Margaret Jane Young (née Brock)

Daughter of James Brock, owner of Industry plantation in St Ann, Jamaica, and his housekeeper Margaret Gibb, a 'free woman of colour'. Baptised with four of her siblings in Jamaica, 06/09/1829: Elizabeth Gibb Brock, John Alexander Brock, James Robert Brock and Sidney Henderson Brock. James Brock died in 1829 and after his death Margaret Gibb moved with their 7 surviving children to Denny in Stirlingshire, Scotland, James's birthplace. James bequeathed Industry plantation and a house in Scotland to Margaret Gibb and her children.

In 1840, an inventory of James Brock’s estate was carried out and documented in the Court of Session, possibly after the death of Margaret Gibb. At this time, three of his children were minors and living with various family members in the Denny area, one son had died in 1837, and the other three were now adults. The Court of Session document states that James Brock’s remaining assets, including £3500 that James Brock had invested in “three per cent consols,” and the assets of the Industry plantation in Jamaica were now divided 6 ways. The sum of £1300 was reported to have been already remitted to Scotland from proceeds from the plantation but the “state and condition thereof being unknown the amount or value thereof cannot be condescended on”. Proceeds from the estate may have continued to be paid to the six Brock children and their families for many years after this inventory.

In 1841, Margaret was living at Denny, Stirlingshire, in the household of her sister Helen Russell nee Brock and husband William Russell. She married Archibald Young in Denny in 1847. In 1851 they were living on Main Street, Cumbernauld, with children Margaret age 3 and John age 2, James Young age 74, another James Young age 35 and a female servant. Archibald's occupation was given as 'flisher'. In 1861 they were at Hays Land in Cumbernauld with children Margaret age 15, John age 11, James age 9, William age 6. Archibald Young's occupation given as draper. At the same address in 1871. Living at Main Street, Cumbernauld, at the time of her death 21/07/1883, age 55 years. Her parents' names on her death certificate given as James Brock, proprietor, and Margaret Brock nee Gibb.

Familysearch.org batch no. I03817-7.

Copy of last will and Settlement of James Brock, Jamaica, 21/02/1829 (copy is dated 1857) supplied by Claire Callender.

Censuses online.

GROS Deaths 1883 495 37.

We are grateful to Claire Callender for her assistance with compiling this entry.