John Crawford

Heavily-indebted owner of Bellfield estate in St James, Jamaica. Deceased by 1782.

1. John Crawford Esquire, planter in Jamaica, in Old Kirk parish, and Miss Elizabeth [sic] Innes, daughter of Alexander Innes Esquire of Coloty Lane now in Lady Yesters Kirk parish, married in Edinburgh 24/03/1771. A daughter, Cristy Ann, was born 31/12/1773 and baptised 25/03/1774 in St James, Jamaica, to John Crawford and his wife Isabella. John Innes Crawford was born 27/10/1776 and baptised 26/12/1776 in St James, son of John Crawford and Isabella Crawford.

2. According to an unpublished family history, Isabella "Tibby" Innes (1748-1819) was the daughter of Alexander Innes, 2nd of Cathlaw (1711-1787) and his wife Christian nee Cave who died in 1805). She married John Crawford of Bellfield, Jamaica, in 1771 (he died in 1781). She remarried, in 1783, to Alexander Simpson, a bank clerk in Aberdeen.

3. John Crawford, planter, was buried in St James, 20/12/1781.

4. Alexander Simpson, cashier to the Bank of Aberdeen, Old Kirk Parish, married Mrs Isobella of St Giles Parish, relict of John Crawford late merchant in Jamaica, in Edinburgh 22/10/1783. The Post Office directories for Edinburgh list both John Innes Crawford and Mrs Alex. Simpson at 6 Charlotte Square between 1797 and 1800.

5. John Crawford of St James, Esquire. Estate probated in Jamaica in 1782. Slave-ownership at probate: 228 of whom 109 were listed as male and 119 as female. 63 were listed as boys, girls or children. Total value of estate at probate: £21188.97 Jamaican currency of which £14545 currency was the value of enslaved people. Estate valuation included £0 currency cash, £2285.45 currency debts and £0 currency plate.

1. GROS OPR Marriages 685/1 490 484 Edinburgh; Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online].

2. https://www.anesfhs.org.uk/images/downloads/innes/pdfs/a_8_innes_of_cathlaw.pdf (pdf, accessed 08/11/2017] sourced to Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, Inneses of Toux and Coxton (not published). Reference supplied by John Crae, email 06/11/2017.

3. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online].

4. GROS OPR Marriages 685/1 510 263 Edinburgh; email from John Crae 06/11/2017 sourced to Edinburgh Post Office Directories.

5. Trevor Burnard, Database of Jamaican inventories, 1674-1784.

We are grateful to John Crae for his assistance with compiling this entry.