Mary Gibb Napier (née Brock)

Daughter of James Brock, owner of Industry plantation in St Ann, Jamaica, and his housekeeper Margaret Gibb, a 'free woman of colour'. Mary Gibb Brock, 'free quadroon 1 year old' was baptised in Trelawny, Jamaica, 08/05/1818. Five of her siblings were baptised 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.

Mary Brock married Thomas Napier in Denny, 09/10/1837. In 1841 she was living in Camelon Park, Falkirk, with Isabella Napier age 12, Janet Napier age 9, and Eliza Napier age 15. Mary was of independent means and born in foreign parts. Isabella and Janet were born in county, Eliza not. At the same address (in the preceeding entry but in a different household) were John Brock, a mason age 30, Mary Brock age 25, John Brock age 7, Janet Brock age 5, James Brock age 1 and Thomas Brock age 2 months, all born in county.

In 1851 Mary Napier, age 33, born Jamaica, was living at Bankside, Falkirk, with her husband Thomas Napier, age 50, a ship owner, his daughter Janet Napier age 19 and niece Mary Russell age 11 (daughter of Mary Gibb Napier's eldest sister Helen).

In 1861 Mary Napier, age 43, born Jamaica St Anne, was living with Thomas Napier, age 60, a shipping agent, at 23 Arthurs Land, Greenock East.

In 1871 Mary and Thomas were age 54 and 70 respectively, same places of birth, with his occupation given as 'Weigher'. They were living in a single room, street undecipherable, in Bowling, West Kilpatrick.

In 1881 they were at Hollybank in Bowling living in two rooms.

Mary Napier, widower of Thomas Napier, tide-waiter, died 22/06/1889 age 72 at Longcroft in Denny, the home of her brother James Brock. Her parents' names on her death certificate were James Brock, 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.

GROS OPR Marriages 476 30 493. 1841-1881 censuses online. GROS Deaths 1889 476/2 15.

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