James Johnstone

Awarded the compensation for two awards (Providence and Sage Pond and Orange Field) and a third (Velzerhoofdt, of which according to his will he owned three-fourths) in British Guiana under 'J. Johnstone.'

1. Will of James Johnstone planter of Demerara and Essequibo proved 08/12/1837. The probate record shows his death on 17/12/1836 on Pln Providence. The will describes him as a native of Ayr North Britain, and made his sole heiress his dear wife Anna Christina Johnstone born Buse at present residing at the Hague in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In the event of her death James Johnstone left his estate to the children of her son, whose full name is illegible but whose surname was Koppiers.

2. A call for creditors in February 1837 identified his estates as Providence, Sage Pond and Velzerhoofdt and one of his executors as Anna Christina Johnstone born Buse now in Europe.

3. In 1825 he was living at 5 Norfolk Street Strand London, 'a gentleman of high estimation in the United Colony of Demerara and Essequebo' and owner of the large estates of Providence and Edinburgh.

4. The will of Anna Christina Buse widow of Haarlem was proved 26/08/1837. The will [translated from the Dutch] describes her as 'Anna Christina Buse widow of Mr Pieter Hendrik Koppiers in the first instance and then of Mr James Johnstone proprietor'. She left household items and the income from 200,000 guilders in Dutch government stock yielding 2.5% p.a to her 'step-daughter' Mrs Catherina Cornelia Buse widow of Hendrik Koppiers'; her other legatees were also Dutch, notably her nephew Willem Anne [?] Buse. Pieter Hendrik Koppiers had been governor of Berbice 1778-1789 and died in Demerara in 1795.

T71/ British Guiana claim nos. 630 (Providence and Sage Pond) and 672 (Orange Field); no. 628 shows J. Johnstone for 'Velserhooft.'

1. PROB 11/1888.

2. London Gazette 19491 05/05/1837 p. 1162.

3. Report of HM Privy Council, in the case of William Rough and John Murray (1825), p. 17.

4. PROB 11/1882/355; Vere Langford Oliver, More Monumental Inscriptions: Tombstones of the British West Indies p.239.