Cedula of Population
The Cedula of Population was a 1783 edict by the representative of the
History
The edict of 1783 invited persons of either gender and of the
The Spanish, who possessed the island, contributed little towards advancements, with El Dorado the focus; Trinidad was perfect due to its geographical location. French planters with their slaves, free persons of color, and mulattos from neighboring islands of Grenada, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Dominica migrated to Trinidad during the French Revolution. The Spanish also gave many incentives to lure settlers to the island, including exemption from taxes for ten years and land grants per the terms set out in the Cedula. These new immigrants establishing local communities of Blanchisseuse, Champs Fleurs, Cascade, Carenage and Laventille. Trinidad's population jumped from just under 1,400 in 1777 to over 15,000 by the end of 1789.
Upon the capture of Trinidad by the British in 1797, the Cedula of Population became a paramount document that established the legal status of the free persons of color in Trinidad in the declaration of capitulation. In particular, it protected their "liberty, persons and property like other inhabitants."[4] in the British crown colony.
References
- ^ Gerard A. Besson (2007-12-16). "The Caribbean History Archives". Paria Publishing Co. LTD. Retrieved 2010-10-21.
- ^ a b Gerard A. Besson (2007-12-20). "The Caribbean History Archives - The Royal Cedula of 1783". Paria Publishing Co. LTD. Retrieved 2010-10-21.
- ^ "Major Ethnic Groups - the French" TriniGenWeb
- ^ Newsday's Millennium Special (2000-01-01). "Jean-Baptiste Phillipe - A slave owner fights against apartheid". Government website of Trinidad and Tobago. Archived from the original on 2011-06-16. Retrieved 2010-10-21.