An interesting counter-factual is that if Jewish Tobago had been successfully established, there may have been no Sephardic presence in Barbados, which possibly would have impacted the development of the Sephardic community in London.
Early History of Tobago
Tobago – now part of Trinidad and Tobago – changed hands thirty three times before eventually ending up under British rule. The Caribbean island is well positioned to trade with the Latin American mainland. The larger, neighbouring, island of Trinidad remained Spanish until 1797. Tobago was originally colonised by the Courlanders, but at various times also occupied by the Dutch, English, Spanish, Swedish and French.
Sephardic Jewish Involvement with Tobago
- The Dutch called the island New Walcheren.
- There was a request (to the Dutch) in July 1654 to establish a Jewish settlement there. This was the year the Dutch were expelled from Brazil.
- The poet Miguel Levi de Barrios visited the Tobago in his youth.
- It is claimed, but strongly disputed, that the common Tobago surnames of De Silva, De Lima, Rivera and Nunes indicate a Jewish heritage.
Resources for Researching Jewish Tobago
- Jewish Community of Trinidad and Tobago
- The Failure of the Jewish Settlement in the Island of Tobago – Mordechai Arbell
- Post Sephardic: An unintended haven: the Jews of Trinidad, 1937 to 2003 – Alisa Siegel
