Celebrate Ann Rattray, mother of a national hero
TWO SUNDAYS ago, an otherwise informative article on National Hero George William Gordon was conspicuous by the absence of the name of the mother of Gordon. It was stated that “born to Joseph Gordon, a Scottish planter, and an enslaved woman, William was the second of eight children . . .’ (Oct 20). Things have changed in Jamaica wherein children of celebrity mothers are known, but the fathers are largely nameless. However, in slavery days, it was not so with women being largely nameless and voiceless and not seen as equal.
In my 2009 book, The Cross and
the Machete, I wrote “George William Gordon (1815-65), born to Ann Rattray, an enslaved mulatto, and Joseph Gordon, a wealthy Scottish Planter” page 71. In 1815, at age 21, Ann Rattray gave birth to George William Gordon who was apparently her firstborn. She had other children for Joseph, namely Margaret (1821); Janet (1822); and Jane and John (1825 or 1826). The sexual relationship between Ann and Joseph does not appear to be a ‘one-night stand’. In fact, it seems as if Ann was a
de facto wife without the ring and legal ceremony. Therefore, it is possible that he was ‘in love’ with her and in a weird way appreciated her or he was guilty of serial sexual harassment.
In A Return of Slaves of 1829, Ann Rattray was described as a ‘Creole’ and not an ‘African’. This could mean she was born in Jamaica and not brought in chains from Africa. Furthermore, her‘colour’was described as ‘mulatto’ and not ‘negro’, which meant she was of mixed race, a result of a liaison between a white father and an African mother.
That Ann Rattray’s first and surname were consistently listed in the slave censuses and not just her first name meant she had some standing over and above the normally enslaved women. In addition, her father, Mr Rattray, must have been a man with some clout hence his surname was always attached to Ann’s first name. Furthermore, she was a mulatto, meaning she had certain so-called privileges over the enslaved persons in the fields, and chances are she was working in Joseph’s house and there he took advantage of her sexually.
The Slave Census states that George Gordon was a ‘quadroon’, which was the offspring of a mulatto and a white. In the stratified slave society, a quadroon was higher up the food train than a Mulatto. Gordon definitely had access to resources not offered to Africans, and even some mulattoes.
In the list of those who were baptised in 1815, it highlights five persons as ‘Negro slaves on Cherry Gardens’ and three others were described as ‘Mulatto slaves in Cherry Gardens’ but the notation for George William Gordon was ‘George Gordon 3 months quadroon in Cherry Gardens’. No mention that at baptism he was considered enslaved. Apparently, George Gordon was given freedom at birth. What could be the reason?
CHRISTIAN INITIATION
Curiously, Ann Rattray was baptised in 1815 at the age of 21. Both mother and son, George, were baptised in the same year. This needs more exploration. Obviously, Joseph Gordon felt that Christian initiation and Christian principles were important in his household and on his plantation. Perhaps he allowed missionaries to minister to the enslaved on his estate.
Obviously, Ann was a remarkable woman, hence she was a free woman by 1829, along with her three young daughters. She was royal.
Whenever we mention George William Gordon and his father by name, we must always mention his mother, Ann Rattray, who should not remain nameless but acknowledged, appreciated, affirmed and celebrated as important to our history. Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew. He is author of ‘The Cross and the Machete’, and ‘Rebellion to Riot’. Send feedback to columns@ gleanerjm.com.