John Harvey

Profile & Legacies Summary

1721 - 1771

Biography

Son of John Harvie senior (1690-1767), a school master in Midmar, Aberdeenshire, and his wife Elizabeth nee Mackay (1691-1776). His older brother Alexander (1719-1774) went to Antigua in 1748 or 1749. It's not known when John and his younger brother Robert (1732-1791) moved to the West Indies but both became large-scale slave-owners. A secondary source names his Grenadan estates as Mornefendue, The Plain and the Chambord. John Harvey died at his house in Conduit Street, London, 08/12/1770.

In his will, John Harvey left his estates in Antigua (excluding the enslaved people) to his brother Robert. Robert was also left a life interest in John Harvey's estates in Grenada, which were to pass thereafter to his nephew Charles. This nephew died on arrival in Grenada and the estates passed to Charles's younger brother Alexander (1766-1818). Also mentioned in his will are three "mulatto" children - David, Sally and Rachel - and a "negro" called Mary who was housekeeper on Chambord Estate. Presumably these were his illegitimate children and perhaps their mother. The girls were left substantial legacies should they marry free white or free mulatto men.
In 1763 John Harvey '[planter of Antigua] intending shortly to embark for...Grenada and to Settle as a Planter' formed a partnership with John Anthony Rucker of London 'inclined to purchase lands and plantations in the island to the value of Twenty thousand pounds British money.' This partnership is alluded to in the will of John Harvey.

Sources

Gravestones and memorial inscriptions of the Harvey, Farquhar and Ross families from Kintore church and cemetery, sent by Alison McCall, 09/02/2015 and 16/02/2015; [Alexander Dingwall Fordyce], 'Family record of the name of Dingwall Fordyce in Aberdeenshire: including relatives of both names separately and connections', (Fergus, Ontario Canada 1888), No. 69 Harvey, of Kinmundy etc., pp. XC-CV http://www.archive.org/stream/cihm_05794/cihm_05794.dvju.txt [accessed 04/03/2015].

The will of John Harvey of Grenada, PROB 11/964/136.
S.J. and P.O. Hough, The Beinecke Lesser Antilles Collection at Hamilton College (1994) p. 231.

We are grateful to Alison McCall for her assistance with compiling this entry.

Further Information

Absentee?

Transatlantic

Children

not married. Probably David, Sally, Rachel (illegitimate children)

Will

PROB 11/964 - precis.

John Harvey of the Island aforesaid Esquire. Written 10/06/1769.

To mother Elizabeth Harvey of Aberdeenshire £100 sterling for a mourning ring and an annuity of £50 p.a. for her natural life.

To brother Alexander Harvey of Aberdeen and his wife Elizabeth £50 sterling each besides his bond of £426 odd money currency checked[?] 23/12/1756, also all the balance of all other debts and mortgages I have against him including the mortgage on his houses and negroes in the Island of Antigua. Also to Alexander and his wife an annuity of £100 p.a. sterling for their natural lives.

To eldest sister Elizabeth Farquhar spouse of Farquhar of Kintore near Aberdeen £30 p.a. for life; to her husband £5; her eldest son by her first husband John Rae £100; to each of her other children £50.

To sister Jane Urquhart spouse of Urquhart of Alford in Abderdeenshire £30 p.a. and £5 to her husband; £50 to each of her children.

To my sister Barbara Donald £50 and to her husband Robert Donald £5; £50 to each of her children; also an annuity of £30 p.a. to Barbara.

To sister Grizel spouse of Thomas Aberdeen £50 and an annuity of £30 p.a.; £5 to her husband and £50 to each of her children.

To maiden sister Janet £100 and an annuity of £30 p.a. for her natural life to be paid out of my real and leashold estate in the island of Antigua.

To brother Robert Harvey, surgeon in Antigua, all of my real estate in Antigua except my negroes and all the benefit of my lease in the estate of Mrs Macnamara (spouse to Dr Nichol Macnamara, physician in London). Also to Robert £500 sterling p.a. from my partnership estate with John Anthony Rucker Esquire of London in St Patrick, Grenada on his taking upon himself the management of the estates and care of the slaves as a doctor. Also to Robert all my plate, watches, jewels and household furniture in my house at Cades Bay, Angitua, and all the household furniture in my house at Grenada.

To my niece Elizabeth Harvey, daughter of my brother Alexander £1000 on marriage or at age 21. The interest for her maintenance in the meantime.

To all other children of my brother Alexander £1000 at marriage or age 21.

Executors: Hon. James Brebner Esquire Chief Judge in Grenada; Thomas Warner Esquire, Attorney General of Antigua; Harry Gordon Esquire, Captain of Engineers; and John Atchison Esquire one of the Assistant Judges, both of Grenada. £10 to each executor.

Various bequests to friends and associates.

My estates in Grenada in trust to James Brobiner [= Brebner] Esquire, Thomas Warner, Harry Gordon and John Atchison Esquire and my brother Robert Harvey in trust for the use of my nephew Charles Harvey (only living son of my brother Alexander) until he reaches the age of 21, for him and his heirs for ever. In case of the death of Charles without heirs then to his younger brother or otherwise to the eldest son of my brother Robert Harvey.

Those above mentioned to be my executors in Grenada and Antigua; George Spence and Robert Harvey of London; and Rev. Dr Reid Minister at Romney and my brother Alexander Harvey of Aberdeen to be my executors in Britain.

Bath, 19/02/1770. I confirm my last will written in Grenada in 1769. Also that a mulatto boy named David and two mulatto girls named Sally and Rachel may be bought from the estate of Josiah Marten Esquire and made free. A negroe boy and a [?] negroe girl be bought and given to each of them, the boy to David and the girls to Sally and Rachel. The boy to work on trade and the girls to be made shempstresses to help to support the said David, Sally and Rachel. David put to learn any trade and the girls Sally and Rachel bound to some good school mistress of good reputation to learn to be shempstresses and milliners and that they should also be taught to read and write and do every thing necessary about housekeeping, that they may be fit for service to gain their livelihood with ease. The expense of their education to be paid by my executors out of their division of my estate at Antigua and £20 currency be allowed each of them annually to keep them in clothes until they are able to so for themselves. £500 currency to each of the girls if they should behave well and be married to a free white man or a free mulatto. It is also my will that the negro girl named Capon[?], only daughter of the negro woman named Mary, housekeeper on the Chambord Estate in Grenada, by made free if not done before my death and 30 shillings a month given her or £18 currency yearly and a house put up for her and kept in repair on either of the estates she pleases to reside; I do this for her fidelity and former services to me while at Grenada.

Confirm my previous executors and add Patrick Maxwell Esquire of Grenada, he being omitted by a mistake in my original will. Signed 19/02/1770.

Further codicil dated 05/12/1770. I confirm the legacy to my brother Dr Robert Harvey and further bequeath to him all my estates in Grenada to hold the rents and profits during his natural life, and after his death these to go to Charles Harvey (eldest son of my brother Alexander Harvey). Also to Miss Polly Hanson, now living in my house in London £500 sterling.

Sworn in London 04/02/1771. Proved in London 12/02/1771 by Alexander Harvey Esquire and Robert Harvey Esquire.

Occupation

Planter

Associated Estates (3)

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