Antigua and Barbuda Colonial Records

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British Colonization (1632-1981)[edit | edit source]

After their initial settlement of Antigua in 1623, England succeeded in colonising the islands in 1632. In 1981, the islands gained their independence from the United Kingdom, and became the nation of Antigua and Barbuda. However, the nation remains a British Commonwealth and constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen.[1]

Record collection Years covered Record type Language Who is in the records
The Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC), 1384-1858 1649-1857 Wills English Until 1858, all wills had to be proved by the church and other courts. Most of the individuals in these records were relatively wealthy.
Caribbean Association Oath Rolls, 1696 1696 Oath Rolls English The record set gives basic details of signatories (and no additional information appears in the original records of this early date).
British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, Antigua and Barbuda at Findmypast - index & images ($) 1995-2005 Births and baptisms English Children born to those working within the armed forces, merchant navy, and consular forces, as well as, civilian ship passengers.
British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials, Antigua and Barbuda at Findmypast - index & images ($) 1996-2000 Deaths and burials English Members of the British armed forces who died while serving their country overseas, British civilians who died while traveling or working overseas, and individuals (including seaman) who died at sea.
Former British Colonial Dependencies, Slave Registers, 1813-1834 at Ancestry ($) - index & images 1813-1834 Slave registers English In 1807 The Abolition of Slave Trade Act came into force. The act made the trade in slaves from Africa to the British colonies illegal. To combat illicit transportation following this act many of the British Colonies began keeping registers of black slaves who had been so-called “lawfully enslaved”.
Antigua, Petition Of The Coloured Inhabitants 1830 at Findmypast — index ($) 1830 Petition English Inhabitants of Antigua of mixed racial heritage.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Wikipedia contributors, "History of Antigua and Barbuda," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Antigua_and_Barbuda#European_colonisation_(1632%E2%80%931981), accessed 27 August 2019.