Jamaica Emigration and Immigration: Difference between revisions

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===Immigration to Jamaica===
===Immigration to Jamaica===
*Jamaica was a possession of Spain until 1655, when England (later Great Britain) conquered it, renaming it Jamaica. *Under British colonial rule Jamaica became a leading sugar exporter, with a '''plantation economy dependent on the African slaves''' and later their descendants. The British fully emancipated all slaves in 1838, and many freedmen chose to have subsistence farms rather than to work on plantations.  
*Jamaica was a possession of Spain until 1655, when England (later Great Britain) conquered it, renaming it Jamaica. *Under British colonial rule Jamaica became a leading sugar exporter, with a '''plantation economy dependent on the African slaves''' and later their descendants. The British fully emancipated all slaves in 1838, and many freedmen chose to have subsistence farms rather than to work on plantations.  
*Many slaves managed to escape, forming autonomous communities in remote and easily defended areas in the interior of Jamaica, mixing with the remaining Taino; these communities became known as '''Maroons'''.
*Small numbers of Jews also came to live on the island.
*When the English captured Jamaica, '''most Spanish colonists fled''', with the '''exception of Spanish Jews''', who chose to remain in the island. Spanish slave holders freed their slaves before leaving Jamaica.
*Many slaves dispersed into the mountains, joining the already established maroon communities. During the centuries of slavery, Jamaican Maroons established free communities in the mountainous interior of Jamaica, where they maintained their freedom and independence for generations.
*Beginning in the 1840s, the British began using '''Chinese and Indian indentured labour''' to work on plantations.  
*Beginning in the 1840s, the British began using '''Chinese and Indian indentured labour''' to work on plantations.  
*The majority of Jamaicans are of '''Sub-Saharan African ancestry''', with significant '''European, East Asian (primarily Chinese), Indian, Lebanese, and mixed-race minorities.''' <ref name="Jam">"Jamaica", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica, accessed 11 June 2021.</ref>
*The majority of Jamaicans are of '''Sub-Saharan African ancestry''', with significant '''European, East Asian (primarily Chinese), Indian, Lebanese, and mixed-race minorities.''' <ref name="Jam">"Jamaica", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica, accessed 11 June 2021.</ref>

Revision as of 17:20, 11 June 2021

Jamaica Wiki Topics
Flag of Jamaica.svg.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Jamaica Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources

Online Resources[edit | edit source]

Finding the Town of Origin in Jamaica[edit | edit source]

If you are using emigration/immigration records to find the name of your ancestors' town in Jamaica, see Jamaica Finding Town of Origin for additional research strategies.

Jamaica Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

"Emigration" means moving out of a country. "Immigration" means moving into a country.
Emigration and immigration sources list the names of people leaving (emigrating) or arriving (immigrating) in the country. These sources may be passenger lists, permissions to emigrate, or records of passports issued. The information in these records may include the emigrants’ names, ages, occupations, destinations, and places of origin or birthplaces. Sometimes they also show family groups.

Immigration to Jamaica[edit | edit source]

  • Jamaica was a possession of Spain until 1655, when England (later Great Britain) conquered it, renaming it Jamaica. *Under British colonial rule Jamaica became a leading sugar exporter, with a plantation economy dependent on the African slaves and later their descendants. The British fully emancipated all slaves in 1838, and many freedmen chose to have subsistence farms rather than to work on plantations.
  • Many slaves managed to escape, forming autonomous communities in remote and easily defended areas in the interior of Jamaica, mixing with the remaining Taino; these communities became known as Maroons.
  • Small numbers of Jews also came to live on the island.
  • When the English captured Jamaica, most Spanish colonists fled, with the exception of Spanish Jews, who chose to remain in the island. Spanish slave holders freed their slaves before leaving Jamaica.
  • Many slaves dispersed into the mountains, joining the already established maroon communities. During the centuries of slavery, Jamaican Maroons established free communities in the mountainous interior of Jamaica, where they maintained their freedom and independence for generations.
  • Beginning in the 1840s, the British began using Chinese and Indian indentured labour to work on plantations.
  • The majority of Jamaicans are of Sub-Saharan African ancestry, with significant European, East Asian (primarily Chinese), Indian, Lebanese, and mixed-race minorities. [1]

German Immigrants[edit | edit source]

Between 1834 and 1842 four groups of Germans left for Jamaica:

  1. Thirteen families from the Braunschweig area landed in 1834 in Kingston. Their first settlement "Brunswick" failed. They eventually went to Clarendon.
  2. In December 1834 506 Germans landed in Port Royal. Some settled in Ballintoy/Alva, St Ann.
  3. 532 Germans landed in 1835 in Rio Bueno, Trelawny. Most of them originated from the Weserbergland and Westphalia, 28 came from Waldeck. 251 founded Seaford Town in Westmoreland. Of these settlers 34 died within the next two years, 108 moved on (mostly to the USA) and 119 stayed.
  4. 107 settlers arrived in December 1838, originating from Northern Germany, Franken and the Rhön (cultural areas).

Emigration from Jamaica[edit | edit source]

Due to a high rate of emigration for work since the 1960s, there is a large Jamaican diaspora, particularly in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[1]

For Further Reading[edit | edit source]

There are additional sources listed in the FamilySearch Catalog:

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Jamaica", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica, accessed 11 June 2021.

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