Wolfert Katz

???? - 1835

Claimant or beneficiary

Biography

Wolfert Katz, the largest slave-owner in the colonies of Berbice, Essequebo and Demerara with 2,000 slaves in 1826 according to John Innes.

Married Susan Barclay, the daughter of Simon Fraser and Maria Barclay and granddaughter of Hugh Fraser of Craigscorrie.  The marriage broke down in acrimony, Wolfert Katz placing an advertisement in the Times to deny responsibility for her debts in 1829.

Susan Barclay Katz identifed Maria Barclay Katz as her only lawful daughter born in wedlock.  However, there were at least four other children of Wolfert Katz identified in the compensation records: William, Ellen, Susanna and George.

 

 


Sources

T71/885 British Guiana claim no. 21 (Belair).

http://www.spanglefish.com/slavesandhighlanders/index.asp?pageid=179634 [accessed 10/08/2012].

Report from the Select Committee on the commercial state of the West India colonies PP 1831-2 Vol. 20 (381) Evidence of John Innes, p. 68. And for a statement by the ‘Planters and Managers in the employ of W. Katz’ of the ‘treatment of Negroes, and system of Management adopted and acted upon by order of…W. Katz’ see pp. 68-70.


Further Information

Spouse
Susan Barclay Katz
Children
William, Maria Barclay, Susanna, Ellen, George

Associated Claims (1)

£2,995 5s 5d
Deceased claimant unsuccessful

Associated Estates (11)

The dates listed below have different categories as denoted by the letters in the brackets following each date. Here is a key to explain those letter codes:

  • SD - Association Start Date
  • SY - Association Start Year
  • EA - Earliest Known Association
  • ED - Association End Date
  • EY - Association End Year
  • LA - Latest Known Association
1817 [EA] - 1831 [LA] → Owner
1817 [EA] - → Owner
1817 [EA] - → Owner
1794 [EA] - 1794 [LA] → Owner
1817 [EA] - 1834 [LA] → Owner
1817 [EA] - 1834 [LA] → Owner
1825 [EA] - 1825 [LA] → Owner
1828 [EA] - 1828 [LA] → Owner
1817 [EA] - 1817 [LA] → Owner
1817 [EA] - 1831 [LA] → Owner
1817 [EA] - 1831 [LA] → Owner

Relationships (2)

Husband → Wife
Notes →
The couple were estranged by 1828, when Wolfert Katz renounced his wife's debts in the local Demerara press, reprinted in The Times in...
Father → Daughter