HISTORICAL

FACTS
OF
THE BAHAMAS

A brief historical summary of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas

Bahamian History Synopsis & Lessons Ebook was complied and prepared by Mrs. R Cecilia
Askew, Teacher at Creative Vision Christian Academy for high school students. It is to be used as
a supplement to the general history lessons approved by the Bahamas Ministry of Education.
Portions of information were obtained from the Caribbean Community [CARICOM] Secretariat
[http://www.caricom.org/index.jsp]; Political Database of he Americas
[http://pdba.georgetown.edu/] and Bahamas Official Guide [http://www.bahamas.co.uk/about-
bahamas/history/].

Mrs. R. Cecilia Askew

copyright@2008

Bahamian History Synopsis & Lessons Ebook was complied and prepared by Mrs. R Cecilia
Askew, Teacher at Creative Vision Christian Academy for high school students. It is to be used as
a supplement to the general history lessons approved by the Bahamas Ministry of Education.
Portions of information were obtained from the Caribbean Community [CARICOM] Secretariat
[http://www.caricom.org/index.jsp]; Political Database of he Americas
[http://pdba.georgetown.edu/] and Bahamas Official Guide [http://www.bahamas.co.uk/about-
bahamas/history/].

Exercises:

1] Research the following: Indigenous people, capital or main settlement, foods [fruits,
vegetables, meats etc.], what the island is most noted for, principal denomination and,
famous persons originating from the island. Students are encouraged to research and
document historical sites on as many islands as possible. An essay of 150 words or
more should be prepared for presentation and grade.

2] Students will be asked to select a famous Bahamian in one or more of the following
categories and write an essay on the individual. Essay should be 150 words or more.

Religion Sports Dance

Education Medical Field Art
Music Drama Politics
0R

3] Research and write an essay on one of the individuals in the “Noteworthy Bahamians”
section of the Bahamian History Synopsis & Lessons Ebook.

Materials: Computer with Internet Access

Library
Copy of Bahamian History Synopsis & Lessons Ebook
Other Resources

Mrs. R. Cecilia Askew

copyright@2008

Synopsis

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Christopher Columbus made his first landfall in the New World on the island of San
Salvador in the eastern Bahamas in 1492. After examining the shallow sea around the
islands, he reportedly said, "Baja mar" [meaning low water or sea], and named the area
The Bahamas, or The Islands of the Shallow Sea.

The Commonwealth of The Bahamas is an archipelago state, which lies approximately

50 miles off the coast of Florida in the United States and extends over 750 miles
Southeasterly along the coast of Cuba to within 60 miles of Haiti and West of Turks and
Caicos Islands. Although the archipelago comprises about 100,000 square miles with
more than 4,000 islands, islets and cays, it is commonly known as the country of 700
islands. The first permanent settlement in The Bahamas was established by a group of
English settlers from Bermuda called the “Company of Eleutheran Adventurers”, who
organized a community on what is now the island of Eleuthera in 1647.

During the late 17th and early 18th centuries, piracy flourished in the islands because of
their proximity to important shipping lanes. Woodes Rodgers, the first Royal Governor is
credited with getting rid of the buccaneers and established order in 1718.

In 1776, a U.S. naval squadron captured Nassau, but withdrew after one day. Following
the American War of Independence, approximately 6,000 American loyalists and their
slaves settled in The Bahamas.

The Lucayan /Christopher Columbus Period

According to historians non-Arawak people, possibly from Cuba lived on The Islands of
The Bahamas as early as 300 to 400 AD. Followed later by Lucayan Indians. No written
history was left by either group, but what they did leave were drawings, pottery, tools and
bones which, gives us insight into their daily lives. There were roughly 40,000 Lucayans
when Columbus arrived, but this population dwindled due to enslavement.

The First European Settlers

In 1648 English Puritans [known as "Eleutheran Adventurers"] arrived in The Bahamas in

search of religious freedom. Due to the lack of food and the lack of proper supplies
among the settlers, there was much internal strife. In order to ward off marauding
Spanish troops in the area, the settlement known today as Harbour Island was
established.

