I was interested to read the items concerning Nutmeg in Grenada. I have a 3 page article called " The Nutmeg Story " prepared for the Delegats to the Caribbean Conservation Association Conference May 5 - 7 1967, by J.R.Groome president of the Grenada National Trust, Grenada Boy's Secondary School, Grenada. This is probably the same article David mentions having been published in Dr Groome's book. It is a very interesting article, talking about nutmeg having appeared in Europe as early as the 12th century. The copy is too poor to scan & share with listers, so it would probably be better if I typed it to the List, especially if others are interested. I will work on retyping the complete article & then send it to the list. It mentions the BELL family of my husband's in this paragraph: Quote : Estate Managers , returning from the Far East before 1850, may well have planted nutmegs in the area between Soubise Point & Birchgrove, in St Andrews Parish, the names LESSEY & MUNRO being associated with Bellvue & Capitol Estates. It is probable that these were the first commercial plantations. A portion of Capitol is now called Penang Estate, which is most significant. This has belonged to the BELL family from 1778 ( although not listed in Gavin Smith's survey of 1824 ). The son of the original owner, Captain John BELL, R.N. " brought nutmegs from the Far East, ' because he liked his punch' . He also planted them at Penang Estate,- date unknown ". It may be postulated that he named the field first planted after the place of origin of his seed, subsequently transferring the name to the whole property, when the crop proved successful - doubless many years after Smith's survey. It is noted here that there seems at the present time , to be a radical difference ! between the Grenadian and Indonesian nutmeg in colour, shape, size, both oil content and flavour. Below, I have copied an obituary from a local paper in Grenada & Carriacou, West Indies. This is where we found the information about the reasons for my husband's Great Grandfather Thomas William BELL having gone to Grenada from his birthplace in Malta. This Obituary also mentions the nutmeg growing efforts of several others. Regards, Merril Bourne. New Zealand. The Chronicle and Gazette Saturday September 8th 1877 Deaths: Died at Dumfries house Carriacou, on Monday the 3 rd. instant, Thomas William Bell, Esquire, Police Magistrate and Coroner for the Northern district, aged 58 years, leaving a wife, children and grand children to mourn their irreparable loss. The Packet: Death has removed, since last packet, one of our most esteemed colonists. Thomas William Bell, Esq. Police magistrate of Carriacou, died on Monday, the 3rd. instant, after a very short illness. Mr. Bell came out to Grenada in 1839, in Messrs. Hankey's ship, the Helen , as an interpreter to a batch of Maltese immigrants, who were brought here through the exertions of the late Henry Edward Sharpe, Esq. Then Proprietor of Corinth and providence estates, in St. Davids Parish, conjointly with Messrs. Thompson Hankey and company, and Messrs. Davidson, Barkely and Company. Of London. The failure of this experiment was attributable , we learn on good authority, to the uncalled for and improper interference of the Stipendiary Justices of that day. Mr. Bell, after several years occupation as a clerk and merchant, settled himself on his property of La Vallette in St. Andrews, where he soon became distinguished as a grower of spices, which had become a specialty in Grenada, through the perservering exertions of the late Robert Kenedy at Belone, George Macfarlane at Peggy's Whim, and Alexander Brim at Hampstead, Mr. Bell, with such advantages and examples, soon established his name which up to now stands high in the London and other home markets, as a grower of spices. Mr. Bell leaves a large family, who have been trained to follow his industrious example, and a widow with young children, all of whom have to deplore the loss of an affectionate parent. With these, the community deeply sympathise, as all who knew Mr. Thomas William Bell will miss his genial friendly manner. His remains were interred at Carriacou on Monday evening. The Health of the colony is good.