Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library

Continued from Hibbert (1)

See also Hibbert Pedigree

[DIARIES AND MANUSCRIPT BOOK]

From Manuscript Book formerly owned by Mrs. Robert Hibbert of Chalfont and Birtles (nee Nembhard), now owned by her descendant, Mrs. Stirling of Garden, N.B., entitled, "Memorandums respecting the Families of the Hibberts of Booth Hall, Lancashire, and of Malpas in Cheshire."

The following entry, with which it commences, is apparently in her husband's handwriting:

Robert Hibbert of Booth Hall near Blakeley married a Middleton Lady of the name of Ashton, great Aunt to the late Sir Ralph Ashton.

He was born in 1630, and died, aged 70, about 1700.

His son Robert was born 1686, and died in Sepr. 1762, aged 78. He married in 1708 Dame Margaret Mills Tetlow, and had by her a large Family as per particulars on the other side of this Leaf. She died Nov. 1759, aged 73.

Their Portraits, painted by that eminent Artist Winstanley, descended to the late Thomas Hibbert of Chalfont, and are now in the Library at that place.

Children of Robert Hibbert and Margaret Tetlow his wife, married in 1708.

(Her maiden name was Tetlow Mills*) [Mills Tetlow. -M.N.]

Thomas born Jany. 1710; died at A. V., Jamaica, May 1780, aged 70.

Sarah, born 1712; died Dame Diggles 1784, aged 72.

Robert, born 1717; died Jany. 1784 at Manch., aged 67.

Esther, afterwards Dame Bailey, born 1714; died Decr. 1772, aged 58.

Samuel, died unmarried; born 1719; died 1781, aged 62.

Joseph, born, 1726; died unmarried 1759, aged 33.

Mary, born 1729, died Dr. 1760, aged 31.

John, died in Jamaica 1769; married Jannet Gordon; he was born about 1732; had 5 Children; aged 37.

Elizabeth, afterwards Dame Phillips, born

Margaret, afterwards Dame Robinson, born

~~~~~

Note in Robert Hibbert's handwriting:

Robert, 2nd son of Robert & Margaret is mentioned on the other side as born in 1717; married Augt. 1743 Abigail Scholey, a Yorkshire Heiress.

~~~~~

Children of Robert and Abigail Hibbert (in the writing of Mrs. R. Hibbert nee Nembhard):

Thomas, born 31st Decr. 1744; died 1819 at Chalfont. Married Sophia Boldero 1784

Ann, born 17th March 1746; died at Leeds 1750.

John, born March 7th, died in Jamaica Aug. 1770.

Margaret, born Aug. 31st 1749. Married Thomas Greg, Esq., & died at Coles 1818.

Robert, born Octr. 12th 1750. Died at Chalfont 24th Jany. 1835.

Samuel, born April 15th 1752. Died at Nantes Decr. 1786, aged 35.

Married Mary Greenhalgh.

Elizabeth, born July 11th, 1753. Married Robert Markland, Esq.; d. 1838.

Ann (2nd) , born Aug. 2. 1755. Md John Prince; died 16th March 1813.

George, born Jany. 13th. 1757. Md Eliz. Margt. Fonnereau; d. 1837.

Sarah, born May 9th. 1758. Died at Manchester.

William born Septr, 22d. 1759. Md Elizabeth Greenhalgh; died Aug. 4th 1844 at Clapham.

Mary, born May 15th, 1761. Md Oakes; died 1845.

Esther, born May 18th, 1766. Died 1838, March 11th.

The Parents married 11th Augt. 1743. Her elder sister Ann Scholey died 1787, in her 78th year, leaving great part of her fortune to her sister Hibbert.

R. H. died 12th Jany. 1784, aged 67.

A. H. died 11th June 1793, aged 72.

Thomas Hibbert, the first Proprietor of Chalfont, married Miss Boldero, but had no Children.

Margaret married to Thomas Greg; had no Issue.

Janet Gordon married John, son of Robert Hibbert & Margaret Tetlow, and died 1778, aged 39, leaving 3 sons & 2 daughters.

