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Brought to you from the forthcoming book by renowned historian
Dr. Lennox Honychurch.
Jacko ()
One of the most important maroon chiefs commanding camps of escaped slaves in the center of the island during the period of slavery. Born in Africa, Jacko (also written Jacco) escaped from Beaubois Estate (Castle Comfort) soon after his transportation to Dominica in the late 1760's. He established himself and his followers on a plateau near the present day village of Bells. He was the main strategist for much of the maroon activity in Dominica during the Maroon wars of the 1780's and 1810's. When Governor Ainslie launched his big offensive against the maroons in 1812, Jacko's camp was one of the main targets. On 12 July 1814 ageing Jacko was surrounded and killed after a desperate resistance. Reports at the time said that he had been in the forest " for upward of forty years." Five leaders of his camp surrendered and the loss of Jacko's leadership was a blow to the morale of the maroons.
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