Helen Russell (née Brock)

Daughter of James Brock, owner of Industry plantation in St Ann, Jamaica, and his housekeeper Margaret Gibb, a 'free woman of colour'. Five of her 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.

Helen Brock married William Russell in Denny, 12/06/1829, when her abode was given as Parkfoot[?]. In 1841 she was age 26, living at Longcroft in Denny with William age 35, their children Margaret at 11, Christian age 9, James age 7, John age 5, William age 4 and Mary age 1. In the same household were Mary Gibb (sister of her mother Margaret) age 30 and two of Helen's siblings, James Brock age 14 and Margaret brock age 13, as well as a female servant and John Mclaren age 27, a teacher. Still at Longcroft in 1861 with William and their children James age 27, David age 13, Janet age 9, Isabella age 3, Mary Gibb as 65 and grandson Robert Allan age 5 where William's occupation was given as labourer. At Longcroft in 1871 with husband and children as well as Mary Gibb (age 75), and William a labourer. At Sheddings in Denny in 1881 where William's occupation was given as agricultural labourer. Death of Helen Russell 17/04/1884, age 70, in Sheddings, where her parents' were given as James Brock, cooper, 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 1884 476/2 5.

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