“Buckleys village, a testament to resilience and transformation, wasn’t always a place of freedom.” In 1665 Colonel Buckley played a role in conflicts with Holland, Denmark and France. Fast forward and the village of Buckleys was founded after 1843. This followed the abolition of slavery a decade earlier.
Today we stand in Buckleys a village in Saint John Parish Antigua and Barbuda. The area around Buckleys is especially fertile. It receives more rainfall than other parts of Antigua. Imagine sugar cane swaying in the breeze a king crop that once defined this land.
Let’s step back in time to 1672. Elias Buckley an Antiguan planter was named in the will of John Bridges. Time moved on and in 1790 Daniel Hill owned Buckleys.
Then came David Cranstoun a man of color. In 1828 he purchased Buckleys from Daniel Hill. David’s story is remarkable. He wasn’t just a landowner. He was compensated for freeing 23 enslaved people. This was most likely a Legacy payment from the British government.
After 1820 the estate wasn’t cultivated. In 1836 it was leased to U.S. Ambassador Ralph Higgenbottom. David Cranstoun later sold parts of his estate to laborers. This encouraged the development of Buckleys as a free village. Imagine the sense of hope. Think of the promise of self-determination.
David Cranstoun managed other estates. He was attorney for William Manning. In 1830 Manning purchased Carlisle’s estate. Cranstoun was appointed their “true and lawful attorney”. He was known as “Mr. Justice”.
Consider the sugar mill a silent witness to history. Its giant rollers once crushed cane powered by wind. There is no evidence that this mill was ever converted to steam.
Buckleys has a population of 801. This was recorded in 2011. The population includes a mix of ethnicities. The majority are of African descent.
Buckleys is more than just a location. It’s a story of conflict ownership and ultimately freedom. It is a place where the echoes of the past resonate with the promise of the future. As we leave Buckleys remember the people who shaped this village. Remember their struggles their triumphs and their legacy.