Joseph Gerrald 'political reformer'

Slave-owner on St Kitts, son and heir of Joseph Gerrald of St Kitts (q.v.). He was transported to Botany Bay for sedition in 1795, and died there shortly after arrival. He has an entry in the ODNB as 'political reformer', which says inter alia: 'In 1780 Gerrald returned to the West Indies in order to settle his inheritances. His father's extravagances during his lifetime, however, had reduced the family fortunes considerably and Gerrald's own impulsions on taking possession of the bequest diminished the estate further. Soon after arriving in the West Indies, Gerrald hurriedly married a woman by the name of Brothers [sic; possibly Brotherson], with whom he had one son and one daughter. She died within a short period of time, leaving Gerrald in ill health, relatively impoverished, and with two children to support. He then decided to move to the United States, where he was admitted to the bar and for several years practised in the courts of Pennsylvania. Early in 1788 he returned to England, travelling through several parts of the country before settling in London, where his attention was devoted to a lawsuit in relation to his former West Indian properties. In London Gerrald lodged first at Furnival's Inn, Holborn, before moving to Southampton Buildings, and then to premises close to where his family first resided, at 40 Swallow Street, Hanover Square.

Davis, Michael T. "Gerrald, Joseph (1763–1796), political reformer." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 23 Sep. 2004; Accessed 17 Dec. 2020. https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-10569.