Baymen
Encyclopedia
The Baymen are the earliest European
settlers of the eventual colony of British Honduras
, modern day Belize
.
area in the 1650s. They were buccaneers and pirates trying to outrun the Spanish rulers in Mexico
and Central America
. They found that they could make a living cutting and selling logwood
to the home country. Many of the first Baymen settled on what is now the Northside of Belize City
. They controlled all affairs of municipal and national government through the Public Meeting.
It was the Baymen who established the system of slavery
in Belize, in order to have servants to cut logwood. Some slaves were allowed their own plantations, while others had to depend on their owner's rations. The Baymen also reluctantly allowed slaves to participate in the Battle of St. George's Caye
, in some cases facing former employees who had run away or been taken in by the Spaniards. The slaves were freed in 1838 and denied land at first; Belizean slaveowners received the highest compensation for emancipated territories at over 50 pounds.
The British and Spanish engaged in frequent dispute over the territory even after the 1763 Treaty of Paris
established the former's rights to cut logwood. The Baymen were chased out no less than four times between 1717 and 1780. Treaties in 1783 and 1786 gave them more security, but only after the Battle of St. George's Caye
in 1798 did the Baymen have full control of the settlement, affirmed by its admission to colonial status in 1863.
of Belize were reeling from decimation at the hands of the Spanish, and had retreated deep into the dense forests of central and western Belize. Buccaneers had also raided most of the coastal settlements, stealing crops, and taking men and women as slaves. Some Mayan slaves were then sold in Jamaica, and even as far away as Virginia and the Carolinas. When the supply of logwood began to diminish, and prices fell in Europe because other dyestuffs became available, the Baymen began to cut tropical cedar and mahogany. This brought them deeper into the forest where they began to have hostile encounters with Maya villages. Attacks were reported in 1788 and 1802. But the main thrust of the Baymen clash with the Maya came in Corozal
and Orange Walk
as part of the Caste War
, which featured Mexican and Belizean Maya challenging British encampments, with limited success. Resistance continued until the 1870s, representing the last stand of indigenous independent Maya people. By the late 19th century the Maya and British were at peace, though logging companies continued to displace villages at their convenience right up until the 1950s.
and "Kerobs", as they were derogatorily called.
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
settlers of the eventual colony of British Honduras
British Honduras
British Honduras was a British colony that is now the independent nation of Belize.First colonised by Spaniards in the 17th century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964, when it became self-governing. Belize became...
, modern day Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
.
Settlement
The first Baymen settled in the Belize CityBelize City
Belize City is the largest city in the Central American nation of Belize. Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,000 or more. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country's principal port and its financial and...
area in the 1650s. They were buccaneers and pirates trying to outrun the Spanish rulers in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
. They found that they could make a living cutting and selling logwood
Logwood
Haematoxylum campechianum is a species of flowering tree in the legume family, Fabaceae, that is native to southern Mexico and northern Central America. It has been and to a lesser extent remains of great economic importance. The modern nation of Belize grew from 17th century English logwood...
to the home country. Many of the first Baymen settled on what is now the Northside of Belize City
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in the Central American nation of Belize. Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,000 or more. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country's principal port and its financial and...
. They controlled all affairs of municipal and national government through the Public Meeting.
It was the Baymen who established the system of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in Belize, in order to have servants to cut logwood. Some slaves were allowed their own plantations, while others had to depend on their owner's rations. The Baymen also reluctantly allowed slaves to participate in the Battle of St. George's Caye
Battle of St. George's Caye
The Battle of St. George's Caye was a short military engagement that lasted from 3 to 10 September 1798, off the coast of what is now Belize...
, in some cases facing former employees who had run away or been taken in by the Spaniards. The slaves were freed in 1838 and denied land at first; Belizean slaveowners received the highest compensation for emancipated territories at over 50 pounds.
The British and Spanish engaged in frequent dispute over the territory even after the 1763 Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1763)
The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. It ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War...
established the former's rights to cut logwood. The Baymen were chased out no less than four times between 1717 and 1780. Treaties in 1783 and 1786 gave them more security, but only after the Battle of St. George's Caye
Battle of St. George's Caye
The Battle of St. George's Caye was a short military engagement that lasted from 3 to 10 September 1798, off the coast of what is now Belize...
in 1798 did the Baymen have full control of the settlement, affirmed by its admission to colonial status in 1863.
Conflict with the Maya
The Maya peoplesMaya peoples
The Maya people constitute a diverse range of the Native American people of southern Mexico and northern Central America. The overarching term "Maya" is a collective designation to include the peoples of the region who share some degree of cultural and linguistic heritage; however, the term...
of Belize were reeling from decimation at the hands of the Spanish, and had retreated deep into the dense forests of central and western Belize. Buccaneers had also raided most of the coastal settlements, stealing crops, and taking men and women as slaves. Some Mayan slaves were then sold in Jamaica, and even as far away as Virginia and the Carolinas. When the supply of logwood began to diminish, and prices fell in Europe because other dyestuffs became available, the Baymen began to cut tropical cedar and mahogany. This brought them deeper into the forest where they began to have hostile encounters with Maya villages. Attacks were reported in 1788 and 1802. But the main thrust of the Baymen clash with the Maya came in Corozal
Corozal District
Corozal District is the northernmost district of the nation of Belize. The population was 33,335 as of 2000. The district capital is Corozal Town.-The Villages of Corozal District:...
and Orange Walk
Orange Walk District
Orange Walk District is a district in the northwest of the nation of Belize, with its district capital in Orange Walk Town.- Main settlements :...
as part of the Caste War
Caste War of Yucatán
The Caste War of Yucatán began with the revolt of native Maya people of Yucatán, Mexico against the population of European descent, called Yucatecos, who held political and economic control of the region. A lengthy war ensued between the Yucateco forces in the north-west of the Yucatán and the...
, which featured Mexican and Belizean Maya challenging British encampments, with limited success. Resistance continued until the 1870s, representing the last stand of indigenous independent Maya people. By the late 19th century the Maya and British were at peace, though logging companies continued to displace villages at their convenience right up until the 1950s.
Conflict with the Garifuna
The Garinagu people held an ambivalent relationship with the Baymen. While they valued the Garinagu's agricultural skills, they did not fancy their resistance to European control and their friendly attitude toward the slaves. A campaign of misinformation, including charges of "devil worshipping" and "baby eating", poisoned relationships between the KriolsBelizean Kriol people
The Belizean Creoles, locally known as Kriols, are Creole descendants of English and Scottish log cutters, as well as Black African slaves brought to Belize. Other small minorities include Creoles and the Miskito from Nicaragua, Jamaicans, and other West Indians who assisted in the logging...
and "Kerobs", as they were derogatorily called.