James Riddock of Glen Islay

1. Owner of Glen Islay estate in Westmoreland, Jamaica, from at least 1809 to 1811.

2. A baptism record in Westmoreland, 28/08/1825, shows a Robert Riddock aged 19 and a James Riddock aged 16, “free persons of colour”. Thus presumed born 1806 and 1809 respectively, this is likely the baptism of two of the sons of James Riddoch and the Miss Jane Porter, who appears on the same record as owner of enslaved people baptized that day. A third son, John, is not listed on the record and might have been dead by 1825. Charles Potts, aged 4 years and Elizabeth Wedderburn Potts, age 11 months, the children of Miss Jane Porter, "free person of colour" were baptised that same day.

3. In his will, proved 25/04/1812, James Riddock named his three “brown children”, Robert, James, and John, to whom he bequeathed 4 enslaved people and a cow each. James appointed “Miss Jane Porter” to be guardian of his children until they reached age 15 years. To Jane Porter, James Riddoch left 70 acres of land and a house at Glen Islay to be moved to that land. According to Riddoch/Ruddock family lore, the 70 acres is presumed to be that given to James Riddoch in the early 1800s by the then owner of the Fort William estate, Westmoreland, for services rendered. Based on the will, it is assumed the Glen Islay property itself, which James Riddoch owned from at least 1809 to 1811, went to his residuary legatee, James Watson.

4. It is likely that James Riddock was the brother or other close relative of John Riddoch of Strawberry Hill (q.v.). Four of James's grandchildren (the children of his son Robert) were born at Grange, the property of Elizabeth Riddock (1798-1832) who was herself the daughter of John Riddoch of Strawberry Hill. Miss Jane Porter may be the Jane Ruddock (q.v.) listed as "free negro" in the slave register of 1817.

1. Jamaica Almanacs (1811, 1812).

2. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online].

3. Will of James Riddoch of Glen Islay, Westmoreland, written January 4th, 1812; proved April 25th, 1812: Accessed at the Jamaica Registrar General Department (RGD) by Margianna Ruddock in 2016: Will Book 86, folio 33. A source for Ruddock family lore of the 70 acres of land given to James Riddoch: Leonard Ruddock, With the Sound of Steam Korchie (Arawak Publications, 2002, ISBN-10: 9768189207 ISBN-13: 978-9768189202). Leonard (Lennie) Ruddock is an educator and author of Petersfield, Westmoreland and of Kingston, Jamaica.

4. See separate entries for John Riddoch of Strawberry Hill and Elizabeth Riddock of Grange.

We are grateful to Vilma Ruddock for compiling this entry.