UCL

Stapleton's Estates of Maddens/Russels Rest

Nevis

Estate Details

Associated People (19)

The dates listed below have different categories as denoted by the letters in the brackets following each date. Here is a key to explain those letter codes:

  • SD - Association Start Date
  • SY - Association Start Year
  • EA - Earliest Known Association
  • ED - Association End Date
  • EY - Association End Year
  • LA - Latest Known Association
- 1776 [LA] → Joint owner
Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton 5th Bart.

In 1776, Catherine Stapleton bought out the interests of Sir Robert Cotton and William Watkins in the Stapleton estates on St Kitts and Nevis for £18,000 each

1701 [SY] - 1743 [EY] → Tenant-in-tail or Remainderman
James Russell Stapleton

The estate was settled on the infant James Russell Stapleton in 1701 by his mother Lady Stapleton (nee Frances Russell), whom he predeceased.

1757 [SY] - 1790 [EY] → Tenant-for-life
Rev. Martin Madan

The will of Martin Madan of Nevis (d. 1703) shows that he had settled the estate called Russell's on his son Col. Martin Madan, then a minor. Col. Martin Madan died in 1756 [will proved 1757] bequeathing his estate in entail to his son, the Rev. Martin Madan. It is not yet clear how the Russell's estate in these two wills relates to Madden's/Russell's Rest in the compensation records: Russell's Rest is known to have been settled c. 1701 by Lady Stapleton (nee Frances Russell) on her younger son James Russell Stapleton, and half it, renamed Madan's, passed to Penelope Madan nee Russell. .

- 1687 [LA] → Owner
Sir James Russell (d. 1687)
- 1674 [EY] → Owner
Sir James Russell (d. 1674)
- 1701 [LA] → Owner
Dame Frances Stapleton (née Russell)
1785 [SY] - 1826 [EY] → Joint owner
Rev. William Davies Shipley
1785 [SY] - 1837 [EY] → Joint owner
Barbara Yonge
1703 [SY] - 1756 [EY] → Not known
Col. Martin Madan

The will of Martin Madan of Nevis (d. 1703) shows that he had settled the estate called Russell's on his son Col. Martin Madan, then a minor. Col. Martin Madan died in 1756 [will proved 1757] bequeathing his estate in entail to his son, the Rev. Martin Madan. It is not yet clear how the Russell's estate in these two wills relates to Madden's/Russell's Rest in the compensation records: half of Russell's Rest is known to have been settled c. 1701 by Lady Stapleton (nee Frances Russell) on her younger son James Russell Stapleton, and half it, renamed Madan's, passed to Penelope Madan nee Russell.

06/01/1830 [SD] - 1830 [LA] → Manager
John Hitch O'Bryan

O'Bryan gave evidence in a case against Stapleton's previous manager Mr. Walley who had been accused of the maltreatment of enslaved people upon the estate.

1821 [SY] - 24/03/1828 [ED] → Other
Alexander Hanley M.D.

Dr. Hanley attended the estate along with Dr. Cairnes, Dr. Clifton and Dr. Hendrickson. He notes that 'in 1822 I went to England; in 1823 I attended with Dr. Cairnes, and in 1825 I attended alone...'

1743 [EA] - → Joint owner
Penelope Yonge (née Stapleton)
1817 [EA] - 1822 [LA] → Previous owner
Catherine Stapleton
1817 [EA] - 1817 [LA] → Attorney
Robert Malhall
1821 [EA] - 1821 [LA] → Manager
Robert Malhall
1825 [EA] - 1825 [LA] → Other
William Fazakerley
1826 [EA] - 1828 [LA] → Other
John Walley

The earliest date of association found so far is 'November or December 1826'.

1828 [EA] - 1834 [LA] → Joint owner
Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere
1831 [EA] - 1834 [LA] → Other
William Swanston

Associated Claims (1)

Nevis 102 (Stapleton's Estates of Maddens/Russels Rest)
£3,465 13S 0D

Notes

Today a prison sits on the estate: "The Prison Farm in Nevis whose official name is Russell’s Rest is located in the hills of Maddens. It is used as a prison for inmates soon to be release from prison and inmates who do not pose a security risk."

The finding aid for the Bodrhyddan Estate Papers 58/1-143 includes considerable correspondence 1755-1802 from agents and merchants to the Yonge and Stapleton families concerning their estates on Nevis and St Kitts, https://archives.library.wales/downloads/bodrhyddan-estate-papers.pdf

Sources

http://www.sknvibes.com/justice/sitepage.cfm?p=69 [sourced 10 December 2015]

Estate Information (9)

What is this?

1703
[Name] Russells  
 

In 1703, Martin Madan late of Nevis and now of London left to his eldest son [Col.] Martin Madan, then a minor, 'over and above the plantation called Russells with the negroes thereunto belonging which myself and wife have settled on him by deed lately made in England', a further £2000. He had also settled a further two unnamed estates on Nevis on his son James Russell Madan.

 
Will of Martin Madan of London proved 20/03/1704 [sic: in fact 1703] PROB 11/475/293
1817
[Number of enslaved people] 256(Tot) 140(F) 116(M)  
[Name] Russels Rest and Maddens  
 

Return of the heirs of Mrs Catherine Stapleton, Rev William Davis Shipley and Barbara Young [Yonge], spinster, joint owners; returned by Robert Mallhall, attorney

 
T71/364 67-72
1821
 

In 1821 Dr. Hanley began 'attending' the estate. He notes there were three managers during this time before Mr. Walley took over: Mr. Mulhall, Mr. Fazakerley and Mr. Fitzpatrick.

 
Slave Populations, 230 (1830-1831), pg. 17.
1822
[Number of enslaved people] 249(Tot)  
[Name] Russell's Rest / Madden's  
 

Return of heirs of the late Mrs. Catharine Stapleton, Rev William Davis [Davies] Shipley and Barbara Young [Yonge], spinster, joint owners

 
T71/365 211-214
1825
[Name] Stapletons  
 

Return of Right Honorable Lord Combermere, Barbara Yonge, and Rev William Davis [Davies] Shipley, owners; returned by William Fazakerley [Russell's Rest / Madden's]

 
T71/366 176-177
1828
[Number of enslaved people] 227(Tot)  
[Name] Russels Rest and Maddens  
 

Return of Lord Combermere and others, owner; returned by John Walley

 
T71/367 151-154
1830
[Number of enslaved people] 190(Tot)  
[Name] Stapleton's  
 

On taking over as manager of the estate on 6 January 1830, John Hitch O'Bryan found 190 enslaved people on the estate.

 
Slave Populations, 230 (1830-1831), pg. 17.
1831
[Number of enslaved people] 193(Tot) 193(F) 80(M)  
[Name] Russells Rest and Maddens  
 

Return of Lord Combermere and others, owners; returned by William Swanston

 
T71/368 193-195
1834
[Number of enslaved people] 194(Tot) 110(F) 84(M)  
[Name] Russels Rest and Maddens  
 

Return of Right Honorable Lord Vis. Combermere and others, owner; returned by William Swanston

 
T71/369 197-198