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Runaway Slaves

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Qwest for Freedom

There seems to have always been a fear of slaves escaping and this is clearly shown by an entry in the 1767 regulations that stated:

“Sailing boats left with the sails, in the night time, the owners to pay for any Negro or servant that may run away with the said boat or boats, provided the boats sails, were taken out by the owner, in that case, the master of the servant or slave to make good all damages”.

It was probably for this reason why the Kings Agent Symmer showed concerns about the ratio between White and Black residents: the fewer white residents the easier it would be for slaves to escape. Early regulations stated “no Black Person or Molatto allowed to settle on Turks Islands as free people unless it can be proved by sufficient evidence that such Blacks or Molattos were born free” and that the maximum number of slaves per master was to be three, later increased to six. Slaves were not allowed to work the ponds without supervision whilst the masters would lose their rights over the ponds for that year if they were absent.

The “Royal Regulations”, accepted in 1781, included that no slave was allowed to work for themselves in any other ponds or pans than those of his owner and that no person was allowed a share for any slave after the latter had been absent for more than forty-eight hours from the islands, an attempt to encourage owners to stop slaves running away.

Most of the slaves would have been unhappy with their situation. Some would have considered escaping and in 1767 there are records of two slaves hiding out on a Spanish ship as they fled from the Turks Islands. The French claim that had found them adrift at sea:

“Sir, This day I had the honour to receive a Letter form you dated the 11th Instant, in which you claim the delivery of two Negros, who I have secured in Prison, they were brought here by a French Captain, who put into this Bazy for Necessaries, and having notice that he had the said two Negros on board, not stole, but which he met at Sea in a Boat without Provisions and ready to perish, he took them on board, from whence I had them delivered, in order to acquaint you of the matter the first opportunity. But at the same time in obedience to my General’s Orders, I have acquainted him thereof, for which reason the Bearer cannot deliver the said two Negroes, till I receive an Order form my General how to proceed, as soon as I do I will deliver them to whom you may appoint, or send them by Dn.Manuel d’Acosta a Spaniard, who has asked my leave to go for Salt, and who will readily take charge of the said Negros. I shall be glad of opportunities of serving you in this City, where I remain at your Command and pray to God to preserve you many Years. Montpxto 13th October 1767. I kiss your hands and am your assured Servant Pedri Ziron”

The slaves were returned but their fate is not recorded. But there is an interesting twist for in 1770 there are claims that Spanish and French ships stopping to collect salt were carrying off and stealing slaves:

Mr. Speaker, & Gentlemen of the Lower House of Assembly.
I must desire to be informed whether your House will agree to amend such laws as are necessary, so that they may be properly put in force throughout the Bahama Islands, This measure at least I think it is highly expedient to adopt, in order to protect and secure the property of His Majesty’s Subjects at Turks Island, and those that resort there for purpose of collecting salt, particularly in the instance of obliging Masters of Vessels to enter into the country bond there, for want of which power, great complaints are caused from thence, that their slaves are daily carried off and stolen by trading vessels, that visit those Islands. Government House, 25 Jany: 1770 Thos, Shirley

This would suggest that the slaves were not willing partners in this.

In 1770 Symmer wrote to Earl of Hillsborough:

My Lord, Sundry Negro’s having made their Escapes from these Islands, to the adjacent French & Spanish Settlements on the neighbouring Island of St, Domingo, I was extremely alarmed at the probability of the fatal consequences which would attend this young settlement if a stop was not put to the asylum which those slaves received in St. Domingo.

I accordingly repeatedly wrote to the French and Spanish Governors of the Northern Departments of that Island, and in the most forcible manner, after acquainting them, with the Justice, which hath always been shown to the French and Spanish Colonists, who repair hither for Salt, I took the Liberty to add, That I should represent the Affair to his Majesty’s Ministers, which might induce his Majesty to stop the Indulgence which he had hitherto granted, to the French and Spanish Subjects, Loading Salt at Turks Islands.

With the consent of the Owners, I accepted Three Hundred Dollars, for the Two Negroes in the Possession of the Spanish Government, with regard to those in the French Department, the Negroes were delivered up to my Orders by the Count de Choiseul, and are since arrived here which will put a stop to such Desertions for the future.

As hitherto the Governors of Jamaica and New Providence have never been able to prevail with the French and the Spanish Governors, to restore such runaway Slaves as have escaped to St. Domingo or Cuba, I have inclosed the Original Letters which was wrote me on the occasion, and which maybe made use of as a precedent on future occasions. At the same time I must do the French and Spanish Governors the Justice to declare, They have behaved with the greatest Friendship to his Majesty’s Subjects settled here, by supplying them with Greens and Fresh Meat, as often as a requisition has been made for that purpose’ I have the honour to be My Lord, Your Lordships most Obedient humble Servant.

