THOMAS BOON Family Genealogy

Colonization of the Caribbean

Prevailing winds and currents naturally pushed square-rigged sailing ships from Europe toward the south and east. Beyond the Azores and the Canary Islands, these explorers found many small islands in what we now call the Caribbean Sea. As these islands were explored, claimed, and inhabited, during the 1600's, they provided valuable sources for food and water for each nation's endeavor to colonize America.

For genealogical purposes, we are interested in the date of colonization and the immigrants to each island, as well as the country controlling passage thru the island, and onward to America. In many cases the politics of the individual play an important part of their immigration to these islands, and the character of the colonies that they populate on mainland America.

The Atlantic Basin Map - (15k) . . . or . . Caribbean and US Coast - (103k) . . . provide graphic support for these descriptions.

Anguilla

Anguilla, located at the northern end of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea, northwest of Antigua and Barbuda, was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. Anguilla became a British colony in 1650. BACK TO TOP

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda are part of the Leeward Islands and were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. In 1632 Antigua was colonized by the English, and later the French had a brief period of control from 1666 until 1667, when it then passed back to Great Britain. It was one of three major naval dockyards to the British fleet in the Eastern Caribbean in the late 18th century. BACK TO TOP

Aruba

Aruba is located just north of Venezuela, and far to the west of Barbados and the Leeward Islands. It probably played little part in the colonization of the American Colonies. It was discovered by the Spanish in 1499, and found to be already settled by Amerindians from South America moving further north. The Dutch colonized the island from 1636, and later between 1805 and 1816 it was held briefly by the English. BACK TO TOP

Bahamas

The Bahamas are a chain of dozens of small islands, lying east of Florida, and stretching south and east toward Hispanola. The islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 when he landed on San Salvador Island, believed by scholars to be his first landing in the Western Hemisphere. The islands were inhabited by people known as Lucayans. The Spanish traveled thru, but never did occupy these islands. Instead, they were occupied by Englishmen from Bermuda, and in 1648 the first British settlement was established on Eleuthera. Later they were also settled by the French, Dutch and Spanish sea merchants. From 1670 to 1838 the British fortified New Providence, making it the seat of government, and in 1717 it became a British Crown Colony. After the American Revolutionary War, 1776-83, thousands of loyalists and their slaves left the mainland settled in the Bahamas. BACK TO TOP

Barbados

Barbados is the most easterly island of the West Indies, and is far south of the North American colonies. It was actually first sighted by the Portugese -- not by Christopher Columbus, who found and renamed most every island in the region. Barbados was settled by English colonists in 1627.

After the death of Charles I in England, Barbados was a popular haven for "Loyalist" fleeing the rule of Oliver Cromwell. It was the home of several of Englands great explorers, and at least two of the Lords Proprietors of the Carolina Colony. Their lifestyle and the social structure that evolved on Barbados, combining English, Caribbean and Spanish influences, had a profound effect on the development of the southern colonies in America. Barbados was a model for the "plantation economy" that would develop in the American southern colonies of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Barbados and the Bahamas, while separated by vast distances and seas, were legally part of the Carolina Colony, established in 1667 by Charles II.

Until the end of slavery in the British Empire in 1834, slaves from Africa were transported thru the island, heading for America, or to work on the local sugarcane plantations. BACK TO TOP

Bermuda

Bermuda is actually a series of small islands more than 600 miles east of America, and 600 miles north of the Bahamas. It was discovered in 1503 by Juan de Bermudez, a Spanish explorer, after which it was named, but the island remained unsettled for over 100 years until 1609, when Admiral Sir George Somers, commanding a fleet of nine ships to support to a desperate Virginia Colony, were shipwrecked on its reefs.

The 150 men and women found islands heavily forested with cedars and palmettos and populated with birds and wild hogs. The land proved hospitable, but their voyage for Jamestown was not forgotten. In a little more than nine months, two new ships, the Deliverance and Patience, were built from local cedars and salvaged Sea Venture timbers.

When the ships finally departed for Virginia, they left two men behind. One of them, Christopher Carter, was Bermuda's first permanent inhabitant, remaining here until he died.

In 1612 a subsidiary known as the Bermuda Company was formed with the direct intent of colonization. That same year, 60 white settlers, led by company-appointed Governor Richard Moore, arrived in St. George's Harbour, and established a permanent English presence. From that island, they sailed out to populate other colonies, from New England to the Bahamas.

