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St. Elizabeth

 

 

James Blair , St. Elizabeth

 

Return of Slaves in St. Elizabeth, 1817

                                                        

                  A Return of Slaves in the Parish of Saint Elizabeth in the possession of James Blair as Owner on the 28th day of June in the Year of our Lord 1817.                                                              

                                                                                                        

Names                   Colour    Age      African or Creole                    Remarks

Males                                                                                               

Horace                   Negro      30        African                                     

                                                                                                        

                                                         Males                                       One

                                                         Females                                  

                                                         Total                                        One

                                                                                                        

                             


 

James Blair

 

From Jamaica Almanac - St. Elizabeth

 

From Jamaica Almanacs, based on givings-in to the Parochial Vestries as of March in the prior year.

 

YEAR     OWNER                                          PROPERTY                        SLAVES           STOCK    ACRES

                                                        

1822      Blair, James                            Hopeton                       16                4                         

1825      Blair, James                            Hopeton                       16                4                         

1830      Blair, James                            Hopeton                       27                4

                                              

š

 

Return of Slaves in St. Elizabeth,  1823

                                                                                                                                            

                  A Return of Slaves in the Parish of Saint Elizabeth in the possession of James Blair as Owner on the 28th day of June in the Year of our Lord 1823.                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Names                   Colour    Age      African      Remarks             Increase and cause       Decrease and cause

                                                         or Creole                              thereof                           thereof

Males                                                                                                                                   

Edinburgh              Negro      46        African                                   Bought of Estate of        

Lewis                     Negro      14        Creole        son of Hannah    Chas. Pennycook           

John                       Negro      2 1/2    Creole        son of Sarah       deceased.                      

Bruce                     Negro      36        African                                   Bought of Estate of        

Frederick                Negro      8          Creole                                   Jas. McGregor dec'd.      

 

Females                                                                                                                              

Lidy                        Negro      49       

African

                                                        

Queen                    Negro      38        African                                   Bought of Estate of        

Hannah                  Negro      33        African                                   Charles Pennycook        

Sarah alias Chance               Negro   24              Creole                 Liddy                               deceased.             

Rosan alias Hannall              Negro   14              Creole                                                               

Celia                      Negro      30        Creole                                   Bought of Estate of        

Caroline                 Negro      26        Creole                                   Jas. McGregor                

Maria                      Negro      11        Creole        Celia                   deceased.                      

Helen                     Negro      32        African                                   Bought of Jane Stevens

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                      Increase         14            Decrease        0

                                                                                                                                            

Number of Slaves on the 28th day of June 1823                                                                  Males                     Five                             

Births since last return                                                                   Females                          Nine

Deaths since last return                                                                Total                               Fourteen               

                                                                                                                                            

_________________

 

Return of Slaves in St. Elizabeth, 1826

                                                                                                                                            

                  A Return of Slaves in the Parish of Saint Elizabeth in the possession of James Blair as Owner on the 28th day of June in the Year of our Lord 1826.                                                                            

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                      Males by last return        Five

                                                                                                      Females by last return    Nine

                                                                                                      Total by last return         Fourteen

                                                                                                                                            

Names                   Colour    Age      African      Remarks             Increase and cause       Decrease and cause

                                                         or Creole                              thereof                           thereof

Females                                                                                                                              

Catherine Allan      Negro      34        Creole                                   Purchase of Miss Ann     

                                                                                                      Allen, Hanover               

Elizabeth                Negro      13 mos Creole        Sarah                  By birth                          

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                      Increase          2             Decrease        0

                                                                                                                                            

Number of Slaves on the 28th day of June 1826                                                                  Males                     Five                             

Births since last return          one                                                   Females                          Eleven                   

Deaths since last return       -                                                        Total                               Sixteen                 

                             

                                                           

____________________

 

Return of Slaves in St. Elizabeth, 1829

                                                                                                                                            

                  A Return of Slaves in the Parish of Saint Elizabeth in the possession of James Blair as Owner on the 28th day of June in the Year of our Lord 1829.                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                           Males by last Return                                  Five 

                                                                           Females by last Return                              Eleven                   

                                                                           Total by last Return                                   Sixteen                 

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                            

Names                   Colour    Age      African      Remarks             Increase, and cause      Decrease, and cause

                                             or Creole                                          thereof                           thereof

Males                                                                                                                                   

Thomas Hawkins    Negro      32        African        Registered in 1826                                    Purchased at a Deputy                                                                           by Thomas Hawkins                                   Marshall´s Sale     

                                                                           St. Elizabeth                                              St. Elizabeth         

Females                                                                                                                              

Caroline                 Negro      29        Creole                                                                          Sentenced to

                                                                                                                                             transportation for

                                                                                                                                             running away

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                      Increase       1                Decrease         1

                                                                                                                                            

Number of Slaves on the 28th day of June 1829                                                                  Sixteen                                               

