Mary Sarah Besly

Mary Sarah Besly was baptised 08/03/1793 in Hanover. She was the daughter of Joseph Besly and Dorothy McLeod (q.v.). It has been inferred that she was the unmarried partner of William Augustus Dickson and mother to his four children born between 1810 and 1816; George Besly Dickson, Joseph Besly Dickson (q.v.), John Besly Dickson (q.v.), and Alison H. Dickson (q.v.).

Mary Sarah Besly registered enslaved people in 1817 and 1820. In 1820, she registered seven as an owner, and one as Guardian of George Besly Dickson (who probably died between 1823 and 1829).

Mary Sarah Besly between 1820 and 1823. In 1823, George Besly was Guardian of George Besly Dickson, and in the same year William Augustus Dickson and George Besly registered enslaved people as Executors of the Will of Mary Sarah Besly. Enslaved people belonging to this estate became property of three Dickson children (above) in 1832.

We are grateful to David Barker for his assistance with compiling this entry.

Jamaica, Select Births and Baptisms, 1752-1920; inferred from their names, guardianship arrangements, transfer of enslaved ‘property’ recorded in 1832, domestic/living arrangements in 1823; Hanover Census 1823, 2; Slave Registers Hanover 1817, 1820, 1823 and 1832.