Piracy and The Bahamas

The late 1600s to the early 1700s was considered a golden age for pirates and
privateers. Some of the more famous ones you've heard about, such as Sir Francis
Drake and Blackbeard who used The Islands of the Bahamas as their base at one time
or another. The numerous islands and islets, with their complex shoals and channels,
provided excellent hiding places for plundering ships and therefore made the island
chain an ideal place for pirates and privateers. Further, the Islands of The Bahamas
were close to busy shipping lanes giving the buccaneers plenty of opportunities to rob
from merchant ships.

Civil war and prohibition benefited The Bahamas

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During the period from 1861 to 1865, the boom and bust economy of The Bahamas
benefited greatly from the American Civil War. Great Britain's textile industry depended
on southern cotton and, therefore it favoured the Confederacy. However, British ships
could not reach southern ports because of the Union blockade. As a result blockade
runners in sleek, fast boats travelled from Charleston to Nassau with loads of cotton.
They would meet up with British ships and trade their cotton for the goods that the British
had on board. The end of the Civil War meant the end of prosperity for The Islands of the
Bahamas until 1919 when the United States passed the 14th Amendment prohibiting
alcohol and, smuggling returned to the islands. However, when Prohibition ended in
1934 so too did the vast revenue which had poured into the country.

Bahamian Migration

During the period 1880-1920 wage-labour migration of Bahamians, was primarily to the
nearby State of Florida. The economic status of The Bahamas, which, with the fall off of
major agricultural export staples, encouraged this outward migration in the early years of
the twentieth century. Although the majority of Bahamians went to work on the
“contract” [an employment agreement between the USA and The Bahamas] in the
United States there are those who also went to work on the Panama Canal and other
American ventures in Central America and the Caribbean.

An Independent Bahamas

Great Britain granted the Islands of The Bahamas limited self-government in 1964, and
in 1969 the colony of The Bahamas became part of the Commonwealth. It legally
became a nation on 10 July 1973, which is celebrated today as Bahamian Independence
Day. The first Prime Minister [affectionately known as the “Father of the Nation”] was Sir
Lynden Oscar Pindling for whom our airport is named.

Noteworthy Bahamians

Several prominent Bahamians are etched in Bahamian history such as:

Sir Milo B. Butler - first Bahamian Governor General;

Rev. Dr. Hervis Bain - designer of National Coat of Arms;
Rt. Rev. Michael Eldon - first Bahamian Bishop of the Anglican Church in The Bahamas;
Dame Ivy Dumont - first female Governor General [neé Turnquest][
Dame Dr. Doris Johnson – first female Speaker of the Senate
Ms. Rome Italia Johnson – first female Speaker of the House
Sir Durward Knowles – first Olympic Medallist from The Bahamas
Mr. Andre Rodgers - first Bahamian professional and major league baseball player
Sir Leonard Knowles – first Bahamian Chief Justice
Dr. Keva Bethel – first female President of the College of The Bahamas
Mrs. Janet Bostwick – first female Member of Parliament
Mrs. Cynthia “Mother” Pratt – first female Deputy Prime Minister
Dame Joan Sawyer – first female Justice of Supreme Court, first female Chief Justice
and first female Justice of the Court of Appeal

The Bahamas Archipelago

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Abacos: In contrast to Eleuthera, Exuma and Nassau, the Abacos remained largely
unexplored until the late 18th century. Following the demise of the native population by
the Spanish the Island was uninhabited for 200 years, despite a brief French attempt at
settlement in 1625. In 1783 over 600 loyalists left New York for Abaco, settling first at
Carleton and then moving to Marsh Harbour. Other groups settled further South but all
found it hard to make a living on the small pockets of soil and of the 2,000 who arrived in
the 1780s, only about 400 [half white and half black] were left in 1790. Abaco is known
for great sailing and marinas abound throughout the cays. In addition to sailing, fishing
and diving are also popular activities.

