James Robert Brock

Son 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 his siblings in Jamaica, 06/09/1829: Elizabeth Gibb Brock, Margaret Jane 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, James was age 14 and living at Denny, Stirlingshire, in the household of her sister Helen Russell nee Brock and husband William Russell. He married Jean Wands in Denny in 1849. In 1861 he was living on Road Side in Denny, a labourer, age 35, with Jane age 39 and their children James age 11, Ann age 10, Jane age 6 and Mary age 2. At Sheddons of Land, a labourer, in 1871 with Jane and children Jane age 15, Mary age 12, William age 9 and John age 6. At Sheddings in 1881, a labourer at an iron foundry. A foundry labourer in 1891 living at a public house in Denny. He died at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, 29/12/1892 when his usual residence was Denny. On his death certificate, his parents' were given as James Brock, a coffee planter, 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 1892 685/4 1226.

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