Births since last return          none                                                 Males                              6     

Deaths since last return       none                                                 Females                          10   

                                                                                                      Total                               16   

                                                                                                                                            


Homer Blair

                             

Return of Slaves in St. Elizabeth, 1823

                                                                                                                                            

                  A Return of Slaves in the Parish of Saint Elizabeth in the possession of Homer Blair as Owner on the 28th day of June in the Year of our Lord 1823.                                                                            

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                            

Names                   Colour    Age      African      Remarks             Increase and cause       Decrease and cause

                                                         or Creole                              thereof                           thereof

Males                                                                                                                                   

Charles                  Negro      13        Creole                                   By Purchase and            

                                                                                                      registered in Kingston   

                                                                                                      1820 by Mary Freeman  

                                                                                                      as owner                       

Frederick                Negro      8          Creole                                   By Purchase and            

                                                                                                      registered in St. Thomas

                                                                                                      in the Vale by Wm. B.     

                                                                                                      Brown as Trustee of      

                                                                                                      M. J. Brown                    

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                      Increase      2                 Decrease        0

                                                                                                                                            

Number of Slaves on the 28th day of June 1823                                                                  Males                     Two                             

Births since last return                                                                   Females                            -    

Deaths since last return                                                                Total                               Two 

                                                                                                                                            


 

Westmoreland

 

Homer Blair – son of David Blair & …. – married to Helen

 

“Scots in the West Indies, 1707-1857” – page 12

BLAIR, HOMER, son of Reverend David Blair in Brechin, Angus, died in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland parish, Jamaica, 1817, [S.2.601]

 

From Jamaica Almanac - Westmoreland

 

From Jamaica Almanacs, based on givings-in to the Parochial Vestries as of March in the prior year.

 

YEAR       OWNER                                          PROPERTY                        SLAVES           STOCK    ACRES

 

1817        Blair, Homer                                    Grotto                                4                      2

 

_____________

 

Return of Slaves in Westmoreland, 1817                    

                                                                                                        

                  A Return of Slaves in the Parish of Westmoreland in the possession of Homer Blair as Owner on the 28th day of June in the Year of our Lord 1817                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                        

Names                   Colour    Age      African or Creole                    Remarks

 

Females                                                                                          

Queen                    Black       45        African                                     

Diana                     Black       25        Creole                                     

                                                                                                        

                                                         Males                                       None

                                                         Females                                   Two

                                                         Total                                        Two

                                                                                                        

 


 

Margaret Blair & Christian Speed Blair – daughters of Homer Blair and Helen ……

 

Return of Slaves in Westmoreland, 1820

                                                                                                                                            

                  A Return of Slaves in the Parish of Westmoreland in the possession of Margaret and Christian S. Blair as Owners on the 28th day of June in the Year of our Lord 1820.                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Names                   Colour    Age      African      Remarks             Increase/decrease        Decrease/increase

                                                         or Creole                              thereof                           thereof

Females                                                                                                                              

Diana Prince           Negro      28        Creole                                   By will of Homer Blair     

                                                                                                      deceased                       

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                      Increase      1                 Decrease     0

                                                                                                                                            

Number of Slaves on the 28th day of June 1820                                                                          One              

Births since last return          None                                                                                               

Deaths since last return       None                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                            

I, Margaret Blair do swear, that the above list and return consisting of one sheet is a true perfect and complete list and return, to the best of my knowledge and belief, in every particular therein mentioned, of all and every slave and slaves possessed by me and Christian S. Blair as Owners considered as most permanently settled, worked or employed in the Parish of Westmoreland on the 28th day of June in the year of our Lord 1820, without fraud, deceit or evasion.            

                                                                                                                                            

     Sworn before me this 27th day                                                So help me God             

          of September 1820                                                                                                            

         Charles Van Riell                                                                     Margaret Blair

 


 

Margaret Blair – daughter of Homer Blair

 

Return of Slaves in Westmoreland, 1823

                                                                                                                                            

                  A Return of Slaves in the Parish of Westmoreland in the possession of Margaret Blair as Owner on the 28th day of June in the Year of our Lord 1823.                                                                    

                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                            

Names                   Colour    Age      African      Remarks    Increase and cause                Decrease and cause

                                                         or Creole                     thereof                                    thereof

Females                                                                                                                              

Bess                       Negro      43        African        Registered in Westmore-                           By Purchase          

                                                                           land on 28th June 1820                                    

                                                                           by Jane Cruickshanks                                        

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                             Increase      1                          Decrease        0

                                                                                                                                            

Number of Slaves on the 28th day of June 1823                                                                  One 

Births since last return          None                                                                                               

Deaths since last return       None                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                            

I, Margaret Blair do swear . . ..                                            

                                                                                                                                            

     Sworn before me this 24th day                                                So help me God             

          of September 1823                                                                       her                        

              George Kirlew                                                         Margaret       X       Blair          

