Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library
George Kirlew was born on December 31st. 1779 in Hemingbrough, Yorkshire, England. He was the eleventh child of thirteen children of William Kirlew (christened August 11, 1733, death December 24th. 1816) and Hannah Richardson (born 1736-1737 death September 29th. 1823.)
William Kirlew was Parish Clerk in St. Mary's Anglican Church in Hemingbrough for forty nine years. He was a yeoman.
George Kirlew's Life in Jamaica 1808-1839
Sources include The Jamaica Almanacs, and Jamaican Family Search
George Kirlew "went out to Jamaica" in, or prior to, 1808.This is the earliest reference to his presence there, as Quartermaster, in the Jamaica Militia, Westmoreland Troop, Regiment of Horse, County of Cornwall. By law, all able bodied expatriates who were resident in Jamaica were required to serve in the Militia. Hence he was not an itinerant or a member of the British Forces assigned to Jamaica. In fact, no British Forces in Jamaica, at that time, were assigned to the Parish of Westmoreland. It appears that he was the first Kirlew to arrive in Jamaica.
In the 1814 Jamaica Almanac George Kirlew is listed with the "Proprietors etc." as the holder of Prospect Estate. He was, in all likelihood, the Planting Attorney at Prospect Estate. There were at least two "Prospects" in Westmoreland of medium to large acreages, and also other smaller holdings with the same name. Prospect Estate, consisting of 1944 acres in sugar and livestock, was owned by the Ricketts family continuously from the mid 1700's through to at least 1832 maintaining an average of over 200 slaves each year. Prospect Penn, consisting of 765 acres, with an average of 34 slaves annually, was owned continuously by Angus McCail prior to 1809 and through to 1832 and later by the Haldanes. The Ricketts were absentee landlords, and also proprietors of Ridgeland, Canaan and Mount Ricketts Estates. It also appears that George Kirlew may have been the Planting Attorney for the Wedderburn Estates, consisting of no less than 15,000 acres (in 1826). James Wedderburn, (deceased 1831),the proprietor, was an absentee landlord, residing in London. His signature appears as a witness to the will of Henry Kirlew, cousin of George Kirlew, who died at Phoenix Park in 1829 at age 24.( PCC Will of Henry Kirlew, Borthwick Institute) (Jamaica Parish Records, Burials Vol. 1 1826-36, Vol 2 1836-1844 (FHL Int'l film #1,291,731) Henry Kirlew, white, Phoenix Park, bur 3 Dec 1829, age 24 years. Ceremony performed by D. Fidler, assistant Curate Vol .1, p.183, #138.) The Legal Attorney for the Wedderburns in Westmoreland was the Hon. Joseph Stone Williams (deceased 1836), Custos of the parish, Member of the House of Assembly and Assistant Judge of the Cornwall Assize Court (Jamaica Slave Register, Westmoreland ,1820 British National Archives, Kew).
Planting Attorneys were reputed to have acquired great wealth in Jamaica in this period, administering estates of overseas landlords. The actual Accounts were provided by Overseers and Bookeepers of the Estates. It was not uncommon for a single Planting Attorney to administer several Estates, some, not within the Parish in which they resided. An example of this was Hugh Anthony Whitelocke, Custos of Hanover who owned Glasgow Estate in Westmoreland, but was also the Planting Attorney in 1847-1855 of no less than 10 Estates, one of which, Drax Hall , was located in St.Ann. Detail Account books of these survive in The Whitelocke Papers (Manuscript Sources for the History of the West Indies: With Special Reference to Jamaica By Kenneth E. N. Ingram, National Library of Jamaica).
Further documentation is required to confirm that George Kirlew was a Planting attorney.
George Kirlew, Esq. became significantly wealthy as a result of his tenure of 31 years in Jamaica. and maintained this wealth in his retirement in York, England for the rest of his life.
In 1818 he is listed as the Proprietor of Phoenix Park Penn, near Sav- la- mar where he resided until 1838-1839.
Phoenix Park was a small Penn comprised of approximately 40 acres about a mile north of Sav-la-mar, near Dunbar's Corner.
