John Thomas Minott
J T Minott seems to have moved easily between Jamaica and the USA through most of his life. He apparently felt that his children would have better oportunities in New York than in Kingston in the late 19th - early 20th century.
In the Daily Gleaner of April 17, 1925, there was a report of the memorial service for J T Minott. At the service at St. Matithew's, Allman Town, the Rector's Churchwarden (Mr. J. McC Reeves), however, said:
"From what I can gather, John Thomas Mlnott was a Canadian, and saw the light of day in the city of Halifax in the Province of Nova Scotia, and came to this island in the days when it did even then a large trade with that part of the Dominion, depending on it for one of our main food supplies, and our entire supply of natural ice, before the days of the artificial article that we now use. He arrived in Jamaica at about the age of nineteen and, apparently, throve under the influence of our more genial and sunny climate. . . ."
If Minott was actually born in Halifax, one might well wonder if he had Maroon ancestry, since some Jamaican Maroons were exiled to Nova Scotia after the Second Maroon War of the 1790s, and some of their descendants live there until today.
The earliest references to John Thomas Minott in Jamaica appear around 1880.
The first record of John T Minot in Jamaica is on the birth record of his daughter (probably Adina/Adena) in 1879. He was then recorded as being a carpenter, living at 19, Stephen Street, Allman Town. Later birth records of sons born in 1885 and 1889 record his occupation as builder, and contractor, still living at 19, Stephen Street.
Allman Town was bounded on the west by the Race Course, on the East by Arnold Road. Stephen Street was near the south of Allman Town, just north of Kingston Gardens; St Matthew's Church on what was then Hitchins Street |
from Plan of the City of Kingston, engraved for Stark's History and Guide to Jamaica, 1897 |
Two references to Minott's work on the first church building on Hitchins Street, place him firmly in the community in the early 1880s.
Archbishop Nuttall's reference: 'The old school building, which was now intended to be the Infant department of the new school, was built as a school chapel in 1882 by Mr. Minott, a builder who lived in Allman Town, then went away to America and returned to Allman Town. It was built on the site of the present St. Matthew's Church, from which it was removed in 1894, on blocks and wheels to the present site.'
And Churchwarden Reeves' comments: 'We find him later a member of St. George's Church, Kingston, when our late Archbishop was then Rector. He was a man who could not long be there without attracting attention. Then we find him contracting for the building of small churches, mission stations and school houses, beside carrying on the work of a general builder. It was about that time that he came in touch with St. Matthew's. He erected the small building to the north of this church. It was well built and strong; and it has withstood many a storm that has destroyed other buildings.'
There are Gleaner items which, at least in one instance, show J T Minott moving in or out of the island in the mid-1880s.
Daily Gleaner, August 28, 1884
'PASSENGERS SAILED.
In the Atlas Co.'s str. Alvo for New York -
Mr. and Mrs. Auvray; Mrs. Nunes, two children and nurse; Mrs. James Verley; Mr. Moses Levy; Mr. R. Milke; Mr. Gardiner; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Minot and family (10 in number); Rev. A. Bailie; Mr. Kelly.'
[However, there was at least one other Thomas Minot[t] in the island at that time.]
Daily Gleaner, December 2, 1886 12 02
'The Atlas Company's steamer Alene, Captain Seiders, which arrived here early yesterday morning in 6½ days from New York, brought the following passengers:—
[including] Mr. John Thomas Minott and daughter.'
An absence from Jamaica from August 1884 fits well with the note of his presence at a function of a Prince Hall Masonic Lodge in Boston in September that year, which occurs in the following publication:
Proceedings of the one hundredth anniversary of the granting of warrant 459 to African Lodge, at Boston, Sept. 29th, 1884, under the auspices of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F. and A. Masons,
Franklin Press, 1885
'on the Committee on Preamble and Resolution: JOHN THOMAS MINOT'
'Reception Committee (blue rosette): Charles O. Hill, NP Wentworth, John B. Jackson, EFBM Harvey, John T. Minot, John HC Austin, Thomas B. Hilton.'
This item from the Daily Gleaner, July 4, 1884 refers to that event:
'The Grand Lodge of New York and its subordinates will celebrate the Masonic centennial in Boston in September, and have decided to visit Prince Hall's grave and there plant a sprig of Acacia.
From and through him sprang masonry among masons of color in the United States.'
[extract from a Boston newspaper]
[More on the Masonic connection is explored on another page.]
There are scattered references to J T Minot's activities in Jamaica from 1885 up to 1893, when he returned to New York, with most of his family.
In 1886 there was a notice in the Gleaner that John and Leonora had lost their pass book for the Government Savings Bank, an extremely useful institution providing ordinary Jamaicans with a safe and accessible place to save money; it had been set up in 1870 during the administration of Governor John Peter Grant. 'It was known as "the poor people's bank", and customers in deep rural areas could go to post offices to deposit and withdraw savings. They would receive passbooks and arrange with the postmaster to make deposits on their behalf.'
[Unfortunately the Workers' Savings and Loan Bank, set up in the mid-1970s by the PNP government, which took over the assets of the Government Savings Bank, did not succeed and was amalgamated into existing commercial banks, leaving ordinary Jamaicans without an easily accessible place to keep their money.]
Daily Gleaner, March 23, 1886
On October 11, 1893, there is a reference in business before the City Council to - 'John T. Minot for re-assessment of 4 and 4½ Prince Albert Street, Airman Town', which seems to indicate that he owned more property in that suburb, beyond 19 Stephen Street where he lived. There are several other Minots with addresses in Allman Town.
In November 1893 John Minott took his family to
Boston, travelling from Port Morant in the
S.S. Ethelwold, a United Fruit Company steamer,
plying between Boston and Jamaica, carrying
bananas.
[right click and view larger image]
There are very few references to John Thomas Minott in Jamaica after 1893. Even after his return to live in Jamaica in 1905, he is virtually invisible; he does not appear to have resumed his links with the Freemasons or the Odd Fellows. His presence was recorded at a meeting on November 26, 1908, of those with claims against the insurance companies as a result of the 1907 earthquake which had devastated downtown Kingston. On July 20, 1909, his name is on a list of those with unclaimed letters at the Post Office.
In January 1915 Archbishop Nuttall, at the opening of the new school in Allman Town, gave credit and praise to Mr Minott for the building of the first school, and another building, in Allman Town, more than 30 years earlier.
Apart from these references there is nothing more until his death in 1916, and then the dedication of a memorial tablet to John and Leonora Minott in St Matthew's Church in 1925.
Daily Gleaner, January 25, 1916
