Jamaican Maroons descend from Africans who freed themselves from slavery on the Colony of Jamaica and established communities of free black people in the island's mountainous interior, primarily in the eastern parishes. Africans who were enslaved during Spanish rule over Jamaica (1493–1655) may have been the first to develop such refugee communities.
The maroon leader Cudjoe making peace with the planter John Guthrie
"Leonard Parkinson, A Captain of the Maroons; taken from the Life" 1796 by Abraham Raimbach
Six Maroons, with rifles and in camouflage, with Colonel Fyfe, c.1865
Ferron Williams, former Colonel-in-Chief and elected leader of Accompong
The Crown Colony of Jamaica and Dependencies was a British colony from 1655, when it was captured by the English Protectorate from the Spanish Empire. Jamaica became a British colony from 1707 and a Crown colony in 1866. The Colony was primarily used for sugarcane production, and experienced many slave rebellions over the course of British rule. Jamaica was granted independence in 1962.
Sugar cane cutters in Jamaica, 1880
Easter Rebellion memorial 20231007 120611
Cannon at Fort Haldane
Armory Bldg sign at Fort Haldane