Phoenix Park Great House was said to have been built around 1781, shortly after the Great Hurricane of 1780 destroyed the original 18th century house. This unparalleled hurricane, which was accompanied by a Tidal Wave, completely destroyed the town of Sav-la-mar, killing most of its inhabitants. It was not a plantation, but a "Penn" or "Pen", a Jamaican term sometimes used to describe cattle estates,(where livestock were kept in pens), but in this case, meaning a Country House surrounded by a large English-style park, located a few miles outside of town.
George Kirlew owned Phoenix Park from around 1815 to 1839. In 1840 Phoenix Park became the residence of Aaron Deleon, Snr., a prominent and wealthy Jewish merchant in Sav-la-mar, who was a Member of the Assembly, and represented Westmoreland in the Jamaica House of Assembly. Philip Henry Gosse, the famous English naturalist, stayed at Phoenix Park in 1844 as a guest of the Deleon family, and has left a lengthy description of the house and its delightful garden in his book, "A Naturalist's Sojourn in Jamaica".
Phoenix Park later passed to Aaron Deleon Snr's son, Aaron Deleon Jnr., who is listed as proprietor of Phoenix Park in 1860.
By 1878 Joseph Swaby Segre, is listed as the resident owner of Phoenix Park Penn. He was a Merchant in Sav-la-mar, a Justice of the Peace, and a prominent citizen, until his death in 1907.
In 1896 he seems to have leased Phoenix Park Great House to a Miss Anna Maria Vaz, who operated it as a small private hotel. She seems to have later acquired Phoenix Park following J .S. Segre's death in 1907, but little is heard of the hotel after that date .
During the 1930's and 1940's Phoenix Park Great House was the private residence of a Miss Segre, so apparently it reverted to the Segre family sometime in the 1920's .
I understand that in 1955 Phoenix Park Great House was photographed by the Jamaica Gleaner for the Tercentenary Supplement celebrating 300 years of British government in Jamaica. The photograph showed a large, square, two-storey Georgian House, with sash windows, surrounded by an English-style park and half-hidden by trees. It appeared much like a Country House in England. However, the Great House was slowly falling into decay, and the Gleaner commented on its former glory.[ This photo was destroyed in a fire at the Gleaner Co. and the National Library has no copy.]
In 1969 Philip Wright and Paul F. White described Phoenix Park in their book, "Exploring Jamaica", as follows:
" About 300 yards from Dunbar's Corner, on the northern outskirts of Sav-la-mar, a private road on the left leads to Phoenix Park Great House, a private residence. The venerable building, half hidden among trees, with its shingled roofs and wrought-iron stair-rail, is a mere shadow of the house described by Philip Gosse, the naturalist, who stayed there in 1844."
The house was demolished in the 1970's to make way for a housing development.
In 1824 George Kirlew is listed as a Captain in the Westmoreland Troop of Horse, Jamaica Militia, and subsequently became Colonel of that Troop.
In 1824 he was also listed as a Commissioner of the Supreme Court and as a Magistrate and Churchwarden for the Parish of Westmoreland.
In 1824, with Edward Smith, he is registered as Receiver for Camp Savanna Estate and in 1827,
as Proprietor, jointly with Edward Smith of Camp Savanna Estate.. His name also appears as Receiver for the Estate of Frances Thompson, deceased, in the Jamaica Slave Register, Westmoreland ,1820 ( British National Archives, Kew)
In 1829 he is listed as the Proprietor of "a second residence" at Hertford Estate ( British National Archives, Kew)
In 1835 George Kirlew marries Ann Bruce. His age is fifty five and hers is thirty nine.
"George Kirlew of the parish of Westmoreland, bachelor, and Ann Bruce of this parish, spinster, were married by license 9 July 1835 by me Thomas Stewart, Rector." Vol. 1, p.173, entry 60. Jamaican Parish Records 1826-1839 Vol. I & 2, Marriages (FHL int'l film #1,291,727)
In 1836 - 1837 he purchases The Beech House in The Mount, a fashionable residential district of York, Yorkshire, England, and Ann and himself retire there in 1838-1839. The Beech House has survived, and, with it's magnificent garden to the rear of the property, is now known as The Mount Royale Hotel at 119 The Mount, York, Yorkshire. A photo taken February 07, 2007 is included.
