Michael Hyams

1. "Michael Hyams and Nephew" were among those who suffered the greatest loss when Black River (the whole of the settlement "except six or seven houses") was destroyed by fire in 1808.

2. The 1811 Jamaica Almanac records that Hyams and Hendricks, Mons, owned 32 enslaved people in St Elizabeth, and it seems likely that Hendricks was the nephew mentioned in 1808. In 1822 Isaac Hyams of Aldgate was "cousin of Herman Hendricks esq of Wimpole Street, Cavendish Square, late of Black River, Jamaica", so there was a connection between the two families. Mons estate (with 100 enslaved people) was registered to Hyams and Hendricks in the 1818 Almanac as well, although the 1817 slave register gives Mons in the possession of Herman Hendricks with 101 enslaved people.

3. Michael Hyams was deceased by 13/04/1816. The Royal Gazette the following month announced the disolution of the partnership between Hyams and Hendricks as a result of the death of Michael Hyams: "The business will be carried on by Herman Hendricks.”

4. The Almanac of 1818 gives him as the previous owner of Black River estate, which passed to Susanna Bowes as tenant-for-life. By 1826 the estate was owned by Herman Hendricks as guardian to Michael Hendricks.

5. Susanna Bowes has not been traced, but Michael Hendricks was probably the reputed child of Herman Hendriks esq by Elizabeth Bowes, "a white woman", born 12/11/1809 and baptised at Black River 23/10/1810.

1. Royal Cornwall Gazette 26/03/1808.

2. Jamaica Almanac (1811); Morning Post 15/11/1822 where the notice of the marriage of Isaac Hyams to Miss Joseph describes him as "a celebrated artist".

3. Royal Gazette of Jamaica, 4 May 1816: “Black River, 13 April 1816. The CoPartnership of Hyams and Hendricks dissolves this day in consequence of the death of Michael Hyams. The business will be carried on by Herman Hendricks.”

4. See estate information for Black River and Mons.

5. Note Elizabeth is described as "a white woman" at the baptism of George Hendricks, 25/12/1814 in Black River. There was another sibling too - Herman Mark Hendricks, born 1811 and baptised 1813 in St Elizabeth. Familysearch.org, unindexed Jamaican parish records, St Elizabeth Baptisms, marriages, burials 1705-1820 pp. 147, 171, 196.

We are grateful to Paul Hitchings for his assistance with compiling this entry.