William Donaldson of Grenada

William Donaldson was the owner in 1773 of Barbados Bay division (St George parish) Tobago Lot no. 22 (400 acres, originally bought by A. Wilson and J. Hamilton 16/05/1766), which became part of the Belmont estate with Lots nos. 11 & 12. He was of Tobago when he died, according to the attestation of William Collow in 1778.

1. Will of William Donaldson merchant of the Island of Grenada [made in 1768, and attested by William Collow in 1778] proved 08/09/1778. In the will he identified himself as only son of Anthony Donaldson writer of Kirkcudbright North Britain and Margaret his wife, both deceased. Subject to some small annuities to family members he left his entire estate, including unspecified 'slaves', to his sister Janet Donaldson, wife of John McCourty [sp?] writer of Kirkcudbright. Given the apparent spread of his interests he deliberately appointed executors in Carriacou, Tobago and Jamaica as well as London and Scotland.

'Tables showing the Lots in each Parish, numbered as originally granted - the original Grantee - the name of the Lot, or lots, if one has been acquired, and the present Possessor where there is one' and 'A Table, showing the Estates in cultivation in 1832, and their Owners, in 1832, copied from the list appended to Byres' map of that date, with those in cultivation in 1862', Henry Iles Woodcock, A History of Tobago (Ayr: Smith and Grant, 1867; new impression London: Frank Cass and Company Limited, 1971); John Fowler, A summary account of the present flourishing state of the respectable colony of Tobago in the British West Indies illustrated with a map of the island and a plan of its settlement, agreeably to the sales by his Majesty’s Commissioners (London: A Grant, 1774).

1. PROB 11/1045/156.