John Riddoch of Strawberry Hill

Owner of Strawberry Hill estate in Westmoreland, Jamaica.

1. In his will, written 24/09/1800 and proved in Jamaica, 13/03/1802, John Riddoch left to “my natural son named George Riddoch, all that my mountain settlement called Strawberry Hill situate in the said Parish of Westmoreland and containing fifty four acres”... “and also so many of my negro slaves as will amount in value to one thousand six hundred pounds of current money”. He left to his “reputed natural daughter, Elizabeth Riddoch... so many of my negroe slaves as will amount in value to two thousand pounds current money aforesaid”. These children were probably the George Riddoch, "a child of colour", baptised in Westmoreland in 1798 and Elizabeth, baptised in Westmoreland in 1796, but neither baptism record includes the parents' names.

2. John Riddoch died in Jamaica 23rd December, 1801; notice of his death in The Scots Magazine states he was resident in Jamaica "for upwards of 30 years" and that he was the brother of George Riddoch deceased, writer in Glasgow. Little is yet known of his life in Jamaica or his origins in Scotland. It has not been verified where in Scotland John was born or the names of his parents. Strawberry Hill was conveyed to him by William Lewis and his wife Mary Lewis and Rebekah Dennison, a widow, in 1781 in lieu of £350 Jamaican currency.

3. A James Riddoch, possibly also a brother, was named as residuary legatee and an executor in John Riddoch’s will. This James was the owner of Glen Islay estate, Westmoreland, Jamaica from at least 1809 to 1811 and died in 1812. During John Riddoch’s time in Jamaica, there was also another James Riddoch of Grange, Scotland living in Mirandahill, Montego Bay, St James but he had predeceased John in 1796. Based on the people named in his will, this James was the brother of Margaret (Riddoch) Huie of Grange, Banffshire Scotland and Trelawny, Jamaica, the mother of George Huie of Duff House, Trelawny, but it is not known if he was related to John Riddoch of Strawberry Hill.

1. John Riddoch’s will, written September 24, 1800, proved March 13th, 1802: accessed at the Jamaica Registrar General Department (RGD) by Margianna Ruddock in 2016: Will Book 68, folio 176. Thanks to Margianna Ruddock for accessing the will at the Registrar General Department (RGD) in Jamaica.

2. John Riddoch’s death notice in The Scots magazine, Vol 64, Page 182, Jan, 1802; Conveyance of Strawberry Hill to John Riddoch from William Lewis and his wife Mary Lewis and Rebekah Dennison, a widow, in 1781: Jamaican Archives Liber 318, Folio 108. The conveyance has not been accessed but is noted in a 1938 The Gleaner newspaper article, accessed from the Newspaper Archives.

3. Will of James Riddoch of Glenislay, Westmoreland, written January 4th, 1812, proved April 25th, 1812: accessed at the RGD by Margianna Ruddock in 2016: Will Book 86, folio 33. Will of James Riddock of Mirandahill, St James, written 26th March, 1795, proved 10th November, 1796: accessed at the Jamaica RGD by Margianna Ruddock in 2016.

We are grateful to Vilma Ruddock for her assistance with compiling this entry.