James France France

Awarded the bulk of the compensation for the Ludlow estate in Clarendon Jamaica with John Cropper as trustees of Thomas France, James France France's father. James France France was also a beneficiary of the will as far as the Jamaica property was concerned but his father noted that James, his eldedst son, had been 'very amply' provided for under the will of Thomas' maternal uncle, James France (d. 1795).

1. Son of Thomas Hayhurst France (1762-1815) and Elizabeth Cropper. His father had changed his name from Hayhurst in accordance with the will of his maternal uncle, James France of Everton (died 1795). James France France left £100,000 personalty at his death in 1869.

2. Thomas Hayhurst of Liverpool, son of Richard Hayhurst of the same place, merchant, by Ellen his wife only sister of James France, late of Everton deceased, granted right to surname and arms of France. In turn, Thomas France, second but eldest surviving son of Thomas France (formerly Thomas Hayhurst), in compliance with a declaration contained in the will of his brother James France France, late of Bostock Hall, assumed the use of the surname Hayhurst, in addition to and after that of France, and died in 1889 leaving £133,562. James France France's third brother, Henry Hayhurst Hayhurst (1806-1875) left £100,000.    

3. The Ludlow estate was recorded as belonging to France Fletcher & Company in the 1811 Jamaica Almanac, and to Samuel Poole by 1825.

4. There was a single voyage from Liverpool to Jamaica in 1799 owned by Thomas France, 'Pool' and Fletcher.

5. Thomas France was a partner in France, Fletcher Yates & Co. (Thomas France, Thomas Fletcher, Joseph Brooks Yates, Samuel Poole junior and John Henry Matthews), dissolved in consequence of the death of Thomas France on the 8th January last  [notice dated Liverpool December 4 1815], business continued by Thomas Fletcher, Joseph Brooks Yates and Samuel Poole junior (James France France, John Cropper and Jonathan Brooks were all executors of Thomas France).

T71/915 Clarendon no. 145A; will of Thomas France of Bostock Hall proved 11/03/1815, PROB 11/1566/180.

1. William D. Rubinstein, Who were the rich? 1860- (Volumes 3 and 4, manuscripts in preparation), reference 1869/36.

2. London Gazette, Issue 13819, 03/10/1795, p. 1033; London Gazette, Issue 23670, 21/10/1870, p. 4553; National Probate Caendar 1890; Rubinstein 1876/66.

3. Jamaica Almanac 1811.

4. www.slavevoyages.org.

5. London Gazette, Issue 17093, 23/12/1815, p. 2554.