GEORGE WILLIAM GORDON

GEORGE WILLIAM GORDON

In the year 1820 George William Gordon was born of very humble parentage. His father, Joseph Gordon, was a Scotsman, who had had several children illegitimately by a dark complexioned slave girl. George William was one of these. All of the children born out of wedlock were kept practically as slaves until they were freed by the General Emancipation Act in the next decade. However, as the elder Gordon recognized that George William was extremely promising, he gave him school books to teach himself, and then allowed him to go at the age of 10 to James Daly of Black River, who was the younger Gordon's Godfather. 

It can be said that George William Gordon owed his education to Joseph Daly, and also in part to his eagerness with which he read to increase his knowledge. Daly put him to work as an assistant in the business in 1831 and noted how popular he, was with his various customers. He had a natural gift as an Orator which he enjoyed using not only in politics but in religious controversy. He was very erratic in his religious outlook, as he joined several sects, and talked of forming a Church of his own. Gordon was extremely generous to his father, and although he was not jealous, he wished to outdo him. His business acumen far exceeded that of his father, and in a short while he was well on his way to success. 

His father, seeing this, although he had in previous years completely ignored his son, called on him and offered assistance. However, there was a reason, for the elder Gordon's affairs were going from bad to worse. The son took charge, and therefore was able to save some of his father's holdings; in particular was Cherry Garden which he returned to his father as a home. In October. 1846, Gordon married Lucy Shannon — a white woman. Gordon entered politics as a member of the Town Party, and was extremely interested in the welfare of the poverty stricken negroes, whereas Jordon and others of the Party were mainly interested in the coloured middle class. Gordon was a Justice of the Peace for seven parishes at various times. 

As mentioned before, Gordon was an extremely good businessman, having large holdings in St. Thomas including the Rhine Estate. He was interested in selling land cheaply to the negroes at a time when many whites refused to sell to the negroes. He was one of the Chief Founders of the Jamaica Mutual Life Assurance Society, an Insurance Company which is one of the largest in the Island today. Edward John Eyre arrived in Jamaica as Lieutenant Governor supposedly to take over for a period, during which time the Governor, Sir Charles Darling, had been granted leave of absence. At this time there was a lot of discontent in the Island which could easily have been smoothed over by an able, well-meaning Governor. But Eyre was not that man. With two such personalities as Eyre and Gordon, there was bound to be a clash. Eyre, however, had shown great promise in his previous appointments. In Australia - where several places had been named after him, Trinidad - where he had been named protector of the East Indian Immigrants, and also had held a high position in the Leeward Islands. Therefore why should he have made such a mess of things in Jamaica? He was definitely not popular while he acted as Governor, and in many cases enraged the people of the Island in the manner in which he managed (or mismanaged) affairs.

Gordon, of course, completely opposed Eyre, and he had dropped out of the Assembly. However, early in 1862 he attempted to return from St. Thomas in a bye-election, but was defeated. He was a member of the St. Thomas Vestry, as the Parochial Board was then called. The House of Assembly was dissolved in 1863. Gordon renewed his candidacy in St. Thomas and was re-elected. A few months later he won the Church Wardens seat in the Vestry of the same Parish, as the Established Church (The Church of England) had to have a member, apart from its Clergyman. Eyre then put one of his friends, Baron Maximilian Augustus Von Ketelholdt, whom he could trust to deal with such people as Gordon, in the position of Custos of St. Thomas. Von Ketelholdt declined to allow Gordon to take his seat in the Vestry on the grounds that he was now a Baptist and therefore could not speak for the Church of England. The Baron had Gordon forcibly removed from the room. This episode ended in a law suit. 

In 1863 Gordon began to speak seriously in the Assembly re the rights of the poorer classes, as per the Flogging Bill and the Treadmill Bill which Eyre had brought out previously. In May 1864 Jamaica was astonished to learn that. Eyre had been made Full Governor of Jamaica. In 1865 Dr. E.B. Underhill, a Missionary in the Island, had written a letter addressed to the Colonial Office dealing with conditions in Jamaica, which had caused a great deal of interest at home and also abroad. Meetings were held all over the Island and these were known as "Underhill Meetings." These meetings were approved by Gordon, and he also held meetings on his own. However, it must be said that all the meetings were orderly, and the outcome was a petition addressed to Queen Victoria asking for relief measures. The petition was sent to England by Eyre who in return received a Document from the Colonial Secretary stating that "The Queen had been informed and that she wished to commend hard work and industry to the labouring classes of Jamaica. They must not expect schemes of Government aid to improve their condition." "Her Majesty would regard with interest and satisfaction their advancement through their own merits and effort." This is what is known in Jamaica's History as the "Queen's Letter." 

