Colonial Office and Predecessors: Virgin Islands Original Correspondence

Description and record details

Reference	CO 314
Title	Colonial Office and Predecessors: Virgin Islands Original Correspondence
Date	1711-1872
Description	This series contains original correspondence relating to the Virgin Islands. With the exception of a bundle of letters and papers dating from 1711 to 1791, this correspondence belongs to the period 1854 to 1872.
Arrangement	Bound volumes arranged chronologically, and from 1854 within the following subject headings: Despatches (letters of the governors), Offices (letters of government departments and other organisations) and Individuals (arranged alphabetically). Each volume with a contents list, or précis of each letter giving name of correspondent, date of letter and subject matter.
Related material	Se also CO 318 For records after 1872 see CO 152 For records from 1816 to 1853 see CO 239
Held by	The National Archives, Kew
Legal status	Public Record(s)
Language	English
Physical description	24 volume(s)
Unpublished finding aids	For a register to this correspondence before 1850 see CO 326, from 1850 see CO 354. For indexed précis of correspondence see CO 714.
Administrative/ biographical background	The British seized control of the Virgin Islands from the Dutch in 1666 (Tortola was not taken until 1672) and thereafter they were included in the government of the Leeward Islands. In 1816 the Leeward Islands government was broken up and the Virgin Islands were governed together with St Christopher and Nevis but in 1871 the Leeward Islands federal legislature was reinstituted.

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