William Postlethwaite

Awarded the compensation for Hibernia estate in British Guiana, probably after settling with two counterclaimants as bond mortgagees, Louisa Barry and Catherine Wratislaw (each of whom q.v.). He was in London in 1836, but has not yet been firmly identified.

1. In March 1842, an announcement was made that the Hibernia estate in Demerary & Essequebo was to be auctioned in April 1843 at the behest of several different groups of local creditors of William Postlethwaite, the proprietor. Postlethwaite was not further identified, but was apparently alive at that point. A William Postlethwaite married Barbara, the daughter of H. Veitch, the Consul at Madeira, in 1835, and might conceivably be the same man as the awardee.

2. On the 24th June [1859], in Denbigh-street, Belgravia, Sarah, eldest daughter of the late Wm. Postlethwaite, Esq., of Hibernia, British Guiana, and sister of the Rev. C. Postlethwaite, Vicar of Elksley, Notts.

3. A William Postlethwaite formerly of Grenada but late of Demerara had bequeathed half of the Resource estate in Demerara to John Tarleton and Daniel Backhouse of Liverpool. This William Postlethwaite had apparently died c. 1817. A further William Postlethwaite, apparently unconnected, merchant of Dominica, left land in Dominica to Mary Brown and legacies to his father John of Dalton Lancashire and brothers Thomas and John in 1805.

4. No connection has yet been established with the William Postlethwaite who lived in Hambrook House, Funtington, Sussex, a farmer aged 70 in 1841. He was a widower at the time of his marriage to Elizabeth Taunton 14 February 1832 (at St Marylebone, Middlesex). Elizabeth (1781-25 July 1834) was the daughter of Sir William Elias Taunton (31 January 1744-3 August 1825; born in Sowton, Devon, died in Grandpoint, Berkshire) and Francis Maria Grosvenor, (1748, [St. Aldate, Oxford] - 16 December 1802). Following Postlethwaite's death, Hambrook House was sold with 133 acres attached (and other items). His will makes no reference to property in British Guiana and none of his executors appears connected to the colony.

T71/887 British Guiana claim no. 2492 (Hibernia); T71/1611: letter to the Commissioners of Compensation, dated 15/01/1836, from Wm. Postlethwaite, 45 Conduit St., requesting the address of Richard Purcell, agent for the counterclaim from Louisa & Catherine Wroteslaw [sic], of Brighton, 'on my compensation of £5819 1s'; T71/1593 p.146: letter, dated 21/03/1836, from Commissioners of Compensation to Wm. Postlethwaite, 37 Manchester St., Manchester Sq., acknowledging the request that if the award was made to Wm. Postlethwaite, a certificate would only be delivered to you. States also that John O'Neill, of St Helens Place, has lodged a memorial claiming a share in any benefits under the counterclaim of Louisa Barry and Catherine Wrotesland [sic].

1. London Gazette 20102 24/05/1842 p. 1399; The Spectator Vol. 8 (1835) p. 1081.

2. Stamford Mercury - 22 July 1859, transcribed by Lisa Booth, http://sites.rootsweb.com/~nyggbs/Transcriptions/LisaB/DeathsTrans2015.pdf [accessed 12/10/2018].

3. London Gazette 17697 14/04/1821 p. 852; ibid, 17323 17/01/1818 p. 133; will of William Postlethwaite, merchant of island of Dominica, proved 30/03/1805 PROB 11/1422/308.

4. 1841 Census (Sussex, Funtington, Enumeration district 2: HO107, Piece 1099 Book: 9: Civil Parish: Funtington; County: Sussex); London Metropolitan Archives, Saint Marylebone, Register of marriages, P89/MRY1, Item 202: Ancestry.com, London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 [database online]; Times 17/10/1843.

We are grateful to Rod White for his assistance with compiling this entry.