Scribblings From Saint Ann Jamaica

CAMELOT TOWNHOUSES, IN DISCOVERY BAY ST. ANN !!

2021-05-09T17:39:00.001-07:00

Favorite roads in Saint Ann

2021-05-03T18:45:00.000-07:00

I have travelled the length and breath of the parish of Saint Ann and I have been on most of the roads. I spent a lot of my teenage years on the road from St Ann's Bay to Claremont, since I went to Ferncourt. My work years up to today have me travel from Discovery Bay to Ocho Rios. My jobs takes me to all the other roads and places. These places include, Moneague, Grierfield, Clover Hill, Clapham, New Hall, Bensonton, Concorde, York Castle, Gravel Hill, Alderton, Pedro River, Rural Retreat, Bamboo, Brown's Town, Cave Valley, Nine Mile , Calderwood, Prickly Pole, Lime Tree Garden Thicketts and the list goes on. I like driving on the high way, but the inland roads are more interesting. I like places like Bensonton, New Hall, York, York Castle, you pray that you dont meet a truck coming in the opposite direction. The narrowness of some of these roads will put your life in imminent danger. I like passings by the farms, seeing the crops and animals on the hill sides, and sometimes meeting a herd of cattle around a corner.I remember it happened twice. On the second occasion one of the cows, decided to drop her mess infront of my vehicle. I guess that was her was of saying get the hell out of here. After the crosses the road I then proceeded on my journey.I will write about some of these journeys in future posts.

Drax Hall in Saint Ann Jamaica

2021-04-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

Drax Hall In Saint Ann Jamaica
Drax Hall - was first settled as a sugar bequest, however later was placed into coconuts and cows. It is named after Charles Drax, a transient from Barbados who in his will dated 1721, "spread the word about the entirety of his domain as 'Walton' in the said parish of St. Ann, and if that domain be deficient, different homes to be added." This enrichment was for a free school which started in the vestry of the town hall of that parish in 1795, and which was called "The Drax Free School."

Brown's Town in Saint Ann Jamaica.

2021-04-14T18:09:00.006-07:00

The Town of Brown's Town Saint Ann Jamaica

Brown's Town is the biggest inland market town in St. Ann and is arranged in the western inside piece of the area. Its past name was Hamilton Town, which is the first name of its originator Hamilton Brown. He was an Irishman (1776-1843) who began out unassumingly as a bequest accountant and rose to turn into a huge landowner. He was a representative in the House of Assembly for the parish for more than 20 years

Aboukir

2021-01-13T15:03:00.001-08:00

The district of Aboukir in Saint Ann, Jamaica is as old as 1801. It recalls the battle of Aboukir, the great sea fight of 1798 at Aboukir Bay and the land battle near the village in 1801 when Sir Ralph Abercombe, an English general who distinguished himself in many battles, landed there and defeated the French at Alexandria but died of wounds.

Motty Perkins on Obeah, Duppy and superstition.

2019-02-06T16:35:00.001-08:00

The Parish of Saint Ann, then and now.

2019-01-19T10:18:00.001-08:00

Saint Ann is about 1212 km square with a population of approximately 173,000.00 (JIS) and is one of the largest, most beautiful and historic parishes of Jamaica. It was named Santa Ana by the spaniards. It's is also known as “The garden Parish” . This is because of its natural beauty. It’s in this Parish that Christopher Columbus first set foot on Jamaican soil. Columbus spent a whole year on this coast. This was the longest time and in one place on any of his voyages to the new world. The first capital of Jamaica Sevilla La Nueva, was built in Saint Ann. It was one of the earliest European settlements in the Americas. The first enslaved Africans to come to Jamaica also landed in this Parish. They were body servants to the Spaniards.Saint Ann is one of the places where the famous pimento or allspice grows. It is also one of the principal areas of bauxite mining in the world and contains the important tourist resort town of Ocho Rios. In the earlier times there was a great deal of traffic between Saint Ann and the south coast of Cuba. Animals were transported in small vessels.These included cattle and mules.

The Old Fort in Saint Ann’s Bay was constructed in 1750 with stones taken from Seville. This fort was declared useless in 1795 because of encroachment from the sea. A new fort was built at Windsor Point on the opposite side of the bay. The Old Fort was adapted as a jail and a house of correction for the enslaved africans. The jail had solitary cells, a thread mill, a room for lunatics, a room for debtors, a hospital and a jailor’s quarters. A traveler visited the island in 1850 and he found that the jail had been closed for 6 months for lack of patronage. At that time he reported that there was no burglary, brigandage or highway robbery, in even the most unsettled parts of the island [Clander, 1850, wright and white 1969]. The bay was originally call Santa Gloria by Columbus. Cotter’s wharf at the end of Bravo Street was used in the filming of the famous James Bond Dr. No

The courthouse was erected in 1860. Previously, the courthouse and the church shared the same building.This was the time when there was a close alliance between church and state. Religious conflict reached its height in the parish in the 19th century. At the center of the controversy was the Reverend George Wilson Bridges, Anglican Rector of Saint Ann from 1823 to 1837 who was violently opposed to the emancipation of the enslaved africans and became a leading Light in anti-missionary organization called Colonial Church Union. In Saint Ann, Bridges lived first at Tydenham some miles out of the town and there he bought a property called Cloisters on the Windsor Hill, overlooking the bay. In a strange twist of fate The Cloisters ended up as the property of the Wesleyans, one of the missions was attacked and shot up by an armed mob in the anti-missionary riot.

