John Malcolm of Argyle Estate, Jamaica

Profile & Legacies Summary

???? - 1830

Biography

Resident slave-owner in Jamaica, apparently selling his estates c. 1829 and dying c. 1830. Son of George Malcolm (q.v.)

Will of John Malcolm of Hanover, Jamaica proved 22/07/1834. Under the will, he left £2000 each to his five reputed children Malcolm, Sarah Johnson Malcolm, Mary Ann Malcolm, Edgar Corrie Malcolm and Neil Malcolm at age 21 or marriage, the interest in the meantime to be paid to their mother Mary Johnson for their support. He attached a list of enslaved people and stock to whom and to which he was heir at law of his mother, his father having been tenant-for-life of them: his father had mortgaged these enslaved people and stock to 'my cousin Neill Malcolm esq.', and because he said he did not want the enslaved people to be moved he left them to Neill Malcolm on condition that Neill Malcolm provide an annuity of £200 p.a. to John's housekeeper Mary Johnson; otherwise the enslaved people should devolve to his natural children on condition that they grant their mother an annuity of £250 p.a. His executors included his cousin Neill Malcolm and Neill Malcolm the younger. Although there is room for ambiguity, it appears likely that the mortgagee was Neill Malcolm 12th of Poltalloch rather than Neill Malcolm son of Donald Malcolm.

Sources

PROB 11/1834/180.

We are grateful to Paul Hitchings for his assistance with compiling this entry.

Further Information

Will

Will of John Malcolm of Argyll transcribed at http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Members/w/wills-09.htm.

[PRO London, PROB 11/1834]

I John Malcolm of Argyll in the parish of Hanover County of Cornwall and Island of Jamaica do make this my last will and testament...and to the intents and purposes following make liable all my estate. Whereas I own many of the Negroes and other slaves on Argyll estate and pen and a number of mules and horses stock not under any mortgage and I also own as heir at law to my mother some slaves of which my late dear father was the tenant by the curtesy during his life and were mortgaged to my dear cousin Neil Malcolm Esquire which appear in the list annexed with an X after their names and I shall not wish that any of the above mentioned slaves or stock should be removed from the properties. I bequeath all the above mentioned slaves and stock to Neil Malcolm his heirs and assigns on the express condition that he shall pay to my housekeeper Mary Johnson an annuity of £2,000 [sic - original states £200] Sterling during the term of her natural life. And to each of my reputed children George Malcolm, Sarah Johnson Malcolm, Mary Ann Malcolm, Edgar Corrie Malcolm and Neil Malcolm the sum of £2,000 money of Great Britain when they attain the age of twenty one years or the day of their marriage if sooner In the meantime the interest of such sums is to be paid to their mother Mary Johnson for their education and support Should my dear cousin not accept to these conditions then I bequeath all the above mentioned slaves and stock to my reputed children their heirs and assigns for ever on the condition that they allow Mary Johnson an annuity of £250 during her natural life taking as tenants in common and not as joint tenants I bequeath to Mary Johnson all my draft and riding horses and mules and carriages and all the silver and other plate, jewels, trinkets, monies, Island ---- linen, cutlery and glassware, liquors and furniture and every description of chattels in my house. I bequeath to my dear Godchildren David Corrie, Cuthbert Malcolm, John Malcolm Corrie and Mary Bell Ruthven £50 sterling each to buy a ring in remembrance of me. All the remainder of my estate I bequeath to my dear cousin Neil Malcolm Esquire his heirs and executors I nominate the said Neil Malcolm and Neil Malcolm the younger, Samuel Hibbert, Richard Chambers, Henry Chambers and Edgar Corrie Esquires to be executors of this my last will

Signed by John Malcolm 2nd November 1829 Witnesses, H. Chambers, F.J. Welch, Percival Burton

Associated Estates (11)

The dates listed below have different categories as denoted by the letters in the brackets following each date. Here is a key to explain those letter codes: