2$6 TlMEHRl. 
of Customs as well as a Member of the Council 
of that island. When grants of land were being 
made in Demerara, many of the Barbadian planters 
took up estates, and the CLARKE family seem to 
have had a very good selection. At the period in 
question the centre of the colony was the second island, 
but the Fort had not yet been erected, and there being 
no centre of the population, there were no means of 
protecting the plantations from an enemy. A small 
block-house or Brandwagt stood on the site of what is 
now the Stabroek Market, but this was only of use to 
give notice of the arrival of vessels. As may be sup- 
posed the unprotected state of the colony frightened 
the poor planters when they heard that all the slaves 
in Berbice had revolted, and threatened to come over- 
land to Demerara to set their brethren free, and drive 
out all the whites. The following plantations belonged 
to the CLARKE family at this time : — 
Gedney Clarke Senior — Blenheim, near Tinaboe Creek, granted 1752 
Gedney Clarke Junior — The Loo ... ... ... 1752 
„ Golden Grove ... ... 1753 
„ Hampton Court, between Peter's Hall 
and Diamond ... ... *757 
William Clarke — Richmond, next Blenheim ... 1753 
Pieter Clarke — York, next Loo ... ... 1753 
Frank Clarke — Friendship, next Golden Grove... 1752 
Among the estate owners other Barbadian names 
appear; SAMUEL Carter owned " Garden of Eden," 
John Carter "Diamond," and John Birmingham 
was proprietor of " Lucky Hit," next to Peter's Hall, 
as well as Dalgin.* 
* Hartsinck states that the slaves on Mr. Birmingham's plantation 
(Dalgin ?) revolted when they heard of the insurrection in Berbice. 
