Sir William Snagg

Awarded compensation for the enslaved people on Carenage Estate on Canouan, St Vincent, very likely with his widowed mother, brother and sister. William Snagg junior (1807-1878) became Sir William Snagg, Chief Justice of Antigua and Montserrat and then of British Guiana. Very likely, given his Grenadan connections, to be the William Snagg who was awarded compensation for the ownership of one enslaved person in Grenada.

1. William Snagg, second son of William Snagg, late of the island of St Vincent, Esq., deceased, called to the Middle Temple 06/02/1829.

2. Appointed Solicitor General of Grenada in 1842; Attorney General of Grenada in 1847; Chief Justice of Antigua and Montserrat 1852; Knighted 1859; appointed a Member of Council of Montserrat 1859.

3. First marriage: "January 27th at Brompton William Snagg, Esq. of the Middle Temple, Barrister-at-Law, Solicitor General for the Island of Grenada to Ann, daughter of the late John Turner, Esq., of Hereford." Ann died 16/02/1861 in Antigua while Sir William Snagg was Chief Justice there.

4. Death of second wife: "On 17th Jan., at Antigua, where she had gone on account of her health, Adeline, the wife of Sir William Snagg, Chief Justice of British Guiana, only daughter of Charles Henry Okey, K.L.H., and niece of the late colonel Gurwood, C.B."

5. Third marriage: "April 19 at St. Michael's and All Angels', Paddington Sir William Snagg Chief Justice of British Guiana to Constance Marion eldest daughter of the late major Geo. Larkins, Royal Bengal Artillery."

6. "The Hon. William Snagg, Chief Justice of British Guiana, died on the 17th ult. at Clevelands, Demerara, aged seventy-one. He was the son of William Snagg, Esq., of St. Vincent, West Indies, and was called to the Bar by the Hon. Society of the Middle Temple in 1829. He was appointed Attorney-General of Grenada in 1847, was Chief Justice of Antigua and Montserrat from 1856 to 1868, and of British Guiana from 1868, till his death. He was knighted in 1859. Sir William was thrice married—firstly, 1838, to Ann, daughter of John Turner, Esq., which lady died 1861; secondly, 1865, to Adeline, daughter of Charles H. Okey, Esq., Puisne Judge of Antigua; and, thirdly, 1876, Constance Marian, daughter of the late Major John Lurkins, Bengal Artillery."

7. Will of Sir William Snagg late of Kingston in Georgetown Demerara Chief Justice of British Guiana proved 18/07/1878, effects in England under £4000.

1. Register of Admissions to the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, Volume II 1782 to 1909 (1949) p. 450

2. London Evening Standard 26/02/1842; Morning Post 28/07/1847; London Daily News 18/10/1852; Sun (London) 09/07/1859; Morning Post 19/12/1868.

3. Worcester Chronicle 01/02/1838; Oxford Journal 23/03/1861.

4. Sheffield Daily Telegraph 02/03/1870.

5. Oxford Journal 29/04/1876.

6. Illustrated London News 25/05/1878.

7. National Probate Calendar 1878.

We are grateful to Elise Aymer for her assistance with compiling this entry.