James Elder of Dominica

The will of James Elder of Dominica was made at London and proved 25/08/1772. A James Elder was among the early purchasers of land in Tobago. In 1773, he was shown as Present Proprietor of Barbados Bay (St Patrick division) Lot no. 21 (150 acres), originally purchased by Alan Cameron or Camoren, and was possibly but not certainly the same man as James Elder of Dominica.

1. Will of James Elder of Dominica, West Indies, 'being at present in London for the recovery of my health,' proved 25/08/1772. The will refers to his late partner William Richardson and described the dissolution of the partnership (with Elder granting Richardson an annuity in exchange for full control of the estates), and appoints as his executors Lewis Chauvet and Peter Turquand (creditors of his) of London and William Thomson Symth of Dominica. It also identifies two estates one apparently called the Coffee estate and the second almost illegible but possibly Claribon or Naribor, neither of which corresponds to a known estate on Dominica. He left his estate to his uncle James Elder of Barbados and to the latter's children, the testator's cousins, of whom he names eight. Lewis Chauvet (q.v.) the executor appears as 'Lewis Chauvette' among the land-holders in Tobago in 1773; he and Peter Turquand were bankrupt in 1778.

2. J. Elder with Stephen Coffarina and William Richardson were the original purchasers of St Joseph Lot 17 (275 acres), James Elder with William Richardson and John Byres were the original purchasers of St Joseph Lot 86 (130 acres) and James Elder with William Richardson the original purchasers of St Patrick Lots 2 and 4 (45 acres with Lot 3), all in Dominica. By c. 1773 Lot 86 was in the hands of John Corlet.

1. PROB 11/980/227.

2. John Byres, References to a plan of the island of Dominica as surveyed from the year 1765 and 1773 (London, 1777).