Thomas Williams

Co-owner with Campbell Faloon of the Prospect and Smithson Place estates in Berbice, which the two men purchased on the eve of Emancipation. Identified in the will of Campbell Faloon (dated October 1840, of which Williams was an executor) as of Grove End Road, St Johns Wood London. He said he had been in Berbice for some 15 years until he left in May 1832 when he gave evidence to the House of Lords Committee on Colonial Slavery in 1833. This would make him relatively young to have travelled there if the implied date of birth of 1806 from the census records of 1861 and 1871 is correct.

1. In 1841 Thomas Williams and his wife Matilda were shown at Grove End Road St John aged 40 and 30 respectively. Thomas Williams of Berbice had married Matilda, eldest daughter of S.J. Pittar of Dublin and Bentinck Street Barrister in 1838 at St Marylebone. In 1861 and 1871 the couple were at 37 Grove End Road, he no employment, aged 55/65 born Marylebone/London and she born Ireland aged 45/55, in each case with 3 servants. Thomas Williams of 37 Grove End Road died 13/06/1875 at 37 Grove End Road, leaving effects under £45,000: administration of his will was granted to his widow Matilda the relict and universal legatee 10/08/1875. In 1881 Matilda Williams widow was still at 37 Grove End Road, aged 70, 'Bonds and Railway Shares', born Co. Antrim; in 1891 she was again at the same address aged 71 [sic]. She died of 37 Grove End Road 04/04/1897 or 14/04/1897 leaving £62,266 4s 7d (resworn from £60,320 5s 10d).

Anti-slavery Monthly Reporter Vols. 5-6 no.14 [No. 105] February 1833 p. 523. A Thomas Williams was shown as the owner of Cane Garden in Berbice in 1817, but could not have been the same man as the man of this entry if the latter's implied date of birth of c. 1806 was even approximately correct.

1. 1841, 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891 censuses online; Gentleman's Magazine Vol 45 (July 1838) p.91; National Probate Calendar 1875 and 1897.