Eyre had thousands of copies printed of this letter for island--wide distribution. He said he believed it would put an end to the "Underhill Meetings." But Gordon went ahead with plans for a gathering in Morant Bay on July 29th. He also spoke in .other Parishes. Although he spoke in a mild manner towards the Queen's Ministers, Eyre took exception to the wording on one of his placards. At this time there was a lot of unrest in St. Thomas which mainly centered about Paul Bogle of Stony Gut, whom Gordon had made a Deacon of his independent Baptist sect. Bogle was firm political follower of Gordon's and had canvassed votes for him previously, but this could not make Gordon responsible for Bogle's local organization. Paul Bogle was a man of great personality and carried much influence and authority locally.

His organization was a law on to themselves, for it was reported that they had established a system of Courts among themselves, to deal with their own disputes. One could not say that Gordon encouraged Bogle in his demonstrations, etc. but he did know of these, and may be even hoped that it would help in some small measure, to bring about Self Government for Jamaica. But definitely not through Bloodshed. On October 7th Bogle was in Morant Bay with some of his followers. This was one of their Court Days. During one of the cases, there was a bit of trouble, and during the ensuing scuffle, Bogle and his followers took away the prisoner. Three days later, the 10th, the Police arrived at Stony Gut to arrest Bogle, and they were subsequently overpowered and forced to swear loyalty to the movement of the peasants. When they were released they returned to Morant Bay and reported this incident to the Custos. Von Ketelholdt sent a messenger to the Governor to ask for immediate military aid, but decided to hold the meeting of the Vestry scheduled for the following day. The volunteers or militia were called to protect the Court House. 

Bogle started early for Morant Bay with around 200 men, while about 100 others joined from nearby districts. On the way down Bogle reported that he was not in revolt against the Queen; he and his people had resisted unjust arrest and would continue to do so, but he would apply for bail. They rushed a Police Station, and seized muskets, etc. The cry "COLOUR FOR COLOUR" was heard amongst the marchers, for the negroes hoped that through the killing of the whites, they would own the Island. When the marchers reached the Court house they met a small contingent of armed volunteers. Fighting commenced. The Custos after trying to regain peace, read the Riot Act to them. However, someone in the street threw a stone which injured an officer. This eventually started the firing of muskets, etc. which lead to the killing of quite a number of people - amongst whom was Von Ketelholdt.

Bogle took over Morant Bay. He left a Garrison there, but returned to Stony Gut. Eyre seeing the situation in St. Thomas, Portland and St. Andrew proclaimed Martial Law on these parishes, but not Kingston, as this was a commercial area. Soldiers were alerted to take over during this crisis on behalf of the Government. 

Eyre said that all of the trouble was due to Gordon's agitation. Although he did not have Gordon arrested he had his Newspaper "THE WATCHMAN" raided and suppressed. Eyre then chartered a ship, which he travelled to Morant Bay in, following in the wake of two war vessels which he had already despatched. Gordon was subsequently arrested through the instigation of Dr. Bowerbank, who had had Gordon's shop and offices searched, where he had found an old map of Kingston with marks at certain points and rushed to show this to one of the Military men in command. Thus egged on by Bowerbank, Eyre had had a warrant issued for Gordon's arrest. However, Gordon on hearing of the warrant gave himself up. He was subsequently turned over to Provost Marshall Ramsay with instructions to be tried for "high treason and sedition and having complicity with certain parties in the insurrection." 

He was extremely badly treated before he was eventually locked up. During this time the fighting had still been continuing in St. Thomas. The negroes were badly treated - hundreds were executed many without even a hearing, several had been flogged including women, and over a thousand homes had been burned. The Maroons, who had been called in to help were very guilty of these crimes, also the regular soldiers and sailors. Gordon's Court Martial was held on Saturday October 21st. His hearing was hurried through, and all requests on his part were pushed aside. 

He was found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged. Paul Bogle was captured coming out of a cane piece behind Stony Gut, the day after Gordon's execution. He, on being asked whether Gordon had instigated the uprising, said NO. He was given a prompt Court Martial and was sentenced to be hanged, which in his case was just. But this was definitely not so in the case of Gordon. Today, the House of Assembly in Jamaica is named GORDON HOUSE, after George William Gordon. In the future, we can look forward to a Centenary issue to commemorate the life of this great man.