Frances Dent (née Sanders)

Awarded part of the compensation for the enslaved people on the Grove estate in Nevis, after counter-claiming for the whole compensation as executrix of Mary Butler, in turn the legatee of Frances Butler. Frances Dent was the contingent heir of Mary Butler, and inherited on Mary's death in 1823, after Mary's sister and direct heir had predeceased her. The reason for Mary Butler choosing Frances Dent as the contingent legatee was not shown in the will and the connection has not yet been traced, although Frances Dent had been born in the West Indies.

1. Digby Dent married Frances Butler Sanders 23/11/1786 at St Thomas, Middle Island, St Kitts. Frances (born 1788), George (born 1790), Digby (born 1791), Charles Calmady (born 1793) and Douglas (born 1795), children of Digby and Frances Dent, all baptised in Stoke Damerel, Plymouth, 18/06/1795. Digby Dent was buried at Stoke Damerel, 17/11/1798, aged 34 years. In his will written in 1796 and proved in 1798, Lieut. Digby Dent bequeathed his whole estate to his wife Frances Butler Dent for life and thereafter to be equally divided amongst his children. Charlotte (born 1798), daughter of Digby and Frances Dent, was baptised in Stoke Damerel in 1800.

2. In 1851 Frances Dent aged 81 'mother', widow of Captain [R.N], born West Indies was living at 17 James Terrace Stoke Damerel Devon with son Douglas Dent Redundant Civil List ['Army' added as a note] aged 55 born 'Devon, Stoke' and his family. In 1841 the family, headed by Frances Dent, had been as Officer's Row Dockyards in Stoke Damerel. The death of a Frances Dent was registered at Plymouth Q3 1856.

3. Mary Butler spinster of Greenwich and Frances Butler the younger also of Greenwich are shown as the children of John Butler and Frances Butler the elder in an indenture of 26/12/1772 concerning the late John Butler's estates in Nevis, to which Duke Butler was also a party. Will of Frances Butler widow of Greenwich Kent proved 06/10/1778. Will of Frances Butler spinster of Greenwich Kent proved 27/05/1814. Will of Mary Butler spinster of Greenwich Kent proved 08/01/1823.

T71/882 Nevis no. 100 Counterclaims from among others: Frances Dent of Stoke Damerel, Devon, widow executrix of Mary Butler who was universal devisee and legatee of Frances Butler for the whole compensation; Rev. William Butler [the son of Duke Butler].

1. Vere Langford Oliver, Caribbeana being miscellaneous papers relating to the history, genealogy, topography, and antiquities of the British West Indies (6 vols., London, Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1910-1919) vol. 4 (supplement) p. 30; Findmypast.co.uk, Devon Burials [database online]; PROB 11/1316/34; Findmypast.co.uk, Devon Baptisms [database online].

2. 1841 and 1851 census online; FreeUKGen, England and Wales Free BMD Database, Deaths, 1837-1983 [database online].

3. Vere Langford Oliver, Caribbeana being miscellaneous papers relating to the history, genealogy, topography, and antiquities of the British West Indies (6 vols., London, Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1910-1919), Vol. II p. 23; PROB 11/1046; PROB 11/1556; PROB 11/1665.

We are grateful to Peter Selley for his assistance with compiling this entry.