Acklins/Crooked Island: Acklins Island lies in the Southeastern section of The

Bahamas chain. This lesser-known island has many unusual rock formations, beautiful
beaches and a varied plant and animal life. It was not until the end of the 18th century
that the first known settlers, British Loyalists, set foot on Crooked Island. They
established almost 50 cotton plantations, but in 1820 the plantations were ruined when
the crops were destroyed by blight and poor soil conditions. Those remaining were able
to survive by adapting to fishing and small-scale farming. Additionally, since the middle
of the 18th century, Crooked Islanders have been stripping the Croton Cascarilla shrub
and shipping the cascarilla bark to Italy to be used as flavouring in the famous Campari
liqueur.

Andros: Andros is rich in history, culture and ancient rituals. Before the 1400s, Africans
migrating to South America travelled far across the oceans to settle her shores.
However, the Spaniards arrived in Andros in the 16th century and called it La Isla del
Espiritu Santo, "The Island of the Holy Spirit". Sometime during the 17th century
Seminole Indians migrated from southern Florida to Red Bay, on the west coast of the
island.

Berry Islands: Historians believe that the islands were settled first in 1836,when
Governor Colebrook established a settlement of liberated Africans at Great Harbour Cay.
The Berry Islands are a cluster of 30 islands and almost 100 cays lying 35 miles north of
Nassau and home to a population of approximately 700 persons.
To most persons, mainly yachtsmen “The Berry Islands” are known as a stopover
between Florida and Nassau. Chub Cay is dubbed the “Billfish Capital” of The
Bahamas. A lighthouse built in 1863 can be found on Stirrup Cay.

Bimini: The history of Bimini dates back to Ponce de Leon's visit to the area during his
quest for the Fountain of Youth in 1513. North Bimini and South Bimini, the two main
islands, lie just 50 miles east of Miami, and the entire section of the Biminis stretches
for 28 miles. Bimini was inhabited first by freed Bahamian slaves who left Nassau in
search of better opportunities. Many of the current natives are direct descendents of
these original island dwellers.

Cat Island: British Loyalists fleeing the newly formed United States settled the island in
1783. For more than four centuries Cat Island was called San Salvador, and it was
thought that this was where Christopher Columbus first landed in the new world. It is not

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known how the island got its name however, a pirate and contemporary of Edward
"Blackbeard" Teach, Arthur Catt was a frequent visitor to the island, and this may be the
reason for its name. Some believe that the island resembles a feline sitting on its
haunches when seen from above. Cat Island is the place you will find the highest point
[Mount Alvernia, at 206ft (63m)] in The Bahamas.

Eleuthera: The island of Eleuthera was first settled in 1648. Shaped like a praying
mantis, the island is just under 5 miles wide and 110 miles long. More than 300 years
ago, English Adventurers who were in search of religious freedom set up the Western
World’s first valid seat of democracy and called it Eleuthera, the Greek word for freedom.

Exuma: The Exumas are made up of 365 islands and cays strung out across more
than 120 miles of ocean. From the air, these cays look like jewelled stepping-stones
surrounded by a shimmering emerald sea, making this chain one of the prettiest in
The Bahamas. Most of the island's residents are the direct descendents of plantation
slaves from the late 1700s.

Grand Bahama: Historians believe that the Siboney Indians, were the earliest settlers
on this island and that they lived off conch and fishing. Shells and jewellery they left
behind provide most of the knowledge that is known about them. According to the
remains found it would suggest that these Indians were on the island as early as 7,000
years ago. They disappeared after another Caribbean group, the Lucayans, overtook
them. The Lucayans [also called Arawaks] were a broad group of tribes who worked
their way up the Caribbean from the Amazon Basin between 5,000 and 7,000 years ago.
When Christopher Columbus sighted San Salvador on his first crossing in 1492, there
were at least 4,000 Lucayans living on Grand Bahama Island.

Harbour Island: Affectionately known as “Briland”, the first inhabitants were a band of
privateers and ministers seeking religious freedom. They formed the first government
around 1650, which lasted until 1717. It is believed that escaped slaves from the United
States added to the population throughout the island's history. Earlier settlers keep their
own slaves until the abolishment of slavery came into effect in The Bahamas in 1834.