To put the period into context we must look at what was happening in the area from the 1790s. The Haitian revolution, began in 1791, eventually saw the setting up of a free state for ex slaves. Many slaves in the West Indies looked towards Haiti for freedom and those that could, made their way there. In the Turks and Caicos Islands slave uprisings were not as vicious or as concerted as elsewhere in the West Indies. Slave rebellion in the Turks and Caicos seems to have been one of individual defiance, refusal to work, feigning illness, laziness at work or running away rather than true uprisings.

Slave misery was compounded by overwork, lack of food, mistreatment and objections to be sold or transferred to a new site or slave owner and it was usually as the result of these that slave discontentment was raised. It appears desertion by slaves at the end of the 18th century caused only a minor inconvenience. By the beginning of the 19th century the situation worsened, but not to the degree of elsewhere in the West Indies.

The slave revolt in Haiti led to the following letter sent on 27th January, 1798 the King’s Agent, Colonel Murray:

“Until the introduction of French Negroes among the Bermudian slaves, it is a fact notorious, that their attachment to their owners and native soil was such that no hardships would ever induce them to sacrifice their interest of the one nor abandon the other. Of late many valuable Negroes allured by the description given them of French liberty by their associates, have eloped to the enemy. One man, James Deane of Salt Cay, has lost no less than fifteen. Of the several plans to escape with boats to Cape Francois, we have found no instance where the French Negroes were not the principals or parties”

In 1821 Grand Turk salt proprietors were alarmed that many slaves had fled in salt lighters to freedom in Haiti. Prominent slave owners complained to Daniel Bascombe, Acting King’s Agent. He dispatched Joseph Frith with a letter to President Boyer and a letter was sent to the Admiralty at Port au Prince. The frigate H.M.S. Tamar was dispatched to Haiti to request the return of slaves, but under Haitian law the slaves were now free and would not be returned.

Slaves continued to flee. In 1823 John Lightbourne’s slaves escaped from their barracks at Hawkes Nest and sailed to Haiti. At the same time several hundred slaves escaped from North Caicos to Haiti using sloops owned by Wade Stubbs. A further exodus occurred in the schooner Polly, stolen from Henshall Stubbs at South Caicos. In 1833, salt proprietors became alarmed by local slave disturbances and the Bahamas Governor stationed detachment of the West Indies Regiment at Grand Turk to ensure law and order.

The Slave records of 1822-1834 clearly show that slaves were escaping. Saunders (1985, p82) states that between 1822 and 1825 of the 142 slaves listed as runaways in the Bahamas, 128 (90%) had absconded from the Turks Islands. She claims that this high number was because the Turks Islands salt rakers employed gangs of slaves and therefore slaves lived in larger groups and would be more likely to conspire to escape. Also the proximity of Santo Domingo and Haiti would have played a part as well as the fact that the numbers of slaves with access to ships would be higher (salt was being exported in vast amounts). Saunders also recorded that two escaping slaves even reached Liverpool, England.

The risk of desertion by the slaves and the theft of boats encouraged Henshall Stubbs to furnish one of his own boats to carry out coastguard duties to deter the slaves. This lasted from April 1832 to March 1834 and, in 1835 the Government for carrying out this work compensated him.

Culture & History

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Click here to view a timeline of important events and dates in the history of the islands

The Colors of the Turks and Caicos Islands

RED was chosen to represent the nation’s capital, Grand Turk. The color is taken from the red/pink fruit found on the national plant, the Turks Head Cactus. They were once found in abundance on Grand Turk before they were removed to accommodate the salt ponds.

WHITE was chosen to represent Salt Cay. The color came from salt. The salt industry was largely responsible for populating the islands of Salt Cay, Grand Turk and South Caicos.

ORANGE was chosen to represent South and East Caicos. The color comes from the Spiny Lobster and fish and reflects the fishing industry in the “Big South.”

TAN was chosen to represent Middle Caicos. The color is taken from the raw material (thatch) that once covered the roofs of the houses. It is also used to make straw hats, baskets and brooms. Middle Caicos is known for the superior quality of native craftwork.

GREEN was chosen to represent North Caicos and Parrot Cay. The color is taken from the fruit trees and other types of trees that flourish in the most fertile of all the islands. North Caicos is also home of Wade’s Green Plantation, the most successful of Caicos Islands cotton plantations.

TURQUOISE was chosen to represent the islands of Providenciales, Pine Cay and West Caicos. The color is taken from the beautiful turquoise waters that surround these islands on which our famous Caicos fishing sloops sail. These turquoise waters also contribute to our newest industry, tourism.

PINK was chosen to represent the beautiful conch shell, flamingoes and the numerous uninhabited cays that make up our chain of islands.

YELLOW represents God’s glory as the sun shining down on all our beautiful islands and cays. The sun also contributes to our newest industry, tourism.

