Ann Ellis (née Beckford)

Sister of Alderman William Beckford.

1. Will of Ann Ellis widow of [Sackville Street] St James Westminster [made in 1744] proved 13/08/1746. In the will she identified herself as widow of George Ellis late of the island of Jamaica deceased. She left £5000 to her daughter Bathshua. She left to her son John the lands and appurtenances in St Mary Jamaica that had belonged to Judith Jordan and which she [Ann Ellis] had bought from Forster Marsh, as well as 'Escheat land' in St Mary that had belonged to Major Edward Needham and had lately been assigned to her. She left a number of monetary legacies including £500 each to her younger sons William Beckford Ellis and Robert Julines Ellis. Her residuary legatees were her sons George and John. She explained that her husband George Ellis had left Greencastle to their son George; Newry to their son John; and Orange Hill to their son William Beckford Ellis, and that she had been charged with arbitrating any dispute over the boundaries of the three contiguous estates, a duty she passed to her executors.

2. Ann Ellis of Britain, widow. Estate probated in Jamaica in 1749. Slave-ownership at probate: 59 of whom 20 were listed as male and 39 as female. 17 were listed as boys, girls or children. Total value of estate at probate: £3959.37 Jamaican currency of which £2226 currency was the value of enslaved people. Estate valuation included £0 currency cash, £1733.36 currency debts and £0 currency plate.

3. The will of Ann Ellis was proved in Jamaica in 1746.

1. PROB 11/748/440.

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

3. Vere Langford Oliver, Caribbeana being miscellaneous papers relating to the history, genealogy, topography, and antiquities of the British West Indies (6 vols., London, Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1910-1919) vol. 2 p. 119.