George Hibbert Oates

31st Aug 1791 - 11th Apr 1837

Claimant or beneficiary

Biography

Son of George William Oates (1757-1797) and Mary Hibbert (1761-1845), born Leeds, Yorkshire 1791. His mother was daughter of Robert Hibbert (1717-1784) and Abigail Scholey (1723-1795). In 1824 he was subject to a stinging critique by the missionary Thomas Cooper who published details of his scandalous behaviour whilst in Jamaica during a heated exchange with Robert Hibbert Junior (q.v.) over conditions in Jamaica. Cooper revealed that Oates had been living in 'a state of illicit intercourse' on Georgia estate with a 16 year old quadroon girl, who was pregnant with his child. George Hibbert Oates died at his residence Lucea, Jamaica, at which point his mother was living at Sion Hill, Bath. Three of his siblings survived infancy, with two brothers Hibbert Oates and Robert Oates also dying in Jamaica. His sister Anna Maria Oates died in Bath aged 79, 1870, leaving £20,000.

  1. Will of George Hibbert Oates planter of Jamaica proved 04/11/1837. In the will he left his mother Mary an annuity of £100 p.a. and his sister Anna Maria £2000; both women were of Bath. He left his brother Hibbert Oates £2000. He left £100 currency each to his three 'reputed' children Jane Oates 'formerly a slave on Whitney; George Thomas Oates formerly a slave on Hals Hall; and Mary Oates a free girl of colour formerly a slave on Georgia estate. He left land to Elizabeth Williams formerly a slave on Great valley estate and her 'mulatto child' (his reputed daughter) Anna Maria.

  2. A memorial inscription to George Hibbert Oates, born 31/08/1791, died 11/04/1837 exists in St Mary's, Lucea.


Sources

Thomas Cooper, Letter to Robert Hibbert, Jun. Esq., in Reply to His Pamphlet, Entitled, "Facts Verified Upon Oath, in Contradiction of the Report of the Rev. Thomas Cooper, Concerning the General Condition of the Slaves in Jamaica," &c. &c: To which are Added, a Letter from Mrs. Cooper to R. Hibbert, Jun. Esq., and an Appendix Containing an Exposure of the Falsehoods and Calumnies of that Gentleman's Affidavit-men (London, 1824). Available through Googlebooks: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=xFcSAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false; Kate Donington, 'Transforming Capital', in Catherine Hall, Keith McClelland, Nick Draper, Kate Donington & Rachel Lang, Legacies of British Slave-ownership (Cambridge, 2014), p. 228; England, Births & Baptisms 1538-1975, available through Familysearch.org; Gye's Bath Directory, corrected to January 1819; Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, 17/06/1837.

  1. PROB 11/1886/418.

  2. Findagrave.com ID 125249493.

We are grateful to William Norton and Robin Hurburgh for their help compiling this entry.


Further Information

Name in compensation records
George H. Oates
Occupation
Overseer

Associated Claims (1)

£353 16s 11d
Awardee

Associated Estates (14)

The dates listed below have different categories as denoted by the letters in the brackets following each date. Here is a key to explain those letter codes:

  • SD - Association Start Date
  • SY - Association Start Year
  • EA - Earliest Known Association
  • ED - Association End Date
  • EY - Association End Year
  • LA - Latest Known Association
1829 [EA] - 1832 [LA] → Agent
1829 [EA] - 1832 [LA] → Receiver
1820 [EA] - 1832 [LA] → Attorney
1820 [EA] - 1832 [LA] → Attorney
1820 [EA] - 1832 [LA] → Attorney
1820 [EA] - 1829 [LA] → Agent
1832 [EA] - 1834 [LA] → Owner
1839 [EA] - → Previous owner
1832 [EA] - → Attorney
1829 [EA] - 1829 [LA] → Attorney
1823 [EA] - 1829 [LA] → Agent
1823 [EA] - 1832 [LA] → Receiver
1820 [EA] - → Agent
1829 [EA] - 1832 [LA] → Receiver

Relationships (8)

Nephew → Uncle
Other relatives
Nephew → Uncle
First Cousins
First Cousins
First Cousins
Brother → Sister
Brothers

Addresses (1)

Leeds, Yorkshire, Yorkshire, England