Nanny Town

Nanny Town

Nanny Town was a village in the Blue Mountains of Portland Parish, north-eastern Jamaica, used as a stronghold for Maroons (escaped slaves) led by Granny Nanny; the town held out against repeated British attacks before being destroyed in 1734.[1]

Granny Nanny was born in Ghana, West Africa, as a member of the Ashanti nation, part of the Akan people. She was enslaved and brought to Jamaica. Experiencing the cruel treatment of slaves on the Jamaican plantations, she and her five brothers, Cudjoe, Accompong, Johnny, Cuffy and Quao decided to join the autonmous African community of Maroons. This community originated from people formerly enslaved by the Spanish, who had refused to submit to British control. This community developed as many more slaves escaped the plantations and joined the Maroons. By the time of the First Maroon War, the newly run away slaves were also known as Maroons.

Nanny's family then made the decision to split up in order to be able to organize better resistance to the plantation economy across Jamaica than was possible if they stuck together. Cudjoe went to Clarendon where he was soon joined by about a hundred Maroons from Cottawood, while Accompong went to St. Elizabeth, while Nanny and Quao made their way to Portland.

By 1720, Nanny and Quao had organized and gained control of this town of Maroons located in the Blue Mountains. It was around this time that the town was given the title of Nanny Town. Nanny town encompased more than 600 acres (2.4 km²) of land for the run away slaves to live as well as raise animals and grow crops. Due to the town being led by Nanny and Quao, it was organized very similar to a typical Ashanti tribe in Africa.

The Maroons were able to survive on the mountains by sending traders to the cities to exchange food for weapons and cloth. The Maroons were also known for raiding plantations for weapons and food, burning the plantation, and leading the slaves back to Nanny Town.

Nanny town was an excellent location for a stronghold due to it overlooking Stony River via a 900 foot ridge making a surprise attack by the British virtually impossible. The Maroons at Nanny town also organized look-outs for such an attack as well as designated warriors who could be summoned by the sound of a horn called an Abeng.

Granny Nanny was very adept at organizing plans to free slaves. Over the span of 50 years, Nanny has been credited with freeing over 800 slaves. Nanny also helped these slaves remain free and healthy due to her vast knowledge of herbs and her role as a spiritual leader. However, freeing slaves upset the British very much. Between 1728 and 1734, Nanny town was attacked by the British time and time again, but not once was it harmed. This was accomplished due to the Maroons being much more skilled in fighting in an area of high rainfall as well as disguising themselves as bushes and trees. The Maroons also utilized decoys to trick the British into a surprise attack. This was done by having non disguised Maroons run out into view of the British and then run in the direction of the fellow Maroons who were disguised, thus crushing the British time and time again.

References

  1. ^ Pariser, Harry S. "Jamaica: A Visitor's Guide" Pages 235-236, 1995


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nanny of the Maroons — Queen Nanny or Grandy Nanny (c. 1686 – 1733), Jamaican National Hero,[1] was a well known leader of the Jamaican Maroons in the eighteenth century. Historical documents refer to her as the rebels (sic) old obeah woman, and they legally grant… …   Wikipedia

  • Nanny (comics) — Nanny Publication information Publisher Marvel Comics First …   Wikipedia

  • Nanny and the Professor — Genre Situation comedy Created by AJ Carothers Thomas L. Miller Starring Juliet …   Wikipedia

  • Nanny (short story) — Nanny is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick, first published in 1955 in Startling Stories and later in The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick. It has since been republished several times, including in Beyond Lies the Wub in 1988.… …   Wikipedia

  • Nanny Matilda — (im Original Nurse Matilda) ist eine dreiteilige Kinderbuchreihe der britischen Autorin Christianna Brand. Das erste Buch erschien 1964, die deutsche Erstausgabe erst 2005. Der erste Band wurde illustriert von Edward Ardizzone und übersetzt von… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Nanny (disambiguation) — Nanny may refer to: Nanny, a child s caregiver A grandmother (see grandmother, grandparent) A Cajun word for godmother (see godparent) A female goat Nanny (TV series), a 1981–83 British drama series starring Wendy Craig Nanny of the Maroons… …   Wikipedia

  • Nanny McPhee — Título La niñera mágica Ficha técnica Dirección Kirk Jones Producción Lindsay Doran Tim Bevan Eric Fellner …   Wikipedia Español

  • Nanny Ogg — Gytha Ogg Description A witch who revels in her role as mother Associations Granny Weatherwax, Magrat Garlick, Agnes Nitt, Jason Ogg, Shawn Ogg Tiffany Aching …   Wikipedia

  • Nanny McPhee — Filmdaten Deutscher Titel: Eine zauberhafte Nanny Originaltitel: Nanny McPhee Produktionsland: Großbritannien Erscheinungsjahr: 2005 Länge: 95 Minuten Originalsprache: Englisch …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Granny Nanny — (* 1700 im Aschantireich; † 1740 Jamaika) ist die einzige Frau auf der Liste der Nationalhelden von Jamaika und war eine Anführerin der Maroons Anfang des 18. Jahrhunderts. Granny Nanny, auch Grandy Nanny oder Oma Nanny genannt gehörte zum Volk… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”