The 1738 Treaty
A Sacred Covenant The 1738 Treaty of Pacification Parchment

The Treaty of Pacification

"The first treaty of its kind in the Caribbean — signed in blood, granting freedom to a people who had already taken it."

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The 1738 Treaty of Pacification

A digital replica of the sacred covenant.

Signed on 1 March 1738 at Cudjoe's Town (later renamed Trelawny Town), this was the first formal peace treaty between the British Crown and an African people in the New World. After 80 years of guerrilla warfare, Governor Edward Trelawny authorized Colonel Robert Guthrie to negotiate with Colonel Cudjoe — a de facto acknowledgement that the British Empire could not defeat the Maroons in battle.

The treaty granted 1,500 acres of land, the right to self-governance, freedom to trade at Jamaican markets, and formal recognition of Cudjoe's rank as Colonel. In exchange, the Maroons agreed to assist the British in suppressing future rebellions and returning escaped slaves — a provision that would haunt their legacy for generations.

1738 Treaty of Pacification Replica

The 15 Articles — Plain English Summary

  1. Peace declared — All acts of war between the Maroons and the Crown are permanently ended.
  2. Full freedom — Cudjoe and all his people are granted complete liberty, forever.
  3. Land grant — 1,500 acres granted to the Maroons in Trelawny Town for their exclusive use.
  4. Right to trade — Maroons may sell their produce at markets in Montego Bay and elsewhere.
  5. Hunting rights — The Maroons retain the right to hunt across all of Jamaica.
  6. No new settlements — Maroons may not build new or separate towns beyond those already established.
  7. Criminal jurisdiction — For crimes committed by a Maroon against another Maroon, Maroon law applies.
  8. British crimes tried in British courts — Crimes by Maroons against colonists are tried under English law.
  9. Return of runaways — The Maroons agree to return any escaped enslaved people who seek refuge with them.
  10. Military assistance — The Maroons must help the British suppress any rebellion or foreign invasion.
  11. British agent — A white superintendent lives among the Maroons to maintain relations with the Crown.
  12. Cudjoe's authority — Cudjoe is formally recognized as Colonel and chief authority in Trelawny Town.
  13. Succession — After Cudjoe's death, his brother Accompong shall succeed him as chief leader.
  14. Protection from abuse — Any Maroon maltreated by a settler may bring a formal complaint to the authorities.
  15. Ratification — The treaty is binding on both parties and confirmed by the Governor of Jamaica.