When the abolishment of slavery gave poor blacks freedom, it did not establish them as equals in society. Still feeling repressed, with no say in the government that had set them free, the congregation of a black Deacon named Paul Bogle marched from Stony Gut to the courthouse in Spanish Town to speak to Govenor John Eyre about their dissatisfaction. Reportedly their meeting did not go well.

Paul Bogle and his group later returned to the courthouse when two of their townsmen were standing trial. An angry man yelled out in the courtroom and when the police tried to arrest him, Bogle's group kept the police from reaching him and the man got away. The police then went to Stony Gut and tried to arrest Bogle, but his congregation stood in the way. The police had no choice but to go back to Morant Bay.

Feeling defiant after their recent uprisings with the Morant Bay police, Bogle's group again marched to Morant Bay's courthouse during a City Council Meeting. Their presence precipitated a fight in which 20 of Bogle's men were killed. The remaining men forced the police and armed guards back into the Courthouse. They set fire to the courthouse and killed all of the people inside.

Govenor Eyre sent soldiers to Stony Gut to destroy the city and to bring Paul Bogle back to Morant Bay to be hung.