Greenwood Great House
called the best antique museum in the Caribbean,
along with being the finest great house in the island, Greenwood
Great House was constructed during a period of brutality and
decadence, but still has the aura of the 19th century and still will
capture the imagination of its visitors. It was constructed by the
Barretts of Wimpole Street in London, England, in 1800, with quite a
bit of its original furniture and furnishings still housed here, but
the mansion is very famous for the magnificent collection of rare
musical instruments and books. Hersey Barrett, an officer in the
expedition that was commanded by Admiral Penn and General Venables,
was sent by Cromwell's parliament to capture Hispaniola from the
Spanish crown, in 1655, but it would be too strong for them to
defeat, so they went along and captured the next best thing,
Jamaica, so Hersey would be given lands and settle there. Somewhat
different than the other settlers here, Hersey would prosper and by
the midst of the 18th century, he had become very rich, with more
than 84,000 acres of land and some 2000 slaves, with a London house.
The head of the family and Elizabeth Barrett Browning's father,
Edward Barrett's yearly income in that period would be about 60,000
pounds. He would travel to England in 1795 with his brother Samuel
and sister Sarah (Pinkie), while his cousin, Richard Barrett would
stay in Jamaica, becoming the Speaker of the House, a judge, Custos
of the parish of St. James and other vocations.
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