James Esdaile

Awarded part of the compensation for the Rose Hall estate in Jamaica. Tentatively identified as grandson of Sir James Esdaile the banker, son of James Esdaile (d. 1812) and nephew of William Esdaile (q.v.) and Peter Esdaile (q.v.), and if so with life-dates of 1780-1864.

1. In 1789 the London grocers Davison & Newman bought a 4/18 share in Rose Hall; 'the other owners were Sir James Esdaile [1714-93] and the Lee family, each of whom held a 7/18 share.'  Davison left his share to Abram Newman, who left it to his daughters, from whom William Thwaytes, the surviving partner bought it in 1811.  In Mr Thwaytes' time, Richard Lee was the London agent of the estate, 'taking over the sugar shipments' [from Davison & Newman?] and rendering half-yearly accounts. After Mr Thwaytes' death in 1834, his share passed to his heir-at-law, his nephew Wm Thwaytes,  and so out of the hands of the firm, because Thwaytes's will (under which he left his freehold property including Rose Hall to his widow) was not attested, so his widow received only  a third-share as dower in her lifetime.

2. In 1819, the creditors of Benjamin Travers and James Esdaile the younger late of Queen Street Cheapside sugar merchants and co-partners [who were bankrupt on 1806] were asked to approve or reject a proposal from James Esdaile to pay a sum of money to have the assignees in bankruptcy relinquish any claim on the share of Rose Hall estate in Jamaica.

1. Owen Rutter, At the Three Sugar Loaves and Crown. A brief history of the firm of Messrs. Davison, Newman & Company now incorporated with the West India Produce Association Limited (London, Davison, Newman & Co., 1938), pp. 26-8, 34.

2. London Gazette 17467 10 April 1819 p. 645; the original bankruptcy was reported in London Gazette 15911 19 April 1806 p. 501.