William Crichton

London merchant and alderman, 'London partner' of Alexander Houstoun & Co., and signatory of the 1782 petition of the planters and merchants and others interested in the West India islands to the King concerning the defence of the West Indies.

1. The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale includes a 'Lease between Anne, David, and Richard Gardner, all of Nevis, and Alexandra [sic] Houston, John Clerk, William Crichton, William McDowall, all of City of London, dated 1769 May 3 For a plantation, Rawlins's Land, in the parish of St. James; lists names of slaves included with the property. Seals of Anne and David Gardner.'

2. The will of William Crichton of Brabant Court Philpott Lane was proved 10/08/1782. The will reveals nothing about his business, portraying a complicated private life with three natural children (with a fourth expected) by two women, and an intended marriage to a third, Mrs Priscilla Warriker. It identified his brother as Alexander Crichton of Edinburgh.

1. Nick Bunker, An Empire on the Edge: How Britain Came to Fight America p. 145; Yale University Library Digital Collections, https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/32239112 [accessed 03/03/2022].

2. PROB 11/1094/167.