                                                                                                               Mark

 

___________

 

Return of Slaves in Westmoreland, 1832

                                                                                                                                            

                  A Return of Slaves in the Parish of Westmoreland in the possession of Margaret Blair as Owner on the 28th day of June in the Year of our Lord 1832.                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                           Males by last Return                                  None                     

                                                                           Females by last Return                              One 

                                                                           Total by last Return                                   One 

                                                                                                                                            

Names                   Colour    Age      African      Remarks             Increase, and cause      Decrease, and cause

                                                         or Creole                              thereof                           thereof

Males                                                                                                                                   

Bass                       Black       40        African                                   By purchase                   

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                      Increase     1                  Decrease         0

                                                                                                                                            

Number of Slaves on the 28th day of June 1832                                                                          Two              

Births since last return          none                                                                                               

Deaths since last return       none                                                                                               

                                                                          

                                                                                                                             her          

                                                                                                             Margaret     X      Blair     

                                                                                                                             Mark        

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                        Sworn before me, this 28th day of               

                                                                                                                   September 1832

                                                                                                                       John James

 


 

Last Will & Testament – Homer Blair

 

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills

The Will of Homer Blair, Westmoreland

 

 

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN!

 

I, Homer Blair, of the parish of Westmoreland and said Island being at present in sound mind memory and judgment though in a very feeble and infirm state of health and being from the growing infirmities of old age and the symptoms in which I can hardly be deceived aware that the time of my departure out of this uncertain transitory state is at hand and wishing also to settle my worldly affairs while in any degree of health that my mind may not be taken up with concerns unsuitable to the situation of a death bed when it should be employed about thoughts more serious and interesting to publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and following in the first place I order that my body may be decently interred in my own garden and in a spot to be by me pointed out without any needless expenses of funeral pomp which I have ever considered as in the highest degree improper and that my debts may be fully paid and satisfied and as after the injustice I have suffered from those to whom I have heretofore when off this country entrusted my affairs as the premeditated villainy of a certain pretended friend since my return to which I unsuspectingly became the dupe notwithstanding my intentions to him were of the most generous and disinterested kind a very small residue of my Estate will remain and that small residue if divided among all my children would be of little service to them I therefore trust my dear sons David Blair and Homer Blair who are able to provide for themselves will cheerfully acquiesce in the manner in which I have disposed of it.  I therefore give and bequeath the yearly rents produce or income of all the residue of my Estate real and personal to my beloved Wife Helen Blair during her natural life and from and immediately after her decease I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret Blair the sum of five hundred pounds sterling in lieu and full satisfaction of money I owe her with interest thereon from and after the day of my death I give and bequeath the residue and remainder of my said estate real and personal to my daughter Margaret Blair and my daughter Christian Speed Blair  equally to be divided betwixt them share and share alike and to the survivor of their and the heirs and assigns of each survivor And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my brother David Blair of Cookston Esquire Merchant in Dundee who I trust ere now has forgot any small difference or animosity that may ever have subsisted betwixt us as I have long since done.  Executors of this my last Will in Great Britain and I hereby request his kindness countenance and protection to my poor family who in probability may stand more in need of them than ever they did after I am no more at the same time most sincerely thanking him for the kindness he has from time to time shown than on former occasions And I do hereby appoint my said wife Helen Blair and my daughters Margaret and Christian Speed Blair David Finlayson Thomas William Harbin John Blyth James Murray and John Hogg all of the parish of Westmoreland Esquires Executrixes and Executors in this Island humbly entreating their good offices counsel and protection to my family when required hereby revoking all former wills by me heretofore at any time made.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set hand and seal this first day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen 1816.

Signed:      Homer Blair

 

Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Homer Blair as and for his last Will and Testament in our presence who at his desire in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto set and subscribed our names as witnesses thereof.

Signed:        Isabel Orr          Dorvill Fraser           James Kyd

 

Memorandum Jamaica – Be it remembered that I Homer Blair as writer of the within Will Signed Sealed and duly executed in presence of three subscribing Witnesses as my only last Will and Testament do this third day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen as a Codicil to the said Will revoke my appoint of John Hogg Esquire as Executor to my said Will hereby appointing my son Homer Blair Executor in his room in testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal on the day month and year above written in presence of three Witnesses hereunto annexed.

Signed:      Homer Blair

Signed:      Isabel Orr        David Wilson        Dorvill Fraser       Witnesses

 

PROVED at London with a Codicil on the 9th April 1829 before the Judge by the Oath of David Blair Esquire the Brother the Executor for Great Britain named in the Will to whom Administration was granted limited to the Deceased’s Effects in Great Britain he having been first sworn by commission duly to administer.

 


 

See Surveyor’s Map of Little Park, St. Elizabeth, 1919.  Survey requested by heirs of Robert Blair.

 

 

Transcribed by Harry and Jacqueline E Rhodes Blair Christensen – April-May 2008

 


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