Dominica 285 (Antrim Valley)

Parliamentary Papers p. 313.

T71/881: claim by J. H. Newman. Counterclaim by Edward Finiston, of Brecart, Antrim, Ireland, as the executor of John McCorry, for the balance of the purchase money of £5319 2s 2d:  'Award for payment of compensation money onto court 17/8/1840'.  

T71/1609: letter from Forbes Hale to James Matthews, to inform the counterclaimant that a chancery suit has been filed by Miss Mary Ann McCorry against Mr Matthews and injoining him from receiving the money.

T71/1609: letter, dated 19/09/1836, from Edward Finiston, stating: 'My Counterclaim being made on behalf of an orphan child, destitute of the means of education, and dependent on precarious Subsistences'.

T71/1609: letter, dated 24/01/1834, from Finiston to Stanley, stating that in 1825 John McCorry died in Dominica, possessed of Antrim Valley. He bequeathed it all to his infant daughter, who was left under Finiston's protection. The executors in Dominica were Alexander Robinson and James Matthews, along with others in this country. 'His executors in Dominica allege they sold all his slaves and property soon after his death tho they had no power under his will to do so.. I have frequently applied to them to have the proceeds of the sale..invested for the benefit of the child... It is now obvious that in place of acting as executors they have made themselves the heirs of their deceased friend'. Memorial of 29/06/1835: the estate was sold by Alexander Robinson and James Matthews for £11000 currency to J. H. Newman; only £3000 was paid.

T71/363 p. 88: 43 enslaved persons were registered by John H. Newman in 1832, as owner.

A Chancery judgement, dated 05/08/1840, in McCorry versus Matthews and others, reversed the compensation award and ordered Matthews to give up Antrim Valley. Matthews had by then gone to Demerara, according to Finiston's statement on behalf of the counterclaimant received 17/05/1837.