John Hibbert died in 1769, aged 37.

~~~~~~~~~

Children of Robert Hibbert & Letitia Nembhard his Wife, married 3rd Septr. 1785:-

Anna, born 31st August 1786.

Thomas, 3rd, born 29 July 1788.

Robert, born 28 Novr. 1790.

John Nembhard, born 11 March 1796.

Letitia Hamilton, born 27 May 1798

Anna married T. Tipping Jany. 1810, who died March 27th 1846, aged 72.

Thomas, the third, married a Knutsford Lady of the name of Cholmondely Jany. 1823.

Robert married first Loetitia Catherine, daughter of Harry Leicester, Esqre., 1816, who died July, 11th, 1817; 2ndly Charlotte, eldest daughter of John Drummond, Esqre., of Charing Cross, Novr. 1823.

Robert died 17th Decr. 1829.

~~~~~~~~~~

Children of Samuel Hibbert & Mary Greenhalgh his Wife, married 3d May 1781:-

Robert Greenhaslgh, born 6th Feby.1782; died June 1801.

Samuel born 19th Augt. 1783; m. his Cousin Caroline Hibbert 1808

Mary, born 11th March, 1785; died 26th June 1799.

Abigail Ann, born 10th Feby. 1787; m. Thomas Warre, Esq., 1830, who died 1832.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Children of Elizabeth, married to Robert Markland 1776:-

John, born 9th Feby. 1780; died 1819.

Robert, born 24th Octr. 1782; died 1824.

Thomas, born 12th Jany. 1786.

James Heywood, born 7th Decr. 1788; married Charlotte Freeling 24 Sept. 1821.

~~~~~~

Ann, married to John Prince.

Son John, born 16th June 1790. Died 2nd Jany. 1818; died in London; married Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Ainslie. Left one girl: Mary Anne Caroline, b. Dec. 1817.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Children of Mary, married to George William Oates 11th Aug. 1788:-

Anna Maria, born 5th May 1790; died Feby 1870.

George Hibbert, born 31st Aug. 1791.

Robert, born 30th Decr 1792.

Thomas Hibbert, born 8th Novr 1794; died 29th Jany 1795.

William Washington, born 2nd Feby 1796.

Hibbert, born 13th Augt 1797.

G. W. Oates died 7th May 1797, aged 48.

~~~~~~~~~~

Children of George Hibbert, married to Elizabeth Fonnereau.

Elizabeth Sophia, born June 24th, 1785.

Charlotte, born Octr 13th, 1786.

Caroline, born March 21st, 1788.

Fanny, born Septr 4th, 1789.

Isabella, born Decr 24th, 1790 ; d. May 1838 ?

George, born Septr 23d, 1792; died 1st June 1795.

Nathaniel, born Jany 17th, 1794

George, 2d, born Feby 17, 1796

Edward, born Augt 3rd, 1797; d 21st Feby 1824.

Mary Anne, born May 17th, 1799; d. 1830.

Georgiana Christiana, born 11th March 1801.

Octavia, born 14th, Novr 1802.

Harriet, born 30th Jany 1804 ; d; 1841, March; m. R. S. Palk, Esq., 1829.

Henry, born 3d Feby 1806; d. 18th June 1825.

~~~~~~~~~

Children of Nathaniel, married to Emily, 2nd daughter of Revd, Sydney Smith:-

Rogers Parker, born 15th May 1829; d. 1864.

Catherine Amelia, born 2nd Nov. 1831.

Elizabeth Margaret, born 20th March 1834; d. April 1855; m Henry Holland Esq., 1852.

. . .Children: Edith; Sydney and Arthur, Twins.

~~~~~~~~

Children of William Hibbert married to Eliz. Greenhalgh:-

Margaret, born 11th Oct. 1785; married Nath. Philips, Esq., 1810

Elizabeth, born 10th Feby 1787; married Rev. H. Law 1808.

Sarah, born 19th June 1788.

Mary Anne, born 22d, Novr 1790.

William Tetlow, born 12th April 1792; m. Miss Caroline Cure 1821.

Letitia, born 5th June 1797; m. Robert Philips, Esq., 1825.

James Pilkington, born 15th Jany 1799; died the 2nd Jany 1804.

Charles Richard, born Octr 10th 1800; died April 30th, 1847

E. Hibbert died 17th Octr 1800.

~~~~~~~~

Children of Anna Hibbert, married to Thomas Tipping Jany 13th, 1810:-

Gartside, born 3rd Decr 1810.

Maria, born 4th April 1812.

Vernon, born 22nd Aug. 1813.

Edmund Joseph, born 5th May 1815.

Alfred, born 2nd May 1817.

Francis, born 5th Nov. 1820.

Anna died 5th Jany 1863, & was buried on her Wedding day Jany. 10th.

