John Blair (attorney)

Resident 'planting attorney' in Jamaica in the 1830s, but apparently dying in London in 1846, who claimed the compensation for the enslaved people on Rose Hill in Clarendon Jamaica as receiver in Payne v Pallmer. Probably the same man as the John Blair awarded the compensation for two other estates, Hanson Pen in St Catherine and St Clair in St John, as trustee and executor respectively.

1. Barry Higman, based on the 1832 Slave Registers, concluded that John Blair owned no enslaved people. LBS concurs with the 1832 analysis, although It is possible that the John Blair awarded compensation for two enslaved people St Thomas-in-the-Vale was this man.

2. Benjamin McMahon worked for John Blair at Worthy Park in the early 1820s and noted widespread injuries as a result of severe floggings: "I had some conversation afterwards with Mr Rutlege, a book-keeper, who had just discharged himself. He remarked that if Blair had not the satisfaction of mangling the flesh of ten or a dozen negroes before breakfast every morning, his countenance would be black and threatening; but, on the contrary, after indulging in this morning's amusement, he would be cheerful and pleasant... I am told that Mr. Blair is now [in the 1830s] an altered man-- that he is mild and quiet; but whether this comes from a change of heart, or only a change of policy, must rest between God and himself."

3. The John Blair of Ebury Street who was buried at Holy Trinity Brompton 19/12/1846 is probably this man; under a decree in Chancery in Blair v Donaldson, the creditors of John Blair 'fomerly of Worth[y] Park, in the island of Jamaica, afterwards of Colney Street in the county of Hertford, and late of Pall Mall and Ebury street' Middlesex (who died on the 15th December 1845 [sic]), were called to prove their claims in 1847.

1. Higman, Plantation Jamaica p. 85.

2. Benjamin McMahon, A Description of Jamaica Planters, viz Attorneys, Overseers and Book-keepers, With Several Interesting Anecdotes (1839) pp. 61-62.

3. Ancestry.com, London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980 [database online]; London Gazette 20760 30/07/1847 p. 2814.

We are grateful to Cheryl Hazell for her assistance with compiling this entry.