James Aylmer Paynter

1814 - 17th Dec 1876


Biography

Naval officer, later Vice-Admiral, who came forward in 1838 to enquire after the compensation for the enslaved people on Palmyra and Rose Hall in St James Jamaica.

  1. Son of David Runwa Paynter and Sophia Catherine nee Price, baptised 01/04/1814 at St Mary, Pembroke, Wales.

  2. On 25/04/1848, Rev. J. Sproule married Captain James Aylmer Paynter to Frances, relict of the late Colonel Slade and daughter of Henry Chapman MacVeagh of Burlington Street, Bath. Living at Freshford House [Manor], Bath in 1854. Living at Grosvenor Place, Walcot in the census of 1871. Reportedly died at his house at 5 Gay Street, Bath, 17/12/1876.

  3. Will of James Aylmer Paynter late of 13 Grosvenor Place in the City of Bath who died 17/12/1876 proved 10/03/1877 by widow Frances Paynter, effects under £2000.

  4. "Vice-Admiral James Aylmer Paynter died yesterday at Bath, aged 62. The deceased joined the navy when 12 years old as a midshipman in the Genoa, and was present at the battle of Navarino in 1839, was commended for gallantry in Tarragona Bay, and in 1841 was promoted to lieutenancy in the Agincourt. he took part in several engagements on the China station, for his conduct in which he was advanced to the rank of commander. He was senior officer on the coast of Syria during the massacres there, and was the means of saving some hundreds of fugitives, for which he received letters from the Admiralty expressing high approbation of his conduct. He obtained the rank of rear-admiral in 1870, and retired vice-admiral in 1876. Deceased was brother of General Paynter, C.B., and married Sophia Catherine [sic: from the above this was in fact his mother], heiress of Mr Howell Price, Berthlyboytt, Carmarthen. He was mayor of Bath last year, and was also an active borough and county magistrate."


Sources

T71/873 St James no. 431 and 658; T71/1608 letter from J. Aylmer Paynter, HMS Tribune, Chatham received 6/8/1838: 'Being greatly interested in the Rosehall and Palmyra estates..', he sought information about the claims [had they been paid and if so to whom?] 'and if those estates are working.'

  1. Familysearch.org batch no. C08291-1. http://www.thepeerage.com/p40610.htm#i406095 [accessed 07/12/2016].

  2. Morning Post 29/04/1848. [accessed 07/12/2016] sourced to Bath Directory of 1854.

  3. National Probate Calendar 1877.

  4. Morning Post 18/12/1876. The posthumous reference to Sophia Catherine Price as his wife was clearly erroneous: at his marriage to Frances Slade, Aylmer Paynter was shown as a bachelor.

Image from https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Paynter-186 [accessed 07/12/2016], supplied by William Norton.

We are grateful to William Norton for his assistance with compiling this entry.


Further Information

Absentee?
British/Irish
Spouse
Frances Slade
Occupation
Sailor (Royal Navy)

Associated Claims (1)

£1,697 7s 10d
Other association

Addresses (3)

13 Grosvenor Place, Bath, Somerset, South-west England, England
5 Gay Street, Walcott, Bath, Somerset, South-west England, England
Freshford Manor, Church Hill, Freshford, Somerset, South-west England, England