1801: White inhabitants of Port Royal, Jamaica, petitioned the Assembly for funds to erect a “place of confinement” specifically to control the population of…

1801: White inhabitants of Port Royal, Jamaica, petitioned the Assembly for funds to erect a “place of confinement” specifically to control the population of people who had escaped. The town was described as being “infested” with fugitives who sought cover in the busy maritime district. The petition aimed both to secure current captives and to discourage others who had escaped from entering the town. This request reflected the growing anxiety of urban residents regarding the masterless presence in the port cities following the Haitian Revolution.