James Balfour of Surinam

Large-scale slave-owner in Surinam, owning four estates in Nickerie and one in Paracreek. David Alston shows him as having been born in Fordell Muir, Dalgetty, Fife and working as a doctor in Demerara before his move by 1821 to Surinam, where he died and was buried in 1841. His main heir was his nephew Robert Kirke (q.v.).

1. In 1863 the heirs of James Balfour were awarded 116,100 guilders for 387 enslaved people (the claim was for 392) on Pln. Berlin in Surinam. The awardees were Robert Kirk [sic] (then of Burnt Island) for 41/48ths; James Balfour and Thomas Balfour, both of Dunfermline, for 2/48ths each; and John Janet [sic] Duncanson for the remaining 3/48ths. The four individuals shared in the same proportions the 50,700 guilders in compensation for 169 enslaved people on Plantage Hazard on the River Nickerie in Surinam, and 68,700 guilders for 229 (the claim was for 231) enslaved people on Pln. Waterloo, again on the River Nickerie.

David Alston, Slaves & Highlanders http://www.spanglefish.com/slavesandhighlanders/index.asp?pageid=607712 [accessed 17/06/2016].

1. Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Algemene Rekenkamer CB (Comptabel Beheer), nummer toegang 2.02.09.08, inventarisnummer 223, claim number 21; Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Algemene Rekenkamer CB (Comptabel Beheer), nummer toegang 2.02.09.08, inventarisnummer 225, claim number 85; Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Algemene Rekenkamer CB (Comptabel Beheer), nummer toegang 2.02.09.08, inventarisnummer 228, claim number 220.

We are grateful to Okke ten Hove for his help with this entry.