Records of Old Barbados. 



By G. H. Ha-wtayne, C.M.G., F.R.G.S. 



[HE public records in Barbados dating from 1630, 

 or even an earlier time, are full of interest 

 to tiiose who care about the history of our 

 West Indian Colonies and their founders. Wills and 

 deeds, quaint in their wording, make mention of names 

 well-known in the Old Country and illustrate the begin- 

 ning of the " ancient colony," as Barbados may well Ije 

 termed. The records of the proceedings of Council and 

 Assembly, of disputes between Governors and Legisla- 

 tures, dissensions of Royalists and Republicans, the 

 dignified language in which the public business was 

 conduced, the outwardly respe6lful tone of addresses to 

 or remonstrances with the Governor, and the equally 

 courteous terms in which His Excellency at times adminis- 

 tered a snubbing, with the grave earnest way in which 

 the welfare of the colony was considered, these and such 

 like are interesting and valuable to the student of Colo- 

 nial History. Some few years ago the Legislature of 

 Barbados, moved by representations from persons inter- 

 ested in' the colony's history, voted the handsome sum of 

 ;^5oo to defray the expense of copying these records* 

 many of which were decaying. It is to be regretted 

 that more has not been done. Those documents which 

 were most difficult to decipher and most needing 

 transcription were negle6led for easier tasks, and so 

 there remain shelves of old books and bundles of old 

 papers, sadly decayed and requiring the greatest care, 

 lest the leaves fall to pieces at a touch, but containing 



