Thomas Modyford
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Sir Thomas Modyford, 1st Baronet (c. 1620 – 2 September 1679) was a planter of Barbados
and Governor of Jamaica, 1664-70.
Modyford was the son of a mayor of Exeter
with family connections to the Duke of Albemarle
, who emigrated to Barbados as a young man with other family members in 1647, in the opening stages of the English Civil War
. He had £1,000 for a down payment on a plantation and £6,000 to commit in the next three years. Modyford soon was dominant in Barbados island politics, rising to be speaker of the house of assembly in Barbados
during the reign of Charles II
, and factor for the Royal Adventurers, who had a monopoly in the slave trade to the islands.
He negotiated with the Commissioners of the Commonwealth
to be governor of Barbados, which put him in an awkward position with the Restoration of the English monarchy
.
He was appointed Governor of Jamaica, by commission dated 15 February 1664. He arrived in Jamaica 4 June 1664, with seven hundred planters and their slaves, marking the wholesale introduction of a slavery-based plantation economy
in Jamaica. He appointed to his council his brother, Col. Sir James Modyford and Col. Thomas Modyford. Under Modyford the island was first divided into parishes. Modyford remained a factor for the Royal Adventurers until 1669, overseeing their plantation in Jamaica. Sir James was granted a royal license in November to ship convicted felons from England to his brother in Jamaica. In Jamaica Sir Thomas used a labor force of twenty-eight indentured servant
s from England.
Sir Thomas had a cacao plantation at Sixteen Mile Walk in St. Katherine's parish
In 1670 he was "Governor of His Majesty's Island of Jamaica Commander-in-Chief of all His Majesties Forces within the said Island and in the Islands adjacent Vice-Admiral to His Royal Highness the Duke of York
in the American Seas", according to the commission to Henry Morgan
to make war upon the Spanish. Soon his notoriety for corruption caught up with him and he was removed as Governor (1670) and returned to London for trial. Modyford spent two years in the Tower of London
, but in the end he was not charged and returned to his plantations in Jamaica.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Sir Thomas Modyford, 1st Baronet (c. 1620 – 2 September 1679) was a planter of Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
and Governor of Jamaica, 1664-70.
Modyford was the son of a mayor of Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
with family connections to the Duke of Albemarle
Duke of Albemarle
The Dukedom of Albemarle has been created twice in the Peerage of England, each time ending in extinction. Additionally, the title was created a third time by James II in exile and a fourth time by his son the Old Pretender, in the Jacobite Peerage. The name is the Latinised form of the ancient...
, who emigrated to Barbados as a young man with other family members in 1647, in the opening stages of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. He had £1,000 for a down payment on a plantation and £6,000 to commit in the next three years. Modyford soon was dominant in Barbados island politics, rising to be speaker of the house of assembly in Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
during the reign of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, and factor for the Royal Adventurers, who had a monopoly in the slave trade to the islands.
He negotiated with the Commissioners of the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
to be governor of Barbados, which put him in an awkward position with the Restoration of the English monarchy
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
.
He was appointed Governor of Jamaica, by commission dated 15 February 1664. He arrived in Jamaica 4 June 1664, with seven hundred planters and their slaves, marking the wholesale introduction of a slavery-based plantation economy
Plantation economy
A plantation economy is an economy which is based on agricultural mass production, usually of a few staple products grown on large farms called plantations. Plantation economies rely on the export of cash crops as a source of income...
in Jamaica. He appointed to his council his brother, Col. Sir James Modyford and Col. Thomas Modyford. Under Modyford the island was first divided into parishes. Modyford remained a factor for the Royal Adventurers until 1669, overseeing their plantation in Jamaica. Sir James was granted a royal license in November to ship convicted felons from England to his brother in Jamaica. In Jamaica Sir Thomas used a labor force of twenty-eight indentured servant
Indentured servant
Indentured servitude refers to the historical practice of contracting to work for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of indenture. Usually the father made the arrangements and signed...
s from England.
Sir Thomas had a cacao plantation at Sixteen Mile Walk in St. Katherine's parish
In 1670 he was "Governor of His Majesty's Island of Jamaica Commander-in-Chief of all His Majesties Forces within the said Island and in the Islands adjacent Vice-Admiral to His Royal Highness the Duke of York
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
in the American Seas", according to the commission to Henry Morgan
Henry Morgan
Admiral Sir Henry Morgan was an Admiral of the Royal Navy, a privateer, and a pirate who made a name for himself during activities in the Caribbean, primarily raiding Spanish settlements...
to make war upon the Spanish. Soon his notoriety for corruption caught up with him and he was removed as Governor (1670) and returned to London for trial. Modyford spent two years in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, but in the end he was not charged and returned to his plantations in Jamaica.