More than half the present population of the island are descendents of slaves brought from Africa during the 18th century, while the white population is still mostly British. BACK TO TOP

Bonaire

Bonaire, along with Curacao (see below), form the Leeward Islands which lie off the northwestern coast of Venezuela. The island was discovered by the Spanish in the late 1400's to early 1500's. It was inhabited by the Amerindians. Bonaire was settled by the Spanish, and their colonies grew over the next 100 years. The original inhabitants, Arawak Indians, were used as slave labour to mine the gold and silver mines in Venezuela. The Dutch then captured the island from the Spanish. Through the 17th and 18th century many European nations fought for control, and it was British until 1816. At this time, the island was granted to the Dutch by treaty under the colonies of the Netherlands. BACK TO TOP

British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands were discovered and named by Christopher Columbus in 1493 after the myriad virgin attendants of martyred St. Ursula. Today the remembrance persists as a National Holiday, called St. Ursula's Day, on October 21. The original settlers were Dutch, but in 1666 British planters took over control of the islands. (also see VIRGIN ISLANDS) BACK TO TOP

Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands are located south of Cuba, and west of Jamaica. Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503, he named them Las Tortugas after local turtles, but the name didn't stick. The Spanish never occupied the islands and most of its early inhabitants were shipwrecked sailors and buccaneers. The Cayman Islands were ceded to the British Crown in 1670 under the Treaty of Madrid. Most settlement did not begin until the 1730's. The islands were a dependency of Jamaica until 1959. BACK TO TOP

Cuba

Cuba was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492. It remained a Spanish colony, except for a short British occupation in 1762 to 1763, until the Spanish-American War of 1898 when it was occupied by the United States. In 1902 Cuba was established as an independent republic, but remained subject to the Platt Amendment which was in effect until 1934. BACK TO TOP

Curacao

Curacao is the largest island of the Netherlands Antilles located in the south Caribbean Sea, just off the northwest coast of Venezuela. It was discovered in 1499 by one of Christopher Columbus' lieutenants, Alonso de Ojeda. At first the Spanish named the island Isla de los Gigantes from the giant sized indians, the original inhabitants, known as Amerindians. It wasn't until twenty years later the name Curacao appeared on a Portugese map, coming from the Spanish Corazon meaning heart. In 1634 it became a Dutch trading post. The Dutch regained control in 1815, after several attacks by the English and French, and kept it as part of the Treaty of Paris. BACK TO TOP

Dominica

Dominica is one of the smallest countries in the Western Hemisphere located in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean Sea. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. French settlers established plantations, even though, in 1660 it was agreed under a French-British treaty, that Dominica be left to the original Carib Indian inhabitants. After many wars in the mid 1700's it then became a British possession in 1805. BACK TO TOP

Granada

Grenada is located in the Windward Islands of the Caribbean, just north of the South American coast. Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover Grenada in 1498. The island was settled by the French in 1650, and was alternately ruled by the English and French until 1783 when it was ceded by the Treaty of Versailles to the British. BACK TO TOP

Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe is a group of eight islands in the Lesser Antilles chain in the Eastern Caribbean Sea. Christopher Columbus discovered the islands in 1493, but were not settled by Europeans until the French arrived in 1635. They eliminated the native Carib Indians, brought in African slaves, establishing sugar plantations, and the first sugar mill in 1644. Despite several periods of British occupation in the late 1700's and early 1800's they were later expelled. The islands were confirmed as French possessions later in 1815. BACK TO TOP

Hispaniola

Christopher Columbus discovered the island, originally inhabited by Amerindians, on his first voyage to the Western Hemishphere in 1492 and named it Hispaniola. It later became the nations of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It was the earliest Spanish colony to be established in the Western Hemisphere. It was claimed by Spain and then ceded to France in 1697.

Large number of slaves were brought from Africa to work the sugarcane and coffee plantations. The slave revolts beginning in 1791 led to their independence in 1804. It became the oldest black republic and the second oldest republic in the Western Hemishpere. Haitians occupied the entire island from 1822 until 1844 when Haiti and the Dominican Republic became two separate nations. Haiti was occupied by U.S. military from 1915 to 1934 because of political tensions. BACK TO TOP

Jamaica

Jamaica was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1494. The original Arawak Indians who inhabited the island had died out, and African slaves were brought in to work the English sugarcane plantations. The island was an important early colony, where ships often stopped before reaching the American mainland. With the abolition of slavery in 1833 the plantations declined and the former slaves took to peasant farming. BACK TO TOP

Martinique

Martinique was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502, but was ignored by the Spanish for years . The first settlers, French, arrived in 1635. By the late 1600's the native Caribs had been nearly eliminated, and African slaves were brought in to work the sugar plantations. Control of the island alternated between the French and British, until 1815, when the Treaty of Paris returned permanent possession to the French. BACK TO TOP

Montserrat

Montserrat is one of the Caribbean islands in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies. Christopher Columbus discovered the island in 1493 and named it after the serrated mountains and monastery in Spain. The island was colonized by Irish settlers in 1632. It was temporarily occupied by French possession twice, 1664-68 and 1782-84. It has been a British crown colony since 1871. BACK TO TOP

