Richard Atkinson

Richard Atkinson of Kirkby Lonsdale corresponded heavily with the Commissioners of Slave Compensation as mortgagee of some of the enslaved people an estate in British Guiana owned by Donald Ross (q.v.). He had been part-owner with Donald Ross in 1823, then sold his share of the enslaved people and the estate to Ross in 1826.

1. In 1851 a Richard Atkinson aged 55 Gentleman was living with his wife Mary 'Lady' and 3 children aged 11 to 19, all family members except one born Kirkby Lonsdale (the fifth was born Whittington in Lancashire) at 3 Main Street Kirkby Lonsdale. In 1841 the same family (with six children) was already at Main Street, Richard described as 'Independent Means.' This man died 11/02/1863 in Paddington, 'late of Kirkby Lonsdale' leaving £30,000. Unusually his executors were his two married daughters Hannah Whitaker and Isabella Shepherd, as well as his wife Mary Ann and son James Atkinson, the latter a merchant of Liverpool.

2. In 1822 a series of notices appeared simultaneously charting the successive dissolutions between 1800 and 1822 of partnerships at Lancaster of Richard Atkinson, John Willock (both deceased by 1822) and Richard Willock (and later William Carlisle) as West India merchants and wine and spirits merchants. The signatories included Dorothy Atkinson and Richard Atkinson as two of the four executors of Richard Atkinson. The will of Richard Atkinson of Lancaster was proved 29/11/1821. Pending examination of the will it is presumed the will relates to the West India merchant, and that he in turn was the father of Richard Atkinson of Kirkby Lonsdale, although Richard and Dorothy Atkinson had baptised a son Richard in 1793 at Lancaster, whereas Richard Atkinson of Kirkby Lonsdale was shown in the 1851 census as born there c. 1796. A Richard Atkinson had been Mayor of Lancaster in 1800-01 and 1809-10.

1. 1851 census online; National Probate Calendar 1863.

2. London Gazette 17830 29/06/1822 p. 1081; PROB 11/1649/348.