No peace treaty was signed in Accompong Town – Part II

CUDJOE LED Jamaica’s first insurrection by enslaved people, on Sutton plantation in Clarendon. He and many of the enslaved fled to the hills of Clarendon. They were always on the move as they fled the unrelenting enslavers in the tough and unforgiving landscape.

The Cockpit Country of what is now known as St James, St Elizabeth and Trelawny became their haunt and refuge. But the Maroons were not settled with running away constantly. They had to survive, and so they plundered, and acquired arms themselves. Their huts and provision grounds, too, were destroyed, and settlements razed. It was tit for tat.

Cudjoe Town in St James was a major Maroon settlement. It was the same place that was renamed Trelawny Town, after Governor Edward Trelawney who took office in 1738, the same year the treaty was signed. It is to be enforced that Trelawny Town was not in Trelawny parish, founded in 1770, and named after Governor Sir William Trelawny (1768-1772).

From Cudjoe Town, Maroon detachments were sent out, and they became thorns in the bodies and souls of the colonists who did not understand the topography of that hill-and-gully space. They mastered the art of natural camouflage, applied guerilla warfare tactics, and finally wore down the resolve of the colonists.

In his 1803/1968 book, The History of the Maroons Volume 1, R. C. Dallas writes, “In this situation did these people maintain themselves in a state of savage freedom for several years, living in indolence while their provisions lasted, and ravaging the country when excited by their wants. In their inroads they exercised the most horrid barbarities.

“The weak and defenceless, whenever surprised by them, fell victims to their thirst of blood, and, though some were more humane than others, all paid implicit obedience to the commander of a leader, when that was given to imbrue their hands in blood, but murder once commenced, no chief ever had power to stay behind of the meanest follower, and there is hardly an instance of a prisoner having been saved by them.”

The language of Dallas’ narrative is clearly biased against the Maroons. For, what about the British, were they not barbarians themselves, carrying out unspeakable atrocities against the enslaved and recaptured people?

He continues, “Force after force had been employed to subdue them in vain; their hostile operations against inhabitants were carried on with unremitted vigour. At length, the colonists resolved to make every sacrifice, and use every exertion to put an end to so harassing a war. All who could carry arms volunteered their service, and a large body of the people were assembled under the command of Colonel Guthrie of the militia and Captain Sadler of the regulars.

“Amid these formidable preparations there were great apprehensions entertained of the uncertainty of the most vigorous measures, the failure of which would not only encourage the enemy, and entail a perpetual war upon the land… The governor Edward Trelawney was therefore urged by the principal persons of the country to offer them terms of peace.”

The British were tired of being manipulated and outfoxed, so they wanted a truce. This was communicated to Cudjoe through Guthrie and Sadler, and Cudjoe decided to meet. But, he and his followers did not let their guards down, for they did not trust the British. The place where they were to meet was fortified and surrounded by ‘invisible’ fighters, who were armed with guns and cutlasses, yet the British could bear no arms.

A Dr Russell was selected by Guthrie and Sadler to tell Cudjoe the terms of the treaty. The moments leading up to that meeting were very tense, as the Maroons were ready for any inkling of deception. They exchanged hats as a symbol of friendship, and when Cudjoe was satisfied the colonists were genuine in their rapprochement, he allowed Sadler and Guthrie to approach him.

“ At length, the treaty was concluded with Cudjoe by Colonel Guthrie and Captain Sadler, and all the solemnities attending it were executed under a large cotton tree growing in the middle of the town … The tree was ever after called Cudjoe’s tree, and held in great veneration,” Dallas writes.

The 15 articles of pacification with the Maroons of Trelawny Town was concluded on March 1, 1738. Article Five gives them the right to live in Trelawny Town, now called Flagstaff, in St James.

It says, “That Captain Cudjoe, and all the captain’s adherents, and people now in subjection to him, shall all live together within the bounds of Trelawny Town, and that they have liberty the hunt where they shall think fit, except within three miles of any settlement, crawl or pen, provided always, that in case the hunters of Captain Cudjoe, and those of other settlements meet, then the hogs to be equally divided between both parties.”

Article 15 says, “That Captain Cudjoe shall during his life be chief commander in Trelawny Town. After his decease the command to devolve on his brother Captain Accompong; and in case of his decease on his next brother Captain Johnny; and failing him Captain Cuffee shall succeed; who is to be succeeded by Captain Quaco; and after all these demises, the governor, or commander in chief for the time being, shall appoint, from time to time, whom he thinks fit for the command.”

The research did not reveal any narrative of a treaty being signed anywhere in Accompong Town, St Elizabeth, and so, until that evidence is unearthed, the fact is that the 1738 treaty was signed under a cotton tree in Trelawny Town, St James.