MARTHA BRAE and the Spanish

map

According to Phillippo (page 17), Martha Brae/Melilla/Manilla (he uses all three on the same page) was built between 1509 and 1519.
Phillippo's account, written in 1843, is that Don Diego Columbus, son of Christopher, sued the Spanish Crown to return to him the Island of Jamaica after his father's death in 1509. His representative in Jamaica was Don d'Esquimel (buried at Esquimel, now called Old Harbour), and three towns were built: Sevilla Nueva, Oristan (now Bluefields) and Martha Brae/Melilla/Manilla.
I find this particularly interesting because I have been told that the old road from Martha Brae past Deeside, up to Maroon Town, was actually a Spanish road leading to Bluefields. And this is reinforced by the story of a Spanish cathedral en route, at Tilston.

Oristan and Manilla, and eventually Sevilla, were razed by French filibustiers some time around 1523. This led to the founding of St Jago de la Vega (now Spanish Town).

   

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