The Lowe family of Adelphi, St James

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Having grown up in a planter's family and worked as a property overseer for many years, Sylvester Hewan-Lowe of Adelphi, St James, may well be described as a man of the land.

The 89-year-old told Western Focus that the Lowe family name is the oldest in Adelphi since 1868 when his grandfather Benjamin Lowe settled there.

"I'm from a planting family, and I always worked as a property overseer, always in banana and cane. My grandfather, Benjamin Lowe, was a big planter in the parish," he recalled.

"My grandfather, as a coloured man, was regarded as owning the most land in St James. He was also the first postmaster in Adelphi."

Born on June 15, 1922 (though his birth was registered one month later according to the practice of the times), Hewan-Lowe was sired by Arnold Hewan-Lowe and Iva James, and grew up one of seven children for his father.

During his young adult years, he married teacher Carmen Hall in December 1946. She passed away in 2003. The couple had three children and later on, Hewan-Lowe became the proud grandfather of three.

He recalled that his grandfather owned 150 acres of land in the district, which at that time was known as Adelphi Pen, as well as other properties in nearby communities.

Colonial representative

"He (Benjamin) owned Adelphi Pen, a property named Sunderland, which was 400 acres, that one was left to one of his sons who was the last colonial representative to the parish. Adelphi Mountain, which he gave to another son, which was 300 acres, and Burke's Mountain, 350 acres, which he gave to my father," said Hewan-Lowe.

At that time, the senior Lowe was in partnership with a Dr Vernon to grow bananas in the district. They eventually became known as the pioneer planters of bananas in St James, Hewan-Lowe recalled.

"I continued the family tradition. The last place I worked before retirement was Barnett Estate, in charge of bananas. Before that, I was on the Banana Board in Portland as a manager," he added.

Although he has retired since 1987, Hewan-Lowe could still recall his tenure as a member of the St Thomas Farmers' Association in the late 1950s, and spoke of the many labour disturbances that occurred during his time in that part of Jamaica.

"These employers were making pots of money and they weren't treating their employees right. Every Monday morning was a strike," he remarked.

However, Hewan-Lowe lamented that today his home district has become a 'depressed area' - a far cry from its past glory days as a sugar community.

"Here used to be a prosperous place, but people don't learn trades now," he said of Adelphi.