Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library

WILLS OF CROOKS AND GRAHAM

Wills of:
Christopher Crooks, 1763
James Crooks, 1775
William Graham, 1768
Christopher Crooks, 1793
David Crooks, 1919

Will of Christopher Crooks,1 1763

[RGD, LOS 34/153]

[Abstract]

Jamaica SS

I Christopher Crooks of the parish of Hanover in the county of Cornwall in the island aforesaid Planter...
Give devise and bequeath unto a free negro woman called and known by the name Betty2 (but lately baptized ...name of Elizabeth ) who now lives with me and her seven respective children commonly called and known by the names Amey,3 Richard,4 Cicely, Jenny, Sukey, Maudlin5 and James all my estate both real and personal or mixt whatsoever that I am now seized or possessed of...or other wise Intittled unto, To hold the same and every part and parcell unto the said Free negro woman commonly called and known by the name of Betty alias Elizabeth and to her said seven mulatto (children) as Joint-tennants during the natural life of Betty alias Elizabeth ...
Imediately after the decease of the said free negro...known by the name of Betty alias Elizabeth, I Give devise and bequeath all my estate both real and personal or mixt whatsoever or whersoever I shall die seized or possessed of Interested in or otherwise intittled unto and amongst the said seven mulatto children To hold the same and every parcell thereof...as Tennants in common and not as joint tenants and to the several and respective heirs of their several and respective bodyes and body, issueing whether lawfully or illegitimately begotten of the bodys of any free negro, Indian, mulatto or other person and to the survivors and survivor of them and to the heirs and assigns of such survivors forever
And it is my express will and desire that neither of the said mulatto children...shall lease sell or otherwise dispose of his, her or their part share or proportion of the estate real or personal herein before by me devised to them unless it be to one of his her or their brothers or sisters...and from thenceforth desend to and be vested amongst [the survivors] of his her or their brothers or sisters herein before named to be held and enjoyed in manner and form aforesaid
Lastly I revoke disanull and utterly make void all former and ...codcils Bequests and legacies by me at anytime here ...or given ratifying and confirming these presents on ...contain my last will and testament and I do name and appoint my good friends the Honble Montague [James]6 and Archimedes George7 Esquires Executors of this my Last Will and Testament and Guardians of the persons and estate of my aforesaid named mulatto children herein before particularly...the age of twenty one years
Signed, Christopher Crooks, July 1762
Witnesses by Isaac Cresse, James Clarke, Jacob Lewis
  
Memorandum dated 20th January 1763
Signed by W.H Lyttleton , Governor

[Christopher Crooks was buried at Haughton Court Mountain in January 1763]

_________________
1 Brother of James Crooks of Crooks Cove, d.1740
2 James Crooks, in his will [RGD, Jamaica, LOS 22/213] bequeathed to Christopher, his brother, "one Negro wench named Betty with her three children named Sisley, Jenny and Easthere. They were presumably his children together with Richard, Maudlin and James
3Amey Crooks, a free mulatto, died in 1792
4 Richard Crooks, a free mulatto, died in 1796
5Maudlin Crooks, a free mulatto, died in 1815
6 His brother's will refers to William Rhodes James as a kinsman, but the precise relationship is not known
7 His brother-in-law, the husband of his sister Elizabeth


Will of James Crooks, 1775

[RGD, LOS 42/21]

[Abstract]

I James Crooks of the parish of Hanover Jamaica1...do make this my last will and testament...
I give unto my daughters Sarah Crooks and Ann Crooks and to any child my wife may be enceint of at the time of my decease (if a daughter) the sum of £1,000 current money of Jamaica each to be paid to them respectively out of my estate in manner following...the sum of £500 in one year after their respective days of marriage or attaining their age of twenty one whichsoever first shall happen and the remaining £500 to be paid to them respectively in two years thereafter.
It is my will that my daughters be maintained and educated out of my estate.
I do hereby manumit and forever set free from all manner of bondage and slavery four mulatto children named Julian, Sukey, Jemmy and John whom I purchased of William Samuels2 Esquire from and immediately after my decease.
It is my desire that my executors do out of the produce of my estate purchase four Negroes for the use of the said four mulatto children that is to say a new Negro boy for each of the mulatto boys and a new Negro girl for each of the mulatto girls to be delivered to them at their respective ages of twenty one...and my will further is that the said mulatto children be put out apprentices to such trades or bussiness as my executors shall meet as soon as my be after my decease
And I give unto the said mulatto children the sum of £10 current money of Jamaica a piece to be paid to them in twelve months after my decease
All the rest residue and remainder of my estate real personal or mixed... I give unto my sons James Crooks, John Crooks and Richard Crooks and such child as my wife may be enceint with (if a boy) and to the heirs of their bodies lawfully begotten...share and share alike
It is my will that my son James Crooks be put in possession of my estate at his age of twenty one years and in case of his death before that age my other sons be respectively put in possession thereof
It is my will that my executors do send all my children to England to be educated.3 And lastly I do hereby nominate my kinsman John Campbell of Salt Spring Esquire,4 and John Dickson5 of the same parish Esquire, and my wife Sarah Crooks6 to be executors of my will and guardians of the persons and estate of my children
Signed, James Crooks, 12 April 1771
Witnesses, David Stewart, Charles Oldham, George Forster
Proved by the witnesses before Dugald McLachlan7 [magistrate in Hanover] 1 May 1775
 
