Edward Gibbs

A merchant of London and Grenada and a free man of colour, partner with Peter Gibbs (q.v.) in Edward Gibbs & Co. (q.v.) of Grenada and London., with whom he was awarded part of the compensation for the enslaved people on Bon Air (as owners-in-fee) and Duquesne (proably also as owners, given that the other claimants were common across the two awards). Parts of both these awards were made to the Dumont family, and Edward Gibbs was also awarded part of the compensation for a group of enslaved people in the parish of St John as trustee for Dumont infants.

1. The partnership between the two men was dissolved in 1840. It is not clear whether Peter Gibbs was ever in Britain (Edward Gibbs certainly was). Will of Peter Gibbs merchant of St George Grenada proved 26/10/1852.

2. Edward Gibbs acted as the London agent of the free coloured community of Grenada. In 1851 aged 57 Retired West Indian merchant born West Indies he was living at 27 Berkeley Villas Lambeth, Brixton with wife Harriet aged 52 landed proprietor in the island of Grenada born Birmingham and sons John D. (clerk to colonial bankers or brokers) and Napoleon, aged 15, both born Lambeth, and two servants. Nothing further has been traced to date of Edward Gibbs in Britain: his son Napoleon died in Buckinghamshire in 1902.

3. Death 31/08/1855 "In the island of Grenada, aged 64, Edward Gibbs, esq. late of Brixton, Surrey."

T71/880 Grenada nos. 565(Bon Air) and 684 (Duquesne); T71/1379 Grenada no. 678D Special Award in Trust, Edward Gibbs of Fenchurch Street, trustee for Dumont infants.

1. London Gazette 19870 30/06/1840 p. 1550; PROB 11/2160.

2. Paul E. Lovejoy, Nicholas Rogers, Unfree labour in the Atlantic world (London: Frank Cass, 1994) p. 132; 1851 census online; National Probate Calendar 1902.

3. Gentleman's Magazine vol. 44 p. 553 (November 1855).

We are grateful to Stephen Lewis for his assistance with compiling this entry.