Robert Sandilands', Chief Justice and Philanthropist of Nassau, New Providence Island, Bahamas, signed manuscript letters

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Robert Sandilands', Chief Justice and Philanthropist of Nassau, New Providence Island, Bahamas, signed manuscript letters

• 1833-1834 (Vervaardig)

"Four manuscript signed letters from Mr. (and Mrs.) Sandilands, British Chief Justice, plantation owners, philanthropist, and abolitionist, who essentially founded the Fox Hill region, addressed to Mr. Bosanquet, their banker in London and dealing with the purchase of a mansion and a phaeton carriage, which is of historical significance. Together with one (1) small manuscript note to Mr. Sandilands trustees regarding freight and insurance for the carriage shipped to the island in November 1833.

Mr. Sandilands and his wife Mary had arrived in the Bahamas in 1830, only 3 years before these letters were written. Robert Sandilands is best remembered for taking a leading role at the time of abolition by offering, in 1840, small parcels of his 1200 acres of land in the Fox Hill District to freed slaves for £10 or the equivalent in labour, encouraging them to 'work hard, be loyal, and grateful for their boon.' His scheme formed a free-slave settlement, originally called Creek Village. Within it, he created a small 'Village Square' centered around an ancient cotton silk tree. In 1849, the recipients of the lots renamed the town Sandilands Village after their benefactor. His first land purchased, 60 acres, part of his estate later to be subdivided into 100 lots, is described in two of the present letters, an investment and vision he began investing into in 1833. [In August 1833, the Abolition of Slavery Act became law. In his final will and testament, Sandilands stated his wish that all of his slaves be freed. In gratitude, most or all took his name as their surname; as former slaves, none of them had surnames.]

Of utmost importance in these letters is the purchase of a phaeton carriage with a top for protection form the blazing sun. Eventually, after some hardship and a long wait, a carriage would be shipped to Providence Island from London. And, with a £100 colony grant, Mr. Sandilands built a 40-mile carriage that road through his private property and through Creek Village to the main Eastern road, creating better communication between Nassau and the southern fishing grounds and also facilitating transport between the Village and the Nassau Market. It is now called Fox Hill Road. The carriage so tenaciously pursued and finally acquired, as described in these letters, was the cornerstone for early road works and proper transport in the Fox Hill District.

Over and above the purchase of property and a carriage, these letters reveal the couple's financial struggles upon settling in the Bahamas, the length of time it took to deal with colonial matters from overseas, and their determination for success. Fort Montagu, which was built in 1741 and had played an important role in the American War of Independence, is also mentioned.

The recipient of these letters is James Whatman Bosanquet (1804-1877), an English banker, who at the age of 18 entered his father's bank, Bosanquet, Salt, & Co., and who in due course became a partner." –Voyager Press Rare Books & Manuscripts