William Fraser of Goldstone Hall

William Fraser of Goldstone Hall, British Guiana, died at Tain c. 1830, father of Anna Maria Fraser (q.v.).

1. Will of William Fraser of Berbice proved 22/01/1831. In the will made 30/0/1/1830 he described himself as living at Pln Voorburg or Coorburg (which has not yet been identified) in Berbice. Among other specific legacies, he gave £100 to the poor of Cromarty, made provision for the manumission of two enslaved people on Goldstone Hall, and left a legacy to the head carpenter on the estate. The remainder of his estate he left to six people, namely: John Fraser, George Fraser and Joan Fraser, all children of Elizabeth Swain Bannister deceased of this island; Anna Maria Fraser daughter of Mary Stuart of the Island of Barbadoes, Elizabeth Munro daughter of Mrs Munro of Rosshire and 'my sister' Elizabeth Bain born Fraser. A codicil stated that he had subsequently married, to a woman named Elizabeth, and that he had agreed to purchase an estate, Braelangwell, which he left to his wife and children, including Anna Maria Fraser: if the estate purchase did not go through he willed the purchase money - £10,000 - to be divided between his wife and children.

2. In addition to the estates with which he was connected, in the 1818 registration he made a return in Berbice for 26 (20 male, 6 female) of his own apparently unattached enslaved people, and for 16 (9 male,6 female) more on behalf of John, George and Elizabeth Fraser .

1. PROB 11/1780/160.

2. T71/437 p. 139.