Francis Gale

1. Francis, son of Jonathan Gale (1676-1727) of Fullerswood, was born 10/6/1726 and baptised 10/7/1726 in St Catherine, Jamaica. Married Susannah Hall, daughter of James Hall of Hyde Hall and sister of William James Hall (q.v.) in St Andrew 15/03/1747. They had three children: Susanna Hyde Gale (baptised in St Andrew, 1749); Elizabeth Hyde Gale (born and baptised in St Andrew, 1750); and William Gordon Gale (born 1752 and baptised in St Andrew 1753). Presumably the two younger children died young as Burke's History of the Commoners and her own obituary in the Gentleman's Magazine gives Susannah Hyde Gale as the only daughter and heir. She married Admiral Alan Gardner, 1st Baron Gardner.

2. MA for St.Elizabeth, 1767-8 and 1770; appointed Colonel, St Andrew’s Regiment, 1768.

3. A portrait by Joshua Reynolds c. 1763, held at Montacute House, Somerset, is probably of Francis Gale, although it was described in 1935 as "Colonel Isaac Gale".

4. Buried 07/09/1774 in St Andrew.

5. Francis Gale of Kingston, Esquire. Estate probated in Jamaica in 1775. Slave-ownership at probate: 45 of whom 28 were listed as male and 17 as female. 8 were listed as boys, girls or children. Total value of estate at probate: £6410.71 Jamaican currency of which £1990 currency was the value of enslaved people. Estate valuation included £0 currency cash, £4040.39 currency debts and £40.42 currency plate. The will of Francis Gale of Kingston Esquire ws proved in Jamaica, 19/01/1775.

6. Probably the same Francis Gale whose illegitimate daughter by Mary Wood, Lydia Wood Gale, was born 20/10/1744 and baptised in Kingston 24/01/1745 (this Lydia Wood Gale was described as a "free mulatto" in the baptismal record for her own son [by Abraham Azerado], Francis Gale, 31/12/1775).

7. George Brooks bought 1000 acres in St Elizabeth called Cod Pen, later called Hounslow, from Fra. Gale Esq. and Geo. French before 1777. This may or may not be the same Francis Gale.

1. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online]; Burke's History of the Commoners (1839) vol. 4 p. 742, 'Hall, of Jamaica, now of Arrow's Foot'; St Andrew, Jamaica, parish register (familysearch.org - unindexed Baptisms, marriages, burials 1664-1807 pp. 66, 68, 70).

2. Fuertado's Personages, transcribed at http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Members/bfeurtado03.htm; Caledonian Mercury 11/06/1768.

3. National Trust Collections, http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/597959 [accessed 19/11/2018].

4. St Andrew, Jamaica, parish register (familysearch.org - unindexed Baptisms, marriages, burials 1664-1807 p. 306).

5. Trevor Burnard, Database of Jamaican inventories, 1674-1784; Island Record Office, LOS 42.

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

7. Vere Langford Oliver, Caribbeana being miscellaneous papers relating to the history, genealogy, topography, and antiquities of the British West Indies (6 vols., London, Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1910-1919) Vol. III p. 171.

8. Island Record Office LOS 42.

We are grateful to Paul Hitchings and Daniel Livesay for their assistance with compiling this entry.