William Roby Weston

1. William Roby Weston, son of Mary Cecilia Lynch, "free quadroon", was born 10/03/1796 and baptised 10/02/1797 in St Catherine, Jamaica. Two younger brothers: Joseph Bolt Weston and Edward Watkis Weston baptised in St Catherine in 1799 and 1806.

2. Husband of Caroline Price Watkis, who he married 19/09/1816 in St James, Westminster. Committed to Marshalsea prison 20/08/1821 and discharged 04/09/1821.

3. Marriage "at St James, Westminster, W. R. Weston, Esq., late of St Ann's, Jamaica, to Caroline Price, only dau. of the late Jos. Watkins Esq., of Greenwich Park in the above Island."

4. William Roby Weston's brother, Edward, became a surgeon in England and died in 1841. His great-niece, Ada Mary Reid (1869-1943), married Charles Reid, OBE MBE (1864-1944).

1. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online]. Further information on Mary Cecilia Lynch: "Mary Cecilia was a daughter of Mary Bonny and an unknown father. Mary Bonny has been described as "mulatto" and "a free quadroon" as well as a daughter of William Bonny of Mount Pleasant estate (in the 1773 will of Major Edward Clarke). Mary Bonny also had several children by Major Edward Clarke: Ann Clarke, Penelope Clarke, and Edward Robert Clarke" [email from Mitch Owens, 09/12/2017].

2. Ancestry.com, London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [database online]; Ancestry.com, London, England, Marshalsea Prison Commitment and Discharge Books, 1811-1842 [database online].

3. Bristol Mirror 28/09/1816.

4. Memorial inscription at St Mary's, Stafford, of his widow Emma gives Edward as "Edward Watkis WESTON, M.R.C.S". In the same grave is buried Emma's granddaughter Ada Mary (1869-1943) and her husband Charles Reid OBE MBE (1864-1944). Transcription given at http://places.wishful-thinking.org.uk/STS/Stafford/MIs.html [accessed 13/12/2017]. Emma Weston later ran a boarding school on Watling Street in Wellington, Shropshire [see 1851 census entry for her]; email from Ruth Campbell 22/05/2018 re Charles Reid: "He was born in Aberdeen in 1864. He was awarded the OBE in the New Years Honours List in 1919, for services to the British Red Cross, Staffordshire Branch. He is well documented in the local newspaper, Staffordshire Advertiser, over many years. He was in command of the 5th Staffordshire Voluntary Aid Detachment in 1918. During his career he became the Chief Police Surgeon, and a Magistrate. Over the years he gave evidence in court, lectures and prize giving to various health bodies, all reported in the Staffordshire Advertiser. His funeral in 1944 and that of his wife, Ada Mary, in 1943, are also reported in this newspaper"; see for example, 'Dr Reid's Valuable Services to the County', Staffordshire Advertiser 26/10/1929.

We are grateful to Mitch Owens and Ruth Campbell for their assistance with compiling this entry.