'Church Babylon' keeps history alive

WESTERN BUREAU:

Persons interested in learning about the rich German heritage of Seaford Town, Westmoreland, need only to visit the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church and Convent in the community, where residents have established a museum to maintain the rich history that began in 1835.

The museum is housed in a tiny, somewhat dilapidated building, and tells the fascinating tale of Seaford's German origins. There are no set hours; one just needs to find 'Miss Shakes' who lives nearby and keeps the key to the museum.

Since she could not accompany the Western Focus team on a tour, Fitzroy Chambers, also known as 'Church Babylon', ably guided the news team through the contents of the tiny room.

There are maps and photographs of the early settlement, plus artefacts spanning 150 years, including items such as cricket bats made from the stems of coconut leaves. The display also includes contracts which gave them the right to lands.

Registry kept

A registry of the immigrants who arrived in the Jamaica in 1835 shows persons between the ages of 20 and 65 with families of up to nine people. A 1987 census said that 157 Caucasian descendants, predominantly of the Roman Catholic faith, remained in Seaford Town.

There are very few German traits remaining in Seaford Town, which was established following the arrival of the first German settlers to Jamaica to work on sugar plantations as indentured labourers.

After their five-year period of indentureship, according to their contract, they were to receive a parcel of land. According to the records, scores of the settlers died or left the island for Canada and the United States after promises of land were not forthcoming following their indentureship. In fact, they first received the land 15 years after they landed in Jamaica - one decade after they were assured to receive it.