The final record for George Kirlew in Jamaica lists him as Commissioner for Taking Affidavits in 1839.
The Kirlew descendants of Jamaica arise from four children which George Kirlew fathered there with Elizabeth (Kirlew) circa 1809-1820.(Westmoreland Parish records Vol. 1, 1739 to 1825 Part 4 of FHL Int'l film 1,224,000) Baptisms: 1739 to 1825: (Baptism dates precede the name of the one baptized)
27 Jan 1810 James Kirlew and Jane Kirlew, mulatto children p.162
27 Jan 1810 Elizabeth (Kirlew )adult Sambo p.162.
In the 1840 White's Directory, Professions and Trades for York, George Kirlew, Gent., is registered as being resident at The Mount.
The 1841 British Census for the City of York, for the Parish of Holy Trinity Micklegate lists George Kirlew, age 55 and his wife Ann, age 45, resident at The Mount. They are classified as being of Independent Means. Her place of birth is listed to be Jamaica. They have a staff of four persons residing at the Mount.
The 1851 British Census provides more details than the 1841 Census. George Kirlew is listed as Head of Household, being Married and of age 70. His occupation is that of a Dividends and Interest Annuitant . His place of birth is listed as Hemingbrough, Yorkshire. Ann Kirlew is listed as his wife, age 54, and her place of birth to be Sav-la-mar, Jamaica. Ann is classified as a British Subject. They have a staff of two House servants residing at the Mount.
The Westmoreland Parish Records Vol. 1, 1739 to 1825 (Part 4 of FHL Int'l film 1224000 p.110) lists Ann Bruce as being baptized on 31 Aug 1796 and as a child of color.
In 1854 George Kirlew dies at age 74. The cause of death is listed as Apoplexy (stroke, cerebral hemorrhage). The York Cemetery records reveal the following information :
DATE OF DEATH: 18/09/1854 DATE OF BURIAL: 21/09/1854
FIRST NAMES: George SURNAME: Kirlew
AGE: 74 Years
STATUS: Gentleman
SEX: M RESIDENCE: The Mount
CAUSE OF DEATH: Apoplexy
INFORMANT: John Halder
OCCUPATION: Undertaker
ADDRESS: Skeldergate
MINISTER: Josiah Crofts
ADDRESS:
Private Grave with 5 burials
Monument on this grave: F2/13/07
commemorating this person
MEMORIAL INSCRIPTION F2/13/07
Headstone with kerb.[ A raised margin along an edge used to confine or strengthen.]
George Kirlew / of The Mount near this City and / Many Years
Resident in Jamaica / Colonel of the Cornwall / Regiment of H.M. [Reference to The Jamaica Militia is not included] / Who Died Sept 18th 1854 Aged 74
The Will of George Kirlew of 1847, probated 1855 commences :
."This is the will and testament of George Kirlew of the City of York. I give and devise my freehold messuage or dwelling house with the appurtenance therewith and thereunto belonging in the parish of Holy Trinity Micklegate in the City of York and situated on the Mount and in which I now reside, unto my dear wife Ann Kirlew, her heirs and assigns for ever, I give and bequeath all my household furniture and plate linen china, glass, picture book, wine and liquors and also all money" end quote. In this will George named Henry Kirlew as a nephew and an executor. The will was dated, April 1847, and proved March of 1855. Henry Kirlew, son of John Kirlew, brother of George, was a bank cashier and predeceased George in 1853. A codicil was not added to reflect this change. Under British Law death duties were not applicable to bequests for a wife or husband.
The 1861 British Census for the City of York for the Parish of Holy Trinity Micklegate lists John Kirlew, age 85, brother of George Kirlew, Retired Grocer, as Head of Household at the Mount.
Ann Kirlew is listed as his Sister-in-law age 64, Annuitant. They have a cook and a general servant in residence. John's wife Jane Cobb, who also resides at the Mount, is registered at Helmsley, Parish of Beadlam, residence of her daughter Elizabeth Phillips, with whom she is vacationing.
In 1874 Ann Kirlew dies at age 78 at the Mount of old age .
