William Abell

William Abell and Samuel Glanville (q.v.) bought Devon estate in Jamaica from Stephen Denton, who took back bonds in enchange and secured them on the estate. Denton was awarded compensation for enslaved persons on Devon as mortgagee. Abell lodged an unsuccessful counterclaim.

1. Baptised 06/01/1787 in Boreham, Essex, eldest son of Francis Abell and his wife Mary nee Stock. Two younger brothers, Charles and Edward, were baptised in Essex in 1798 and 1791 respectively. According to the will of his aunt Martha Stock, written in 1817 and proved in 1833, Charles was a lieutenant in the 83rd Regiment of Foot and Edward was of Madras. Francis died in Alphington, Devon, age 88 years, in 1826 and Mary aged 85 in the same place in 1835.

2. Eliza Abell, reputed daughter of William Abell by Sarah White, a "free mulatto", born 10/01/1808 and baptised 03/08/1813 in St Elizabeth. William Abell of the Isle of Jamaica married Margaretta Parsons Neyle of Ipplepen in Exeter 19/02/1820. They had three children baptised in Manchester, Jamaica: William Glanville (1821), Mary Stock (1822) and Catherine (1827).

3. 1832 Death "On the 30th December, on board of H.M. packet Briseis at sea, and whilst on her passage from Jamaica to England, William Abell, Esq., for many years a respectable planter in Jamaica."

4. Will of William Abell of Manchester Middlesex [made in 1830] was registered in Jamaica in 1836 and proved 13/07/1841 by Margaretta Parsons Davy formerly Abell the widow. He left an annuity of £70 p.a. and a lump-sum of £300 to his reputed daughter Eliza Abell then of Alphington in Devon, and an annuity of £300 p.a. to his wife Margaretta Parsons Abell, secured on his property in Jamaica. His residuary estate was to be divided among his wife and [legitimate] children.

5. His widow Margaretta Parsons Abell married James Lewis Daly 23/06/1834 in Tormorham, Devon, by licence. His eldest daughter Mary Stock Abell married William Fisher in Clifton, Gloucestershire, 26/01/1843. Margarita Parsons Davy died in Exeter in 1873 aged 73. 'DAVY - March 5, at 44 Magdalen-street, Exeter, in her 79th year, Margaretta Parsons, daughter of the late William Neyle, Esq., of Ambrocke House, Ipplepen, married first to the late William Abell, Esq., and secondly to the late James Lewis Davy, M. D., of Jamaica.'

T71/860 and T71/1189 Manchester claim no. 298 (Devon).

1. Findmypast.co.uk, Essex Baptism Index 1538-1920 [database online]; PROB 11/1821/429; Findmypast.co.uk, Devon Burials [database online].

2. Familysearch.org, Jamaican Parish Registers, St Elizabeth, Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1705-1820 pp. 176; extract of Exeter Marriage Records, http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/DEVON/2006-02/1138807636 [accessed 29/06/2012]; Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online].

3. Exeter Flying Post 31/01/1833.

4. PROB 11/1948/120.

5. Findmypast.co.uk, Devon Marriages [database online]; Findmypast.co.uk, England & Wales marriages 1837-2005 [database online]; Jamaica Gleaner 09/04/1873, transcribed at http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Members/glean41.htm.

We are grateful to Peter Selley for his assistance with compiling this entry.