Thomas Porter II

The Thomas Porter awarded the compensation for Pln Paradise in British Guiana was almost certainly this man, Thomas Porter II, brother of Henry Porter (q.v.). Thomas Porter II (1790-1857) was in turn the father of Thomas Porter III (1814-1897) and son of Thomas Porter I (d. 1815), and appears to have succeeded to his father's house at Rockbeare in Devon .

1. Will of Thomas Porter of Rockbeare House and Upper Nutwel Devon proved 12/09/1857; will of Thomas Porter of Rockbear [sic] proved 06/12/1815.

2. Thomas Porter the younger Esquire married Mary Lee Heathfield in Rockbeare, 19/12/1812.

3. There is a memorial to Thomas Porter II in Rockbeare Church. It reads: ‘In memory of Thomas Porter Esquire of Rockbeare House who died at Upper Nutwell on the 1st of May 1857, aged 66. And of Mary Lee his wife who died at the same place on 30th of April 1857, aged 66. Also of Elizabeth Emma their daughter who died June 12 1837, aged 14. In the hour of death and in the day of judgment, Good Lord deliver us.’

T71/885 British Guiana claim no. 570 (Pln Paradise). Theoretically the Thomas Porter of the compensation award could have been Thomas Porter III (c. 1814-1897), son of Thomas Porter II, but the former would in all probability still have been a minor in 1834; William D. Rubinstein, Who were the rich? A biographical dictionary of British wealth-holders Volume One 1809-1839 (London, Social Affairs Unit, 2009), reference 1815/6.

1. PROB 11/2258; PROB 11/1575.

2. Findmypast.co.uk, Devon Marriages [database online].

3. Email from Peter Wingfield-Digby 28/10/2019.

We are grateful to Peter Wingfield-Digby for his assistance with compiling this entry.