UCL

James Davis

Profile & Legacies Summary

???? - 2nd Aug 1837

Claimant or beneficiary

Biography

Solicitor, co-trustee (with Rev. Adam Sedgwick, q.v.) of Ann Sill (q.v.), a West Yorkshire landowner who claimed compensation as owner of Providence estate in St James Jamaica, but then died: the compensation was awarded to her trustees.   

  1. Baptised 20/05/1759 at Melling near Hornby, Lancashire, son of James and Ann Davis, older brother John. Ann Davis died in 1763 and James Davis senior married again 11/1764 to Margaret Collinson at Melling. At the time of his marriage, James Davis senior was a husbandman of the parish of Tunstall, witnesses John Parkinson and John Sutton [illit.]. Could the second witness be John Sutton Minot (q.v.)? Half-brothers Marmaduke (1765) and Thomas (1770) baptised in Tunstall.

  2. Described as a 'hypocritical monster' in a lurid account of his alleged mismanagement of the affairs of Ann Sill in an account published in 1838.


Sources

T71/863 St James claim no. 546.

  1. Email from Diane Elphick, 16/02/2012.

  2. William Howitt, The Rural Life of England (1838) pp. 316-320.

We are grateful to Diane Elphick of the Sedbergh Local History Society for her assistance in compiling this entry.

Further Information

Absentee?
British/Irish
Children
d.s.p.
Will

Will proved at York, 24/10/1837, effects under £35,000. Numerous bequests.

1/8 to half brother Marmaduke Davis; 1/8 to half brother Joshua Davis; 6/8 to great-nephew John Davis of London, Upholsterer, son of Bryan Davis deceased.

Will signed 21/04/1834. Codicil added 01/03/1837 revoking many bequests: 'From various Losses which I have lately sustained I find that I cannot make the Provision for my Friends and Relations which I contemplated.'

Wealth at death
[Under £35,000]
Occupation
Lawyer

Associated Claims (1)

Jamaica St James 546 (Providence)
£3,783 1s 8d
Awardee (Trustee)
Details

Associated Estates (1)

The dates listed below have different categories as denoted by the letters in the brackets following each date. Here is a key to explain those letter codes:

  • SD - Association Start Date
  • SY - Association Start Year
  • EA - Earliest Known Association
  • ED - Association End Date
  • EY - Association End Year
  • LA - Latest Known Association
1834 [EA] - → Other
Providence [ Jamaica | St James ]