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First Swaby Jamaica

Replies: 2

First Swaby Jamaica

Posted: 1 Apr 2011 5:32PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 7 Mar 2013 10:15AM GMT
Surnames: Swaby
The following is from Montpelier Nevis Jamaica plantation web site,
"During the 18th century Montpelier was a working sugar plantation and witness to the marriage of Lord Nelson to Fanny Nisbet in 1787.

Today the 30 acre estate is a secluded retreat from the hectic pace of distant shores. Most of the sugar fields have given way to tropical vegetation, though a small portion of land is still farmed for sugar that is used in the kitchens of Montpelier.

Montpelier fell into disrepair in the 1930's. A visitor from that time left an account describing the end of one era and the beginning of another:

“On the hill behind [the great stone mansion] rises the tower of the windmill, still intact, with its huge arms still motionless in the air...The sugar-boiling house is a thorough ruin...a great square stone tank sunk in the ground is full of water...one sometimes sees a flower garden with roses and other brilliant blossoms…”

Today, Montpelier Plantation has been carefully restored to its former glory."
I descend from Horatio Swaby and his daughter Agnes Swaby who lived at Spur Tree near Mandeville until her death about 1954. I have seen items concerning another plantation called Swaby's Hope that was occupied and thriving in the 18th and 19th century.
It is my hope we can all share in some more detailed information in the near future that will shed light on the Swaby's especially in the Mandeville area.

ugh- There seems to be two Montpelier towns in Jamaica. One is located in St. James parish, the plantation there was owned by the Ellis family ( which was the subject of the Higman book on Montpelier). The another town is located in Manchester parish where the Swaby plantation(s) were. Not too far from Mandeville, I might add. I do know that Manchester, one part of St. Elizabeth parish, was created around the 1830's. It's too bad there isn't a website for this family ( at least for the Jamaican branch). Other Jamaican plantation families have one ( Maitland, Campbell, Bromfield). It could help a lot doing research, if some of the info is brought together. Just a thought..
SubjectAuthorDate Posted
fefe84us 1 Apr 2011 11:32PM GMT 
TerrellAHolli... 28 Aug 2011 8:34PM GMT 
fefe84us 29 Aug 2011 6:14AM GMT 
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