Walter Augustus Feurtado

Walter Augustus Feurtado (1839 – 23 November 1910) was a Jamaican accountant, freemason, genealogist, and author whose biographical guide to the Official and Other Personages of Jamaica, from 1655 to 1790 has become an important source of biographical information for Jamaica.

Early life and family

He was educated first at a school run by the clerk to the cathedral and then at a school run by David McPherson at the Wesleyan Chapel. The guide was eventually published by subscription in Kingston in 1896 as Official and Other Personages of Jamaica, from 1655 to 1790. At the time of its publication, Feurtado was living at Cottage Grove, Franklin Town, Kingston.

Feurtado was a freemason at a time when lodges in Jamaica were largely organised along ethnic and religious lines. He was a member of the Royal Lodge No. 207 in Jamaica in 1894 who noted that he was the former master of another lodge from which he had joined them. In 1916 he was recorded as the former master of that lodge.

Death and legacy Feurtado died at the age of 71 from heart and kidney disease in Kingston on 23 November 1910. His biographical guide has since become an important source of biographical information for Jamaica.

Selected publications Feurtado's works include:

Index to the Laws of Jamaica, to 31st December, 1879. J. Murray Auld & Co., Kingston, 1880. Index to the Laws of Jamaica, to 31st December, 1888. Kingston, 1889. Index to the Laws of England Specially Relating to the Colonies, and British Possessions Abroad to 31st December, 1889. W. A. Feurtado, Kingston, 1890. A Forty-five Years' Reminiscence of the Characteristics & Characters of Spanish Town. A lecture delivered in Spanish Town on 31st July, 1890, in aid of the St. Catherine's Volunteer Band Fund, and re-delivered at the Collegiate Hall on 1st November, 1890, in aid of the New Organ Fund of St. Michael's Church, Kingston. W. A. Fuertado, Kingston, 1890. The Jubilee Reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria in Jamaica: Being a complete account of the principal and important events which occurred in Jamaica during the fifty years reign &c. W. A. Fuertado, Kingston, 1890. Index to the Laws of Jamaica, to 31st December, 1892. W. A. Feurtado's Sons, Kingston, 1892. Official and Other Personages of Jamaica, from 1655 to 1790, to which is added, a chapter on the Peerage &c. W. A. Feurtado's Sons, Kingston, 1896.