~~~~~~~~~~

Children of Thomas Hibbert, married to Caroline Henrietta Cholmondeley, Jany. 1823:-

Thomas Francis, born 19 Dec. 1824; d. 20th July 1830.

Caroline Essex, born Aug. 1826.

Dorothea Letitia, born 13 Nov. 1827.

Hugh Robert, born Dec. 18th, 1828.

Reginald John, born Dec. 14th, 1830.

Georgiana Charlotte, born 22nd Aug.

Loetitia Octavia, born 15th Dec
Francis, born March ? 1839.

Hugh Robert married Catherine Lee, Sep. 1861. Children:

Hugh Frederick Arthur, born 1862; d. 1863.

Hugh Thomas, born August 5th, 1863.

Victoria Kathrine, born May 11, 1867

Essex Mary, born August 28th , 1868.

Margaret Dora, born Jany. 28th, 1871.

Frances Caroline, born Dec. 14th, 1872.

George Frederick, born August 11th 1875.

~~~~~~~~~~

Children of Robert Hibbert married to Charlotte Drummond Nov. 1823:

Frederick Drummond, born 9 Dec. 1824.

Leicester, born 6th March 1826.

Henry Robert, born 25th Oct. 1827; died Dec. 20th, 1828.

Aubrey James, born 30th Oct. 1829; died August 20, 1832.

Leicester Hibbert married 29th April 1851, Arethusa Jane, daughter of the late Charles Calvert, Esq., of Ockley Court, Surrey, and has issue:-

Charles Robert Calvert, born 4th May 1852

John Calvert, born 4th Augt. 1853

Ada Jane, born. 14th Aug. 1854.

Edward Hugh Rowley, born 21st. Jany. 1857.

Archibald Louis, born 9th May 1859.

Godfrey, born Feb. 1864.

Sponsors of Leicester Hibbert's children (written by their mother)

Charlie's- C. H. Calvert (my eldest Brother), F. D. Hibbert, Mrs. J. N. Hibbert.

Johnnie's- J. N. Hibbert (Uncle John), John H. of Braywick, Mrs. Blagrave (my aunt).

Ada's- Mrs. C. Calvert (my Mother), Miss Drummond, Sir J. Rowley, my Uncle & dead. Edward's- Edmund Tipping, Hugh Hibbert, Miss Rowley (my Aunt).

Archie's- Archibald M. Calvert, Alfred Tipping, Mrs. F. D. Hibbert.

Frederick Drummond Hibbert married Louisa Trotman, and had issue:-

Robert Fiennes, born June 1,1860.

Aubrey John Frederick, born May 13, 1862.

Charlotte Louisa, born April 5, 1863.

Agnes Loetitia, born April 10th, 1864.

COPY OF ENTRIES IN BIBLE, DATED "OXFORD 1751."

Fly-leaf John Hibbert (a Signature).

N.B. -For the children of John Hibbert see the end of this Book. For the children of his nephew Robert see over the leaf.

P. 2. Robert Hibbert was the son of Robert Hibbert, Esqr., of Manchester, who was the son of Robert Hibbert, Esqr., also of Manchester, who was the son of Robert Hibbert, Esqr. of Blakeley near Manchester.

P. 3. Robert Hibbert was the nephew of Thomas and of John Hibbert. Thomas was the first of the name who settled in this island [Jamaica]: he arrived here in 1734 and died in May 1780, having never married. John arrived in 1754, married Jannett Gordon in 1760, and died in Aug. 1769. The third who settled here was Thomas Hibbert, the nephew of the two first settlers; he arrived in 1767 and left the Island in 1780, immediately after the death of his uncle Thomas.

John Hibbert (brother to Thomas, Junr.) arrived to succeed his uncle John in May 1770, and died in August of the same year. Robert Hibbert was sent out to succeed his Brother John; he arrived here in the Hibberts Boyd in March 1772 in the 22nd year of his age; he found here his brother Thomas, and his uncle Thomas (who had been on a short visit to England) arrived with him.

These three remained together till 1777, when Thomas, Junr, went home, but returned in 1778, and was accompanied by a third Thomas, the son of John. They were now four, and lived together till 1780, when Thomas the eldest died, aged 70, and Thomas the 2nd went home. There then remained only Robert and Thomas 3rd. These two being cousins lived together till 1785, when Thomas turned Planter, and only Robert remained as a merchant in Kingston, being then in his 35th year.

On the 3rd Sep. 1785 Robert married Miss Let . . . .* the daughter of Doctor John Nembhard .... * St. Mary's, and had Issue by her .... * [*torn]

P. 4 (in a different hand). Robert Hibbert, the son of John Hibbert, arrived in this Island in the first voyage of the Jupiter, Captain Fullerton, My 17th, 1791, in the 22nd year of his age: on the 12th Sep. 1792 he married Elizabeth Jane Nembhard, sister to his cousin Robert's wife. Loetitia; on 22nd June 1793 Robert, Senior, and his family sailed in the Phoenix, Capt. Stimpson, for England.

P. 5. Children of Robert Hibbert and Laetitia his wife, who were married 3rd Sept. 1785 by the Revd. M. Rees:

Anna, born 31 Aug. 1786 in the forenoon, baptized 21 Dec., '86 by M. Rees. Died Jan. 5th, 1863.

Thomas, born 29 July 1788 in the forenoon, baptized 24th Nov. '88 by the Rev. M. Rees

