William Cruickshank

William Cruickshank of No. 9 George Street Edinburgh (substituted for Arbroath) was the addressee of a letter from Henry Haldane in Spanish Town dated 12/03/1812 that presented final balances for the accounts current of Cruickshank with Haldane, the former having transferred his attorneyship or representation to Hugh Fraser of Spanish Town. The letter also included separate balances for the accounts current of the estate of George Cruickshank with Haldane. The accounts imply that Cruickshank had or had had a small-scale merchant business in Jamaica, including the shipping of two puncheons of rum on his account. To date no slave-ownership has been traced for William Cruickshank.

1. The will of William Cruickshank [at present resident at] Arbroath [lately of the island of Jamaica] was made in January 1817 and proved 14/10/1817. He left debts owed to him by Charles Lyell under a bond of 17/11/1813 to his sister Sabine and by William Haldane (q.v.) under a note of 25/09/1811 for £500 to his sisters Jean or Jain and Isabell. From the money he had with Milligan Robertson of London he left £100 to Ann Cruickshank, wife of Robert Cruickshank of Gosport Hampshire and the remainder to George Cruickshank bookseller of Liverpool and the latter's sons. Hugh Fraser of Spanish Town was one of his executors.

1. PROB 11/1597/175.

We are grateful to Keith Otto for providing images and a transcript of the letter and accounts from Henry Haldane to William Cruickshank dated Spanish Town 12th March 1812.