George Besly

George Besly, son of Dorothy McLeod (q.v.) and Joseph Besly, baptised Hanover, Jamaica, 8 March 1793. George Besly registered 8 enslaved people in 1817; eight in 1820, and nine in 1823 in Hanover. He was living in Lucea, Hanover in 1823, aged 33, "Quadroon," with his mother Dorothy McLeod, his brother Joseph, three nephews, and one niece. He was the executor of the will of his sister Mary Sarah Besly (with William Augustus Dickson) in 1823. He married Judith Gilling (q.v.) between 1826 and 1829 and registered enslaved people in right of his wife, Judith Besly, in 1829. These enslaved people were formerly registered by Judith Gilling. He probably died about 1832 (the 1833 Almanac refers to the estate of George Besly with ten enslaved people).

We are grateful to David Barker for his assistance in compiling this entry.

Jamaica, Select Births and Baptisms, 1752-1902; Slave Registers, Hanover 1817 to 1832; Jamaica, Hanover, Census 1823, 2; Jamaica Almanac 1833, Hanover.