In 1776 Nassau was invaded by the Americans and in 1778 the British, in turn, forced them out again. As late as 1782 the Spanish invaded and were famously, the following year, forced-out again by an American loyalist called Andrew Deveaux without so much as a shot being fired. The original plan drawn, by Andrew Skinner (A701) who simultaneously produced a major census of the town which lists all proprietors of lots and residences in the town, now held by the Bahamian National Archives. Deveaux is not, by the way, listed amongst the residents in 1788.
By 1788 Nassau had seen a major immigration of thousands of American loyalists and previously enslaved Africans to the Bahamas following the Revolutionary War. With the bulging population came increased trade and growth to the settlement.
This map clearly shows that the island was still however, in 1788, largely undeveloped with the surrounding country and what today we know as Paradise Island - then 'Hog Island' - was simple bush land.
The first of the Plantations on New Providence had started to emerge belonging to Mr Tattnall and Captain Hamilton. The Earl (Lord) of Dunmore's private country residence called 'The Hermitage' is also marked, along with the official residence in the center of the town at Mount Fitzwilliam. Dunmore was appointed colony's Governor in 1780 and he oversaw the development of Fort Charlotte which is marked out to the west of the town.
Amongst the points of interest this version of the plan offers map offers is the inclusion of mangrove swamps west of Fort Charlotte. The isolated 'Banqueting House' on the western end of Hog Island is not marked, nor is 'Gallows Rocks' just off the North West coast of the Island. Individual houses and lots, originally included to correspond with the 1788 census and streets are omitted.
The handwritten note on the top of the plan states that this edition of the plan was taken from the office of (Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh) British Secretary of State's in 1814.
This manuscript plan of the town of Nassau, capital town of the Bahamas is, likely, a hand-drawn copy of Captain Andrew Skinner's 1788 Plan (see heritage Charts A701). This copy shares a good deal of hydrographic information with the original in the form of soundings while the topographic detail although similar is generally less detailed. The land to the west of the Town of Nassau has been given more detail but the town itself includes less. This version has been artistically finished in water-color and a scale has been added. The artist/copyist is unattributed.
