Maria F. Verity

In 1817, Maria, ‘Mulatto’, aged twelve, ‘Creole,’ is one of the sixteen enslaved people owned by Elizabeth Fleming. Elizabeth Fleming signs with her mark with a cross. In 1820, Maria Verity is described as ‘brown’ and ‘manumised.’

Maria Verity, ‘mulatto’ aged about 12 months, was baptised at Unity House by the late Rev. John West about the year 1806 as appears from the affidavit of John Armstrong. sworn before James Bell Esq on the 16th day of July 1823. Rev Trew.

In 1823, Maria Verity is recorded the ‘owner’ of five enslaved people in 1823, four in 1825, four in 1826, and eighteen in 1829, after sales and those bequeathed by Michael Fenn’s will of 06/11/1824. A record of 1827 describes ‘Charles […a runaway, belonging] to Miss Maria Verity, a person of colour, Bath, in St Thomas in the East.’

In 1829, Maria Verity is ‘owner’ of Janet Milne, as Guardian for Ann Bolt minor, by bequest of Michael Fenn. This could be ‘Ann Forrester Bolt, free mulatto, aged 8 months, daughter of William Bolt and jane his wife, residing at Bath’, St Thomas in the East, who was baptised on 13/04/1824 by Reverend Trew. (q.v.)

The following notice was published in the Kingston Morning Journal 17/04/1840: “At BATH, on WEDNESDAY, the 29th ALL the household furniture and effects belonging to the Estate of MARIA VERITY, Deceased, And for Private Sale, The House and Premises at Bath, belonging to the said estate. For particulars, please apply to Messrs Garrigues & Lambert, or the undersigned. JAMES TINDALL, Exor.” We are grateful to Steven Carter for his assistance in compiling this entry.

T71/145 p.253; T71/146 p.119.

See: Family Search Jamaica, Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880, St Thomas in the East, Baptisms, marriages, burials 1817-1834, image 30, p. 54.

T71/147 p.367; T71/148 p.360; T71/149 images 1103-4; 1826 Almanac, Proprietors, St Thomas in the East. Royal Gazette of Jamaica, Saturday 07/04/1827, p. 15.

T71/149 images 110-111. FamilySearchJamaica, Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880, St Thomas in the East, Baptisms, marriages, burials 1817-1834, image 31, p. 56.

Kingston Morning Journal, Saturday 18/04/1840, p. 4.