Aims and objectives
The Deans Valley Dry Works Estate Slave Records is a collection of 18 vellum folders of documents concerning the Deans Valley plantation in Westmoreland, Jamaica. These records concern the indentures, surrenders and releases, assignments, conveyances and transfers and mortgages of slaves, executed between Richard Atkinson of the City of London and his heirs, David Laird, Joseph Foster Barham, Sir Thomas Baring, Charles James Fox Coombe, Purchas Lumley and his heirs, and Messrs. The period the documents cover (1781-1832) is unique to the UWI Mona Library.
The Dean's Valley collection is a rare and invaluable 18th-century primary source that offers an unparalleled window into Jamaica's colonial history and its deep ties to slavery. It provides a detailed account of plantation operations, shedding light on the harsh living and labour conditions of enslaved Africans, as well as the socio-economic structures that underpinned the plantation economy. As a vital research tool, the manuscript presents first-hand evidence of social conditions, resistance efforts and the broader colonial framework. Moreover, it offers rich genealogical information, aiding researchers in tracing familial connections.
