Edward Mullings

1. Edward Mullings had three children with Susanna Mullings, "a free Negro"; the children John Ennis, Mary and Ann were baptised in St Elizabeth, 30/09/1792, along with Susanna.

2. Edward Mullings owned considerable land holdings in St. Elizabeth. During the last years of his life he must have felt the need to provide for the future for his grandchildren. In an indenture dated 12/7/1815, he granted to his daughter Ann's infant sons, Thomas Joseph Swaby and John Ennis Mullings Swaby, 40 acres of land in St. Elizabeth, for the consideration of ten shillings. Ann’s brother John Ennis Mullings died sometime prior to 1819. Her sister Mary Mullings married John Frederick Bromfield on (20/3/1805). The last will and testament of Edward Mullings written on 20/10/1818, is appreciably in legal terms a conventional will of the period, duly witnessed, sealed and registered. It was proved on 10/2/1819, and named Thomas Swaby and John Frederick Bromfield as executors. His main heirs were his wife, daughters and elder granddaughters. The relationship between Edward Mullings and Susanna was that of common-law marriage. He left her two enslaved women for the term of her natural life, after which the enslaved women were to be transferred to their granddaughter Mary Ann Swaby. To his eldest grandchildren, Mary Ann Swaby and Sophia Ann Bromfield, he bequeathed a coffee plantation called Fort Rose and a mountain land called the Lodge along with seven enslaved people. The properties and enslaved people were to be held as tenants in common. Ann Swaby and Mary Bromfield inherited the remainder of Mullings’ estate including properties called Brown’s Hill, Pedro, and Mount Unity as tenants in common.

3. By means of a deed notarized 5/6/1820 an equitable arrangement was made between the Swaby and Bromfield families whereby the inherited properties, including those of the granddaughters, were divided between the respective joint holders. This division is evident in the Jamaica almanacs of this period. Although inherited in 1819, Brown’s Hill does not reappear in the Jamaican almanac until 1826, when it is listed under Mary Ann Swaby. This listing for Brown’s Hill includes 12 enslaved people and 2 stock. According to the 1845 Jamaica Almanac, Brown’s Hill subsequent to the division was 100 acres. By 1829, Hope Vale, Thomas Swaby’s property holding, may have been sold as it is no longer listed in the Jamaica Almanac under St. Elizabeth. Instead, an entry for Ann Swaby, proprietor of Brown’s Hill, appears. The 1829 listing for Brown’s hill includes 12 enslaved people and 2 stock.

1. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online].

2. 1. LOS Wills: Vol 95 folio 257/Registrar’s General Department St Catherine [information provided by Denny Swaby, email 09/01/2018].
3. 1. Jamaican Almanacs 1817, 1821, 1826, 1845 [email from Denny Swaby].

We are grateful to Denny Swaby for his assistance with compiling this entry.