Duncan Davidson

Duncan's parents were: Henry Davidson, West India merchant (1771-1827) and Elizabeth Caroline Deffell (?-1828) (married 1797). His grandfather, Duncan (1733-1799) was MP for Cromartyshire 1790–1796 and married (1) (1766) Louisa/Lucy Spencer (1745-1777) and (2) 1788 Magdalen Gemmell (?-1811).

Duncan Davidson (1733-1799) a London West India merchant: premises at 14 Fenchurch Buildings; owner of Tulloch Castle, Ross-shire.

Henry Davidson (1771-1827) inherited both Scottish property and the London business.

By 1811: firm known as Davidson's Graham and Company, 6 Lime Street Square.

By 1819: Davidson's Barkly and Company: a new partnership with Hugh and Aeneas Barkly [q.v.] which was binding until 31 May 1833.

Henry had town house at 10 Cavendish Square; 1823 bought Rosslyn House, Haverstock Hill, Hampstead, London from Sir Moore Disney.

Died 7 January 1827. Will (9 February 1826): proved at less than £500,000. Left £14,000 to his wife + annuity of £3,000 + use of Rosslyn House (which was devised to their second son Henry).

Duncan Davidson (?1800-1881) was the eldest son.

Henry Davidson [2], second son, also received £30,000 together with plantation of Highbury in Berbice.

Third son: John Davidson (1805-1898) received three plantations in Jamaica and £30,000.

Fourth and youngest son: William Davidson (1811-1894) received £30,000 and plantations of L'Esperance, Surinam and Coley, Jamaica.

'He [Henry Davidson 1] provided handsomely for his three daughters': his plantation of Mount Craven, Grenada left in trust to his grandson Robert William Dallas.

Duncan Davidson (?1800-1881)  played no part in the family business; received from his father in 1827 £30,000 together with Tulloch Castle, all entailed Scottish property, shares in the Forth and Clyde Navigation, Union Canal, Dingwall Canal, British Herring Companies, real estate at Inchicore, county Dublin and elsewhere in Ireland; and Mount Gay plantation, Grenada.

An undistinguished and brief parliamentary career: see Political legacies.

Succeeded by his eldest son, Duncan Henry Caithness Reay Davidson (1836-1889).

T70/880 Grenada claim nos. 456 (Mount Gay), 457 (Mount Gay) and 1002.

For the family tree: http://www.clandavidson.org.uk/Part_7.pdf [accessed 09/08/2012].

D. R. Fisher (ed.), The House of Commons 1820-1832 (7 vols., Cambridge, Cambridge University Press for the History of Parliament Trust, 2009), vol. 5, pp. 862-3.