Hon. Hugo James

Son of Hugh James and Elizabeth Williams, born Jamaica, ‘before 16 Oct 1794.’ On his father’s side, his was the fifth generation living in Jamaica, so a well-established family; his father was a medical doctor. He married Amelia/Emily Jackson on 1 July 1817 in St James, Jamaica.They had seven or eight children, born or baptised in St Catherine between 1819 and 1831. At least two died young, two were recorded as living in England, and two were Army Officers who died in India in the 1850s-60s. He was listed as Barrister of Law in the Jamaica Almanac 1820 to 1826, was elected to the House of Assembly 1820, and was Attorney General of Jamaica from 1829 until his death.

He registered enslaved people in St Catherine from 1823 and was owner of Mount Moreland. Although his will was not proved until 1835, he was recorded as deceased in 1832. After his death, his widow migrated to England with several of their children; she died in 1870. Will of Hugo James of St Catherine Jamaica proved 11/12/1835. In the will [made in 1831] he authorised his executors to take possession of and sell and dispose of all my residuary estates, negroes, property and effects whatsoever' for the benefit of his wife and children. He instructed his library be taken to Great Britain to be sold there 'as adequate prices are not obtained in this island for books in general.' Shown as Attorney-General of Jamaica on the death of his son Major Hugh Rees James in India in 1865.

We are grateful to David Barker for his assistance in compiling this entry.

Descendants of Hugh and Robert James John James and Herbert Newton Jarrett, Jamaican Family Search; Caribbean, Select Marriages, 1591-1902; Jamaica, C of E Parish Record Transcripts, 1664-1879; Jamaica, Select Births and Baptisms, 1752-1920; Slave Registers, St Catherine. PROB 11/1855/144. Gentleman's Magazine Jan-June 1865 p. 114.