Robert, born on Sunday 28th Nov. 1790, at half past six in the Morning.

John Nembhard, born at Birtles in Cheshire March 11th, 179. . .

Letitia Hamilton, born at Pains Hill May 27th, 1798.

Two pages at end of Bible:

P. 1 (in another hand). Samuel, son of John and Jannett Hibbert, Departed this life July 21st, 1764. Buried in Kingston Church.

(In another hand.) Thomas, son of John and Jannett, died Oct. 30th, 1807, in London, aged 46. Cecilia died at Barnes, Surrey, unmarried, 28 Sep. 1825, aged 63. Margaret died also at Barnes Nov. 25th 1836, unmarried, aged 72.

Jannett died unmarried, young. Robert died in Welbeck St., London, 22nd Sep. 1849, aged 79.

John Hibbert died at 47 Gt. Ormond St., London, 11th Sep. 1855, aged 87. (This last entry is in the handwriting of John Hibbert of Braywick.)

P. 2. John Hibbert, son of Robert Hibbert of Manchester in Lancashire, arrived in Jamaica Aug. 1754 in the 23rd year of his age, June 12th, 1760, he married Jannett, the daughter of Samuel Gordon, and had issue:-

Thomas, born March 28th, 1761, at 6 o'clock in the eve, baptized April 23rd, 1761, by the Revd. Mr. Pollen.

Cecilia, born April 14th, 1762, at 11 o'clock in the morning, baptized Aug. 12th, 1762, by the Revd. Mr. Pollen.

Samuel, born Sep. 23, 1763, at 12 o'clock noon, baptized Feb. 14th, 1764, by the Revd. Mr. Atkins.

Margaret, born Novr. 21st, 1764, at 10 o'clock in morning: baptized April 12th, 1765 . . . * by the Revd. Mr. . . . . *

Jannett, born March 11th, 1766, at 6 ....* the evening, Baptized May 22d by the Revd. . . .*

(In another hand.) John, born in Manchester May 3rd, 1768 . . . *

Robert, born. in Kingston Oct. 25th, 1769 . . .* the death of his father.

[*torn]

A Memoir of Robert Hibbert, founder of the "Hibbert Trust," by Jerom Murch, was published in 1874.

From the declaration of trust it appears that Mr. Hibbert conveyed a sum of about £20,000 to trustees, the interest to be used for the "spread of Christianity in its most simple and intelligible form," and by the Schedule the Fund was to be called the "Anti-Trinitarian Fund." The founder believed in the divinity of each person of the Trinity, though unable to accept the doctrine of the Three in One. In politics he was a Liberal of advanced views.

P. 196. John Hibbert of Bray, born 1811 died 28 March 1888.

P. 200. The M.I. to Thomas Hibbert was evidently abridged by Hakewill to fit his drawing. Mr. F. Cundall ("Historic Jamaica," p. 265) gives the inscription as follows (see it also in "G.M." for 1864, p. 603)

In a vault near this place lie deposited by his own direction the remains of

Owing to the portrait of Janet Gordon having been photographed before the pedigree had been drawn up, an error has occurred in describing Samuel Gordon as Attorney-General. Thomas Gordon held that office, and in his will dated 1 July 1767 (591, Webster) names no children.

Mrs. Robert Hibbert, nee Letitia Nembhard, kept a manuscript book, in which, besides entries made by herself, she apparently invited her husband and friends to inscribe the dates of family events. Two pages headed "Annals of T. H." were contributed by her brother-in-law Thomas Hibbert of Chalfont. This book is now owned by Mrs. Stirling of Garden, Stirlingshire, a daughter of the late G. Gartside Tipping, Esq.

Born 31st Decr 1744

Went to Newn. Green, July 1759

Went to Liverpool 1762

Went to Jamaica about Novr 1766

Returned to England 1st time (believed) 1777

Again to Jamaica 1778

Finally to England 1780

Married 18th Feby. 1784

Went to Continent & landed at Rotterdam 20th April 1786

Returned to England & landed at Dover 30th Octr 1787

Purchased Property at Chalfont, Bucks, & took Possession 29th Septr 1791 *

[* He forgets to mention that he was High Sheriff of Bucks in 1795 - M.N.]

Separated from Mrs. H. 1st July 1796

Bought Greyhound Inn & Land 1799

Bought Swan Inn & Farm 1800

Laid foundation of new Mill 1801

Living in the Interval between 1780 & 1784 in Bedford Square, London, & two Summers at Debrow (?), Herts. After Marriage removed to Upper Grosvenor Street in Town, & to Myloss (?), Essex, and Panshanger, Herts, in the Country.

In the Interval between 1787 & the Purchase of Chalfont, passed several Summers at Clifton, Tunbridge, Cheltenham, & in travelling in Wales, Scotland, etc. (End of quotation.)

In 1784 Thomas Hibbert had married, in her father's house, Bedford Square, London, Sophia, daughter of John Boldero, Esq., of Aspenden, co. Herts, but separated from her twelve years later. Both were painted by Gainsborough. Her portrait was sold in 1885 to Baron Alphonse de Rothschild of Paris for 10,000 guineas. His portrait is still owned by the representatives of the Hibberts of Birtles, now of Broadgate, co. Devon. There is also a pastel of him by Russell, owned by Robert Fiennes Hibbert, Esq., the mezzotint after which by J. R. Smith, is well known. (M. N.)

