I thought the man died in jail.

quote:

Originally posted by TI:
I thought the man died in jail.

Ti, he could have died in jail of natural causes while waiting for the reprieve.

that could be considered martrydom

quote:

Originally posted by seignet:
In the Book, "Children Stories of Guiana", is there a mention of Reverend John Smith. I know it was lesson taught in Primary School.

The story mentioned that he was martyred for teaching the slaves to read and write.

Now, it has been revealed, he died of natural causes whilst waiting for a reprieve from the English Crown.

seignet, I have a photo-copied of Children Story of Guyana that was sent to me many moons ago - a very nice GNI'er shared it with me.

Found the part about Smith... will post later.

quote:

Originally posted by TI:
I thought the man died in jail.

He did die in jail from natural causes. But is that being martyred?

I thought being martyred is to be killed on the spot for carrying out an act against those in control.

It was stated that he was killed for teaching the slaves, but now, it is revealed, he had forehand knowledge of the 1823 rebellion which he never shared with the whites.

quote:

Originally posted by IGH:

quote:

Originally posted by seignet:
In the Book, "Children Stories of Guiana", is there a mention of Reverend John Smith. I know it was lesson taught in Primary School.

The story mentioned that he was martyred for teaching the slaves to read and write.

Now, it has been revealed, he died of natural causes whilst waiting for a reprieve from the English Crown.

seignet, I have a photo-copied of Children Story of Guyana that was sent to me many moons ago - a very nice GNI'er shared it with me.

I will read the copy later tonight and let you know, if Bookman does not get back to you.

Thank U.

I don't have permission to link documents on this site... had to covert PDF to JPEG with software I used for work.

Try print the pages and enlarge.

From Children's Story of Guyana:
"...the Rev. Smith was charged with having known that the slaves would have rebelled and with having not told the authorities. He was imprisoned in a garret in the Colony House, and was later tried by court martial which found him guilty and condemned him to be hanged by the neck, until dead. The sentence had to be endorsed in England, but the Missionary Society, learning of Smith's failing health, asked that he be removed to that country. Before the order came, however, Smith died on February 6, 1824. He was buried in St. Phillip's churchyard, but the grave is unknown."

I think if you put a man in jail, depriving him of his freedom, contributing to his decline in health, and he dies in captivity, especially if they tortured the man as the British did, he should be a martyr.

The death of the Rev John Smith is considered a martyrdom because he suffered and eventually died because of his work on behalf of the slaves...

Some historians questioned why was he court martialed ?...he was not in the military service but was a missionary.....

There was another missionary in the form of the Rev.John Wray who started the historic Mission Chapel church in New Amsterdam around the early 1800's.....he and his wife organised a school to teach the children of the slaves to read and write....The Mission Chapel Church was the first Christian body to welcome slaves into its midst and membership....

Rev.John Wray is buried in the New Amsterdam cemetary in close proximity to the grave of Charles Dawson the original owner of Blairmont estate.....

quote:

Originally posted by Bookman:
From Children's Story of Guyana:
"...the Rev. Smith was charged with having known that the slaves would have rebelled and with having not told the authorities. He was imprisoned in a garret in the Colony House, and was later tried by court martial which found him guilty and condemned him to be hanged by the neck, until dead. The sentence had to be endorsed in England, but the Missionary Society, learning of Smith's failing health, asked that he be removed to that country. Before the order came, however, Smith died on February 6, 1824. He was buried in St. Phillip's churchyard, but the grave is unknown."

Thank U

and to all who offered.