Elizabeth Kersey

Elizabeth Kersey was listed in the Jamaican Quit Rent books for 1754 as the owner of 83 acres of land in St Catherine. She was the mother of Ann Cowell, the wife of Benjamin Cowell of London. Online genealogical sources give her also as the wife of Andrew Arcdeckne of Jamaica and as the mother of Chaloner Arcdeckne, but her will - which does not define her relationship with Chaloner Arecdeckne - leaves room for doubt. She died between 1771 and 1778, probably c. 1777.

1. Will of Elizabeth Kersey widow of St Catherine Jamaica [made in 1771 and attested 1777] proved 31/03/1778. She left to Andrew Cowell and Benjamin Cowell, sons of her daughter Ann the wife of Benjamin Cowell of the City of London, all moneys owed to her from her annuity on Golden Grove belonging to Chaloner Arcdeckne Esq. She left equally to the two Cowell grandsons the money she had in the Bank of England; to her sister Mrs Frances Harris the house occupied by Mr William Alexander; and to Chaloner Arcdeckne and the two Cowell grandsons she left the proceeds from the sale of her 'houses, land and negroes and other slaves' in Spanish Town or at the Red Hills in St John (belonging to Chaloner Arcdeckne); and she left to Chaloner Arcdeckne a mortgage on Golden Grove that had been assigned to her by Mr Peter Vallette, together with all her commission as attorney to Chaloner Arcedeckne and her 'negroes' rented to Golden Grove. She left her sister Frances Harris a cooper on Swamps estate named Cuffee, and her nephew Thomas Haynes of Liverpool £500. She made Chaloner Arcdeckne and her two Cowell grandsons her residuary legatees.

"A List of landholders in the Island of Jamaica together with the number of acres each person possessed taken from the quit rent books in the year 1754", TNA CO 142/31 transcribed at http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Samples2/1754lead.htm

1. PROB 11/1040/367.