Catherine Munro

Catherine Munro, "a free mulatto" who had at least four children with Scottish planter John Kelly (1746-1804) and was a legatee in his will.

1. Christiana Robertson Kelly, daughter of Catherine Monro (no father named) was born 02/03/1801 and baptised 10/01/1802 in St Catherine, Jamaica. Colin Kelly, son of Catherine Munro "A free mulatto", was born 29/04/1793 and baptised 05/01/1794 in St Catherine, Jamaica. Their father John Kelly was born 01/11/1746 and baptised 04/11/1746 in Alves, Moray, Scotland, son of Alexander Kelly and Christian Robertson in Newmill.

2. John Kelly of Tamarind Grove and Househill died in Jamaica, 28/09/1804. In his will, proved 1805, John Kelly left £500 in trust to Christian Robertson Kelly and £2000 sterling each to two other "reputed sons", Colin and Hugh Kelly, ("free quadroon boys .... now of the City of Edinburgh"). Other links between Morayshire and Jamaica to be deduced from the will include a mention of a third "free mulatto" son, whose mother is not named, William Kelly, "now in the borough of Elgin". Catherine Monro was left an annuity, ground for a house and the wherewithall to build it, and the freedom to remain in Tamarind Grove for a year after Kelly's death "provided she conducts herself with prudence and propriety". John Kelly was the uncle of Alexander Gilzean (son of John's half-sister Henrietta Gilzean nee Kellie) to whom the same will leaves £1000.

3. In 1826, Catherine Munro registered 3 enslaved people in St Catherine as a lifetime proprietor and as guardian of John Kelly in Kingston. She presented a John Kelly for baptism in St Catherine on 20/11/1804, and the date of birth is recorded as "14 March Last".

1. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online]. General Registry Office for Scotland OPR Births 125 02 215 Alves.

2. Gentleman's Magazine Vol. 97 p. 87 (January 1805). PROB 11/1424/99, quoted by Jim Brennan by email, 01/06/2013.

3. Ancestry.com, Slave Registers of former British Colonial Dependencies, 1812-1834 [database online]. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online].

We are grateful to Sarah Brodie and Jim Brennan for their assistance in compiling this entry.