Dr William Munro

Thomas Ansell was awarded part of the compensation for Foulis plantation in British Guiana as executor of William Munro (his father-in-law); the bulk of the compensation in the award went to the British merchant firm of Thomas and John Daniel.

1. Dr William Munro was a Scottish physician, former partner of Colin Chisholm, owned Foulis plantation in Berbice from at least 1798. In 1823 he was accused of over-working and under-feeding his slaves: 'The fiscal proceeded to the estate, where he says he ascertained that the complaints were in a large measure groundless, but that some irregularities were chargeable on the overseers, who were admonished, and threatened with dismissal if they were not more attentive in future.' See Slaves and Highlanders for more details of conditions on Munro's estates.

2. Thomas Joseph Ansell married Eliza [sic] Munro at St Marylebone 26/09/1821. One of the witnesses was William Munro. From the 1851 census (where she was living at Harley Place Stratford-Le-Bow), Eliza Munro was born c. 1799 in Berbice.

3. '[Death] At Bow, of cholera, aged 80, W. Munro, esq., of Berbice.' The will of William Munro, Planter of Berbice, South America, was proved in London 28/07/1832. In the will he is described as of Berbice 'at present residing at Marshall Thompsons Hotel Cavendish Square London'. The will gives Thomas Ansell as executor and refers to his wife Elizabeth as William Munro's daughter: she is the beneficiary.

T71/885 British Guiana claim no. 166.

1. http://www.spanglefish.com/slavesandhighlanders/index.asp?pageid=171372.

2. Ancestry.com, London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 [database online]. 1851 census online.

3. Gentleman's Magazine, Volume 102 Part 2 (July 1832) p. 91. PROB 11/1803/68.