Mary Sarah Nasmyth (née Bowen)

Awarded part of the compensation for Water Valley estate in St Mary Jamaica, on which she had originally claimed the whole compensation as guardian of Robert Nasmyth deceased (Robert Nasmyth was her son, whose will was proved of '4 Hanover Street' 05/04/1817). She was the London-based widow of Thomas Nasmyth (who died c. 1806 but whose will was proved in London only in 1816) and mother of the daughters under whose marriage settlements the remainder of the compensation appears to have been paid. She was also almost certainly the sister of Robert Bowen (q.v.).  

1. A number of the claimants on Water Valley can be identified as related to the Nasmyth family by marriage. When James Irving married Judith Bowen Nasmyth (a minor) at St Marylebone 29/05/1819, consent was granted by Mary Sarah Nasmyth widow and Robert Bowen, Esq., her guardian appointed by the will of Thomas Nasmyth deceased the natural and lawful father.  When Thomas Ryder married Isabella Maxwell Nasmyth 10/05/1817 at St Marylebone, Mary S Nasmyth, James Nasmyth and Charles Ryder were witnesses.   

2. Will of Thomas Nasmyth of St James County of Cornwall Island of Jamaica proved 15/03/1816.

3. 'M.S. Nasmyth' was shown against Water Valley in 1826 and 1833.  Mary Sarah Nasmyth lived at Lower Harley Street in 1818.

4. Will of Mary Sarah Nasmyth widow of Kensington Square and formerly of Harley Street proved 26/07/1845. In the will she delineates her daughter Mary Sabina Countess de Milfort of Brussels, Judith Bowen the wife of James Irving Esq. and Thomasine, wife of Lt Col Frederick Farquharson, and left among other legacies her one-sixth share of a sugar estate in Hanover to her grandson Robert Nasmyth Irving. Her executors were her daughter Mary Sabina and her nephew William Rhodes Bernard of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

5. Ryder et al against Hare et al. Petition and appeal of Mrs Isabella Maxwell Nasmyth, otherwise Ryder, spouse of Thomas Ryder merchant in London and daughter procreate of the marriage between Thomas Nasmyth, sometime of the island of Jamaica now deceased and Mrs Mary Sarah Nasmyth now of London his widow; and the said Thomas Ryder for himself; Mary Labina [sic] Nasmyth, Judith Bowen Nasmyth and Thomasine Nasmyth, all children of the said marriage; Mary Sarah Nasmyth acting guardian of the daughters, minors but above the age of pupillarity; James Nasmyth Esq., merchant in London executor nominated by the now deceased Robert Nasmyth, son of the said Thomas Nasmyth and Mrs Mary Sarah Nasmyth and others versus Dr James Hare and others.

T71/856 St Mary No. 144A-D. Caribbean Marriages, 1591-1905," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLKK-K6F : accessed 9 September 2015), Thomas Nasmyth and Mary Sarah Bowen, 17 Jul 1790; citing St. James, Jamaica, reference item 3 p233; FHL microfilm 1,224,328; PROB 11/1591/83.

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

2. PROB 11/1578.

3. Jamaica Almanacs 1826 and 1833; evidence of Eliza Davison, housekeeper to Mrs Mary Sarah Nasmyth, Old Bailey Proceedings, trial of Richard Wellington for theft of eleven napkins, value 20s and one table-cloth value 10s, the goods of Mary Sarah Nasmyth, widow, t18180506-93 (the sentence was 7 years transportation).

4. PROB 11/2021.

5. Journals of the House of Lords Vol. 52 59 Geo III 8 Martii p. 105.

We are grateful for the help of Martin Prose with this entry.