John Anderson of Wilton

Resident in Jamaica at the time of compensation, executor and trustee of the London merchant Isaac Higgin (q.v.), in which capacity he was awarded with co-executors Margaret Higgin and Thomas Graham (q.v.) the compensation for the New Ground, Golden Spring, Cave Valley, Hyde Park, Arabia Felix and Dover estates in St Ann. Separately, Anderson was also awarded the compensation as owner or co-owner of the Wilton and Huntly estates in St Ann.

1. John the son of [Dr] Adam Anderson and his wife Henrietta was born on the 4th April 1778 and baptized [at St Ann] on the 27th of January 1779.

2. John Anderson married Jane Parke, daughter of William Parke (q.v.), in St Ann, Jamaica, 1816; no children recorded.

3. John Anderson was one of Higman’s ‘large’ attorneys, managing seven properties and over 980 enslaved people in 1832 in addition to the properties and enslaved people he himself owned.

4. Will of John Anderson late of Wilton in St Ann Jamaica who died 10/03/1875 at Wilton was proved by nephews John Anderson of Liverpool and Charles Parke of London, 03/11/1875; effects in England under £80,000. [NB given the extreme implied age of this man, LBS has considered the possibility that there were two John Andersons, the slave-owner/compensation claimant, dying well before 1875; and a younger man who wrote the Will and died in 1875. This possibility is ruled out by biographies of the two nephew/executors, John Anderson (1821-1880) and Charles Parke (1823-1903). Anderson was the son of Adam and Ann Anderson; Adam Anderson was the brother of John Anderson of Wilton. Charles Parke’s father, William, was the brother of Jane Parke, wife of John Anderson of Wilton; and Charles Parke’s mother, Margaret was John Anderson’s sister. This means that both were nephews of John Anderson of Wilton.

We are grateful to David Barker for assistance in compiling this entry.

T71/857 St Ann claim nos. 11, 12, 724, 725, 727 and 728. In the former, he described himself as 'only qualified executor and trustee in this island of Isaac Higgin.' T71/857 St Ann claim nos. 720 and 721: John Anderson was also the awardee under St Ann claim no. 222.

1. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online].

2. National Probate Calendar 1875; http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Members/rand-rox.htm [accessed 20/08/2017].

3. B.W. Higman, Plantation Jamaica.

4. National Probate Calendar 1880 (John Anderson); 1903 (Charles Parke); England and Scotland, Select Cemetery Registers, 1800-2024, Toxteth Park, May 1880; England Census online, 1851 to 1901.