The Island of Jamaica, divided into its Principal Parishes with the Roads &c.

Fine mid-18th Century copper-engraved map of Jamaica, marking the roads, towns and churches, ports and the plantations, or "works", across the island. Just to the left of the title on the map, a panel of text states:

"Jamaica is from East to West 105 miles in length, & 59miles from North to South in Breadth. It was taken from the Spaniards Anno 165. Kingston which is the Chief Place of Trade since the ruin of Port Royal, lyes in Long:76:45 West, Lat: 17:42. The Assembly who - make the Laws with the Governor's consent, consist of 32 representatives, besides the President. It was first called St. Jago by Columbus who discover'd it But this name was afterwards changed to Jamaica, after James Duke of York."


Across the map, icons have been used to identify the locations of the plantations; a small tower for the sugar works, a small tower with a flag for the cotton works, a low-rise triangle for the indigo works, and a taller/evenly sided triangle for the cacao works. A key to these and the markers for the towns and churches can be found in the lower right corner of the map.



As well as the developing road network, the topography of the island has been charmingly illustrated and the parish divisions are shown using dotted lines. A listing of these parishes (or Precincts) can be found in the lower left corner of the map.

There is an annotation on the map, by Lynch I[sland] in the east of the island, a note states "Here a Town & Fort is designed to be built". This is named after Sir Thomas Lynch, who in the 1663 was appointed the English governor of Jamaica (and again on two further occasions in 1671-74 and 1682-1684).

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