Thomas Harris

Owner of Blue Mountain sugar estate and Blue Mountain Valley, also a sugar estate, both listed separately in the Accounts Produce. Deceased by 1741. Father-in-law of John Hanbury Taylor and Fortunatus Dwarris II (both q.v.).

Harris and Russell were listed in the Jamaican Quit Rent books for 1754 as the owners of 911 acres of land in St Thomas-in-the-East. This may be Barrow Harris or Thomas Harris; William Russel or John Russell (all q.v.).

Thomas Harris of St Thomas-in-the-East, Esquire. Estate probated in Jamaica in 1737. Slave-ownership at probate: 118 of whom 59 were listed as male and 59 as female. 41 were listed as boys, girls or children. Total value of estate at probate: £4,651.79 Jamaican currency of which £2,715 currency was the value of enslaved people. Estate valuation included £0 currency cash, £500 currency debts and £68.88 currency plate. Thomas Harris owned 959 acres of land in St Thomas-in-the-East in 1754.

The will of Thomas Harris was proved in Jamaica in 1735.

'Copy release and discharge by John Hanbury Taylor of Kingston esq. and Sarah his wife (daughter of Thomas Harris) and Fortunatus D'Warris and Frances his wife (daughter of Thomas Harris) to Malcom Laing, attorney to William Philp Perrin, of all claims on Blue Mountain under the will of Thomas Harris. Consideration £700 to both parties. Dated 1 November 1766', in the Fitzherbert of Tissington Papers, D239 M/E 16493 Derbyshire record office.

Trevor Burnard's database of Jamaican inventories; CO 142/31.

Vere Langford Oliver, Caribbeana being miscellaneous papers relating to the history, genealogy, topography, and antiquities of the British West Indies (6 vols., London, Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1910-1919) vol. 2 p. 121.

We are grateful to Stephen Mallet for his assistance with compiling this entry.