Mr. Fiennes Hibbert writes: "After their separation Thomas bought for her a house called Westcott Hill, near Dorking, of which I have a water-colour drawing by Varley. There she lived till her death, on excellent terms with her husband: she taking his portrait (by Gainsborough) and he keeping hers at Chalfont."

"Monday 26th (July). Received news that my Uncle Diggles (husband of his aunt Sarah) was very ill at Booth and not likely to live."

"Tuesday 27th. My uncle Diggles died in the 86th year of his age having been for a long time insensible to anything that was doing about him."

"Monday 9th (August). My Uncle Diggles buried today at Blakeley Chappel". (chapel of ease to Manchester Cathedral).

"January, Monday 11th (1773). My Brother* Toms Birth Day My Aunt and Uncle. P. (Philips) My Aunt R. (Robinson) and Mrs. Taylor, Miss Shore and My Uncle Sam and My Cousin Peg (Robinson) All met here and we Celebrated the Day by a Dance after Supper which Lasted till 12 o'Clock and then Parted, My Father Perform'd Wonders in a Minuet with Miss Shore." [*George Hibbert's brothers Thomas and Robert, were at that time in Jamaica (M. N.)

"Monday 29th (March, 1773). Letters from Jamaica. My Bro: T. writes in very bad spirits. The Lady whom of all others be lik'd best and to whom he was engag'd had died abo't 10 days before he wrote he had sat up with her 5 Days and 3 nights and this join'd to the lowness of his spirits we are afraid will bring on some illness.

Bro. R. writes in better spirits . . . the letters dated from 4th and 24th January."

"March 9th 1817. My brother William and myself a fortnight ago paid a visit to my Brother at Chalfont and as to his general health we think him not declining sensibly, but he moves about very little and that little now with difficulty, we thought that he indulged this growing unfitness for motion and that a little effort on his part might accomplish more. He lives now quite a recluse and is too much under the management of his servants."

"April 19th, 1818. I went to Chalfont about 3 weeks ago to see my Brother. I found him sensibly weaker in body but without any dangerous Symptoms--his recollection imperfect as to recent events and it is probably from memory that Reading is no longer an Amusement to him, but he talks with great pleasure and full recollection of times and circumstances long ago past--previously to my Visit my Wife sent him down a garden Chair, in which whenever the weather will admit it he may be pushed about his Garden and grounds, and I came away foreseeing that I had carried two or three useful points, one a resolution in him to use this Chair as soon and as often as he could, another to recall Mr. Rumsey (the Apothecary of Chalfont) into attendance upon him instead of suffering a Mr. Williams to be coming every now and then from London. Another to admit a Couple of his female Relatives together now and then to pay him a visit. He also made some new arrangements to his will by a Codicil in consequence of the death of John Prince,+ and making also some further provision for his servants Palmer and John.

[+ G. H. under same date: "My Nephew John Prince alas is no more, he has hardly enjoyed any good health since his Spanish Campaigns, his marriage has not I think mended the matter. He came over here, poor follow, thinking that the air or England and the sight of old Friends, would recover him, but had not been many days fix'd in Lodgings in Hanover Street before he died. He was buried in my Vault at Clapham with my own and William's and Sam's attendance join'd to that of Sir Robt. Ainslie (John P's father-in-law) and, Captain Sandilands. His Wife has since been brought to bed of a fine little Girl to whom she has given the names of Mary-Anne-Caroline." ]

"September 13th, 1818. I have paid another visit to my eldest Brother. . . my Brother William has also been there. . . he has at length consented to send us up his Tradesmen's bills for payment; it was what I desired when I was last there; as I saw his inability to look into such matters himself and know that many of those bills had remained long unsettled."

