John Black

Profile & Legacies Summary

???? - 1826

Biography

Owner of Elderslie Hedge in Trelawny, Jamaica, and (according to his will) of freehold property in Ardmarnock in Argyll, Scotland. Father of seven children of colour to whom he bequeathed £50 sterling each in his will. He bequeathed an annuity of £70 Jamaican currency to a female enslaved person called Margaret as well as manumitting her and her son Robert.

After the slave register of 1823 but before his death in 1825, John Black manumitted his daughter Euphemia Black and her children Samuel, Robert, Edward, Mary and Susan Schaw.

Sources

Will of John Black of Trelawny [made in 1825] proved 28/04/1826, PROB 11/1710/483.

T71/235 entry by George Ogilvy and Ewen Cameron as executors and trustees of John Black deceased [unpaginated].

Further Information

Children

[illegitimate] John Black, James Black, Peter Black, William Black, Edward Black, Euphemia Black, Margaret Black

Will

PROB 11/1710/483 - precis.

John Black of the parish of Trelawny in the island of Jamaica.

To George Ogilvy and Ewen Cameron of Trelawny Esquires and John Lamont of Greenock in Scotland Esquire all my estate real and personal upon trust, to collect all my outstanding debts and to sell all my real estate, slaves and other property in Jamaica. Trustees to manumit and for ever set free a certain Negro Woman Slave named Margaret belonging to me together with her mulatto child named Robert, and I give for the support and maintenance of the said Margaret £70 Jamaican currency per annum for her natural life. My estate to be made liable with the following legacies:

To each of my nieces, the daughters of my sister Ann McIver £1,500 sterling at age 18, they to receive the interest in the mean time for their support.

To my niece Isabella Buchanan £500 sterling.

To John Lamont of Greenock, one of my executors and trustees, £1,000 sterling in token of my esteem for him.

To George Ogilvy and Ewen Cameron my other executors and trustees £100 sterling each.

To each of my reputed children of colour named John Black, James Black, Peter Black, William Black, Edward Black, Euphemia Black and Margaret Black, £50 sterling.

All rest and residue including my freehold property in Argyllshire called Ardmarnock to my nephew John McIver, the son of my sister Ann and his heirs forever at age 30 and not before; the rent of my estate and interest to be paid to him in the mean time.

My money in the hands of Messrs Sterling Gordon and Co. of Glasgow and the money and proceeds of my property in Jamaica to be vested in the British funds.

George Ogilvy, Ewen Cameron and John Lamont to be executors.

Signed 28/11/1825.

Codicil dated . The bequest herein mentioned to by niece Isabella Buchanan to be £25 sterling per annum during the life of her husband or the sum of £500 sterling, should she survive him, to descend to her heris.

Sworn in Jamaica 02/01/1826.

Proved in London 28/04/1826.

Associated Estates (3)

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