John Ross of Plantation Cromarty, Berbice

1. Shown as owner of Plantation Cromarty in Berbice in 1818 and making his own registration then, tentatively identified through genealogical material on a daughter Eliza who married Rev. Simon Fraser of Fortrose at Rosemarkie in 1846 (when her father was described as 'late of plantation Cromarty, Berbice') as the John Ross farmer of Coulmore, Killearn in the 1841 census aged 72 with daughters Christian aged 35 and Eliza aged 25. This man was probably the same man as the John Ross of 'Calmore' [sic - Coulmore] County Ross who counterclaimed as mortgagee of the enslaved people on Hoff van Holland.

2. A family memorial in Fortrose Cathedral commemorates Eliza Fraser nee Ross (who married Rev. Simon Fraser, Free Church Minister in Fortrose and Rosemarkie), 'and also in memory of her father, John Ross, of Plantation Cromarty, Berbice who departed this life at Raddery, May 18th 1850 in the 82nd year of his life'.

3. A fuller account of John Ross is by David Alston on his Slaves and Highlanders website.

1. T71/877 British Guiana 2383A-C.

2. Email from John Charles Bragg, 10/08/2017.

3. https://www.spanglefish.com/slavesandhighlanders/index.asp?pageid=656289 [accessed 23/11/2021].

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