Coloured Members of the Bahamian House of Assembly in the Nineteenth Century
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15362/ijbs.v10i0.36Abstract
This article focuses on some little known 'coloured' members of the House of Assembly of the nineteenth century. The position of the Bahamians of mixed race is discussed, particularly vis-à-vis the white Nassauvian elite. Their achievements are noted, but the limitations of their political careers are emphasized. These men were, in essence, politically and socially ambitious individuals, who did not seek to represent the lower classes or black Bahamians. Moreover, party organization was not yet a feature of the Bahamian political system, except during a period of religious turmoil in mid-century when denominational adherence was the grouping factor. The coloured representatives were generally pro-Government and pro-established Church.References
Primary documents
Baptism register of Christ Church, 1802-1828.
Blake, H. (1886, May 22). Original correspondence from the Governor to the Secretary of State, CO23/228/148-156.
Blake, H. (1887, July 9). Original correspondence from the Governor to the Secretary of State, no. 90, C.O.23/229/353.
Colonial Office dispatch no. 24542. (1888, December 11). CO23/230/433.
Dillet, S. A. (1892, May 18). Private correspondence to J. C. Smith, CO23/236/321.
Election book, 1808-1868.
Fiddian, A. (1904, September 26). Memorandum of interview, CO23/259/581.
Gregory, J. (1850, April 18). Private correspondence to the Undersecretary at the Colonial Office, CO23/135/15-17
.
Gregory, J. (1850, May 30). Original correspondence from the Governor to the Secretary of State, no.48, CO23/135/249-251.
Gregory, J. (1851, June 20). Original correspondence from the Governor to the Secretary of State, no. 46, CO23/138/386-389.
Mathew, G. (1846, March 12). Original correspondence from the Governor to the Secretary of State, no. 20, CO23/123/151.
Mathews, T. M. (1858, March). Private correspondence to the Governor, CO23/156/193-197.
Nesbitt, C. R. (1864, June 8). Original correspondence from the Governor to the Secretary of State, no. 3, CO23/175/10-11.
O'Brien family papers 1801-1937.
Pollen, C. H. (1893). Character reference, CO23/238/293-294.
Powles, L. D. (1893, July 31). Private correspondence to Undersecretary at the Colonial Office, CO23/238/278-286.
Rawson. R. (1866, July 21). Governor's Despatch, no.125.
Return of Registration of Slaves, 1822-1834.
Robinson, W. (1876, June 17). Governor's Despatch, no. 105.
Robinson. W. (1875, June 24). Original correspondence from the Governor to the Secretary of State, CO23/2l4/148-153.
Shea, A. (1889, July 2). Original correspondence from the Governor to the Secretary of State, CO23/231/356-357.
Shea, A. (1893, April 29). Original correspondence from the Governor to the Secretary of State, CO23/236/256-262 and enclosures CO23/236/264-397.
Smith, J. C. (1892, May 18). Private correspondence to S.A. Dillet, CO23/236/321.
Secondary
An Almanack for 1879 (1879): With a guide to the Bahamas, Nassau directory, &c. E. C. Moseley.
Anderson, G. C. (1943). Laws of the Bahamas, in force on the 14th March, 1842. Arranged in eight parts : To which is added, a ninth part, containing the Acts of Assembly, of the sixth year of her Majesty's reign. Nassau Guardian.
Bahamas Almanac and Register. (1857).
Bahamas Legislature. (1848-1852). Votes of the Honourable House of Assembly of the Bahama Islands.
Bahamas Legislature. (1868). Votes of the Honourable House of Assembly of the Bahama Islands.
Bahamas Legislature. (1887). Votes of the Honourable House of Assembly of the Bahama Islands.
Church of England. Diocese of Nassau. Synod. (1888, June). Report of the Proceedings of the thirteenth Synod ... of the Church in the Diocese of Nassau, West Indies.
Dupuch, E. (1967). Tribune story. Ernest Benn.
McWeeney, S. (1994). The 'Haitian Problem' in The Bahamas at the close of the 18th century. Journal of the Bahamas Historical Society, 16(1), 2-9.
Nassau Guardian. (1886, September 25-November 10). https://dloc.com/AA00076890/02957
Nesbitt, C. R. (1834). Preface. In J. Boyd, The vision, and other poems, in blank verse (pp.vi-vii). Longman & Co.
Obituary [W. E. Armbrister]. (1907, June 22). Nassau Guardian and Bahama Islands Advocate and Intelligencer. https://dloc.com/AA00076890/04905/2
Powles, L. D. (1888). Land of the pink pearl. Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington.
Riley, S. (1980). W. E. Armbrister's loyalist heritage. Journal of the Bahamas Historical Society, 2(1), 3-10.
Saunders, D. G. (1990). Bahamian society after Emancipation. Ian Randle.
Smith, R. T. (1988). Kinship and class in the West Indies: A genealogical study of-Jamaica and Guyana. Cambridge University Press.
Stephen Dillet, Esqre. [Obituary]. (1880, October 9). Nassau Guardian and Bahama Islands Advocate and Intelligencer. https://dloc.com/AA00076890/02345/2
Themistocleous, R. M. (1997). L. D. Powles, stipendiary magistrate. Journal of the Bahamas Historical Society, 19, 19-29.
Wood, D. (1990). The free people of colour in Bahamian society. Journal of the Bahamas Historical Society, 12, 20-24.
