Enslaved Women in the Jamaican Internal Market System in the Late 18th to Early 19th Centuries

Abstract

The goal of this research is to assess the roles that enslaved women took on as vendors in Jamaica’s internal market system. This includes, but is not limited to, spreading information to slaves about slave rebellions and assisting runaways. It is important to note that by “markets,” the research refers to what are essentially produce/farmer’s markets, and not the slave trade markets where slaves were auctioned. This research utilized secondary sources and collected information to contextualize the era and people involved. This research revealed that market women called higglers utilized the chaotic markets in order to escape slavery, blending in with all the different people. Their connections also allowed them to help other slaves. The higglers contributed substantially to the economy of Jamaica, especially during food shortages, and provided much needed nutrition to the community regardless of color. With Sundays becoming the designated market day, these women left their mark on the people of that time and thereby, history. This paper seeks to rectify the fact of the average person having little to no knowledge of these women’s contributions.