William Claxton

Bristol merchant, counterclaimed as mortgagee of the enslaved people on Hanley's estate in Nevis, and then withdrew his counterclaim. He signed for the compensation at the National Debt Office and had probably agreed a division of the compensation with James Hanley, the owner.    

1. Will of William Claxton late of Apsley Road Clifton Bristol merchant who died 24/06/1873 proved 01/10/1873 by Helen Nairne Claxton the widow, effects under £5000. In 1851 William Claxton West India merchant aged 53 was living at Nursery Villas Clifton with wife Helen N., aged 46 born Barbados, daughters Mary and Helen Alicia and son Robert Osborne, unmarried sister Margaret and niece Maria Victoria. In 1861 the family was still at the same address, Claxton again described as a West India merchant. In 1871 William Claxton aged 73 wine merchant born Bristol and Helen Nairne Claxton aged 60 born Barbados were living at 24 Apsley Road Clifton with sons Donald and William and daughter Helen Alicia.

2. A William Claxton was shown as Manager of the Endeavour estate in Trinidad in 1813 (when it was owned by Sir William John Struth), then as owner in 1819 and 1822, before the estate was shown against Protheroe and Claxton and similar partnerships. William Claxton of Bristol would have been young to have been this man but they were conceivably the same person.

3. Sheriff of Bristol in 1830 (when George Protheroe (q.v.) was the other Sheriff and John Savage (q.v.) was Mayor).

T71/882 Nevis claim no.81, which identifies him as a Bristol merchant.

1. National Probate Calendar 1873; 1851, 1861 and 1871 censuses online.

2. T71/501 481-483.

3. John Latimer, The Annals of Bristol in the Nineteenth Century (1887) p. 537.

We are grateful to Ruth Hecht for her assistance with compiling this entry.