Thomas Yard

Formerly in Barbados but resident in Britain by the mid-1820s, awarded the compensation for the enslaved people on Cottage, Groves and a third estate, probably Forster Hall, all on Barbados.

1. In 1841 Thomas Yard aged 55 'Ind.' was living at Bucklands House [sic], Newchurch, Ryde, Isle of Wight with son Frederick 15 'Army' and daughters Eliza and Adelaide, both 20, all born outside the parish, and 7 servants. Later censuses show Adelaide Yard as born in Barbados c. 1807.

2. Thomas Yard, Southampton [Hampshire] was a subscriber to Incorporated Society for Religious Instruction of Negro Slaves in 1824.  

3. In 1851 Alleyne Yard aged 40 West India Proprietor born Barbados was living at Buckland Grange with wife Henrietta aged 39 born London, and daughter Henrietta 6 and son Alleyne aged 4, both born Isle of Wight, and 7 servants.  Alleyne Cox Yard 1st son Thomas Yard of Barbados matriculated Exeter College Oxford 1827 aged 18; [Rev.] Thomas Yard 2nd son of Thomas Yard of Barbados matriculated Exeter College Oxford 1829 aged 18; [Rev.] George Beckwith Yard 3rd son of Thomas Yard sometime of Barbados born 1812, matriculated 1831 Trinity Cambridge, 'Friend of Keble and other Oxford Movement leaders.' Charles Yard, widower aged 36 born Barbados 'painter [sic] in W.I.' living at 32 Edward Street Marylebone in 1851 was probably another son.

4. The expenses on Thomas Yard's three estates rose sharply during and after Apprenticeship, reflecting the shift to waged labour, but he also appears to have invested in new livestock and equipment in this period.

5. Will of Thomas Yard of Buckland Grange Isle of Wight Hampshire proved 21/03/1844. Under the will he left £4000 to each of his six younger children (Thomas; George Beckwith; Charles; Frederick; Eliza; and Adelaide) secured on the Cottage estate, and the estate itself to his eldest son Alleyne Cox Yard.

T71/898 Barbados nos. 3878, 3879 and 4041.

1. 1841 census online; 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1881 censuses online; PROB 11/1996.

2. Times 25/03/1824 p. 2.

3. 1851 census online; Ancestry.com, Oxford University Alumni, 1500-1886 [database online]; Ancestry.com, Cambridge University Alumni 1261-1900 [database online].

4. Kathleen Mary Butler, The economics of Emancipation: Jamaica and Barbados 1823-1843 (Chapel Hill and London, University of North Carolina Press, 1995) pp. 127-8.

5. PROB 11/1996/132; The Barbados Museum and Historical Society library holds an Accounts Ledger for Cottage, Grove and Forster Hall, 1817-1856.