Nevis

Nevis, sometimes called Mevis in early documents, is part of the Leeward Islands group lying southeast of Puerto Rico and north of the Windward Islands. It was originally settled by Amerindians when Christopher Columbus made his discovery in 1493. It was given the name Los Nieves, meaning the snows, because of its cloud covered peak. Nevis was the first of the British West Indies, along with nearby St. Kitts and St. Christopher, to be settled by Europeans in 1623. The Bristol Register lists many apprentices and endentured servants being transported to Nevis. It was fought over by the English and French before being ceded to Britain in 1783. Nevis, and other neighbouring islands, formed a single British colony, and also attained separate unity from time to time throughout its history. BACK TO TOP

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is the most easterly island of the Greater Antilles. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus and Juan Ponce de Leon in 1493, and was first settled by the Spanish. The original Amerindian population dwindled rapidly during the quest for gold by the Spanish. African slaves were brought over to work the sugarcane fields in 1518 to make up for the loss of native workers. Both the British and Dutch tried to capture the island repeatedly, without success, during the 17th and 18th century. The island became a province of Spain in 1869, and attained an autonomous government in 1898. During the Spanish-American War of 1898, Puerto Rico had been ceded to the United States under the Treaty of Paris, as an unincorporated American territory. This also led to the extension of U.S. citizenship to island residents in 1917. BACK TO TOP

St. Kitts

St. Kitts is part of the Leeward Islands group lying southeast of Puerto Rico and north of the Windward Islands. It was originally settled by Amerindians when Christopher Columbus made his discovery in 1493. It was believed to be named after the patron saint of travellers. St. Kitts was the first of the British West Indies, along with Nevis, to be settled by Europeans in 1623. It was fought over by the English and French before being ceded to Britain in 1783. St. Kitts, and other neighbouring islands, formed a single British colony, and also attained separate unity throughout its history from time to time. BACK TO TOP

St. Lucia

St. Lucia is one of the Windward Islands between Martinique and St.Vincent. It was thought to have been visited by Christopher Columbus in 1502, but the actual date of discovery by Europeans is unknown. St. Lucia was originally inhabited by the Amerindians before european settlers arrived. The island was claimed by both the British and the French throughout the 17th and 18th century. When an English colony was formed in 1638 it was wiped out by the native Carib Indians in 1640. After fighting with the French, the British gained control of the island in 1814. BACK TO TOP

St. Martin / St. Maarten

St. Martin / St. Maarten is part of the Netherlands Antilles and the Windward Islands group east south-east of Puerto Rico. It was sighted and named by Christopher Columbus in 1493, and originally inhabited by Amerindians at the time. Since 1648, both the French and Dutch have settled on the island, agreeing it would be better to divide the island, and call it by two different names, than to fight over it. The French have one part of the island which is referred to as St. Martin, while the Dutch occupy Sint Maarten. It has remained an amiable friendship for over 300 years. BACK TO TOP

St. Vincent

St. Vincent lies among the Windward Islands between St. Lucia and Grenada in the Caribbean Sea. The island was sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1498. The original inhabitants, the Amerindians, had great resistance to the European occupation in the 17th century, but were eventually defeated by French revolt in 1795. Throughout this time the British and French struggled for possession of St. Vincent. BACK TO TOP

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago are the southernmost islands of the Lesser Antilles. The islands were discovered and named by Christopher Columbus in 1498. They were originally inhabited by Amerindians. The Spanish first colonized Trinidad in 1592, but was later captured by the British in 1797. It was formally ceded to the United Kingdom in 1802. The first British settlers on Tobago, in 1616, were driven out by Carib Indians, and subsequently came under Dutch and French control until the British would acquire it in 1814. Both islands were politically united in 1888. Africans were brought in as slaves in the 18th century and worked on the plantations until the abolition of slavery in 1834. BACK TO TOP

Turks and Caicos islands

The Turks and Caicos islands are in the British West Indies which form the southeast continuation of the Bahamas. The islands were originally inhabited by Arawak Indians when it was first discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1512. They were a haven for explorers and merchant ships, and also a hideout for pirates. At various times they were ruled from British colonies in the area, such as Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. The islands became a British possession in 1766, and were administered as part of the Bahamas until 1848. BACK TO TOP

Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands are mostly made up of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, and lie east of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. They were originally populated by native Amerindians, as they declined, African slaves were brought in to work the plantations. The islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage in 1493. They were fought over by the Spanish, Dutch, English, and French, until 1672 when the first permanent settlement was made by Denmark on St. Thomas. Soon after they also settled on St. Croix and St. John. In 1917 the islands were purchased by the United States, because of their strategic position, for $25 million. (also see BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS) BACK TO TOP

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