Note
James Crooks had died on a trip to North America in 1774. He was a correspondent of Duncan Campbell, merchant of London, whose wife was James Crooks' cousin, Henrietta Campbell, sister of John Campbell of Salt Spring. Campbell took delivery of the Crooks Cove sugar. Much of the personal information in the footnotes come from Duncan Campbell's letters to his wife's relations in Jamaica.
________________
1 Of Crooks Cove plantation at Cousins Cove
2 Of Samuels Cove plantation at Cousins Cove. The two plantations were adjacent, the border being at Cousins Cove
3 The children arrived in England in December 1779.  The boys were sent to Bristol in the care of a Mr Simpson while the girls arrived in London to live with their Jamaican aunt, Rebecca Rankin [nee McKenzie] who was a half sister of their father]. Ann (Nancy) Crooks died within two weeks of 'a putrid fever'  and was buried in Hackney
4 John Campbell was first cousin to James Crooks, their respective mothers being Ann and Anna Petronella Launce
5 John Dickson was the husband of Ann Crooks [d.1769] James Crooks' sister
6 Sarah Crooks [nee Grizzel] married, in 1776, Dr. Thomas Brown of Montego Bay. She lived until after 1812
7 Dr. Dugald McLachlan was a cousin of John Campbell of Orange Bay


Will of William Graham of Westmoreland, Jamaica

NA PROB 11/1650

[Abstract]

Jamaica SS

I William Graham of the parish of Westmoreland...
I Bequeath
Unto my sister Mary Graham £30 sterling per annum during her natural life...to be paid by my brother John Graham...1
Unto my two aunts Janet and Anne Graham £20 sterling each during their natural lives
Unto John Campbell Esquire of New Hope in the parish of Westmoreland £1,000 current money of Jamaica and a Negro man named Billy
Unto James Campbell2  Esquire of Kendall in the parish of Hanover £200 sterling which he owes me on bond
Unto Henrietta Campbell, Elizabeth Campbell and Margaret Campbell3 £500 each at the age of sixteen years
Unto Mary Campbell widow of Colin Campbell4 my daughter in law the sum of £50 sterling to buy her mournings
The above legacies to John Campbell and his three sisters to be paid out of the money due to me on bonds from him, John Campbell, and his mother
I give unto Sarah White5 wife of Hugh White the sole benefit and use of the following Negroes Celia and her daughters Peggy and Yarra and her son April and mulatto Daniel the son of Peggy and after her decease to her heirs...failing of such heirs to her brother John Campbell
Unto Mary Campbell6 the wife of Peter Campbell Esquire of Fish River in the parish of Hanover the following Negroes viz. Hannah and her daughters Bonella and Juliet
Unto Peter Campbell son of the said Peter and Mary Campbell one Negro boy named Major
Unto Mary Ann Campbell daughter of Peter and Mary Campbell one Negro boy named Quamina and one Negro girl named Charlotte
Unto James Patterson Esq. of Carpon 50 guineas to buy a ring as a small memorandum of the friendship I bear him
Unto Aaron Moffat Esquire of the parish of St. Ann £50 currency
Unto Thomas Storer7 Esquire in Golden Square London  £50 sterling to buy a ring as a small token of the esteem I have for him
Unto my sister in law Dorothy Graham wife of my brother John Graham £50 to buy mourning
Unto my two nephews William and John Graham and unto my two nieces Margaret and [   blank   ] the sons and daughters of my brother John Graham £500 sterling each at twenty one years or day of marriage
Unto Colin Currie8 of the City of London merchant 30 guineas to buy him a ring
Unto Sarah White wife of Hugh White all my plate
Unto my aforesaid nephew William my gold watch and seals
Unto Fergus Graham of the parish of Hanover and Charles Graham of the parish of Westmoreland all my wearing apparel to be divided equally and to each a riding horse...
Unto Dr. John Drummond9 all my books and my desk
All the rest and residue of my estate here and in Great Britain I give to my brother John Graham
It is my particular will and desire that none of my executors who are indebted to me on bond or otherwise should take advantage of not paying what is due to me on account of my appointing them my executors
I appoint my brother John Graham, Thomas Storer, John Campbell of New Hope, John Campbell of Salt Spring and Aaron Moffat my executors

