Cayman Islands Civil Registration

Online Collections
*1871-1930 - Jamaica. Registrar General, Indexes of marriages, 1871-1930 *1878-1930 - Jamaica. Registrar General, Indexes of deaths, 1878-1930

Historical Background
An archaeological survey in 1993 found no evidence of prehistoric indigenous people. The islands were discovered in 1503 by Christopher Columbus. Various groups settled there, such as pirates and shipwrecked sailors. In 1670, England and Jamaica took control of the islands. A permanent English settlement started in the 1730s. African slaves were brought to the islands in 1734. Slavery continued until 1833. In 1863, the islands became part of the Crown Colony of Jamaica. In 1962, the islands again went under British rule.