Rachel Winchester (née Walsh)

Rachel Winchester née Walsh, beneficiary of a half share of the compensation for enslaved people on Ann Grove and a 1/6th share for enslaved people on Harmony Hill, both in St George, Jamaica, for which the compensation was awarded to her husband Robert Winchester (q.v.) and her sister Eleanor West née Walsh (q.v.).

1. Born in Jamaica c. 1804, the daughter of Dominick Walsh and Anne Walsh née Cumming. Marriage at Kingston, Jamaica, "... on the 2d of January last, by the Rev. Mr Campbell, Major Winchester, 92d Highlanders, to Rachel, eldest daughter of the late D. Walsh, Esq. parish of St George" (she was his second wife). Robert died in Edinburgh in 1846. Not found in the census of 1841 but living at 3 Marlborough Terrace, Marylebone, London, in 1851, a widow, age 46, “Annuitant”, born in Jamaica, with her sister Eleanor West and her niece also called Eleanor West. At 13 Howard Place, Edinburgh in 1861, again with her sister and niece. Not found in 1871, but by 1881 she was living at Gowan Cottage, Linlithgow, Scotland, age 73, with her niece Eleanor West, a boarder in the house of Ann Burnett. Rachel Winchester died 11/10/1886 age 81 at 3 East Brighton Crescent, Edinburgh.

T71/869 St George Nos. 256A-D and 258A & B; T71/1593 pp 6-7 07/12/1835 letter to Major Robert Winchester 92 Highlanders Barrack's Perth [Scotland] under #256 and 258 re 'awards to you, your wife and Mrs Eleanor West.'

1. General Register Office for Scotland, Deaths 1886 684/01 0131; Caledonian Mercury 16/06/1827; 1851, 1861 and 1871 censuses online.

We are grateful to Peter Selley for his assistance with compiling this entry.