Caribbean Genealogy - Resources - Historical Time Line

Caribbean Genealogy Research
Resources
Historical Time Line
(Thanks to Ann)
More information and accuracy is always welcome...
Please send corrections, updates and additions HERE
Updated 09 June, 2006

*1400*
1493	June 16 - Hurricane recorded in Hispaniola
1496	Santiago, HISPANIOLA, founded by Bartholomew Columbus.
*1500*
1502	July 1 - Hurricane recorded in Hispaniola
1503	Spanish slave trade inaugurated to HISPANIOLA
1508	de Ocampo circumnavigates CUBA. Ponce de Leon established first settlement in PUERTO RICO: CAPARRA Aug 3 - Hurricane recorded in St. Domingo
1509	Spanish settle JAMAICA July 29 - Hurricane recorded in St. Domingo
1511	HAVANA, CUBA founded by de Valzqurz
1521	de Leon made Governor of PUERTO RICO by Spanish Crown
1522	Slave revolt on HISPANIOLA
1523	SPANISH TOWN, JAMAICA established
1526	First slaves imported to CUBA Hurricane recorded in St. Domingo
1527	Slave revolt on PUERTO RICO Hurricane recorded in Cuba
1530	Spanish settle TRINIDAD Hurricane recorded in Porto Rico
1532	Spain banned the importation of new Negro slaves from certain African regions
1543	Portuguese land in BERMUDA
1562	SANTIAGO, SANTO DOMINGO, destroyed by earthquake is rebuilt.
1564	French expedition discovers ANGUILLA
1583	Sir. F. Drake sacks SANTO DOMINGO. Drake lands at CAYMAN ISLANDS
1592	Town of ST.JOSEPH, TRINIDAD established by de Berrio y Oruna
1595	17 Spanish shipwreck wreck off ABACO BAHAMAS. Sir Walter Raleigh destroys ST.JOSEPH, TRINIDAD
*1600*
1605	67 Englishmen try to settle ST.LUCIA
1606	ST.JOSEPH, TRINIDAD rebuilt.
1609	British ship Sea Venture bound for Virginia, foundered off BERMUDA, crew settles for a year and build Deliverance.
1612	Charter granted by James I to the Virginia Co. for BERMUDA
1618--1648	30 year War, involved Germany, England, France, Spain, Denmark
1621	Dutch uses CURACAO as a military stronghold
1623	September 19 - Hurricane recorded in St. Christopher's
1625	Dutch and English settle ST.CROIX, VI
1627	English settle BARBADOS
1629	English from the Carolinas settle BAHAMAS. (SEE 1647) French settle northern ST. MAARTEN
1631	Dutch settle southern ST. MAARTEN
1632	English from St. Kitts colonize ANTIGUA. Shipwreck English land at SABA. Thomas Warner brings English and Irish Catholics from ST.KITTS and establish colony on MONTSARRAT. English colonize ANTIGUA
1633-- 48	Spanish occupy ST.MAARTEN
1634	Dutch settle CURACAO
1635	French settle MARTINIQUE & GUADELOUPE. French claim SABA.
1635--74	Private co. Compangnie dis Iles, owns MARTINIQUE
1636	Dutch capture BONAIRE, Aruba and Curacau from Spain
1638	French attempt to settle GRENADA. English from BERMUDA & ST. KITTS settle ST. LUCIA, settlers killed by Caribs three years later
1639	Dutch colonize ST.EUSTATIUS, and build FT.ORANJE.
1639--1778	Dutch bring half a million slaves to the Caribbean
1640	Dutch settle SABA, build two communities, Trent Bay and The Bottoms
1641	James, Duke of Courland obtain a grant for TOBAGO
1642	King of France ceded ST. LUCIA to French West India Co. Courlanders settle the north side of TOBAGO. Three hurricanes reported in this year, the second was in St. Christopher's..
1644	Peter Stuyversant attack ST. MAARTEN
1645	Dutch abandon ST.CROIX for ST.EUSTATIUS & ST.MAARTEN. French from Dieppe settle ST. BARTHELEMY
1647	70 settlers & 28 slaves led by William Sayle, governor of BERMUDA for LEUTHERA, BAHAMAS.
