Robert Holden

Awarded the compensation for the enslaved people on Good Hope estate in St George, with John Laing.

Probably but not certainly Robert Holden, a London grocer in partnership with William Vanhouse and William Alers Hankey junior when the firm failed in 1831. The Vanhouse family had previously been in a partnership under the name Vanhouse, Son and Laing, Brokers.

1. Robert Holden a grocer, of the City of London gave evidence to the West India Produce Committee of House of Commons in 1817. He was shown in 1823 as Robert Holden of Baker St Portman Sq.

2. In 1851 Robert Holden widower aged 73 born Jamaica Annuitant and Railway shareowner was living alone at High Street, Stroud, Gloucestershire. Death of Robert Holden registered Q2 1852 Stroud Gloucestershire. Will of Robert Holden of Stroud Gloucestershire proved 06/08/1852. His will is simple and left his property to his daughter Arabella wife of John Potter MacQueen.

No firm links have been established between the four datapoints on Robert Holden (1817, 1823, 1831/2 and 1851/2) to show that they all refer to the same man.

St George no. 307. Given as 'John Holder' in the Parliamentary Papers. T71/869 Henry Lord Garrigues Attorney of Robert Holder [sic] and John Lang [sic]. Regd 1832 by John Fowles attorney to Robert Holden & John Laing esq. T71/163 p 108. In the 1833 Jamaica Almanac Good Hope was shown against John Fowles.

London Gazette, Issue 18824, 15/07/1831, p. 1439.

1. Times 14/03/1817 p. 3; Times 10/09/1823 p. 3.

2. 1851 census online; FreeUKGen, England and Wales Free BMD Database, Deaths, 1837-1983 [database online]; PROB 11/2157.