John Innes

John Innes had been a partner with Nathaniel Winter in Winter & Co. (q.v.) before the latter's death in 1824 (and apparently thereafter until May 1830) and then of Robert Cumming Norman (from 01/05/1830 to 16/05/1831) in the firm Nathaniel Winter & Co. The compensation for two awards in British Guiana was paid into the Chancery suit of Elizabeth Winter and others v John Innes and others, while the compensation for a further award in Grenada for Baillie's Bacolet was paid into the Chancery suit of Baillie v Innes ('one of the numerous proceedings arising out of the failure of Mr Innes, who was formerly in partnership with Mr Nathaniel Winter as West India merchants'). The failure of John Innes also formed the basis of 'Smith and others, survivors of Samuel Smith and George Smith versus Elizabeth Winter' in 1838, which involved partners in Smith Payne & Smith.

This was certainly the same man in both cases; the evidence is very strong that this was also the same John Innes who re-established himself as a West India merchant after Emancipation.

1. The firm of N. Winter & Co was at 4 Mildred's Court in 1830: John Innes was at the same address in 1834, then at 27 Mincing Lane in 1836 and 1840 and then at 61 Moorgate in 1845 and 1850. N. Winter was a witness at the marriage of John Innes and Mary Reid at St George Bloomsbury 26/04/1817.

2. John Innes (1829-1904), the property developer and philanthropist after whom the John Innes compost is named (he founded the John Innes Horticultural Institution at Merton Park in 1910, later the John Innes Institute, transferred to Colney Norwich in 1967 and now part of the John Innes Centre) was the sixth of the seven known children of John Innes (1786-1869), 'a West Indies merchant of Mincing Lane and Moorgate Street in the City of London and his wife Mary Reid (1792-1849). His father was the author of reports to the government on the West Indies and the abolition of slavery.' John Innes (1829-1904) left £338,027.

3. In 1851 John Innes widower aged 64 merchant born Scotland was living at 46 Porchester Terrace with son James 31 merchant, daughter Harriett 29, son John 22 merchant and daughter Eliza Louisa 17, all four born in various parts of London. In 1861 he was at the same address aged 74 with Harriet 39 and John junior 32, 'merchant'.

4. Will of John Innes late of 46 Porchester Terrace proved 27/03/1869 by Harriot [sic] Innes spinster, the daughter, effects under £12,000.

T71/885 British Guiana nos. 125B and 158B; Roger Meeson and W.N. Welsby, Report of cases argued and determined in the courts of Exchequer & Exchequer Chamber, from Trinity Term, 1 Vict. to Hilary Term, 2 Vict., both inclusive. With tables of the cases and principal matters (London, S. Sweet, 1839) Vol. 4 pp. 454-466.

T71/880 Grenada no. 864. Baillie v. Innes Times 16/7/1842 p. 6: 'one of the numerous proceedings arising out of the failure of Mr Innes, who was formerly in partnership with Mr Nathaniel Winter as West India merchants'

1. Robsons 1830; Pigott's 1834; P.O Directories 1836, 1840, 1845 and 1850; London England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921.

2. ODNB online, Jenny West, 'Innes, John (1829-1904), property developer and philanthropist'

3. 1851 and 1861 censuses online

4. National Probate Calendar 1869