> it has been estimated that approximately 38% of african americans have some irish ancestry. > irish-born prisoners and indentured servants were first brought to jamaica in large numbers under the english republic of oliver cromwell following the capture of jamaica from the spanish in 1655 by william penn and robert venables as part of cromwell's strategic plan to dominate the caribbean: the "western design". in 1655, henry cromwell, major-general of the parliamentary army in ireland, arranged for the transportation of approximately 1,000 irish girls and 1,000 irish young men be sent to assist in the colonisation of jamaica. in 1687, christopher monck, the 2nd duke of albemarle was appointed lieutenant governor of jamaica by the catholic king james ii. his office was supported mainly by the irish catholic farmers and servants, an indication that the irish were numerous, at least among the lower classes.
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