Island Hopping Nevis History

ISLAND HPPING

A Brief History of Nevis

Nevis was first settled by the British who sailed south from St. Kitts in 1628 and by 1671 Nevis was named the Capital of the Leeward Islands due to the sugar boom created by the introduction of sugarcane in 1640. In later years Alexander Hamilton was born here and Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson married local Nevisian Frances “Fanny” Nisbet in 1787. More recently Spice Girl Mel G’s father was born on Nevis and actress Cicely Tyson is also of Nevisian descent.

During the 18^th century Nevis was known as Queen of the Caribees and was the leading spa in the West Indies. The natural hot springs on Nevis drew visitors from far and wide seeking relief in the hot mineral waters. The plantations of the colonial period are gone today, most evolving into hotels although Sea Island cotton remains a major crop.

In 1967, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla achieved self-government as an Associated State of Great Britain. Before long, Anguilla broke away and in 1983, St. Kitts and Nevis received their independence and united as one nation, the Federation of St. Kitts/Nevis, but if Nevisians have their way, this may end all too soon. In a 1998 vote, 62% of the voters of Nevis said they wanted to secede form the federation, but it required a two-thirds vote to allow the secession to happen. If Nevis is successful in her quest for independence, this island of over 12,000 people would become the smallest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

Nevis is full of historical sites and archeological digs that have unearthed evidence of early settlers such as the Ciboney, Arawak, and Carib Indians. Volunteers from Earthwatch have researched and mapped the plantations at Coconut Walk and New River on the western shore of Nevis. In 1998, a BBC investigative team found remains of a slave village at the Montravers Estate, signs of where the vanished Jamestown community was located, and remnants of an Amerindian village at Coconut Walk. Today, researchers are also investigating some 15 forts that once were located on Nevis including two that were uncovered by Hurricane Lenny and four that were lost to development and erosion. At Fothergills, an authentic 19^th century Nevisian community is being recreated. Called the Fothergills Heritage Village, the site is a living example of the period following emancipation.