John Williams of St Ann

Shown as previous owner of Ocho [or Ochos] Rios in St Ann Jamaica 1783-1789, when the estate was in the hands of his heirs Thomas Williams, Jack [orJohn] Russell Williams and James Williams. The reputed children of John Williams were the subject of an Act of the Jamaica Assembly in 1777. Nothing further of him has been traced to date.

Possibly the John Williams who was listed in the Jamaican Quit Rent books for 1754 as the owner of 820 acres of land in St Mary and 80 acres of land in St Thomas-in-the-Vale, total 900 acres.

Seagrove and Williams were listed in the Jamaican Quit Rent books for 1754 as the owners of 400 acres of land in St Andrew and 275 acres of land in St George, total 675 acres. Williams and Blagrove were listed in the same source as the owners of 2955 acres of land in St Ann. The individuals in these partnerships have not been identified. Seagrove may be Samuel Seagrave (q.v.). Blagrove may be John Blagrove the elder or Thomas Blagrove (both q.v.). There are 13 different individuals with the surname Williams listed in the Jamaican Quit Rent books for 1754.

Acts of the Jamaican Assembly 1760-1810 CO139/34 (372).

'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.