"1819, Feby 12th. My Brother's health I am glad to say has somewhat improved and we remain quite satisfied with the Care that is taken of his Person, not quite so well with the management of his Property, which unquestionably is the prey of those about him; William and myself, as his state of mind and capacity is now such as to take away from us all delicacy on the subject, are talking of giving a Couple of days to an investigation as to the manner in which his rents are collected and applied and into the state of his Accounts with his respective Tenants."

"Sunday June 20th, 1819. My Brother Thomas . . . quietly expired, without any struggle, upon the 25th of May, the Disposition of his affairs was no secret to his near relations some time before he died . . . . ' My Brother R. H. appears decidedly inclined to accept Chalfont with its furniture, Library, etc., etc., charged with £25,000; were he to determine otherwise, I have no doubt that the Residuum of the Estate would be benefitted.

At my Brother's funeral the Respect paid to his memory by a numerous assemblage of Neighbours, Tenants, Servants, etc., etc., was an affecting spectacle. He was interred upon the 2d June."

"6th November 1819. My Brother R. H. seems to 'take to' Chalfont very kindly, he is there at present, and I suspect will often reside there, my Daughter Georgiana is on a visit to his Family. She was with them some time in Cheshire and I believe is not about to quit them, they behave to her with the most affectionate attention and are pleased to say that they like her very well."

"June 15, 1817. Tom (his son) goes with me to Chalfont to see my Brother whom I have never met for 2 years--find him much altered and particularly in respect to Memory. We return (to London) on Monday morning the 16th."

"On Wednesday, June 3rd (1819) the funeral takes place. Sam. (Hibbert) and James Markland (his nephews) accompany me in our Coach, and after the Funeral we return in the evening. I remain in town till Sat. June 5th, on which day Mrs. H. (his wife), Letitia (his daughter) and Eliza (Nembhard, his wife's niece) accompany me to Chalfont."

"Sunday, June 6th. We do not think it correct to go to Chalfont Church this day."

"July 28th, 1816. 'East Ride Bob '* is strange to tell Rambling over the Continent with his amiable Wife and his Brother John, He has sent us a sample of entertaining Correspondence which shews that he makes observations as he goes along."

[*So called to distinguish him from Robert of Birtles and Chalfont.]

"September 13th, 1818. The second (Sept.) we (George and his daughter Isabella) left the Hospitable mansion of Quidenham. (Lord Albemarle's) and proceeded towards R. Hibbert's at East Hide where my Wife and her two Daughters Georgiana and Harriott are staying. . . At Bob's we arrived in good time the following day and had a most hearty welcome, we found my wife tolerably well. Georgy and Harriott not looking their best. Mrs. Sprigg and Cecilia Hibbert there, the old Lady quite in possession of all her faculties-- we staid there till Sunday the 6th. Bob and I visited his farm and I admir'd both the improvement made in that and also in the beauty of his place . . . on Sunday the 6th we return'd to Clapham. and found there to welcome us my eldest Daughter in very good looks."

"6th November 1819. My very excellent Cousin Robert is gone to the South of France, with a hope, I dare not say a lively one, of saving the life of his darling adopted Child Sophy, a Daughter of my Cousin John. The eldest, a charming and most amiable Girl, not long ago died a Victim to Consumption and the Symptoms which Sophy has shewn have been go alarming that Dr. Bailie said there was no time to be lost, the attempt must be made of checking the Disorder by removal to a warmer Climate. Robert and his Wife did not hesitate; they took only a few days for preparation and if the South of France does not seem to promise relief they will probably go on to Italy. Two other of the Daughters of J. H. are more or less giving their friends alarm from the same Cause and poor Mrs. John is almost distracted. She did not see her Daughter Sophy before or at the time of her departure and she apprehends (what is but too probable) that she shall never see her again."

"31 Decr. 1819. The Accounts of poor Sophy are extremely discouraging, and Robert finding neither Climate nor Accommodation very favourable at the South of France is gone on by Sea to Naples."

(Mr. Fuhr seems to have been long out of it, and the partnership at this time, consisted of George Hibbert, his eldest brother Thomas, and Mr. Purrier.)