View a timeline of important events and dates in the history of the islands

View Timeline

A Few Artifacts You’ll See at the Museum

Our collections represent the rich historical, cultural and natural heritage of the Turks and Caicos Islands and its people.

Lucayan Duho

Photo courtesy of Joanna Ostapkowicz. The Duho is one of the rarest artifacts in the museum’s collections. It was used a ceremonial seat for the cacique or chief of the Lucayans, the first inhabitants of these islands.

Fresnel Lens

The Grand Turk Lighthouse was erected in 1852 and was originally designed to burn whale oil and had an Argand reflector lamp. In 1943 the lighthouse was converted to a Fresnel Lens one of these lenses is now on display at the Museum.

Swivel Gun

The Molasses reef wreck, an early Spanish Caravel was equipped with three types of breech-loading swivel guns, one type is shown above. The swivel guns are thought to be anti-personnel weapons placed wherever convenient along the ship’s rail.

Salt Industry Post Card

The museum has diverse collection of early postcards of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Most post cards depict scenes on Grand Turk, the capital and from the salt industry.

Take a Look

Governor of the Turks & Caicos Islands

Her Excellency Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam

Nestled in the heart of Grand Turk, the Turks and Caicos Islands National Museum stands as a guardian of the rich history of the Turks and Caicos Islands and its vibrant culture. Housed in the historic "Guinep Lodge," a 200-year-old architectural gem, the museum invites all to embark on a journey through time, exploring the deep and diverse heritage of our nation.

From the ancient era of pre-Columbian civilization to modern-day milestones, the museum’s curated collection offers significant insight into the stories, traditions and legacies that have shaped the Turks and Caicos Islands. With admirable dedication, the museum serves as a custodian of these narratives, preserving invaluable artefacts that chronicle the experiences and contributions of its ancestors. Through its exhibits, the past comes alive, providing a unique cultural tapestry of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Beyond its role as a preserver of history, the museum is a vital hub of education and community engagement inspiring pride in our historical roots. The museum is more than a keeper of the past; it is an active participant in shaping the future of our islands. I encourage residents and visitors to experience the Turks and Caicos Islands National Museum.

Your support not only helps safeguard the heritage of the Turks and Caicos Islands but enriches collective understanding of the extraordinary journey that has shaped these beautiful by nature islands.

Minister for Tourism, Envrionment, Heritage & Culture, Maritime, and Gaming

Hon. Josephine Connolly

"It is a pleasure as Minister with responsibility of Heritage to welcome you to the Turks and Caicos Islands National Museum website. This Gem of an operation is perhaps the most notable establishment in regards to sites of historical interest. Since its establishment in 1991 it has always been an intricate part of our tourism product.

As a supporter, I believe the National Museum’s success depends on all resident and visitors; and as Minister I am committed to strengthening our tourism product through the infusion of authenticity and the increase in awareness of the National Museum in the development of heritage assets for sustainable tourism development.

Visit and explore the Grand Turk and Providenciales locations and experience our heritage and culture through interactive displays and exhibits. Special thanks is extended to the National Museum, a tangible product, a repository for artefacts and documents, providing a true island experience.".

Hon. Josephine Connolly
Minister for Tourism, Envrionment, Heritage & Culture, Maritime, and Gaming

Former President of Turks and Caicos Islands Community College

Dr. Hubert A. Fulford

"My interest in history and research goes back to my years as a student at the then Grand Turk Secondary School, where my teacher and later mentor, the late Helena Jones Robinson instilled a curiosity in me to appreciate context.  At that time, not fully appreciating the impact that curiosity would have on me, I sought only to please my teacher.

Pursuing tertiary education at various institutions, in various countries and at various levels, my initial foundation of inquiry was further stimulated.  Libraries and museums would form a very important part of my education, specifically during my studies in Jamaica, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Returning home after my studies abroad, my first visit to the Museum so captivated me that I began to tell all persons, visitors and islanders alike, that a visit to the museum was a MUST! The quaintness, yet thorough organization and presentation of artifacts of various kinds avowed me.

I found tremendous joy in taking my TCI Studies students to the Museum, standing back and listening to their expressions of excitement and curiosity as the curators and assistants would walk them through the various displays and presentations.

The Jamaican expression “likkle but tallawah” (small but strong) aptly fits our Museum.  The significance of this institution to our history and culture cannot be over stressed.

Welcome to The Museum.  A combination of history, culture and enchantment awaits you."

Dr. Hubert A. Fulford

Former President of Turks and Caicos Islands Community College

Historic Photo Gallery of the Turks and Caicos Islands

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Locations

Guinep House, Front Street

Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies (BWI)
Tel (01 649) 247-2160
From the US (786) 220-1159
Hours Vary - See our schedule under Locations

The Village at Grace Bay

Development Office and Caicos Heritage House
Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies (BWI)
Tel (01 649) 247-2160
Grace Bay Hours: See Hours For This Location

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