John Burke of York Place, formerly of Kingston

1. Will of John Burke of York Place Portman Square [made in 1818] proved 08/01/1825. In the will he left his wife Louisa an annuity of £400 p.a. above her provision under their marriage settlement. Burke ordered the sale of his unspecified 'Real estate' in Jamaica, and left 100 guineas each to two Jamaican slave-owners among his five executors and trustees, Charles Nicholas Pallmer (q.v.) and William Peatt Litt (q.v.). He left £3000 to his reputed daughter Ellen Burke, 'lately residing with the widow of my deceased brother Robert in Ireland but now at New Hall Convent in the county of Essex.' After other smaller monetary legacies he left his residuary estate to his daughters Louisa Helena and Maria Martha, failing whom he increased the legacy to Ellen Burke by £5000 and left the residuary estate in 1/8th shares to his nephews and nieces.

2. 1824, Dec. 13. At Brighton, John Burke, esq. of York-place, London, formerly of Kingston, Jamaica.

LBS has inferred, given that William Peatt Litt was an executor of John Burke of York Place, that the latter was the eponymous partner in John Burke & Co., which was the predecessor of William Peatt Litt & Steele.

1. PROB 11/1694/91.

2. Gentleman's Magazine 1825 p. 190, in Caribbeana Vol. III