James Lewis Davy

1. Son of James Davy (1765-1825) and brother of John (q.v.). James and Edward Davy (1776-1803) from Countess Wear, then part of Topsham on the River Exe outside Exeter went to Jamaica probably in the 1790s and established coffee and pimento estates. Edward died 1803/4, left estate Topsham to his brother in Devon, Thomas Davy (q.v.). Topsham was sold about 1824. James Lewis Davy became Custos Rotulorum in 1839 and died 1840 aged 42.

2. James Lewis Davy, son of James Davy Esquire and Hannah his wife, was born 15/07/1799 and baptised 24/01/1800 in St Elizabeth, Jamaica. His sisters Mary Elizabeth (born 1796) and Anne Maria (born 1798) were baptised the same day as James.

3. James Lewis Davy and John Davy were parties with John Coley, all as executors of James Davy, to an appeal to the Privy Council from the Court of Chancery of Jamaica brought by Stephen Denton in 'Denton v Davy' 1836.

4. James Lewis Davy "of the Island of Jamaica, sojourner in the parish of Tormorham, bachelor" married the Margaretta Parsons Abell nee Neyle, widow of William Abell, in Tormorham, Devon, by licence 23/06/1834. William Abell died at sea in December 1832 and Davy was one of the executors of Abell's will.

5. Death "Dec. 3, at Kingston, in the 42nd year of his age (sic), James Lewis Davy, Esq., M.D., Custos Rotulorum of Manchester, in the Island of Jamaica."

1. Gillian Allen, 'Slavery and two Ottery St Mary families', heritage - Journal of the Ottery St Mary Heritage Society No. 30 Summer 2009 pp. 3-5 [cf also Gillian Allen's article 'Two Devon families in Jamaica: a local association with slavery', Maritime South West No. 21 (2008)]. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online].

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

3. Edmund F. Moore, Reports of Cases heard and determined by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council Vol. 1 (1836-7) pp. 15-43.

4. Findmypast.co.uk, Devon Marriages [database online]; PROB 11/1948/120.

5. Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 20/02/1841.

We are grateful to Robert Lancashire and Peter Selley for their assistance with compiling this entry.