William Graham, 17 June 1768
Witnesses, Thomas Anderson, Francis Somerville, James Stuart

1772
Codicil
I give unto my beloved friend John Campbell of New Hope £1,000 current money of Jamaica over and above what is mentioned in my will
I desire that £20 currency be paid annually to James Stuart during his natural life
I give to my daughter in law Mrs Mary Campbell 50 guineas to buy a ring
Unto my executors 10 guineas for a ring
I appoint Peter Campbell of Fish River, James Campbell of Kendall, Colin Campbell10 of Campbelton and Hugh White of Lenox11 to be executors jointly with those named in my will

William Graham, 13 June 1772
Witnesses, Charles Graham, John Drummond, Samuel Bell

[William Graham died at Dumfries, Scotland, in 1790]

1821
On 19 November 1821 administration granted to William Graham the sole executor of the will of John Graham the brother [of William Graham]...Thomas Foster, John Campbell, John Campbell, Aaron Moffat, Peter Campbell, James Campbell, Colin Campbell and Hugh White survived but died without taking upon them the probate and execution of the will and codicil...

1832
The will...unadministered by William Graham deceased while living...administration granted to Erskine Douglas Sandford executor of the will of William Graham12
______________________
1 John Graham died at Dumfries, Scotland in 1808. He was the owner of Bluefields which he left to his son. By 1818, Bluefields belonged to John Graham Campbell, eldest grandson of Colin Campbell New Hope
2James Campbell, brother of John New Hope, both grandsons of William Graham
3 Sisters of John Campbell New Hope, unmarried at the time, grand daughters of William Graham
4 Colin Campbell of New Hope died 1760
5 Sarah Campbell, eldest daughter of Colin Campbell New Hope and Mary Graham
6 Mary Campbell, daughter of Colin Campbell New Hope
7 Thomas Storer of Belle Isle and Frome, Westmoreland, Jamaica. John Campbell New Hope married his daughter Helen Storer in 1774, in England
8 Colin Currie, a cousin of the Campbells of New Hope
9 John Drummond of Drummond Lodge and Moreland, Westmoreland [d.1806]
10 Colin Campbell (son of Capt. John Campbell of Hanover)  had married Elizabeth Campbell, daughter of Colin New Hope in 1769
11 Lenox, an estate in south east Westmoreland near the boundary with St. Elizabeth
12 There followed a court case in England, Campbell v Sandford, which contested the bequests and the debts mentioned in this will


