James Chisholme

6th Sep 1744 - 31st Dec 1812


Biography

Originally from Selkirk, the son of a surgeon, followed his brother William Chisholme (q.v.) to Jamaica. Owner of Trout Hall. Of 5 Portland Place when he wrote his will in 1803 and still of Portland Place when he was named as a trustee and executor in the will of Samuel Virgin in 1809. Left his property in trust to his daughter Mary Agnes Chisholme who had married Charles Lord Sinclair in 1802 (Mary Agnes was born 15/04/1784 and baptised three days later in Clarendon, Jamaica).

The letter books, ledgers, personal accounts, correspondence and papers relating to his sugar plantations in Jamaica c1778-1812 are held at the National Library of Scotland.

William Chisholm, son of Thomas Chisholm, surgeon, present Dean of Gild, and Agnes Bannatyne his wife, was born 18/02/1737 and baptised 20/02/1737 in Selkirk. James Chisholm, son of Thomas Chisholm, surgeon and late baillie, and Agnes Bannatyne his wife, was born 06/09/1744 and baptised 08/09/1744 in Selkirk.


Sources

Alexander Mackenzie, History of the Chisholms (Inverness, 1891) p. 189. Note this source contains some inaccuracies, stating for example that William Chisholme was married and failing to note that his only son was illegitimate, as well as giving the year of William Chisholme's return as 1874. The Selkirk connection is clear - William bought Chisholme House near Hawick when he returned to Scotland and left money to the poor of Selkirk in his will. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online]. Will of Samuel Virgin, PROB 11/1566/347.

National Library of Scotland MSS.5462-5495.

GROS OPR Births 778 20 132 and OPR Births 778 20 198 Selkirk.

We are grateful to John Rees for his assistance with compiling this entry.


Further Information

Absentee?
British/Irish
Spouse
Susanna Fearon
Children
Mary Agnes (1784-)
Will

James Chisholme of Portland-place, Esq. Will dated 21 Jan. 1803. My leasehold house No. 5 Portland-place for my dau. Mary Agnes Lady Sinclair. My house at Green River, co. Roxburgh, and all other real estate in G. B. and Jamaica to be sold and proceeds in trust for her. To be buried in the vault over the grave of my late wife in the church-yard of Cromhall near the village of Wickwar, co. Glouc. Proved l Feb. 1813.

Occupation
Planter

Associated Estates (18)

The dates listed below have different categories as denoted by the letters in the brackets following each date. Here is a key to explain those letter codes:

  • SD - Association Start Date
  • SY - Association Start Year
  • EA - Earliest Known Association
  • ED - Association End Date
  • EY - Association End Year
  • LA - Latest Known Association
1783 [EA] - → Not known
1820 [EA] - → Previous owner
1802 [SY] - → Trustee and Executor
1823 [EA] - 1828 [LA] → Previous owner
- 1802 [EY] → Joint owner
1802 [SY] - 31/12/1812 [ED] → Owner
1802 [SY] - → Trustee
- 1802 [EY] → Joint owner
1802 [SY] - 31/12/1812 [ED] → Owner
1815 [SY] - → Trustee and Executor
1823 [EA] - 1829 [LA] → Previous owner
- 1802 [EY] → Joint owner
1802 [SY] - 31/12/1812 [ED] → Owner
1802 [SY] - → Trustee
1817 [EA] - 1829 [LA] → Previous owner
- 1802 [EY] → Joint owner
1802 [SY] - 29/01/1817 [ED] → Trustee
1802 [SY] - 31/12/1812 [ED] → Owner

Legacies Summary

Physical (1)

Estate
Stonedge, Roxburghshire [Purchased] 
description →
Estate with house, renamed Green River House after one of his Jamaica properties, purchased by James Chisholme c. 1795, and then improved by the building of new farmhouses and the addition of a...

Relationships (15)

Brothers
Father-in-law → Son-in-law
Brother → Sister
Father → Daughter
Uncle → Nephew
Uncle → Niece
Uncle → Nephew
Uncle → Nephew
Uncle → Nephew
Uncle → Niece
Uncle → Nephew
Uncle → Nephew
Uncle → Nephew
Grandfather → Grandson
Brother-in-law → Sister-in-law
Notes →
Dame Ann Sheridan's will shows James Chisholme as the widower of her sister Susanna. ...

Addresses (2)

5 Portland Place, London, Middlesex, London, England
Green River House, Stonedge, Roxburghshire, Southern Scotland, Scotland