Inagua: Historians believe the name Inagua comes from the Spanish Lleno [full] and
Agua [water]. Henagua was the name when the first permanent settlers arrived. The
islands original dwellers were the peaceful Taino Indians who migrated from South
America to the Islands of the Lesser and Greater Antilles and finally to The Bahamas.
The first permanent settlers were mostly Bermudians from the Turks and Caicos Islands
who settled the Islands in 1803 in search of salt.

Long Cay: Long Cay, formerly known as Fortune Island is an island in The Bahamas
and is an atoll that includes Acklins and Crooked Island. Discovered by Columbus in
1492 on his first voyage to the New World, the settlement of Albert Town became port in
the sponge and salt industries and a port of call for the Hamburg America Line and the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company to recruit stevedore labour. A census in 1980 found
the island to have a population of only 33 persons.

Long Island: Originally named Yuma by the Lucayan Indians, Long Island was
renamed Fernandina by Christopher Columbus when he made his third landfall in the
New World. In 1790, Loyalists from the Carolinas and their slaves came to Fernandina.
Long Island is 80 miles long and 4 miles wide and is considered one of the most scenic

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hideaways in The Bahamas. It is famous for its world-class scuba diving and bone
fishing.

Mayaguana: Located 60 miles north of Inagua, Mayaguana is a popular stopover for

yachtsmen taking a direct route to the Caribbean. Mayaguana Island was uninhabited
until 1812, when people began to migrate from the nearby Turks Islands. It is home to
the Bahama hutia a cross between a rat and rabbit.

New Providence/Paradise Island: In 1670, King Charles II of England granted The

Islands of The Bahamas to six British noblemen called the Proprietors. These men
brought British settlers from Bermuda to the island of New Providence. There they built a
fort and a city, which they called Charlestown, in honour of the king. Several years later,
the city was renamed Nassau, to honour William, Prince of Orange-Nassau, the
successor to the throne of England. Paradise Island was first called Hog Island. The
name was changed when the island was purchased by Huntington Hartford in 1959.
Huntington was the A&P Supermarket Heir and paid more then $11 million for the island.
Huntington was the first entrepreneur to begin developing Paradise Island and built the
first major hotel on the site. A bridge between Paradise Island and Nassau Harbour
connects the islands.

Ragged Island: Ragged Island is part of the Jumentos cays and Ragged Island Chain.
The croissant shaped chain measures over 110 miles in length and includes cays known
as Racoon Cay, Hog Cay and Double-Breasted Cay. Duncan town is the only
settlement on the island and was named after Mr. Duncan Taylor in the 19th century.
Hurricane Donna ripped apart the island removing roofs off houses and leaving behind
extensive land damage. After 1950 many of the inhabitants left Ragged Island and
came to Nassau.

Rum Cay: First known as “Mamana” by the Lucayan Indians, and was later renamed
Santa María de la Concepción” by Columbus. According to historians the modern name
Rum Cay is said to be in memory of a wreck destroyed with a cargo of rum found off the
coral reefs, which abound the island’s shore. As with other islands, Rum Cay also
experienced a series of booms and busts. Pineapple, salt and sisal were all once
important industries. The wreck of the 101-gun Man-of-War HMS Conqueror, built in
Devon in 1855 and which served in the Crimean War, lies in 30 feet of water off Rum
Cay where it sank in 1861. Known as the underwater museum of The Bahamas, it is the
property of The Bahamas Government and none of the contents of the ship may be
removed.

San Salvador: San Salvador is the first landfall in the Americas [New World] where
Christopher Columbus set foot on his first voyage of discovery in 1492. There are four
separate monuments marking the exact spot Columbus came ashore, although most
believe that he landed at Long Bay where a big stone cross stands. Called Guanahani
by the native Lucayan Indians, Columbus renamed the island San Salvador or "Holy
Saviour," noting in his journal, "The beauty of these islands surpasses that of any
other and as much as the day surpasses the night in splendour." When the island
became the headquarters of the buccaneer George Watling, the island carried his name
[Watling Island] until 1925.

Spanish Wells: Spanish Wells [St. George's Cay] is a mile-and-a-half-long island

situated off the northern tip of Eleuthera, Bahamas. This fair island was discovered by

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Christopher Columbus and later settled by the Eleutheran Adventurers and the Loyalists.
The people have very strong family ties and many of today’s residents proudly claim that
their heritage goes back to the early pioneers.

