Sturge Town

Sturge Town, founded in 1839 by Reverend John Clark, was named after Joseph Sturge, a Quaker philanthropist who campaigned for the end of the apprenticeship system. Located about eight miles from Brown’s Town, it covered approximately 120 acres of fertile land. The total cost of the land, including surveying and conveyance, was around ₤700. Around £400 of this amount was paid upfront by 80 to 90 settlers, with the remainder paid in installments as more people joined the community. Each settler paid about £7 per acre for their land.

By 1840, the community had its own school and Baptist church. The school was operated by the church, and Reverend Samuel Hodges served as the local minister. This established Sturge Town as a well-organized community, with a church-run school, a chapel, and a resident minister.

Each family in Sturge Town was allocated an acre of land, where they grew provisions as well as crops like pimento, a key export in Jamaica. In some cases, sugar cane was also cultivated. Surplus fruits, including mangoes and breadfruit, were likely sold in local markets, supporting the community’s economy and contributing to the island’s agricultural trade.