John Robinson of Dominica

Thomas and Alexander Robinson counterclaimed for the Hampton Court estate in British Guiana (Essequibo) under the will of John Robinson 'dated 8th November 1799'. This will was the will of John Robinson of Dominica, proved in 1809, although it is not possible from the will to see the connection with property in British Guiana.

1. Will of John Robinson [late] of Island of Dominica West Indies proved 05/12/1809. The will was made 08/11/1799. In it, John Robinson left his estate in trust (the trustees were John Blackburn of New Broad Street, John Gilmore sen. and John Gilmore jun. of Boghead in Ireland, Thomas Daniel late of the island of Dominica but now of London, and John Gay, formerly of Dominica now resident at Martinique [?]) to support: annuities of £100 p.a to his brother James (and then to James' two daughters) and his sister the widow of Stephen Martin (and then to her son and daughter); legacies of £1000 to each of the daughters of my brother Samuel ('I believe two') on their wedding days, provided they married with the consent of the majority of his executors, and £50 p.a. until their marriage; £500 'to my reputed daughter Elizabeth now at school in Streatham' on her wedding day, again with the consent of the executors (he made no provision for her before marriage as her mother Martha Phipps 'is wealthy'). His real estate he bequeathed equally to his brother Samuel and Samuel's sons ('seven I believe'), stressing that it comprised not just his land in Dominica but 'all negroes, cattle...attached and belonging to the said lands.' The 'reputed daughter' Elizabeth married James Rymer (q.v.).

2. In a codicil of 22/11/1802, in which he described himself as 'of Epsom in Surrey being about to make a journey to the West Indies', John Robinson annulled the legacies [i.e. their shares in the Caribbean property] given to James and Samuel, sons of his brother Samuel, giving them £100 each instead, and confirming his legacy of the slaves to the other five brothers. The property at Epsom he had acquired since his will was made he left to his nephew William provided it vest in him and be left by him by will, and then to his nephews Skeffington, Thomas and Alexander in succession. He also replaced John Gilmore jun. (who would not be close to the testator's relatives in Ireland to give them counsel) with Samuel Thompson of Meckamore [sic] as one of the trustees and executors.

1. PROB 11/1506/156.

2. Ibid.