Samuel Whitehorne

Deceased owner of Llandovery in St Ann 1770-1772.

1. Samuel Whitehorne of Llandovery (born c. 1712) matriculated at Hart Hall, Oxford (precursor to Hertford College) in 1729. In Jamaica he was part of the planting elite and continued the family's association with the Beckfords. He married at least three times (details below) and died July 1768. James Risby Whitehorne (born c. 1744) was possibly the youngest son of Samuel Whitehorne and Sarah (nee Risby) of Llandovery estate, St Ann, Jamaica. Like his siblings he was born on Llandovery estate. The couple certainly had at least 3 older children: Martha Risby Whitehorne (1737), Samuel Risby Whitehorne (1739), Sarah Risby Whitehorne (1740). Samuel was registered as father to another son Thomas Risby Whitehorne (1744), but his mother was recorded as Mary Beach. It is not clear whether Sarah Risby had died before this date or whether Thomas was illegitimate. If the former it is likely that Mary was also the mother of James. However, other records suggest that Sarah did not die until 1750. Following her death Samuel remarried Elizabeth Howell, with whom he had another son William Risby Whitehorne (1751) and following her death he married thirdly Eleanor Howe, with whom he had Samuel Whitehorne II (1758-98). Sarah Risby, married first Charles Kelly in 1723/24 in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Following his death in October 1731 she remarried Samuel Whitehorne in around 1736. Kelly left his wife his chariot and horses and his house during her lifetime, reverting to his son Edmund after his death.

2. Samuel Whitehorne was listed in the Jamaican Quit Rent books for 1754 as the owner of 2451 acres of land in St Ann. Whitehorne and Kelly were listed in the Jamaican Quit Rent books for 1754 as the owners of 550 acres of land in St Catherine, 120 acres in St James and 1162 acres in St Thomas-in-the-Vale, total 1832 acres; this is assumed to be Samuel Whitehorne and either Dennis or John Kelly.

3. Samuel Whitehorne of St Ann, Esquire. Estate probated in Jamaica in 1770. Slave-ownership at probate: 398 of whom 185 were listed as male and 213 as female. 0 were listed as boys, girls or children. Total value of estate at probate: £26830.38 Jamaican currency of which £20963 currency was the value of enslaved people. Estate valuation included £0 currency cash, £2949.01 currency debts and £73.39 currency plate.

1. Historical Account of Sessional Assembly of Jamaica, p. 45.

2. A List of landholders in the Island of Jamaica together with the number of acres each person possessed taken from the quit rent books in the year 1754', TNA CO 142/31 transcribed at http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Samples2/1754lead.htm.

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