Belmanna Riots

OVERVIEW

In the year 1876 riots broke out in the village of Roxborough over low wages of these said Africans that were said to be freed. Fires were set on May 1st and policemen under Corporal Belmanna attempted to arrest the arsonists on May 3rd. It was during these riots Mary Jane Thomas was shot and was killed by Corporal James Henry Belmanna attached to the Roxborough Police Station at the time.

Villagers of Roxborough began riots over low wages and unfair treatment and on May 1st, Fires were set on the Roxborough plantation which led to the attempted arrest of arsonists by policemen under the lead of Corporal Belmanna on May 3rd. A man by the name of Sammy Small was detained among others and on that day there was a massive riot of some one hundred villagers, they attacked the police station after which they stormed the courthouse. In an attempt to control the crowd, Corporal Belmanna fired a single shot into the crowd. Unfortunately, he managed to kill the leader of this revolution Mary Jane Thomas (Ti Piggy) and as a retaliation to this, they attacked Killing Henry James Belmanna, injuring several officers in the process.

Roxborough Estate Sugar, Cocoa and Copra House

Freedom Worth Fighting For

Fallen Warriors

Henry (Bird Tom), John Simmons, William Taylor, James Harding, James Harewood, & Benjamin Mc Leod was imprisoned for life Richard Wrench, Charles Mc Pherson (Bingo), Tobias Grant, Benjamin James, Joseph Topping, Letchman Gray, Joseph Scott, James Glasgow, Martha Jane Brathwaite, & Robertson Jonas were served 20 years Penal Servitude and Thirty (30) Others Including 2 Women; Jane Francis and Louisa Matilda Chase were Convicted for Rioting at Roxborough, Goldsborough and Richmond estates.

"Hundred Windows"- Roxborough Estate Great House.

OUTCOME

The Belmanna Riots triggered a cascade of riots on estates such as Goldsborough and Richmond, this led to the arrival of the HMS Argus to Tobago from Barbados with an army of policemen which was later followed by British troops in July of the same year

These riots led to a change in the abolition of the Tobago Constitution Act and granted the Crowd Colony Status. It is believed that this event fueled the labor rights movement in Trinidad and Tobago where more than half a century later we had the Fyzabad Labour Riot in the year 1937.

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