Eleven Miles

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Three Figered Jack

Eleven Miles - St. Thomas, main south coast road (between Kingston and Yallahs)

When travelling through St. Thomas you'll pass a monument to Jack Mansong (aka "Three Fingered Jack") at the village of 11 mile. Three Fingered Jack was a runaway slave who waged a one-man campaign of terror against land owners in the 19th century.

Standing almost seven foot tall and missing two fingers, Jack had a formidable and distinctive appearance. He is reported to have lost his fingers during a battle with the Maroon bounty hunter, Quashie.

The legend of Three Fingered Jack's deeds spread through the colonies. Songs were written, stories were told, there was even a play put on about him in a London theatre. As his legend grew so did the authorities desire to put an end to his reign of terror. A reward of £100 plus freedom was offered to any slave who could capture him; when it seemed that nobody was willing or able to capture Mansong the cash reward was increased to £300.

One suitor to the challenge was Mansong's old adversary, Quashy the Maroon. Quashy tracked down Mansong and, in their second and final meeting, managed to kill him. He cut off Mansong's head and three fingered hand, preserved them in a jar of rum and took them to Spanish Town to claim his reward.

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