'A Blessing of God': Marriage and Amelioration in Early Nineteenth-Century Montserrat

Recent scholarship examining enslaved people’s marriages in
the Anglophone Caribbean highlights the need to consider
the Church of England’s influence over conflicts with the
plantocracy. This article examines responses to a proposed
marriage between a free man of colour, William Harris, and
an enslaved woman, Betty Cudjoe, in Montserrat in 1828.
Occurring during the period of ‘amelioration’, this article
considers the changing perspectives of ecclesiastical
authorities, missionary clergymen, the plantocracy, free
people of colour, and enslaved people. It draws upon
under under-consulted sources of ‘The Conversion Society’
held at Lambeth Palace Library alongside ecclesiastical
correspondence to highlight the gendered property
concerns of enslavers that were exacerbated in mixedstatus
marriages. This article contends that during the
period of amelioration, Anglican marriages became an
attractive option to free and enslaved people in
comparison to nonconformist unions. While this came into
conflict with the property rights of enslavers, ultimately a
specific definition of marriage was acceptable and enforced
by the Church of England, pursued in this case by Rev.
Benjamin Luckock. This enforcement came from the
authority of the newly established colonial bishoprics, who
held substantial influence over sacramental affairs.