Digitising the endangered historic records of Nevis in the Leeward Islands

This project digitised and preserved historic documents held on the Caribbean island of Nevis. These manuscript records date from between 1705 and c. 1920, and provide a vital insight into the island’s social and economic history, during both its slavery and post-slavery eras. 

This project, a continuation of EAP093, digitised and preserved historic documents held on the Caribbean island of Nevis. These manuscript records date from between 1705 and c. 1920, and provide a vital insight into the island’s social and economic history, during both its slavery and post-slavery eras. As a whole, these documents elucidate, for a period of over two centuries, the complex economic and social interactions of Nevisian society. They also record the difficult process of the development of an independent, small-scale economy in the post-Emancipation era. All historic documents found in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court building’s vault were digitised, together with three volumes held in the adjacent Registry office. The following series were digitised: Common Deed Record Books, 1707-1956 (49 volumes); Court of King’s/Queen’s Bench and Common Pleas, 1705-1873 (39 volumes); Supreme Court, 1874-1962 (9 volumes); Other Courts, 1815-1943 (8 volumes); Wills, 1763-1880 (7 volumes); Ships Bonds, 1847-1867 (7 volumes); Provost Marshal’s Sales, 1847-1935 (9 volumes); Land Title Register Books, 1887-1922 (3 volumes); Miscellaneous Records, 1840-1940 (23 volumes); Maps and plans, 1888-1974 (205 individual maps/plans, or montages of plans). Furthermore the storage conditions of the material in the courthouse vault were considerably improved in the course of the project.

Project Details


Location: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Caribbean, Americas Organiser(s): Endangered Archives Programme (EAP) Project partner(s): University of Bristol Funder(s): Arcadia Funding received: £39,269 Commencement Date: 08/2015 Project Status: Completed
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