Robert Waugh of Melrose

The executors and trustees of Robert Waugh were awarded the compensation for the Melrose and Mount Nelson estates in Manchester Jamaica. The Slave Registers raise the possibility that there were two Robert Waughs, one dying c. 1820, the other in 1832, but this is not supported by other evidence.

1. Robert Waugh of Melrose Roxburghshire whose will was proven 09/10/1837, in connection with whom a document on Harmony Hall in Melrose was prepared on behalf of the National Trust for Scotland. The document says that the house and grounds were built in 1807 for Robert Waugh, a local joiner who had made his fortune from the pimento plantation after which he named the house in Scotland. According to his tombstone in Melrose Abbey, Robert Waugh died 27/12/1832 at Harmony Hall, Melrose. In this will, Robert Waugh mentioned both Harmony Hall in Melrose and his property and enslaved people in Jamaica, but disposed of them by a separate deed. His main legatees of his property in Scotland were his nieces nee Bromfield. He left his 30 shares in the chain suspension bridge across the Tweed to be sold for the poor of Melrose. In the will he identified his grandfather as James Waugh.

2. The Melrose estate in Manchester is shown against Robert Waugh attorney in 1816 and 1817, and against Robert Waugh, estate of, in 1828; in 1831, 1832 and 1833 it shows simply Robert Waugh. John Waugh of Melrose Pen had died in 1794 in the 46th year of his age, 33 of which he had resided in Jamaica. Apparently John Waugh, in his will dated 13/01/1794, left £100 each to the children of Janet Broomfield, his sister; this would be the Janet Waugh who married George Brownfield in Melrose in 1775.

T71/915 Manchester nos. 374 and 375.

1. PROB 11/1886; http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-819-1/dissemination/pdf/connolly1-60914_1.pdf accessed 19/07/2012. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~usher/ushersct/7843.htm [accessed 20/07/2015]. PROB 11/1886/19.

2. Jamaica Almanacs 1816-1833; Royal Gazette (Jamaica) 01/11/1794: "On the 27th ultimo, died at Melrose, in Clarendon, John Waugh, Esq. greatly lamented by an extensive circle of friends and acquaintance, and the next day his remains were interred at the same place, with much solemnity... He was snatched by a putrid fever in the course of a few days... Mr. Waugh left his native country at an early period of life, being only in the 13th year of his age, and during a residence of 33 years in this island, he enjoyed a large portion of health... " See email from Nancy McLaughlin, 10/06/2020; GROS OPR Marriages 799 30 180 Melrose.

We are grateful to Mark Entwistle and Nancy McLaughlin for their assistance with compiling this entry.