Edward Gillard’s petition 1743
Our document today is a petition by Edward Gillard to Sir Thomas Shirley, Governor of the Leeward Islands. It is accompanied by a plan, first drawn in 1743, for the lot of land mentioned in the petition.
Sir Thomas Shirley was first appointed governor of the Leeward Islands in 1781. In January 1782, when a French Fleet invaded St. Kitts and later Nevis, he realized how badly outnumbered he was and he withdrew the troops and the militia to Brimstone Hill. He remained as Governor till 1795.
Edward Gillard was a merchant and planter. In the 1770s he was resident at Morne estate to the East of Basseterre. The Gillard family had been in St. Kitts at least since the end of the 17th century, perhaps earlier. They were of French origin and probably Huguenots (French Protestants). This may explain why Gillard felt the need to emphasis his loyalty especially so soon after the invasion. In due course, we hope we will find out how he used the land.
But perhaps what is most interesting about this document is not the transaction but the information it provides about the physical environment. From it we know that there was a jail in Old Road. This was to be expected as it had been the main town of the English part of the island. The jail had been abandoned by 1786, may be even by 1743 as there is no indication of a building on the plan. This was probably due to the fact that the administration had moved to Basseterre after 1728.
We are also told that the southern boundary was the King’s lower highway. That corresponds to today’s road. But at the time there was still a highway that cut across higher ground and is no longer in use.
Reading documents carefully sometimes provides little bits of information that help us work out changes in the built environment over time.
Special thanks to Ruth Case for the transcription of the document
TRANSCRIPT:
St. Christopher
To his Excellency Thomas Shirley Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over all His Majestys Leeward Charibbee Islands in America Chancellor Vice Admiral and Ordinary of the same &c. &c. &c.
The Humble Petition of Edward Gillard of the Island of Saint Christopher, Gentleman,
Sheweth that his Majesty is seized to him his Heirs and Successors of a parcel of waste land situate in the Town of Old Road in the parish of Saint Thomas Middle Island in the said Island of Saint Christopher on which the old goal [jail] formerly stood being abutted and bounding to the North with lands of William Abbott eighty feet, to the East with lands belonging to Robert Lord Romney eighty feet, to the South with the Kings lower highway leading round the Island eighty feet, to the West with the Street leading to the Estate of the said Robert Lord Romney eighty feet, and which is at present a heap of ruins and of little or no value
That your Petitioner is a true and loyal subject of his Majesty and zealously attached to his most sacred person and government, Your Petitioner therefore most humbly prays your Excellency to Grant unto him the said piece or parcel of waste land herein before particularly mentioned and described.
And your Petitioner is in duty bound shall ever pray &c.
[signed] Edwd. Gillard
