William Fraser the elder, of St Vincent

Resident in St Vincent at the time of his death, but clearly part of a Highland Scot network including William Fraser of Culbokie and the James Fraser of Belladrum (each of whom q.v.). His will included enslaved people but not any named estate, and he made monetary legacies rather than of real property, suggesting a mercantile or professional fortune.

1. Will of William Fraser [Sen.] of St Vincent proved 03/09/1802. He left a series of monetary legacies totalling over £17,000, including £4000 to his brother John Fraser of Fort Augustus and his family; £2000 to another [minor] brother Alexander; £1000 to his sister; £1000 to his uncle James Fraser of Beaulie [sic]; £500 each to his uncle Simon Fraser and his aunts Catherine Calder, Mary Fraser and Christian McRae; £500 each to the child or children of his uncle Wm. Fraser; £500 each to the child or children of his uncle Wm. Crain [?]; £3000 to Col. James Fraser of Belladrum; £500 each to John Fraser brother of William Fraser of Culbokie and to Ann McDowell, Margaret Fraser, Jean Chisholm and Mary Fraser sisters of William Fraser of Culbokie; and £200 each to his executors Peter Grant, James McCaul and Simon Fraser in Clunes. His residuary legatee was William Fraser of Culbokie. with contingent reversion to James Fraser now younger of Belladrum. He directed that 'Adelaide a mestif [sic] girl and Dick a negro man' be made free immediately after his death, 'and my other negroes be sold to such masters as they themselves may choose', with a request that his executors assist and direct my negroes to procure good masters.' In an undated codicil he added a legacy of £500 to David Stuart of Finsbury Square, 'though [he]...is not in any need of a bequest of mine.'

2. Transactions over property in Kingstown St Vincent in 1799 between William Fraser the elder and Charles Grant & Co. were the subject of Fraser v Birch, a Privy Council case heard in 1835.

1. PROB 11/1380/74.

2. Jerome Knapp [completed by Edward Moore] Reports of Cases argued and determined before....the Privy Council Vol. III 1834-1836 (n.d.) pp. 380-405.