John Laing of Dominica

Slave-owner on Dominica. Given the level of annuity he left his wife in 1808, he must have held significant property beyond the 8 named enslaved people in his will.

1. Monumental inscription in the Savannah, Roseau to John Laing Esquire, "He departed this life on the 29th August 1808 in the 29th year of his age and has left a widow, and four female infants to deplore his loss." Maria, widow of John Laing, late of Dominica and Haddo, North Britain, died at St Luke's, Jersey, 22/02/1853 aged 75. Tombstone of Maria Laing, widow of John Laing of Dominica, who died 22/02/1853, buried at St Saviour's, Jersey, age 78 [sic?].

2. Will of John Laing of Roseau island of Dominica [made in 1808] proved 01/09/1831. He left to his wife Maria [given in the will as Mary] an annuity of £250 p.a., his house and 'house servants' [sic] named James, Jack Handshaw Tom, Flora, Rosette, Peggy and Lizzie for her life, the people then to be sold and the proceeds shared among his children. He left his sister Margaret £500 and his brother Thomas £400. The will identified his uncle as James Laing, his father-in-law as Thomas Collins and his brother-in-law as Dr William Bremner, all executors alongside John Lucas and John Laidlaw (each of whom q.v.).

3. Assistant Commissary General John Lindsay married Maria Lucas, second daughter of John Laing Esquire of the Island of Dominica, at Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon, 28/08/1830.

His death-date of 29/08/1808 is from Vere Langford Oliver, More Monumental Inscriptions: Tombstones of the British West Indies p. 20, which cites both a tombstone at Roseau and Gentleman's Magazine.

1. Vere Langford Oliver, More Monumental Inscriptions: Tombstones of the British West Indies (1927) pp. 21-22; Findagrave.com memorial ID 212354159.

2. PROB 11/1790/247.

3. Western Times 04/09/1830.

We are grateful to Peter Selley for his assistance with compiling this entry.