Elenor Young

In 1813 Eleanor Young was a free quadroon on the Berwick Plantation of Robert Westbrook, by whom she bore Eliza Westbrook and Robert Westbrook II (bapt. 13 April 1813). Not long after his baptism, the elder Robert Westbrook died, and Eleanor was induced to become "housekeeper" to Daniel Virtue, son of the tenant farmer of Choicelee Farm, Berwickshire, now owner of the Berwick Plantation, Manchester, and soon afterwards moving to Roxborough Plantation, Manchester.

Eleanor and Daniel produced three children: Berthia Virtue (b. 27 Nov. 1813), George Blair Virtue (b. 2 Dec 1817) and Eleanor Virtue (b. 4 May 1821).

Daniel died on 16 Nov 1823. In his will of 14 Feb 1823, he left his three children by Eleanor the sum of £5,000 each, to be paid at the age of 23 "less what was found necessary for their education and clothing". Eleanor was to receive £2,000, while her two children by Robert Westbrook were to be educated, Robert being put in trade in 1827.

Two of Daniel's children by Eleanor are known to have gained huge benefit from their legacies. Berthia Virtue married an Englishman named John Wynen in 1831, and came to live in Highgate, Middlesex (a fashionable suburb of London), where she died in 1888. Her son, John Virtue Wynen, born in Highgate in 1832, later emigrated to New Zealand, where he died in 1861. George Blair Virtue also came to England to study, living for a while with his sister and her husband. After graduating from Magdalene College, Cambridge, he emigrated to New Zealand in 1845, dying there in 1861.

Compilied by Michael Rhodes, email dated 17/06/2015, sourced to:

Jamaica Church of England … Transcripts, 1664-1880. Manchester, Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1816-36, Vol. 1.

Newcastle Courant 14/02/1824: "At Roxburgh Castle, Jamaica, David Virtue Esq., son of the late Mr. Virtue, formerly tenant in Choicelee, Berwickshire".

The Law Chronicle; or Journal of Jurisprudence and Legislation. Cases decided in the House of Lords, from February 23, to October 18, 1831 Vol IV (Edinburgh 1832) pp. 69-71.

Genealogical notes on the Internet.

PROB 11/2018/313, Will of George Blair Virtue of Magdalene College, Cambridge, 9 May 1845.

We are grateful to Michael Rhodes for compiling this entry.