Anthony Davis

Jamaican slave-owner moving to Britain by 1837, awarded compensation as owner of Sherwood Forest, Molyne's, The Pinnacle and Norfolk estates in Jamaica and as receiver in several other claims for the island. Seven of his nine awards initially had counterclaims lodged by the London merchants Stewart and Westmoreland.

1. Married to Eliza Forster Haworth, daughter of Eliza Haworth (q.v.) who was in turn great-niece of Thomas Foster (owner of Lancaster, Elim, Bogue and Two Miles Wood estates in St Elizabeth, Jamaica, who died c. 1770.)

2. Beckford, born 02/09/1831 and Florence, born 09/09/1834, children of Honble. Anthony Davis of The Pinnacle and Eliza his wife, were baptised in St Catherine, Jamaica, 17/12/1835. Anthony Davis was registered as a voter in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, in 1838. Ruby, daughter of Anthony Davis, Magistrate, and Eliza Davis, was baptised at Chalfont St Giles 24/06/1838.

3. Not found in the census of 1851 where his wife Eliza Davis, age 50, is living alone in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire. In the census of 1861 at Misbourne House, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, age 66, Magistrate, born Jamaica, with his wife Eliza, daughters Florence age 26 born Jamaica and Ruby age 23 born Chalfont St Giles.

4. Will of Anthony Davis of Misbourne House Chalfont St Giles Buckinghamshire who died 02/01/1862 proved 06/02/1862 by Eliza Davis the widow, effects under £200.

5. Anthony Davis of Misbourne House Bucks many years a magistrate of the county and formerly of Jamaica died January 1862 aged 66.

6. Sturge and Harvey described Anthony Davis in the context of evidence of brutality on Molyne's as residing in England (and owning Molyne's and Spencer's Pen) during their examination of Apprenticeship in 1837.

T71/915 Manchester claim no. 461 (Sherwood Forest), St T71/865 Andrew claim no. 507 (Molyne's), T71/852 St Catherine claim no. 627 (The Pinnacle); T71/870 St Elizabeth claim no. 31 (Norfolk).

1. See separate entry for Eliza Haworth née Foster.

2. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online]; Ancestry.com, UK, Poll Books and Electoral Registers, 1538-1893 [database online]; Findmypast.co.uk, Buckinghamshire Baptism Index [database online].

3. 1851 census online. 1861 census online.

4. National Probate Calendar.

5. Times 11/01/1862 p. 1.

6. Joseph Sturge and Thomas Harvey, The West Indies in 1837 (London, Hamilton, Adams, & Co., 1838) pp. 334-343 (no sign of Spencer's Pen has been found in the slave compensation records).

We are grateful to Chris Robinson for assistance with compiling this entry.