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Title Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1881. Volume 4. Jamaica, Windward and Leeward Islands and Miscellaneous Despatches
Date 6 Jan 1881 - 20 Apr 1882; 4 Mar 1884
Document Type Correspondence; Manuscript
Reference CO 384/135
Library / Archive The National Archives
Collection Name War and Colonial Department and Colonial Office: Emigration Original Correspondence.
Description Correspondence from the governors of Jamaica, the Windward Islands and Leeward Islands to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Letters consist of annual reports and ship arrival reports from immigration agents and protectors of immigrants, including several individual case studies. Also included are letters discussing indentured labourers, estates of deceased labourers and applications for free and assisted passage.
Series Description This series contains correspondence relating to British settlement in North America and Australasia, and to Indian indentured labour in the West Indies. Until 1857 it consists of domestic letters alone. The series then ceases and is not resumed until 1872.
Biographical Note / History A Colonial Land and Emigration Commission was created in 1840 to undertake the duties of two earlier and overlapping authorities under the supervision of the secretary of state: the Colonisation Commissioners for South Australia and the Agent General for Emigration. In 1855 it became the Emigration Commission. The commission's powers were gradually given up to the larger colonies as they obtained self-government, and after 1873 it was responsible only for controlling the importation of Indian labour into sugar-producing colonies. It was abolished in 1878 and an Emigration Department was then set up in the Colonial Office. This department was merged with the General Department in 1894, and abolished altogether in 1896.
Theme(s) Remigration; Politics, Legislation and Governance; Religion, Ethnic Identity and Community Relations; Remigration
Country (from) China; Great Britain; India; Trinidad; British Guiana; Jamaica; St Lucia; St Vincent; Grenada; Nevis; St Kitts; Antigua; Honduras; Barbados; Mauritius; Guadalupe; Surinam; Ireland
Country (to) India; Trinidad; British Guiana; Jamaica; St Lucia; St Vincent; Grenada; Nevis; St Kitts; Antigua; Honduras; Canada; Barbados; Mauritius; Guadalupe; Surinam; Ireland
Places Demerara, British Guiana; Maritzburg, Durban, South Africa; London, England
Ports Calcutta, Madras, India; Kingston, Jamaica; Natal, South Africa
Nationality Indian; Chinese; English; Irish; Creole
Ships Cheetah; Neva; Hereford; Humber; Howrah; Syria; Bann; Tiber; Eider; Solent; L.B. Weaver; Alice; Bahama; Perseverance; Muriel; Migumooweso; St Arno; Dunphaile Castle; Umvoti; Mars; Canada
People Lord Kimberley (Wodehouse, John); Grant Duff, Monstuart Elphintstone; Musgrave, Anthony; Berkeley, Sir George; Mitchell, Charles; Robinson, Sir William
Keywords health, sickness, disease, hospital, journey conditions, death, mortality rate, legislation, wages, free passage, assisted passage, land grant, alcohol, labour, labourers
Language English
Document(s) linked to Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1881. Volume 1. Mauritius Despatches
Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1881. Volume 2. Hong Kong, Straits, Australian and British Guiana Despatches
Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1881. Volume 3. Trinidad Despatches
Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1881. Volume 5. Offices and Companies and Crown Agents
Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1881. Volume 6. Agents (Except Crown Agents), Individuals and Surgeons
Copyright Crown Copyright documents © are reproduced by permission of The National Archives London, UK