Francis Deas

Francis Deas (1774-1858), Provost of Falkland in Fifeshire, received one-fifth of the compensation for the Hermitage estate in St Elizabeth Jamaica as Trustee of a Band of Provision executed by Janet Maule (née Moyes); Janet Maule was the sister of James Moyes or Moise.

1. Born c. 1774 in Fife, the son of George Deas and his wife Ann nee Page. On Francis's death certificate, his father's occupation is "Manufacturer". Francis married Margaret Moyes in Edinburgh, 26/01/1803.

2. Francis Deas and his wife Margaret Moyes, daughter of David Moyes, were the parents of Sir David Deas (1807-1876) naval medical officer, and Sir George Deas (Lord Deas) (1804-1887), judge, both in the ODNB. Sir George Deas served his apprenticeship with Charles Gulland, writer, Francis Deas' co-trustee of the Band of Provison (he is given as Charles Galland in the compensation records).  

3. In 1841 Francis Deas, occupation "Ind[ependent Means]" was living at High Street, Falkland, Fife, age 60, born in Fife, with Margaret Mayes age 50 and 1 female servant. In 1851 Francis Deas, occupation "Annuitant", aged 76 was living at Millfield, Falkland, Fife with his wife Margaret M. Deas, granddaughters Elizabeth A. age 4 and Janet M. age 2 and 2 female servants. Francis Deas died 06/01/1858 age 83 in Falkland.

4. Hermitage estate is shown against estate of or late James Moyes from 1811 onwards.

5. James Moyes, the absentee owner of Hermitage (a coffee estate) died in 1802. The estate appears in Higman's Jamaica Surveyed with details of correspondence to John Wemyss, the agent of the co-heirs.

T71/870 St Elizabeth claim nos. 175A-G.

1. General Register Office for Scotland Deaths 1858 428 005. www.familysearch.org batch no. M11983-3.

2. ODNB online: G.C. Boase, rev. Claire E.J. Herrick 'Deas, Sir David (1807-1876 naval medical officer'; Gordon F. Millar 'Deas, Sir George (1804-1887), judge.'  

3. 1841 and 1851 Scottish censuses online. General Register Office for Scotland Deaths 1858 428 005.

4. Jamaica Almanacs 1811-1838.  

5. B. W. Higman, Jamaica Surveyed: Plantation Maps and Plans of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries (Kingston (Jamaica), University of the West Indies Press, 2001) pp. 183-185.