"March 24th, 1815. My time has been fully employed, my official Duty as Jamaica Agent, as my Agency minutes may shew, will account for a due share of my occupation, and the affairs of the old Mercantile House for as much or more. Sorry I am to see that this last is given to an ungrateful subject, and that after all my toils and cares those concerns will turn out sadly unproductive if not burthensome. We are now seriously bent upon a Division to take place as if on the 30th April next and upon the balances of that day, and my late Correspondence with our attorneys in Jamaica has been wholly or principally directed to the obtaining the needful information for the allotment which I have undertaken to make.

In this investigation a conviction is growing in my mind that our interests have mainly suffered by the want of attention on the part of our attorneys to the expences which this or that proceeding was likely to bring upon us. The Mess. Taylor have always appeared to me to be fair and honourable men but . . .they were conducting those concerns under their management upon the principles of the general routine . . . Upon the same general Principles our Solicitors at Law seem to me to have acted, for having the means, which we do not possess, of estimating the enormous cost of certain law proceedings, they ought rather to have advised us to satisfy, at our own expence, demands which have cost us four or six times their amount in disputing . . . The common course is taken, our Rights are maintained and asserted, and we come at last into possession of the two shells of the Oyster, alas, for the Oyster is gone! My poor Brother will after all his expectations find himself at the close of his life the Possessor of three or four very bad Jamaica Estates, with a lawsuit afloat on each, the expence of which will exceed the produce, of the property."

"Novr. 11th, 1815. Hope that my Brother has disposed of the Delue(?) [Delve] Estate for as much as I rated it at."

"April 19th, 1818. Mentions a settlement of the suit Lewing vs Read. H. F. and P. stood engaged to pay from £4000 to £5000 in consequence of the decree in this cause, but were covered by an indemnity from the heirs of Ennis Read."

"Sunday June 20th, 1819. Mr. Henry Swann prevail'd, contrary to my expectation (and I'll venture to say contrary to equity), in his Contest with me before the Lords of Appeal concerning the Emoluments of Oxford Estate, the law does not smile upon us at present."

"6th November 1819. One great point of my Jamaica dependencies was lately decided favourably enough in the first Instance by what may be called an advantageous sale of Dumfries Estate for which Mr. Fairclough was bold enough to give £30,100 currency. This would really have gone far to make the old demand of H. F. and P. a valid debt, but unfortunately and perhaps too thro' some neglect priorities have been established so as to leave my share only about £18,000, currency, and this my attorneys lost the opportunity of remitting home at a favourable exchange and it may and very likely will be frittered almost away by loss of interest and excessive premiums on bills . . . The turn which our commercial affairs have lately been taking is of a most unpromising aspect, the Prices of Produce are so fallen as to affect the nett Proceeds nearly 80 per cent, and the consequence is, as the expences do not diminish, that the Planter gets hardly anything and the Merchant very little."

"March 30th, 1816. At the close of the year 1815, I was again appointed Agent for Jamaica for 3 years and the House of Assembly honoured me with an unanimous Vote of Thanks, a thing I believe never before done to any Agent during the course of his Service. The Bill for the Registry of Slaves which has engaged the attention of the West India Interest for the last 12 months is not yet introduced into either House of Parliament . . .

I have written and published two tracts on this subject, the one entitled Brief Remarks on the Slave Registry Bill and upon a Report of the African Institution recommending that measure, the other, written in animadversion upon a coarse and scurrilous Article in the Xtian Observer for Jany., is published under the name of Thomas Venables and entitled the Reviewer Reviewed. I am told that the Article I here attack has been written by Mr. Macaulay . . . I have had some civil things said to me concerning my Brief Remarks and among the rest Mr. Wilberforce came to me in the House of Commons the other day purposely as he said to thank me for being the only one of his opponents who had treated him like a Gentleman."*

[* "Mr. Pitt was accustomed to say, that 'he never got so clear a view of the objects of a Deputation, as when he saw Mr. George Hibbert at the head of it.' " (From "A Sketch of the Life and Character of George Hibbert, Esq., F.R.S., S.A., and L.S." Privately printed, 1837.]