1648	March 23. Treaty of Mount Coneordia, officially divides ST.MAARTEN between the French and the Dutch
1649	Oliver Cromwell transports Irish political prisoners to MONTSERRAT
1650	Maroons wage wars with European settlers of JAMAICA
1650--1730	Spanish repossess ST.CROIX French from MARTINIQUE settle GRENADA, establish St. George’s First slaves brought to GUADELOUPE F.W.I. Co. sold ST. LUCIA to MM Houel & Du Parquet "Sugar Revolution," most whites leave BARBADOS English settle ANGUILLA
1651	Irish bring first slaves to MONTSERRAT. Hurricane recorded in Martinique.
1652	Hurricane recorded in West Indies
1653	de Poincy deed ST.CROIX to the Knights of Malta
1654	Dutch refugees from Brazil bring sugar technology to NETHERLAND ANTILLES
1655	English land at JAMAICA, captured by Sir. William Penn British take JAMAICA, Spanish settlers flee to CUBA
1656	Amerindian attack English settlement on ANGUILLA; killed men, captured women and children Two hurricanes recorded in the West Indies.
1657	Hurricane recorded in Guadeloupe
1658	The Courlander are overpowered by the Dutch on TOBAGO
1659	Major Bridgetown fire, Barbados (200+ houses)
1660	Spanish abandon JAMAICA English renew claim on ST.LUCIA
1662	Cornelius Lampsius created Baron of TOBAGO, under the Crown of France
1664	October 22, 23 : Severe gale, heavy rains destroyed vegetation in Guadeloupe, almost caused a famine.
1665	St. Thomas colonized by the Danish
1665--1667	Second Dutch War, England vs. Netherlands
1666	BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS fall into British hands French occupy ANTIGUA British hold BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Hurricane, devastates early Danish settlement on St.Thomas French attack ANGUILLA Hurricane recorded in Guadeloupe, also felt in Martinique and St. Christoper's.
1667	August 19 - Hurricane recorded in Barbados September 1 - Hurricane recorded in St. Christopher's
1668	April 18 - Major Bridgetown fire, Barbados (800+ houses)
1670	Treaty of Madrid transfer JAMAICA to the British October 7 - Hurricane recorded in Jamaica
1671	Danish West India Company given royal Charter
1672	TORTOLA annexed to BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS ST. BARTHELEMY purchased by Compangie des Iles
1672--1678	Third Dutch Wars, England vs. Netherlands
1673	January 24 - Major Bridgetown fire, Barbados (~40 houses)
1674	French Government purchase MARTINIQUE Christopher Codrington established first sugar estate on ANTIGUA, and leased BURBUDA to raise provisions for his plantations
1675	August 31 - Hurricane recorded in Barbados
1678	Peace of Nijmegen, the English give the Dutch-ARUBA CURACAO, BONAIRE, ST.EUSTATIUS, SABA and half of ST.MARTIN
1680	Planters from ANGUILLA move to ANEGADA & VIRGIN GORDA
1681	Hurricane recorded in Antigua
1683	Rye House Plot in England
1684	Denmark claims ST.JOHN French appoint deCussy governor of Haiti
1685	Bloody Assizes
1686	100 penal transports to BARBADOS due to "Bloody Assizes". French and British declare DOMINICA neutral
1688	Sugar abandoned in the NETHERLAND ANTILLES and Citrus fruit introduced. French and Irish attack ANGUILLA, colonists flee to ANTIGUA
1689--1697	League of Augsberg War, Holy Roman Empire vs. France
1691	Pirates begin using BAHAMAS as a base
1692	PORT ROYAL, JAMAICA. chief slave market, destroyed by earthquake. Epidemic in BARBADOS
1694	Some ANGUILLANS immigrate to DANISH WEST INDIES October Hurricane recorded in Barbados.
1695	October 2 - Hurricane and earthquake in Martinique
1695--1696	French Knights of Malta abandon ST. CROIX for ST. DOMINGUE.
