James Hozier

Kingston merchant, in London by 1841, partner in Atkinson & Hozier (q.v.), a successor firm to a partnership which (apparently with the 6th Earl of Balcarres as silent partner when he was Governor of Jamaica) bought enslaved people and contracted them to the British authorities to work in military camps etc. The arrangement continued down to the 7th Earl of Balcarres (q.v.).

1. In 1841 James Hozier aged 48 merch[ant] born Scotland Ireland or Foreign Parts was living at Sussex Place, Regents Park, with a single servant. He married Jane Morison, daughter of John Morison (a West India planter), in Bath Abbey 04/04/1842. The marriage record gives his father as Thomas Hozier, an attorney at law. Jane Morison was the sister of Mary Morison, a 'free quadroon', and her niece Jane Morison Besset nee Gunter was one of the witnesses.

2. James Hozier of 1 Northwick Terrace St John's Wood Road was buried at All Souls Kensal Green 28/11/1846 aged 53: his memorial inscription reads 'Sacred to the memory of James Hozier, formerly of Kingston, Jamaica, who departed this life on the 22nd November 1846, aged 53 years'. The only will of the same period is the will of James Hozier 'of Clifton Bristol' proved 10/12/1846, which included a number of legacies to individuals in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway and elsewhere totalling £16,000. Although the will made no reference to Jamaica, it appears that this is probably the same man as the man of the compensation awards, given that (a) he made his wife Jane sole executor [see below] and (b) James Hozier 'merchant of London' is referred to in several sources in connection with philanthropic giving to institutions in Ballinasloe.

3. When Jane Hozier widow of Westbourne Terrace was married to James O'Loughlin at on 11/09/1849 at Trinity Church Paddington, her father was given as John Morrison deceased West India planter, and one of the witnesses was Netlam Tory (q.v.), a former merchant of Kingston Jamaica.

4. NB. No connection has been established between this James Hozier of Atkinson, Hozier and James Hozier of Mauldsley or Maudslie, whose son William was the first Baron Newlands.

London Gazette, Issue 20343, 14/05/1844 p. 1648 : 'Notice is hereby given that the Partnership lately subsisting between George Atkinson of Kingston Jamaica, James Hozier of Sussex Place Regents Park, London and Charles MacGregor of Kingston Jamaica carrying on business as Merchants under the firm of Atkinson, Hozier and Co. In Kingston Jamaica, became dissolved on the 31st of December last, by effluxion of time.' Signed: George Atkinson Kingston Jamaica 8th April 1844; James Hozier 9th May 1844; C. MacGregor Kingston Jamaica 8th April 1844.

1. 1841 census online. Hozier's first apparent presence in directories is in Robson's London Directory and Court Guide 1840 Jas Hozer [sic] 3 Sussex Pl. Regents Park; 1844 P.O. 3 Sussex Place James Hozier, Esq.; and James Hozier mercht. Nth & Sth American coffee house. 1845 3 Sussex Place James Hozier, and James Hozier merchant Nth & Sth American Coffee House. No entry in the 1846 Royal Blue Book or either the Court or Commercial sections of the 1847 P.O. Directory. Ancestry.com, Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 [database online].

2. Ancestry.com, London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980 [database online]; PROB 11/2046; e.g. The Tablet 15/08/1846 p. 6; London Ladys Newspaper 21/07/1849 p. 7, which showed a gift from the widow of James Hozier. Memorial inscription supplied by David Barker, 09/11/2016.

3. Ancestry.com, London, England, Marriages and Banns,1754-1921 [database online].

4. Burke's Landed Gentry (1855) Hozier of Newlands. James Hozier of Newlands and Mauldlsey Castle Co. Newark m. Catherine-Margaret, 2nd daughter of Sir William Feilden bart. (of Feniscowles: so created 1846). His grandfather called Maclehose acquired a fortune in the city of Glasgow and in 1784 purchased Newlands from Mr Gray of Dalmarnock and Carntyne. Mr Hozier was succeeded by his son who abandoned his surname and adopted Hozier. He married the daughter of Mr Coats, provost of Glasgow, and by her had son and heir, present James Hozier of Newlands who has acquired by purchase other properties, including Mauldlsey Castle. Burke's Landed Gentry 1871 'Hozier of Mauldlsie Castle' shows James Hozier of Mauldsley Castle and St Enoch's and as lineage William Hozier of Newlands b. 1758, ('son of a magistrate of Glasgow') m. (1) Jean Campbell daughter of John Campbell of Clathick (James Hozier's mother) and (2) Lilias, daughter of John Wallace of Kelly. 'Mr Hozier (=William) died in 1841'. (James Hozier 1791-1878 was a Scottish advocate).]

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