate doubtful entries.

Downloads

Downloads: these are big files, about 4-17 Mb each and need to be opened in a picture viewer with zoom.

NOTES from jamaicanfamilysearch.com

During this time period, most properties were KNOWN BY THE NAMES OF THE OWNERS,and that is how they are identified on these maps. This is of great importance to a genealogist. For example, a property that belonged to the Jackson family would be called Jacksons. The apostrophe was rarely used.

When you do a SEARCH you should also do a search on your family name with an s on the end. (For the most part, allowances have been made for this on the Gazetteers by including the apostrophe, which will make some searches easier.

On each Gazetteer, the heading "Up" refers to the vertical alphabetical coordinates
and the heading "L-Rt" refers to the horizontal numerical coordinates on the map.

In a deviation from the norm on other pages on this site, you are being requested to download the maps because of the size of the files.