The York Cemetery records indicate the following information :
York Cemetery - Register Entry Ann Kirlew
SERIAL NUMBER: 27229 GRAVE NUMBER: 1596
Coordinates: D 23
DATE OF DEATH: 14/05/1874 DATE OF BURIAL: 18/05/1874
FIRST NAMES: Ann SURNAME: Kirlew
AGE: 78 Years
STATUS: Widow of George Kirlew, Gentleman
SEX: F RESIDENCE: The Mount
CAUSE OF DEATH: Old Age
INFORMANT: Robert Gamble
OCCUPATION: Cabinet Maker
ADDRESS: Bishophill
MINISTER: Henry Toovey ADDRESS: Vicar of Ingleby Greenhow
The Will of Ann Kirlew of November 1864 was proved in June of 1874. The will is an interesting one. She bequeaths the bulk of her estate to George Kirlew's three nieces and their husbands, and a nephew of George, consisting of "monies and securities for monies" as well as "all real estates vested in me as trustee or mortgagee upon the trusts and subject to the equities affecting the same". This would include her residence, the Beech House, on the Mount and other real estate investments. She bequeaths "the Silver Salver with it's case that was presented to my husband by the Officers of the Westmoreland Troop of Horse in the Island of Jamaica" [the Inscription does include a reference to The Jamaica Militia] to John Henry Phillips, an Executor of her will, and husband of Elizabeth Kirlew, niece of George Kirlew.
This Silver Salver has survived in its case as well as other artifacts of George Kirlew's life including a portrait of him as a young man. Photographs taken on June 07, 2007 are shown. Ann also bequeaths 100 guineas to Jane Kirlew, naming her to be the daughter of George Kirlew. She itemizes with detailed description just about all of her household effects and to whom they are bequeathed. She does the same for smaller monetary bequests. The Death Duty Registers for 1870-1905 were lost in a London fire, making the disposition of her bequests unavailable.
This portrait of George Kirlew as a young man was painted circa 1800 by George Kirlew's brother Thomas Kirlew, who resided in York.
Written on the reverse of the portrait in pencil is "Living in Jamaica" and then "Beech House", probably a reference to his return to York in 1837-1838.
[NOTE: Before using this photograph for any purpose, permission must be requested from jamaicanfamilysearch.com]
No. 119 The Mount - The Beech House - Now The Mount Royale Hotel with it's magnificent garden to the rear of the property.
The house was constructed in 1833 and purchased by George Kirlew before 1838.
After his death here in 1854 his wife Ann resided here until her death in 1874 and then the property was sold in 1876.
Photograph taken Feb. 07, 2007 by Hugh Murray
Shields of Arms on the Left Hexagonal Column of the Front Door between the Top of the Door and the First Floor Window from left to right :
Barry Indented of 4 and on a Chevron, A Pair of Compasses open Chevronwise, and a Saltire - unidentified Coat of Arms
Ref: Heraldry and the Buildings of York (1985), Hugh Murray
Photo taken Feb. 07, 2007
Shields of Arms on the Right Semi-hexagonal Column of the Front Door between the Top of the Door and the First Floor Window from left to right :
A Cross Flory on a Fess, Three Roundels, and a Cross Humetty Pointed-unidentified Coat of Arms
Ref: Heraldry and the Buildings of York (1985), Hugh Murray
Photo taken Feb. 07,2007
[NOTE: Before using this photograph for any purpose, permission must be requested from jamaicanfamilysearch.com]
The inscription reads as follows:
Presented by the Westmoreland Troop of the Cornwall Regt of H. M. of Jamaica.
George Kirlew Esq.
Late Colonel of that Regiment.
as a testimony of
their attachment & esteem for him
While serving under his command.
The salver is sterling silver, and measurements are 20 inches wide by 15.25 inches. The date on the back is 1836.
The Goldsmith
A. B. Savory & Co. are recorded as working from 1813 until 1893 starting at 14, Cornhill as watchmakers, goldsmiths, dealers in foreign coins and bullion. From 1835 until 1853 they were known at the same address as Adey B. & Son whilst also at 5, Finsbury from 1835 until 1864 & 9, Cornhill from 1845 until 1853 then 11 & 12 Cornhill until at least 1865 when they became the Goldsmiths Alliance under the directorship of the sons Joseph Savory and H.R. Savory closing in 1893.
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