HISTORICAL NOTES

“Before His Excellency the Governor, the Attorney General and Solicitor General… Mr. Ward states that the negro woman Rosalind belonging to the Hope estate is a Creole of St. Vincent and aged 21 or thereabout – that her occupation on the estate has been that of a field negro – that about April last she ran away from the Estate and returned about a week ago – Upon her presenting herself to him he questioned her where she had been, and she replied that she had been in the woods – Mr. Ward insisting that that could not be the case, as she could not exist there by herself, she said no, that there were plenty of negroes there but stated no definite number {{more}}– She mentioned that there was a carpenter and other tradesmen with them, that they were armed and for want of employment kept their arms bright and in good order – that they were supplied with water in the hollow where they lived. She said there were some Charaibs among them and some negroes that spoke French. She said she knew the distinction of Caribs. After the woman had stated that she had been in the woods, Mr. Ward told her that if she would confess to him who had harboured her he would forgive her but that if she told him a lie he would punish her very severely; and then it was she mentioned the above circumstances.

Mr. Ward called upon the President to report what had passed and he desired him to wait upon the Governor which he accordingly did.” (Legislative Council Meeting, January 31, 1805)