George Hibbert was Chairman of the Committee of West India Merchants and also Agent for the Island of Jamaica. Elected in 1812 with an annual salary of £1500, he was seven times elected in subsequent years to the same office without a dissentient voice. He held this position till 1830, when "age and increasing infirmities" necessitated his retirement. In 1831 he resigned the chair of the W. I. Merchants, and was given a public dinner, at which His Majesty's Ministers and most persons, civil or military, connected with the West India Colonies, were present, and was later presented with a piece of plate by the West India Planters and Merchants "to perpetuate their sense of his distinguished services and their feelings of affectionate respect."

"In 1798 George Hibbert was elected an Alderman for the ward of Bridge Within, with a view to the representation in Parliament of the City of London. It being requisite that he should discharge the offices of Sheriff and Lord Mayor however, in successive years, at the precise period when his Personal attention was indispensable in the management of his house of business, he abandoned his prospects of going into Parliament as Member for London and resigned his gown in 1803. In 1806 he was elected one of the representatives for Seaford, and sat for that borough in successive Parliaments till 1812.

In conjunction with his friend and brother-merchant Robert Milligan, Esq., George Hibbert was mainly instrumental in originating and maturing that noble undertaking, the West India Docks" (see inscription placed on the central warehouse). In 1804, by the unanimous vote of a General Court of the Company he was presented with some Splendid ornamental plate 'in grateful testimony of his eminent Services in the formation and establishment of the Docks;' and at a later period he was requested by the company to sit to Sir Thomas Lawrence for his picture, which now hangs in their board-room." (From "A Sketch of the Life and Character of George Hibbert, Esq., F.R.S., S.A., and L.S.," 1837.)

In 1817 George Hibbert was instrumental in raising £12,000 as an additional fund for the London Institution, without which the whole sum previously subscribed was to become void. Nearly £13,000 was collected from only some 400 subscribers, and Mr. Hibbert was publicly thanked for his efforts at a general Court of the Institution (see his Diary).*

[*For many years he filled the office of President of the Institution. On his resignation in 1835 a vote of thanks was passed at the Annual General Meeting of the Proprietors: "The Proprietors of the London Institution cannot but express their unfeigned regret at the necessity which compels their much-esteemed President George Hibbert, Esq., to retire from an office which he has dignified by his talent, and in which he has so uniformly distinguished himself by unfailing urbanity and kindness. Signed Samuel Boddington, Chairman.'" ( Sketch of Life and Character," 1837.)]

"July 6th, 1817. Poor Mrs. Oates (George's Sister) is afflicted with a disorder in her eyes, and in great anxiety about her son George who was about to return to Jamaica with the advantageous prospect of taking on himself the management of the Estates in Hanover that belong to my Brother and cousin R. H."

"October 30th 1817. Oates got better and some time since sailed for Jamaica."

Assistant Judges and Magistrates: Hibbert Oates.

Assistant Judges and Magistrates : George Hibbert Oates.

Lieut. Hibbert Oates, 4 April 1820.

My dear Sir,

The sale is just over and I am a little nervous having bought the Polyglott upon speculation for 500 guineas. The Luther was bought for the Museum for 250 guineas and the Mazarine brought £215 bought by Mr. Wilkes who was the last bidder for the other two. The sum total of the sale was £21,600. Prince Cimitile bought the Xenophon for 50 guineas, and if we had sold our copy he should not have had it for that price.

Hoping that you will feel well satisfied with the result.

Believe me, my dear Sir

Your much obliged servant

Henry Foss

Pall Mall

6 June 1829."

"Sale was conducted by Payne and Foss on commission including catalogues and all expenses. The amount of their commission at 8 1/2 per cent was £1845, the excise duty £1026 in addition." (Nath. Hibbert)

The three books first above-mentioned were Luther's own copy of his own translation of the Bible; the Polyglott Bible of Cardinal Ximenes, being one of the three copies on vellum; and the Mazarine Bible of Gutenberg and Fust. The firm of Payne and Foss is now represented by Sotheby. (M. N.)

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