The History of York Village in Sierra Leone

By Jeremiah Pratt

From Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, to York Village is about twenty-three miles. This is a short distance. Yet it looks as if it is far away. As a result, it remains underdeveloped.

York Village is capable of making useful contributions to the development of the country. The village produced men and women with a high standard of education. They have served the country well in their various fields of endeavours. Their children and grandchildren born in the village of York, Sierra Leone, are anxious to make their own contribution to the development of the village in particular and to the country in general. York Village in Sierra Leone has places for tourist attractions such as King Yard and the mysterious Foray Wharf, which are a must to see. It has agricultural plantations, cocoa, coffee, ginger, and the Gari industry. All needs development in order that York Village contributes meaningfully to develop the land that we love, our Sierra Leone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662430176

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Slave Trade

Wrongful Transaction

It will be difficult to talk about Sierra Leone and its seaside and mountain villages forming part of the colony without mention of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

According to Messrs S. O. Nicol and T. S. French:

The majority of our people of York and the other villages came from overseas. Where from and How? European nations—that is to say, the Dutch, Belgians, Spanish, Portuguese, French and English, sailed along the West Coast and captured and bought slaves, and sold them to the Spanish possessions in the Western Hemisphere. This was about the 16th century. Cunning devices used to entrap victims. Casks of rum put on the beach served as procure bait. They then go and anchor at a distance waiting for the result of their stratagem; and, sure enough, in a short time, the beach was strewn with drunken men, women, and children, who were soon taken on board ships, and very soon were on the way to the American continent, without their knowledge and consent.¹

Englishmen joined in the business; and a celebrated man, John Hawkins, made himself so conspicuous in it that Queen Elizabeth the First, who also took share in the transaction and even lent Hawkins a ship,² afterward knighted him.

Hawkins sailed about buying or kidnapping slaves with five ships. He landed at the Banana Island. He was a man who blended piracy and piety rascality and religion. He drew up rules for his men whilst carrying on this nefarious traffic. Two of his rules were (1) serve God daily and (2) love one