1697	Peace of Ryswich, Spanish cedes western portion of HISPANIOLA to France, renamed SAINT DOMINGUE. Eastern portion named SANTO DOMINGO
*1700*
1702--1713	Spanish Succession War, France, Spain vs. England,, Netherland, Denmark, Austria
1707	Hurricane recorded in Nevis
1712	August 28 - Hurricane recorded in Jamaica
1713	Hurricane recorded in Guadeloupe
1714	Hurricane recorded in Guadeloupe
1717	Tobacco made a strict monopoly for Spain Danish settle St.John
1722	August 28 - Hurricane recorded in Jamaica
1726	October 22 - Hurricane recorded in Jamaica
1728	August 19 - Hurricane recorded in Antigua
1733	France sold ST. CROIX to the Danish West India & Guinea Company Slave revolt on ST.JOHN, DANISH WEST INDIES July, Hurricane, ST.JOHN, DANISH WEST INDIES
1734	Hurricane recorded in Jamaica
1737	September 9 - Hurricane recorded in St. Domingo
1738	Hurricane recorded in Guadeloupe
1748	Coffee plants introduced to CUBA
1750	First Catholic church founded at ALTO VISTA, ARUBA
1754--1763	DANISH WEST INDIES become a royal colony Seven Year War
1756	February 8 - Major Bridgetown fire, Barbados (~160 houses)
1758	February 25 - Major Bridgetown fire, Barbados (~90 houses)
1759	British occupy GUADELOUPE
1762	English occupy MARTINIQUE British capture GRENADA
1762--1763	DOMINICA ceded to Britain
1763	British capture and hold CUBA Feb. 10, Treaty of Paris signed, France cedes GRENADA , TOBAGO and DOMINICA to the British.
1763--1814	Josephine Bonaparte born in MARTINIQUE
1766	May 13-14 - Major Bridgetown fire, Barbados (1,140 buildings, 26.5 acres)
1766	December 27 - Bridgetown fire, Barbados
1768	St. Patrick’s Day, Slave rebellion on MONTSERRAT
1772	Hurricane devastate Virgin Islands
1776	Nov. 19. St. EUSTATIUS gives first official salute to American Colors, becomes a major trans-shipment point for arms and supplies for George Washington
1776--1783	American Revolution, America vs. England
1778	French control ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
1779	French regain control of GRENADA
1780	Natural disasters wipe out sugar industry on GRENADA
1781	British Admiral Rodney sacks ST. EUSTATIUS
1782	French expel British from ST.EUSTATIUS
1783	Treaty of Versailles, French return GRENADA, ST. VINCENT & The GRENADINES and MONTSERRAT to the British. British introduce nutmeg and cocoa as main crop to GRENADA. Royal Cedula of Population, a policy to encourage immigration of Roman Catholic, introduced in TRINIDAD. Settlement began with French-speaking immigrants, also many from ST.LUCIA and DOMINICA when these islands were ceded to the British in 1784. Others come from the French Caribbean with their slaves when slavery was abolished, and from SANTO DOMINGO after the war of independence.
1784	Spain cedes ST. LUCIA and DOMINICA to the British
1785	Hurricane devastate Virgin Islands
1789	Slaves fight for emancipation on MARTINIQUE
1789--1799	French Revolution, impacts on slavery in the French Antilles
1791	Slave uprising on HAITI
1792	Denmark ends their involvement in the slave trade and abolishes slavery
1794	British capture PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI A convoy of 10 Jamaican merchantmen wreck off GUN BAY, GRAND CAYMAN
1794--1802	English occupy MARTINIQUE
1795	Maroon rebellion on JAMAICA
1797	Sir Ralph Abercromby captures TRINIDAD and return to British
*1800*
1800	English take CURACAO
1801--1802	British occupy the DANISH WEST INDIES( Virgin Islands)
1802	Slavery restored in GUADELOUPE Denmark first European nation to end its participation in the slave trade. Treaty of Amines. Spain cedes TRINIDAD to the British, who imports large numbers of African slaves to work in the sugar cane fields.
