Who was Basil Jones and why is the area named after him?
Articles on Belize Belizean Artists and paintings Banks of Belize The Belize Barrier Reef Birds and Birding in Belize Belize Blogs Boat Charters Bookstore Businesses in Belize Belizean Casinos Caving and Cave tubing in Belize Annual Costa Maya Festival Cruise Ships Belize Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Electronic greeting cards with a Belizean flavor Economics of Belize Ambergris Caye Field Guide Fishing in Belize tarpon bonefish Golf carts Belize History Knowledgebase for Belize and Ambergris Caye Hol Chan Marine Reserve Belizean Holidays Belize Resorts, lodging Belize Maps Tour Guides in Belize Belize Message Boards / Forums National Parks and Reserves in Belize Latest Belize News Ambergris Caye Telephonebook /Directory Photographs of Belize Belize Restaurants Real Estate and Realtors in Belize Shopping in Belize Sitemap Snorkeling in Belize Spa / Massage What to do in Belize Belize Tour Guides, Travel Agents Quick Travel Hints Video Volunteers and Volunteering in Belize Belize Weather Forecast and conditions Belize Weddings, Getting married in Belize What's New on the Website Artists in Belize, Belizean Art
Friday January 8, 2016

Previous | Next | Archive |

BelizeSearch.com
Website of the Day

Camp Basil Jones
Camp Basil Jones is an Educational Center for Ocean Studies located on the Belize World Heritage Site which aims to educate school children and visitors. Near Tranquility Resort Bacalar Chito Reserve, Ambergis Caye Belize
Click here for past
Websites of the Day
Who was Basil Jones and why is the area named after him?

Basil Jones in the Spanish Colonial Period

From early in the sixteenth century Spain maintained territorial claim to the New World including the Western Caribbean and Ambergris Caye. But the Dutch and English began exploring the area as early as 1569.

From that point on Spanish sovereignty was frequently challenged and by the beginning of the seventeenth century, pirates were attacking the ships and towns of the Spanish Empire in the New World. These pirates were made up of many different nationalities and colors, black and white, English, French, and Dutch. The Pirates probably used Ambergris Caye as one of their remote retreats and safe harbors.

Here they could care for their boats, rest their crews, hide their treasures and obtain food and water for their next raid. The discovery of small treasure-troves on the island and of gold coins washed up on the beach together with old bottles suggest that it was visited often and its abundant resources utilized. But through the years Spanish influence lessened and so did the number of Spanish merchant ships, the pirates adapted and turned to more commercial means of making money. They became wood cutters, logging the rich tropical and subtropical rain forests, for the precious hardwood, and became known as The Baymen. One of the Baymen was named Basil Jones, he was said to be a local magistrate and most likely a Welshman. Around 1790 Basil owned a lease on the plateau at the north end of Ambergris Caye where he had a plantation.

On the plantation they grew food and coconuts with a work crew that probably consisted of slaves. By then the Baymen were claiming territorial rights to the area too and there had been many confrontations and disputes with the Spanish. Basil Jones may have played an important part in the battle that followed, known as the Battle of St. George's Caye.

In 1798 it was apparent that the Spanish were planning to invade, Basil Jones assisted the Baymen acting as a lookout, from his plantation on Ambergris Caye. When the inevitable arrival of the Spanish Fleet, did occur, some where around September 10, 1798, Basil spotted the approaching Fleet and went by boat to St. Georges Caye to warn the Baymen Commander.

The Spaniards had spent two years preparing an Invasion Fleet of thirty-two ships and twenty-five hundred men, arrived at St. George's Caye, where the Baymen, though badly out numbered, were waiting for them. In the battle, on September 10, 1798, the Spanish were decisively defeated, ending Spain's dominance and territorial claims forever. The battle was there after known as The Battle of St. George's Caye. Basil Jones is said to have contributed to the victory by reporting the arrival of the Invasion Fleet. From there old Basil fades into history.

Drawing and text courtesy Camp Basil Jones

Click here to comment on this picture.

Belize Slideshow




Click here for a list of previous pictures of the day
Click here for a large selection of photographs and videos of Belize
Email us - Weyour photographs. Send us yours with a description!


Belize Search.com Belize News.com Belize Cards.com Belize History IslandBazaar.net Belize Weather
Belize Lodging Tours & Recreation Diving & Snorkeling Fishing Travel Tips Real Estate
AmbergrisCaye.com Island Information Visitor Center Belize Business San Pedro Sun
SanPedroDaily.com Belize Message Board Restaurants Things to do

Belize Picture of the Day


button Home button Island button Community button History button Visitor Center button Goods & Services button Search button Forum button Contact Us button

Copyright by Casado Internet Group, Belize