National hero Marcus Garvey spent much of his childhood next door to The Cloisters at Windsor Hill. His father was mason and a member of the Wesleyan Church. There is a statue of Marcus Garvey in front of the Saint Ann Parish Library. Some of the major towns in St Ann are: St Ann's Bay, Ocho Rios, Runaway Bay, Brown’s Town, Moneague, Claremont, Alexandria and Discovery Bay. The parish is a huge tourists destination. The population of Ocho Rios is over 16,600 (Population Census 2011). There are many attractions, entertainment and hotels/guest houses in the parish. These attractions include Dunn's River Falls, Dolphin Cove, Mystic Mountain,Konoko falls, H’Evans Scent among others. The guest houses and hotels include Riu MammeeBay, Sandals Ocho rios, Moon Palace Jamaica Grande, Jewels Dunn’s River, Shaw Park Beach Hotel, Grande Bahia Principe Runaway Bay and many more.

Some of the places for entertainment include, Island Village( there is a theatre ), Ocean eleven, John Crow’s Tavern, Turtle River Park,Bobsled at Mystic Mountain, Ocho Rios Jerk Center and many more. All the hotels provide a wide range of entertainment.

Some of the places to dine in Ocho Rios are Evita’s, Miss T’s Kitchen, SanMar, My Favourite Place, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, Domino Pizza, Mongoose Restaurant, Sakura, Juicy Patty, Mothers, Island Grill and many more.

Places of worship are everywhere. Many of the churches in the town of Ocho Rios are on Plazas. The established churches are also there. Some of these churches include, Baptist, Anglican, Methodist, Pentecostals, Adventist, Mormons, Orthodox and many more.

Saint Ann is a wonderful place to be. It has a long, colourful and rich history. From the Taino to the Spanish to the British and now to the Africans. Bye the was Bob Marley and Burning Spear are from this parish. One Love. [parts are excerpts from the Encyclopedia of Jamaica Heritage, Oliver Senior]

Cruise ship at the Ocho Rio's pier.

2019-01-15T16:36:00.001-08:00

Old Jamaican notes

2013-07-12T12:19:00.003-07:00

These are Jamaican $5.00, $2.00 and u$1.00 notes. They are no longer used as the have been replaced with coins. The size has been reduced so has the value of the Jamaican dollar. When I was going to school $2.00 could take me from Saint Ann's to Claremont and back.

Spanish jar

2013-07-11T08:35:00.001-07:00

18th century spanish jar at Columbus Park, Discovery Saint Ann , Jamaica

My Mom and Aunt who brought me.

2013-05-20T19:51:00.001-07:00

Mama, Mommy, Mother or Mom,

Are few of the names called by some.

Sisters, Aunts and grandmas too,

Are also mothers and strong as you.

Nine months you carried me, that was hard,

And when I was born I thanked the Lord

With breasts you fed me, and I was filled,

I’m glad you carried me and was not killed.

When I was sick, you would start to fret.

My feeble little body need not meet death.

So off to the doctor you left with speed

You took no chances, none indeed.

At nights when you were tired and wanted to sleep,

With you I’d play, and sometimes weep.

But when lights were out and the darkness I feared,

You were still beside me, I knew you cared.

You were not rich and things were hard,

I received new life when you led me to the lord.

Though the battles were hot you remain quite still,

Always abiding in the Father’s will.

Today is Mothers’ Day, you can have things your way,

You are a wonderful mom, I can’t gainsay.

So enjoy today and be very happy

I’m a big boy now no need to change a nappy.

National symbol

2010-03-24T20:08:00.000-07:00

The 'Doctor Bird (Trochilus polytmus) -a national symbol of the country- lives only in Jamaica.

Socialising

2010-03-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

Babies spend the first 18months forming strong attachments to their parents and i don't think socialising is high on their priority list at 11 weeks quote he is worried that she may get to the point where she won't let anyone else hold her or babysit her etc, because she will not be used to it.[1]

Reference URL
1. http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t747973.html

Quote on change

2010-01-21T16:17:00.000-08:00

He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery. ~Harold Wilson

http://S2.WebStarts.com/THELITTLEDELIVERYJAGUYCOM/index.html

Jamaica Facts

2010-01-12T19:14:00.000-08:00

Jamaica was the first country in the Western world to construct a railway, even before the United States! This was only 18 years after Britain!
Jamaica is the first Caribbean Country to gain Independence.
Jamaica is the first team from the English-speaking Caribbean to qualify for the Football (Soccer) World Cup. This was the 1998 championship.
Jamaica stands strong in 3rd place on the list of countries to win the Miss World titles the most! [Hmmm!] The only countries to have won it more than Jamaica is India, Venezuela and the UK, but considering the size of Jamaica, you have to say that this achievement is monumental!
On his second voyage to the New World in 1494, the tip of the Blue Mountains in Jamaica was the first land sighted by Christopher Columbus.