Edward Francis Coke

Probably a resident slave-owner, although attornies registered enslaved people for him in 1820 and 1823. Awarded the compensation as owner for Paynestown in St Elizabeth (given as Edward F. Coke) and counterclaimed for the Mexico estate also in St Elizabeth as legatee of William Harriott (as Edward Francis Coke). He was the husband of Juliana Harriott, a legatee for £4000 under her father William Harriott's will.

1. Posthumous child of Edward Francis Coke the elder of Paynestown, St Elizabeth, and his wife Margaret nee Smith. Born 10/01/1795 and baptised 15/09/1796 in St Elizabeth.

2. Edward Francis Coke and Juliana Harriott, daughter of Mr William Harriott of Clifton near Bristol, were married by licence at New Savanna, 09/08/1814. The places of birth of their children reflect Coke's movements after his marriage: Juliana Mary (baptised 1817 in South Stoneham, Hampshire); Edward Francis (baptised 1817 in South Stoneham); William Harriott (baptised 1818 in South Stoneham); John Chambers (baptism not found but buried at Newmarket, St Elizabeth, Jamaica, in 1823); Charlotte Ann (baptised St Elizabeth 1824); Frances (St Elizabeth 1827); Henry (St Elizabeth 1829); Eliza (St Elizabeth 1831); Matthew (born Jamaica 1832, no baptism found but record of date of birth and parentage given in British Civil Service Evidence of Age document from 1855); and Anna Pengelly (baptised 1835 in St Elizabeth).

3. The English clergyman Rev. Edward Francis Coke (c. 1817-1897) born Jamaica was the son of Edward F.[rancis] Coke of St Elizabeth. Edward Francis Coke Adm. sizar (age 18) at TRINITY, Feb. 4, 1835. S. of Edward Francis. B. in Jamaica. School, St Paul's, London. Matric. Michs. 1835. Migrated to Oxford; matric. (Brasenose College) Feb. 24, 1837, age 20; B.A. (Oxford) 1840; M.A. (Oxford) 1845. Ord. deacon (Hereford) 1840; priest, 1841; C. of All Saints', Hereford, 1840-3. P.C. of Plymstock, Devon, 1842-52. V. of St James-the-Great, Bethnal Green, London, 1852-97. Died Dec. 1897. Brother of Henry (1848). (Al. Oxon.; Hennessy.) While vicar in Bethnal Green he advertised for funds to appoint a curate for the parish, and also voiced concern about the high number of unmarried cohabiting couples. When told that the high cost of marriage was a barrier to his parishioners, "In a fortright manner he sought out such people and married them free of charge."

4. In 1851, age 19, Mathew Coke, unmarried, born Jamaica, Paynestown, was a classical teacher in a school in Streatham near London. By 1861 he had married and had two sons, and was an officer in the 10th Regiment of Foot living at 1 Prospect Terrace, Guildford, Surrey. His parents Edward F., age 66, proprietor Island of Jamaica, and his mother Juliana age 64, born Devon, were in the same household.

5. Edward Francis Coke of Paynestown was buried in St Elizabeth, 29/03/1869, aged 74.

6. Coke's son William Harriott Coke owned Union and Island sugar estates and resided at Oxford in 1878; he was a magistrate by 1870 and chairman of the St Elizabeth Municipal Board in 1876; he was Hon. W. H. Coke by the 1870s and described as late Custos of St Elizabeth on his death certificate, 1901; married, 29/03/1843, Mary Watt; died 20/08/1901, aged 84, at Mount Pleasant, St Elizabeth. Effects in England, £678 17s 10d.

Life dates are from http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Members/Rcle-com.htm [accessed 16/02/2017].

1. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online].

2. Familysearch.org, Jamaica parish records (unindexed), St Elizabeth, Baptisms, marriages, burials 1705-1820 p. 315; will of William Harriott, PROB 11/1655/331; Findmypast.co.uk, Hampshire Baptisms [database online]; Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online]; Findmypast.co.uk, British Civil Service Evidence Of Age [database online];

3. E.g. 1871 census online, which shows him at St James Bethnal Green; National Probate Calendar 1898; Ancestry.com, Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900 [database online]; there is an article highlighting his commitment to social reform, 'Edward Francis Coke and the Legend of the Red Church', East London History Society Newsletter Vol. I Issue 11 (Summer, 1996), pp. 5-6; East London History Society Newsletter vol. 1 issue 11 pp. 5-7.

4. 1851, 1861 censuses online.

5. St Elizabeth, Jamaica, parish register (familysearch.org - unindexed Baptisms, marriages, burials 1845-1871).

6. Jamaica Almanacs and Directories; St Elizabeth, Jamaica, parish register (familysearch.org - unindexed Baptisms, marriages, burials 1840-1859); Familysearch.org, Jamaica, Civil Registration, 1880-1999 [database online]; National Probate Calendar 1902.

We are grateful to Paul Hitchings for his assistance with compiling this entry.