Falmouth facts corrected

Dear Editor:

Excellent write up on the historic town of Falmouth in the Mrch 2 issue of The Gleaner's Hospitality Jamaica titled 'Historic Moment in Falmouth'. However, I must point out that some of the historic information is incorrect.

Falmouth was not founded in 1790 but in 1769. It became the capital of Trelawny in 1790.

Falmouth was not founded from land owned by Edward Barrett but from land owned by Thomas Reid, who sold lots some five years later in 1774 to Edward Barrett who established the gridiron section of the town that remains to this day. This has been established directly from the deeds from research conducted within the last five years by historian Ivor Connolley of the Jamaican Historical Society and Georgian Society of Jamaica.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning was the great-granddaughter of Edward Barrett, not granddaughter. Her father was Edward Barrett Moulton (son of Charles Moulton and Elizabeth Barrett) who later became Edward Barrett Moulton Barrett, taking the name and arms of Barrett by licence in 1798 after his grandfather's death.

Should you need to confirm any historic facts of Falmouth in the future, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thank you.

Yours etc.,
Marina Delfos
Acting Chairman
Georgian Society of Jamaica