Solomon Mendes Da Silva

Born Jamaica 1781, lived at Rioho Lodge (named after his Jamaican plantation), Park Place in Cheltenham 1837-1843. After moving to Cheltenham he became an active member of the Jewish community.

1. Will of Solomon Mendes da Silva late of Cheltenham who died at Cheltenham 30/05/1861 proved 22/07/1861 by Joseph Guterres Henriques, Jonathan Samuda and Asher Asher (of Gordon Street), executors. Effects under £6000.

2. Perhaps the son of Solomon Da Silva who patented 300 acres of land in St Ann in 1783 and who owned 96 enslaved people and 182 stock in St Ann, Jamaica, in 1792. This may have formed the basis of Rio Ho estate.

http://www.jtrails.org.uk/trails/cheltenham/history?page=2 [accessed 31/10/2012].

1. National Probate Calendar 1861; The London Review and Weekly Journal of Politics, Literature, Art, and Science – July – December, 1861, p. 207, 17/08/1861: "Solomon Mendes da Silva, Esq., formerly of Jamaica, but late of Cheltenham, Gloucester, where he died on the 30th May last, executed his will, with a codicil, both dated this year, which were proved in the London Court on the 22nd of last month. The executors in this country being Joseph G. Henriques, Esq., of Westbourne-terrace; Jonathan Samuda, Esq., of Stoke-upon-Trent; Asher Asher, Esq., Gordon-street, Euston-square, together with his relict; and the executors for Jamaica being his nephews, Alexander Joseph Lindo and Solomon de Silva Lindo, Esqs. The personal property in England was sworn under £6,000. This is the will of a gentleman of the Jewish persuasion who appears to have acquired a handsome property as a West-India merchant and planter. The principal of his property consists of estates in the Island of Jamaica. The testator has bequeathed to his relict the estate of Colling’s-green, St. Andrew's; his sugar plantation, Dover Castle, St. Thomas-in-the-Vale; and an annuity of £200, chargeable upon the estate of Rio Hoe or Da Silva Hope, situated at Moneague St. Ann's, all within the Island of Jamaica. The last-named estate is left to his nephew, Solomon da Silva Lindo, with directions to pay there from various annuities, and he has appointed him, together with his nephew, Alexander Joseph Lindo, residuary legatees. There are many other bequests to relatives and personal friends, and amongst them three of a charitable nature, namely, £50 each to the Synagogues of Jamaica, Bevis Marks, London, and Cheltenham, at which latter place the testator resided, with a request that the usual prayers to made on the Day of Atonement."

2. 'A List of slaves and stock in the parish of St Ann taken the 28th March 1792 pursuant to order of the Honourable House of Assembly... transcribed from papers presented to the British Museum by Charles E. Long ref. Add. 12435' transcribed at http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Members/mstann1792.htm; 'Land in Jamaica patented to Jews', taken from Jacob A. P. M. Andrade, A Record of the Jews in Jamaica (1941) transcribed at http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Members/Bjewpatent.htm.

We are grateful to Mary Mills and Eric Miller for their help with this entry.