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History of the Quakers In Jamaica - A Stirling Connection? Excerpt from the book "Jamaican Ancestry: How to Find Out More" by Madeleine Mitchell. A small group of Quakers were early settlers of Jamaica from England, particularly in St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland Spanish Town and Kingston, are are recorded from 1679 in Port Royal. Most of the Friends however left the island forPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania by 1749 and only a few references to transferring lands previously owned by Quakers were record up to the 1790's. Minutes for the Meetings for Suggerings, Minutes of the Yearly Meeting, Letters Received and Sent and as well as some miscellaneous papers may be seen in the Society of Friends Library, London. More information on the documents available in the above library, including pages and volume numbers, may be found in "Sources of Jamaican History 1655-1838 by K.E. Ingram. American researchers who cannot make the connection between Pennsylvania Quaker families and those in England might consider the possibility that their families made a home in Jamaica before removing to the United States. Any existing records would be in London, except for land patents and deeds of land sales that are in Jamaica. Burial grounds of Quakers in Jamaica are mentioned in letters, but it is unlikely that any monumental inscriptions survive in Jamaica. (Page 16-17) There is some information that suggests members of the Stirling family may have been active Quakers in Jamaica during this time period. If you have any additional information about Stirling family members and their participation in Quaker activities in either England, Scotland, Jamaica or the US, please contact Clan Stirling Online.
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