Paul Bogle's Easington Path: Morant Bay Rebellion History from a Gordon Descendant

Unexpected Historical Discovery

• 💡 The video began with a plan to film a damaged bridge in Easington, St. Thomas, for a second channel.
• 🎯 While there, the speaker encountered two ladies being interviewed, leading to a discussion about a nearby swinging bridge and its history.
• 💬 One lady shared that her grandmother was connected to George William Gordon, a key figure in the Morant Bay Rebellion.

Paul Bogle's Journey and the Morant Bay Rebellion

• 🚶‍♀️ The lady recounted that Paul Bogle walked through this area (Islington/Easington) on his way to Kingston, potentially using the swinging bridge.
• 📜 She explained the 1865 Morant Bay Rebellion was sparked because the eastern part of the island remained in slavery despite its abolition in 1838.
• 🔥 Paul Bogle's actions, including the burning of the courthouse, were a response to the Queen's inaction after William wrote to her.

The Original Road and Swinging Bridge

• 🗺️ The road in Islington was identified as an original road on the map of Jamaica, dating back to slavery times.
• 🌉 This historic road, along with the swinging bridge, was believed to be part of Paul Bogle's route from Stony Gut towards Kingston.
• 🏗️ The video shows the towers that supported the swinging bridge, emphasizing their historical significance.

George William Gordon's Connection

• ✍️ The lady's grandmother was a granddaughter of George William Gordon, who was executed during the rebellion.
• ⚠️ Gordon was arrested after signing a letter to the Queen, which the governor used against him.
• 🏡 The first house where Gordon lived was mentioned to be up in the hills near the area.

Tracing the Historical Path

• 🔍 The speaker used a James Robertson 1804 map to trace Paul Bogle's possible route from Stony Gut to Kingston.
• 📍 The path would have gone through areas like Spring Garden, Morant Bay, and then inland towards Easington/Cambridge.
• 🛣️ The video contrasts the original inland main road with the newer coastal main road, suggesting the historical path was more inland.