Chronological Time Line: 1492-1992

1492 Christopher Columbus discovers the New World by landing on the Island called
Guanahani [today known as San Salvador].
1647 The Company of Eleutheran Adventurers establishes the first republic in the
New World. They took over an island the Arawaks called Cigatoo, renaming it,
Eleuthera, after the Greek word for freedom.
1670 King Charles II of England granted the Bahamas to six Lord Proprietors of
South Carolina.
1695 The Lord Proprietors authorized construction of a fort/ city on the island of New
Providence. The city was first called Charles Town in honour of King Charles II.
It was later renamed Nassau, in honour of King William III.
1717 Captain Woods Rogers was named first Royal Governor of The Bahamas and
restored order by ending the rule of pirates.
1729 The Bahamas House of Assembly officially convenes.
1741 The construction of Fort Montagu begins at the eastern entrance to Nassau
Harbour. It was completed in 1742.
1776 During the American War for Independence from Great Britain, eight colonial
warships captured Fort Montagu and Fort Nassau.
1782 Spaniards takeover The Bahamas.
1783 The Bahamas is restored to Great Britain by treaty with Spain.
1783 British Loyalists from America travel to the islands bringing with them their
slaves to set up a plantation economy.
1789 The main portion of Fort Charlotte was completed and it overlooks the western
entrance to Nassau Harbour.
1793 Fort Fincastle was built at New Providence Island's highest point.
1838 Slavery was abolished in The Bahamas.
1861-
Great wealth was derived from the American Civil War during this period.
1865
1892 The first underwater telegraph cable is laid from Florida to Nassau.
1914 John Ernest Williamson shot the first underwater motion picture film.
1920 The Bahamian economy thrived during the American prohibition of liquor.
1930s Famous authors such as John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemingway came to live
and work in The Bahamas during this time.

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1950s Nassau becomes known as a hot spot for the rich and famous.
1955 The Hawksbill Creek Agreement was signed and, paved the way to
establishment of Freeport/Lucaya.
1962 The right to vote was granted to Bahamian women.
1964 The Bahamas gains internal self-rule as and Sir Roland Symonette is named
Premier.
1967 The Progressive Liberal Party [PLP] wins the majority of House of Assembly
seats and Lynden O. Pindling became the new Premier.
1969 The Bahamian Constitution was revised. The Bahamas, once a colony became
the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, and the Premier became the Prime
Minister.
1973 July 10th The Bahamas becomes an independent nation ending 325 years of
British rule.
1983 Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, knights Lynden O. Pindling.
1990 The $300-million Crystal Palace Resort and Casino, Cable Beach opens.
1992 The Free National Movement [FNM] was voted in as the new government
August 19, ending the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP)'s 25-year rule. Hubert A.
Ingraham became Prime Minister.
Bahamian Frank Rutherford wins a bronze medal at the Olympics for the triple
jump.
The Bahamas celebrates the 500th anniversary of the landing of Christopher
Columbus at San Salvador.

Research Resources

Books & Internet

The Bahamas Rediscovered

Author[s]: Nicolas & Dragon Popov – ISBN: 0-333-56603-3

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A History of The Bahamas
Author: Michael Craton – Publisher: Collins - London 1962

The Bahamas from Slavery to Servitude

Author: Howard Johnson – Publisher: University Press of Florida

Bahamas Media Handbook 1999

History of Harbour Island 1647-1973

Author: Prince Mather

History of The Bahamas

http://www.historyofnations.net/northamerica/bahamas.html

Bahamas
http://www.geographia.com/bahamas/bsciin01.htm

Dis We Tings – History in Review

http://www.geocities.com/diswetings/page2.html

The Bahamas from Slavery to Servitude –Online Book

http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=22825006&er=deny

Prince Mather’s Nutshell History of Harbour Island

http://myharbourisland.com/locals_pmather.htm

Overview of The Bahamas

http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/Bahamasweb/AboutBahamas.nsf/Subjects/Overview+of+Th
e+Bahamas

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