OUR STORY
Slavery and the Codringtons in Antigua/Barbuda

Christopher Codrington who settled in the West Indies during Charles I, acquired the 1st family estates in those parts. His sons, Christopher and John, both gained positions of importance. Christopher being appointed Governor by the Leeward Island and John became treasurer of Barbados. Christopher, the son, achieved distinction both as a scholar and a soldier, and when he died in 1710, he left his books and a large endowment for the foundation of the Codrington library in All Souls College, Oxford. He also bequeathed two plantations in Barbados and part of the island of Barbuda to the society for the propagation of the gospel, for the maintenance of the college later known as Codrington College which now forms part of the University of the West Indies. The remaining family estates were inherited by his cousin, Col Wm. Codrington who was created a Baronet in 1721.

The archieves contain only a few deeds and legal papers earlier than 1715, throwing little light on the careers of the two governors of the Leeward Islands, the foundation of the Codrington College, or on the acquisition of the estates which they held in Antigua, Barbados, Barbuda and St Kitts. There is however, a single letter written to Christopher Codrington from England in 1700 which referred to the Treasury warrant for his salary as Governor and also to his purchase of the Dodingham Estate in Cloucestershire. This is the only group of documents relating to Codrington College concerns dispute over the granting of title to the S.P.G's two estates in Barbados. Agreement was reached whereby the whole of the island of Barbuda remained in possession of the Codrington Family. Betty's Hope plantation in Antigua was certainly in the ownership of the Codringtons before 1696; and it remained the principal estate until the property was sole in 1944. William Codrington bought the adjacent cotton plantation and another in Barbados. Before his death in 1738, he purchased the cotton New Works and the Garden Estates in Antigua to form large property surrounding Betty's Hope, another estate called Tuits, was added to the group in 1760. This was soon afterwards merged with the cotton New Works Plantation. Properties elsewhere in Antigua were Rooms and the Folly Plantations which Sir William Codrington, 1st Bart., bequested to his younger children and which are seldom mentioned in the collection.

Further Estates called Bolans, Jennings and Skerrets in Antigua with another in Monsterrat, were quired through the speculations of Edward Codrington. The large … of Barbuda, used mainly for stock-rearing and not for sugar plantation was held on lease from 1684. The lease was several times renewed, being finally surrendered in 1870.

Edward Codrington, son of Sir William Codrington 1st Bart, inherited the Folly, alias the mountain, plantation in Antigua, which he sold in 1772. He also inherited an estate in Barbados from his brother John, who died in 1759. In 1757, he was a partner in the firm of Codrington and Miller, merchants of London. He lent money to plantation owners. He also held a government contract to supply provisions to forced in West Florida, on which the Treasury alledged overcharging. Edward died in 1774, leaving three sons of whom the eldest, C B Codrington, inherited the estates of both his uncles, Sir William Codrington, 2nd Bart., and Chris Bethel.

The 8 generations of Codringtons covered in the papers have owned the following properties:

The Codrington Papers were found in 1948 at the Codrington Family Home near Cloucester, England. They mainly consisted of correspondence and estate papers written by the employers of the Codrington's twelve Antigua and Barbuda properties.

These documents dated from about 1668 - 1944, thus covering the period of 280 years. In all there are about 3459 documents, 42 files, 33 bundles of papers and 130 volumes.

Codrington leased the whole of Barbuda from the Crown (from 1677 until 1870) in an exchange for "one fat sheep on demand". No sugar was grown on Barbuda due to the poor quality and quantity of the soil. It's main purpose was to provide the Antigua and other Leeward Island Estates with cattle, provisions and other products produced by the slaves. It is said that Barbuda was used as a breeding ground for slaves. Other sources of Barbuda's income were through the sale of wool, turtle, meat, for the Navy and Army and the sale of cargo salvaged from ship's wrecked on Barbuda's numerous reefs.

Each slave on Barbuda was allocated a plot of land (10 - 12 acres) for cultivation and were free to move about the island to hunt deer and wild pigs or catch land turtles and crabs.

On rare occasions slaves were sent to Antigua as punishment for their misbehaviour. The threat of banishment though was normally sufficient to keep the Barbudan slaves in line.

Although Barbuda was annexed to Antigua in 1858 by an Act of the British Parliament, the Barbudan spirit of independence and self-reliance lasts to this day.

It has been said that Barbuda was used as a breeding ground for slaves. However, this topic is a very sensitive one and to date there is no documented proof of such a thing happening.