Will of Christopher Crooks

Proved July 9, 1793

Jamaica SS    In the Name of God! Amen.  I Christopher Crooks of the parish of Saint James in the County of Cornwall and Island of Jamaica aforesaid planter, being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind memory and understanding for which and all other enjoyments of Life I am truly thankful to my Creator reflecting on the uncertainty of this life and knowing that all men must die, do therefore make this my last will and testament
Imprimis I Recommend my soul to Almighty God with hope of Pardon for all any sins and transgressions through the mediation of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be interred decently by my Executors or either of them hereafter named and it is my wish that a Clergyman officiate at the Interment of my Body.
Item
I Give devise and bequeath unto my worthy, trusty and well beloved Friends and Relatives John Mowat of the parish of Saint James in the County and Island aforesaid Esquire and Richard Dickson of the parish of Hanover in the County and Island aforesaid Esquire jointly and severally and the survivor of them the heirs and executors of such survivor all my estate Real personal and mixed To have and To hold to them or either of them that will accept, they the said John Mowat and Richard Dickson jointly and evenly and the heirs and executors of him accepting and if accepted by both the heirs and executors of the survivor of them for ever all my Estate real personal and mixed In Trust for uses and purposes hereafter set forth it being my intention to vest the fee simple in them or one of them for purpose of complying with bequests hereafter made as well as for paying my Funeral expenses and debts it is my will and desire that my Funeral Charges and just debts be paid as soon after my decease as possible by my Executors who are also my Trustees;
Item
I Give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Ann Crooks an annuity of seventy pounds current money of Jamaica, that sum to be paid her Yearly and every year during her natural life, the just payment to be made on the first day of July that shall follow my decease, every year after on the first day of July then in each year so long as she shall live, in lieu and full barr of use and every claim she shall or may have or set up to my Estate for dower thirds or otherwise.
Item
I Give devise and bequeath unto my beloved Brother William Crooks the use of One negro man slave named Jack and an annuity of Thirty pounds current money of Jamaica, that sum to be paid him yearly and every year during his natural life, the first payment to be made on the first day of July that shall follow my decease, then every year after on the first day of July in each year so long as he shall live and at his decease the said Slave Jack to return to my Estate and become a part thereof the said annuity to be paid into the hands of my said Brother William Crooks and no other person being intended for his support and by no means and on no occasion the said bequest of either slave or annuity to be assigned or transferred to another, if either assigned or transferred then the same to become void and to Return to or sink into my Estate as effectually as if never bequeathed.
Item
I Give devise and bequeath the sum of money that shall or may be recovered from the Estate of Francis Blower Gibbes deceased on a Judgment I have in Rend in the Clerk of the Courts office taken within life time of said Francis Blower Gibbes or against his executors since his decease to be laid out in purchase of Land or a House by my Executors hereafter named hereby authorizing my said executors or either of them to compound or discount with the executors of said Francis Blower Gibbes or any other person for so much as they can get and the sum so got to purchase there with a House or Land in the name of Two Quateroon Boys named William James Crooks and Christopher Rice Crooks, sons of a Mulatto Woman named Lucy James, then deliver the premises so purchased to her the said Lucy James To Hold for them the said William James Crooks and Christopher Rice Crooks until either shall attain to the age of Twenty One Years, then to them and the heirs of the Body of each of them respectively lawfully begotten, not as Joint Tenants but Tenants in Common. In the case of the death of either without such issue then to the survivor and in case of the death of both without such issue the said Lucy James to hold for life, then to the eldest son of my brother James Crooks and his heirs forever.
Item
I Give devise and bequeath unto a mulatto woman named Lucy James the use of a Slave to be purchased by my Executors and an annuity of Fifteen pounds current money of Jamaica, that sum to be paid her Yearly and every Year during her natural life, the first payment to be made on the first day of July that shall follow my decease then every Year after on the first day of July in Each year so long as she shall live and at her decease the said Slave so purchased together with issue offspring and increase all to become part of my Estate, the said annuity to be paid into the hands of her the said Lucy James and no other person being intended for her support, and by no means and on no occasion the said bequest of either slave or annuity to be assigned or transferred to another, if either assigned or transferred then the same to become void and return to or sink into my Estate as effectually as if never bequeathed.
Item
I Give devise and bequeath a sum of money equal to the value of a Young New Negro Slave to laid out by the said John Mowat in the purchase of such slave in the name of his infant Daughter who is to be Baptized by the name of Mary Samuells giving to her the said Mary Samuells Mowat and her heirs forever the said new negro slaves having given her the Value of One slave the present bequest makes good the promise of Both, as two were promised.
Item
I Give devise and bequeath unto William James Crooks heretofore named a negro woman Slave named Rose and her four children Jack, Ned, Nero, and Cynthia with the future issue offspring and increase of the females to him and the heirs of his Body lawfully begotten forever
Item
I Give devise and bequeath unto Christopher Rice Crooks heretofore named a negro boy named Andrew and when he shall attain to sixteen years of age then seven prime young new negro slaves to be purchased by my Executors for him, and have him apprenticed, the slaves to be purchased five of them to be boys, the other two to be Girls, and the males to be apprenticed, to him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever.
Item
I Give devise and bequeath unto Three Quateroon Girls named Elizabeth James Crooks Sarah James Crooks and Rebecca James Crooks Daughters of a mulatto woman named Lucy James heretofore named, when each shall attain her age of Sixteen years, two new negro boys and two new negro Girls to be bought by my Executors out of Guinea Cargoes of Slaves that shall be imported into this Island and delivered unto each of them, that is to say, unto Elizabeth James Crooks two boy and two girls, unto Sarah James Crooks two Boys and two Girls and unto Rebecca James Crooks two Boys and two girls. To each of them and the heirs of her Body lawfully born forever, in default of such heirs of one or two of them, then the survivor or survivors to inherit and the heirs lawfully born and in case of the death of all three without leaving heir lawfully born and further if such lawfully born heir not having at his her or their death lawfully born heir then to be deemed part of my Estate and to pass as the Residuum
Item
I Give devise and bequeath unto them the said William James Crooks, Christopher Rice Crooks, Elizabeth James Crooks, Sarah James Crooks, and Rebecca James Crooks each of them respectively the sum of Fourteen pounds current money of Jamaica to be paid by my Executors Yearly and every Year until each shall attain to his and her sixteenth year completely, payment to be made to each of them on his or her respective Birthday that first happens after my decease, and so upon every Birthday in every Year after until he or she shall be sixteen Years of age and as each one attains his or her sixteenth Year then the annuity of such to cease this Bequest intended for their maintenance and that for each respectively, it is my will and desire that all bequests heretofore made be paid by my Trustees and Executors out of the Estate and premises hereby conveyed to them or either of them accepting the Trust, and the Residuum of my Estate and premises or Value thereof remaining deliver for uses or pay to my Residuary Devisees Subject Nevertheless to the Trust; It is also my will and desire that bequests heretofore made pass as entailed and upon the Lapse of either any or all for want of lawful heir that is to say Legitimate issue, then the whole or part or parts so lapsing to return back to my Estate and be considered as part or parcels thereof and pass in manner hereafter devised:
Item
I Give devise and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my Estate real personal and mixed if not sold if sold the money to be laid out in purchase of some property, as to my Trustees and Executors or either of them accepting the Trust, the heirs and Executors of them surviving or him accepting for the use benefit and behoof of the children of my Beloved Brother James Crooks and the children of my beloved sister Barbara White to be equally divided amongst them all share and share alike not as Joint Tenants but as Tenants in Common to Each one an equal share and to the heir lawfully begotten of Each respectively forever. Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said Worthy Trusty and well beloved Friends and Relatives John Mowat and Richard Dickson executors to this my last will and Testament hereby revoking and making null and void other Wills and Testaments heretofore by me at any time made In Testimony whereof I have hereunto (written on Two sheets of paper) set my name at Bottom of the first sheet also my name and seal to the last sheet the fifth day of November in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and ninety Two.
Signed
Christo Crooks

