John Greg

John Greg (1716-1795), the son of a Scot settled in Belfast in 1715, went to the West Indies in 1765, married there and became the first Government Commissioner for the sale of land. Greg had two estates (50% in Hertford, later sold, and Hillsborough) in Dominica, and his wife Catharine (née Henderson) in 1773 inherited Cane Garden in St Vincent. Thomas Greg (1718-1796), John's brother, also owned an estate in Dominica with Waddell Cunningham.

1. Will of John Greg of Hampton Middlesex proved 25/06/1795. He left his leasehold houses in Stratford Place, London and Spring Grove, Hampton (together in the latter case with adjoining copyhold land he had bought) to his wife Catharine. He left £1500 to Alexander Stewart of Dominica. After monetary legacies to his family, including 5 shillings to his nephew Cunningham Greg, he left a life interest in his [unspecified] West India estates to his wife Catharine, and then to his nephews Thomas Greg of London and Samuel Greg of Manchester.

2. In Dominica, 'John Gregg' was shown as the original purchaser of St Joseph Lot 37 (86 acres) and Lots 87-89 while 'John Greg' was shown as the original purchaser of St Paul Lots 14-15 (33 acres each), Lots 18-20 (16, 45 and 133 acres), Lot 75, and with Thomas Jemmit [sic] Lots 76-78 (40, 15 and 34 acres) and as present possessor of St Joseph Lands on Lease Lot 26 (58 acres) and with Thomas Jemmit of St Paul Lands on Lease Lot 1 (60 acres).

1. PROB 11/1262/261. Information on Spring Grove from The Twickenham Museum: http://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk/detail.php?aid=190&cid=5&ctid=2

2. John Byres, References to a plan of the island of Dominica as surveyed from the year 1765 and 1773 (London, 1777).

We are grateful to Fiona Martin for her help compiling this entry.