Protector of Slaves

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Protector of Slaves' Office (Trinidad) by Richard Bridgens (1833) Protector of Slaves Office (Trinidad) by Richard Bridgens.jpg
Protector of Slaves' Office (Trinidad) by Richard Bridgens (1833)

The Protector of Slaves was an official post in Trinidad, Demerara, Berbice, St. Lucia, the Cape of Good Hope and Mauritius before the abolition of slavery there between 1 August 1834 and 1 August 1838.

Contents

The general role was previously known as the Office of the Fiscal in Berbice, which derived from the former Dutch office in Berbice, [1] [2] and some holders conjoined the titles in their reports, however the later role was based on an Order in Council in the 1820s which provided certain rights to slaves in these colonies. The protector could not be a slave owner, but, at least initially, no such rule applied to assistant protectors.

List of office holders

Full documentation for these appointments should be found in the London Gazette. Meanwhile, years given are those for which references can be supplied. The reports of the protectors were approximately half-yearly. Assistant protectors are also listed.

Demerara

Also referred to as Demerara and Essequibo or Demerara-Essequibo from 28 April 1812 when the colonies merged.

  1. Aretas William Young (1826 [3] -1828) [4] : 3 

Berbice

Trinidad

Here the title "Protector and Guardian of Slaves" is used.

  1. Henry Gloster (1828) [4] : 42 

St. Lucia

  1. Peter Muter (1826–8) [4] : 56 

Assistant protectors

  • John Goodman (1831) [5]

Cape of Good Hope

Here reports are from the "Registrar and Guardian of Slaves"

  1. George Jackman [6] : 26  Rogers (1827 [4] : 71 -1829 [6] : 3 )

See also

References

  1. ↑ Randy M. Browne, Surviving Slavery in the British Caribbean, Early American Studies Series. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2017. viii + 279 pp. Reviewed by Walter C. Rucker
  2. ↑ Book Review, Nicholas Crawford. Journal of Social History. Vol. 53, No. 1 (Fall 2019), p. 257
  3. ↑ Anti-Slavery Monthly Reporter, No 54, vol iii, issue 6, November 1829
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Horace Twiss, Colonial Department, Downing Street, ed. (12 June 1829). Protectors of Slaves Reports. Return to an Address of the Honourable House of Commons, Dated 12 March 1829; for, Copy of Any Reports Which May Have Been Received from the Protectors of Slaves in the Colonies of Demerara, Berbice, Trinidad, St. Lucia, and the Cape of Good Hope, Since the Last Similar Reports Presented to Parliament, by His Majesty's Command; Together with Copies of the Proceedings and Decisions in Each Case of Complaint Between Masters and Slaves, Whether the Proceeding May Have Terminated Before the Protector, or Have Been Referred to Colonial Magistrates, or Other Public Officers or Courts. House of Commons.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  5. ↑ "Summary of Individual | Legacies of British Slavery".
  6. 1 2 Howick, Colonial Department, Downing Street, ed. (10 March 1831). Protectors of Slaves Reports. Return to an Address of His Majesty, Dated 15 December 1830; for, Copy of Any Reports Which May Have Been Received from the Protectors of Slaves in the Colonies of Demerara, Berbice, Trinidad, St. Lucia, and the Cape of Good Hope and Mauritius, Since the Last Similar Reports Presented to Parliament from Each of these Colonies Respectively; Together with Copies of the Proceedings and Decisions in Each Case of Complaint Between Masters and Slaves, Whether the Proceeding May Have Terminated Before the Protector, or Have Been Referred to Colonial Magistrates, or Other Public Officers or Courts. Part V. House of Commons.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)


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