Peter Young

Scottish-born slave- and plantation-owner; in Demerara in the 1830s and 1840s but returned to Scotland by 1861.

1. Born in Kircudbright, Scotland, c. 1795, recorded as a slave-owner on Waterloo estate in Demerara in 1832 by his co-owner Hugh McLeod.

2. Married to Margaret Blair Smith; they had 5 children, all born in Demerara, between 1839 and 1846. In the census of 1861 he was living at Lewisvale, Linkfield, Musselburgh, age 66, Retired Planter, born Kirkcudbright, with his 3 youngest children.

3. In his will he names James Adam Smith, merchant in London, John Halyburton King at the Lodge, Balerno, near Edinburgh and William Murray Young, banker in Edinburgh, as his trustees and executors. After paying lawful debts and funeral expenses he orders his executors to realise and recover the whole property heritable and movable of any description and to invest the proceeds upon first landed or other securities in Scotland and to divide the annual interest among his five children (named as in 2., above), payable twice-yearly. When his youngest child reaches the age of 21, his trustees and executors should divide his whole estate equally among his five children or such of his children shall be surviving.

4. Peter Young, Retired Demerara Proprietor, Widower of Margaret Blair Smith, died 02/09/1866 at Grange Bank Cottage, Morningside, Edinburgh. His death certificate was signed by W. M. Young and gives his parents' names as unknown.

5. The ages and place of birth of his 2 eldest children are shown in the census of 1881 where George Rainy Young was living at Stumps Hill, Woodthorpe, Lewisham (occupation East India Merchant) with his wife, children and his two sisters.

1. http://www.spanglefish.com/slavesandhighlanders/index.asp?pageid=485285 [accessed 24/06/2013]. T71/431 p. 1041.

2. SC70/4/106. 1861 census online.

3. SC70/4/106.

4. General Register Office for Scotland Deaths 1866 685/05 0517.

5. 1881 census online.

We are grateful to David Alston for his assistance in compiling this entry.