1803	English withdraw from CURACAO
1804	General Jean Jacque Dessalines expel the French from HISPANIOLA, declares independence and rename the island HAITI
1807--1815	English occupy CURACAO British occupy the DANISH WEST INDIES (Virgin Islands)
1813	Hurricane
1814	Treaty of Paris, ST.LUCIA becomes a British Crown Colony
1816	Dutch control CURACAO Tobacco monopoly abolished "Sugar Rebellion" in BARBADOS, 123 slaves exiled to SIERRA LEONE
1818	CUBA given the right to trade Tobacco with the world
1819	Hurricane destroys TORTOLA’s harbor, Royal Mail Steam Packet CO move their station to ST. THOMAS, DANISH WEST INDIES.
1821	June 10 - Major Bridgetown fire, Barbados
1822	SANTO DOMINGO reunited with the rest of the island
1823	Independence movements in CUBA quelled by Spain
1826	June 25 - Major Bridgetown fire, Barbados (~166 houses)
1828-- 45	All Dutch West Indian colonies governed by Surinam
1832	Slavery abolished in ST.VINCENT 7 THE GRENADINES
1833	JAMAICA declares emancipation for slaves
1834-- 48	Several thousand immigrants from neighboring islands come to TRINIDAD to work
1837	CUBAN slave uprising Hurricane
1838	August 1, slavery abolished in JAMAICA
1840	PORTUGUESE emigrants come to ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
1840 --1848	Madeirans, British, Scots, Irish, French, German and Swiss European immigrants , and free West Africans flock to TRINIDAD, to work in the sugar cane fields
1841	Americans from Baltimore and Pennsylvania come to TRINIDAD to work
1844	SANTO DOMINGO once more declares its independence from the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, assumes former name, HISPANIOLA. British Government import East Indian laborer to TRINIDAD
1845	February 3-4 - Major Bridgetown fire, Barbados (~180 houses, 10 acres)
1845	May 30, first indentured Indian laborers arrived TRINIDAD, by 1917 -- 141,615 arrive for the period of 5 years indenture
1847	A royal Danish decree provides all slaves would be free after 1859, in the DANISH WEST INDIES
1848	Slavery abolished by the French Slave revolt on St. Croix
1849	First Chinese indentured servants arrive in TRINIDAD
1853	Cholera Epidemic kills 1,865 on ST. THOMAS, DANISH WEST INDIES June Malaria, kills 100, ST. THOMAS, DANISH WEST INDIES
1853	February 17 - Bridgetown fire, Roebuck Street, Barbados (~97 tenements)
1860’s	By 1864 as many as 1,700 immigrants arrive in the Virgin Islands from Barbados and St. Eustatius
1860	February 14 - Major Bridgetown fire, Barbados
1861--1865	American Civil War, BAHAMAS prosper as base for blockade runners
1863	Slavery abolished in the Dutch West Indies
1866	Cholera epidemic kills 1200 - 1300, on ST. THOMAS, DANISH Chinese immigration ends in TRINIDAD.
1867	Hurricane, with tidal wave, DANISH WEST INDIES, November
1870’s	French laborers migrate to St.Thomas from St.Barths.
1871	Hurricane, DANISH WEST INDIES, Aug. 21 Hurricane, DANISH WEST INDIES, Oct., 23
1874	TURKS & CAICOS are annexed to JAMAICA
1877	TOBAGO becomes a CROWN colony
1888	TOBAGO amalgamated politically with TRINIDAD
1898	Spain cedes PUERTO RICO to the United States.
*1900*
1902	La Soufriere volcano erupts on ST.VINCENT, killing 2,000 people. Montagne Pelee on MARTINIQUE erupts, destroying Saint-Pierre, once the largest city on the island, killing 30,000
1904 --1914	Panama Canal construction project, 50,000 Caribbean workers used.
1910	July 20 - Major Bridgetown fire, Barbados (large area, thought to be arson)
1914 --1918	World War I
1919	Prohibition in the US, NASSAU becomes a bootleggers’ paradise
1938--1945	World War II
1976	April 13, La Soufriere volcano erupts on ST. VINCENT
1996	April 01, Chances peak volcano erupts on MONTSERRAT Sept. 18. Chances peak volcano erupts on MONTSERRAT
*2000*
2000	Chances peak volcano continues to erupt on MONTSERRAT