Title: Port Royal Jamaica
Authors: Michael Pawsen & David Buisseret
Publishers: The University of the West Indies Press
Reviewed by: Robert Stephens
THIS is an excellent historical record of the growth, development and decline of Port Royal which is a must read for all history teachers and their students, Port Royalists and tourism/leisure industry workers and enthusiasts especially tour operators and tour guides.
The book traces the geography of the town and the period after the capture of Jamaica by the British in 1655 through the ascendancy of Port Royal and the consolidation of English power during the period of the governorship of D'Oyley and thereafter, notably Modyford up to 1671.
The facts reveal that the privateers or pirates of Port Royal were most active only over a 14-year period between 1657 and 1671. The escapades of Captain Henry Morgan are well covered including his plunder of Panama in 1670 and his subsequent arrest and return to England in chains in 1671. His appointment as lieutenant governor and knighthood in 1674 and his return to Jamaica in 1675.
The development of the fortifications of Port Royal is detailed and chronologically includes:
Fort Cromwell started in 1655 later renamed Fort Charles in 1662
Fort James 1673
Fort Rupert and Fort Carlisle in 1678
Fort Morgan or Morgans Line in 1679
Walker's Fort in the late 1680s
The naval history between 1668 and 1692 is well documented as is the 17th century economic development of Port Royal which takes us from the bountiful years of the pirates through the growth in the importance of Port Royal as a major trading port. It reveals that the total tonnage of ships arriving in Port Royal peaked in 1688 at around 10,000 tons as Port Royal thrived as a port for exports, imports and re-export of goods mainly from Europe and North America. The importance of the port for the trading of slaves, mainly from Africa is also explored.
The topography of Port Royal between 1660 and 1692 is documented in detail giving the size and layout of the town as it grew during the period. Everyday life in Port Royal is well documented not only in terms of typical activities but also some of the key characters of the town and the visitors to the town and their occupations. The growth of the population and buildings of the town is estimated from historical accounts to have reached approximately 6,500 people living in about 2,000 houses by 1692.
The period after the 1692 earthquake, which saw the decline in the commercial primacy of Port Royal and its ascendancy as a naval base, is also well documented. The disasters of a massive fire in 1703 and hurricanes on the 28th of August 1712 and the 28th of August 1722, are explained as having deterred even the most determined settlers.
The period between 1692 and 1905 when Port Royal was a major English naval base is well traced when most of the famous admirals of the British fleet were stationed in Port Royal. These included:
Vice-Admiral John Benbow 1701-1702
Commodore Charles Wager 1707-1709
Vice Admiral Peter Parker 1778
Young Admiral Horatio Nelson in 1779
Vice Admiral Sir Hyde Parker 1796-1800
Vice Admiral James Dacres 1804-8
The development of the Naval Dockyards of Port Royal are also traced particularly when they were expanded significantly between 1715 and 1815. The disastrous fire of 1815 led to the building of a firewall between the dockyards and the town in 1815 which has survived virtually intact till today.
Between 1817 and 1819, the famous Royal Naval Hospital in Port Royal was constructed and in 1838 Port Royal ceased being an independent command and became the headquarters of the Jamaica division of the North America and West Indian station commanded by a Commodore. After 1838, the book traces the expansion of the dockyards with a new stores block, clocktower and boat slip the remains of which survive until today.
The 1860s period when the coaling sheds and coaling wharf were built, is also documented as is the building of the formidable Victoria and Albert Battery of guns in 1888 to protect Port Royal.
The archeological investigations of Port Royal are well documented tracing the work of: Jeremiah Murphy 1859, Mr. & Mrs. Alexis Dupont in 1954, Edward Link 1956 and 1959, Norman Scott 1960, Robert Marx 1966-8, and Philip Mayers 1968-71, who mainly worked on land excavations of Fort Rupert and the Anglican church in the naval dockyard. Anthony Priddy mainly worked in the area facing New Street between Love and Dove streets and Professor Don Hamilton of Texas A&M University 1981-90.
The book ends with Port Royal today as a modest fishing village and headquarters of the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard and the site of the UWI Marine Laboratory and points to the tremendous potential as a heritage attraction and sunken city archaeological treasure of immense international importance.
This book undoubtedly has contributed a significant foundation for the interpretative planning for Port Royal and a guide for its future restoration and sustainable development.
