Martha Rachel Swinhoe or Sweenhoe

1. Apparently resident, awarded part of the compensation for the estate in St John Jamaica as owner and guardian of Rob[ert] J[ames] Hale, who was an absentee. Martha Rachel Swinhoe died shortly after the award was made.

2. Martha Rachel Swinhoe may have been a free person of colour. Robert James Hale, son of Mrs Martha Rachel Sweenhoe of St John was born 20/06/1817 and baptised 05/08/1817 in St Catherine. George Henry Hale, son of Mrs Martha Rachel Sweenhoe of St John was born 23/04/1819 and baptised in St Catherine 06/06/1819. Elizabeth Louisa Hale, daughter of Mr Robert Hale and Mrs Martha Rachel Sweenhoe, born 02/08/1821 and baptised 02/10/1821 in St Catherine (in a section of the parish records entitled "Baptism of White Persons"). Another daughter, Martha Rachel Hale, with the unmarried parents Robert Augustus Hale and Martha Swinhoe, was baptised in St Catherine 11/04/1827. Martha Rachel Hale, daughter of Robert Augustus Hale, married Absalon Elijah Webb, a surgeon, in Holborn, London, 26/06/1847.

3. Martha Rachel Swinhoe of Wellington Park, age 48 years, was buried at Content 22/10/1836 age 48 years.

1. T71/854 St John no. 259A&B. Martha Rachel Swinhoe St John owner and guardian of Rob J. Hale. Letter of LeBlanc Oliver & Cook praying that the Award may be postponed till further instructions from Jamaica. T71/1593 p 399 16/02/1837 letter to Henry A Hawkins, High St, Bideford [Devon] [award to Henry A Hawkins and Elizabeth Hale as trustees for infant Robert James Hales], saying that evidence now suggests that Martha Rachel Swinhoe now dec[ease]d was entitled to rent and profits until Robert James Hale was 21. Therefore, need to restructure trust, add trustee. T71/1606 letter from Robert James Hales 14/11/1836, 'having a claim on a gang of slaves in the parish of St John', property of his father.

2. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online]; Ancestry.com, London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 [database online].

3. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online].

We are grateful to Natasha Roberts for her assistance with compiling this entry.