Grant's Town and the Historical Development of "Over the Hill"

Abstract

Prior to the coming of the Loyalists in 1783, the black and white inhabitants of New Providence virtually lived together. The increase in number of the Loyalist slaves threatened the security of Nassau residents and as a result the House of Assembly passed an Act for regulating the police of the town of Nassau and the suburbs thereof, and for other purposes therein mentioned. This required that all persons of colour be domiciled beyond the city limits. As a result land was set aside for the blacks employed in Nassau, and the first settlement, Headquarters, was established. The influx of Africans after 1807 necessitated carefully planned settlements. The first of which was Grants's Town, which began as a government-sponsored project to provide land for the African recaptives and which encompassed settlements and residents both to the north and south: Headquarters, Carmichael and Delancy Town respectively.