What is the reference to Jamaica? The name of the old Queens County hamlet and the Caribbean island are about as old as each other - about 1655/6 - but I strongly suspect that any reference to Jamaica and colonial government is to the Caribbean island. You are correct that the seat of colonial/provincial government under the Dutch or English was the fort at the tip of Manhattan. Edward Knoblauch ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nancy Hyden Woodward" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, December 19, 2003 11:18 PM Subject: colonial Jamaica, New York > Was Jamaica, across the East River from Manhattan, where the colonial > government had its office in the 1600s? I was under the impression that it > was on Manhattan island but once again, a reference to Jamaica has come up. > > Nancy Hyden Woodward >