James Deacon Hume

Awarded the compensation for the enslaved people on La Fortune estate in Grenada, as owner-in-fee having originally been a trustee. He had married Frances Elizabeth (nee Whitehouse), the widow of Charles Ashwell of the Island of Grenada (q.v.), according to an opinion of Law Officers concerning the La Fortune estate in 1811.

1. James Deacon Hume late of Board of Trade died at Reigate in his 68th year, in 1842. The will of James Deacon Hume of Pinner Park proved 17/03/1842, in which he left his entire estate to his wife Elizabeth, his sole executrix, is very short and uninformative. James Deacon Hume was known as a free trade advocate.

2. James Deacon Hume, son of James Hume (a customs official) and Elizabeth Capps. Educated at Westminster then became a customs clerk in 1791, rising to be comptroller in 1821. Consolidated the customs laws 1822-25, but lost the £6000 granted by Parliament for this work 'through unfortunate investments.' Joint secretary Board of Trade 1828. Farmed at Pinner 1809-1822. One of the founders of Atlas Insurance Company 1808, was deputy chairman at the time of his death. Lived for many years at Russell Square and then at Putney, moving on retirement to Reigate, where he died at Great Doods House 12/01/1842.

T71/880 Grenada no. 689. Assistant Commissioners note bound into T71/880: 'The Power of attorney in this case from James Deacon Hume is in his capacity of a Trustee, tho' it appears he has since become the Proprietor but has sent no new authority to his agent'. T71/880 Jas Deacon Hume, City of London owner-in-fee. T71/1609 letter from Brande [?] at the Treasury 6/6/1843: asking for details of compensation paid on 'La Fortune' estate to the late James Deacon Hume of the Board of Trade: follow-up request from Treasury for same info [7/6/1843] on Lower Granton and Boisjeune estates, proprietor Mr Wm Johnstone; The National Archives TS 25/4/85 'Opinion of Law Officers respecting a Memorial from James Decon [sic] Hume who married Charles Ashwell's widow, regarding the La Fortune estate...' The ODNB entry below gives Frances Elizabeth nee Whitehouse's name and identifies Charles Ashwell of the Island of Grenada.

1. Times 14/01/1842 p. 7; PROB 11/1959; Times 27/04/1857 p. 9; Boyles 1835 p. 461 I[sic] D Hume 15 Russell sq.

2. ODNB online, Henry Parris, 'Hume, James Deacon (1774-1842), civil servant and free-trader'.