Signed Sealed published and declared by the Testator Christopher Crooks for his last will and Testament in the presence of us, who at his request in his presence and in presence of each other hereunto subscribe our names as witnesses. . .
J D Samuels [James Davis Samuels], - Benjamin Green - James Barren

____

[Notes: because Crooks described himself as a relative of Richard Dickson he must have been a son of Rice Crooks, one of the brothers of James Crooks of Hanover who died in 1740 (Richard Dickson's grandfather).
Crooks' other executor, John Mowatt, was also an executor for William Samuells of Hanover in the same year. As Mowatt's daughter was named Mary Samuells Mowatt, it is probable that his wife was a Samuells.

Rice was an older spelling of the Welsh name Rees or Rhys.


Last Will and Testament of David A. Crooks

Entered 15th September 1919

In the Resident Magistrate's Court for the Parish of Hanover In Probate and Administration - in the Estate of David Atkinson Crooks late of Johnson Town District near Lucea in the Parish of Hanover, Mariner deceased
(A)
This is the Last Will and Testament of David Atkinson Crooks mentioned and referred in the Affidavit of Simeon Adojinah Griffiths as being thereunto annexed and marked with the A.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1919
Cecil J. Browne
J.P. Hanover
(B)
This is the paper writing mentioned and referred to in the oath of Jane Caroline Crooks as being thereunto annexed and marked with the letter (B). Dated this 22nd day of August 1919.
Janet C. Crooks
Cecil J. Browne
J.P. Hanover

Jamaica S.S. in the name of God, Amen -
The 16th day of November, One thousand nine hundred and sixteen.
I David Atkinson Crooks of the district of Johnson Town in the Parish of Hanover and Island of Jamaica, being a mariner exposed to the dangers of the sea, and of sound mind and memory, knowing it is appointed unto all men to die, to make this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other Wills by me at any time heretofore made - I recommend my Soul to the hands of Almighty God and my body to the earth to receive a decent burial. And as touching such worldly goods that God hath blessed me with.
1st  I give and bequeath to my lawful wife Jane Caroline Crooks all that piece or parcel of land situate on the sea coast in Johnson Town butting East on land belonging to Elizabeth Irvine, West on land belonging to Miss Mary Bird, North on the Sea, and South by the Main Road leading to Lucea.
2nd  I also give to my lawful wife Jane Caroline Crooks that piece of Lands situate in Johnson Town with my dwelling house and all that is therein for her natural life and direct that at her death it shall become the property of my lawful son Alfred Arthur Crooks his heirs and assigns. I appoint my lawful wife Jane Caroline Crooks to be my sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament.
In Witness Whereof I have set my hands the day and year above.
David A. Crooks

Signed by the said Testator in the presence of us, who at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses -
Lucas Augustus Reid - Simeon A. Griffiths
**This was recorded at the IRO, Spanish Town


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