Lt Col
Ernest George Ffrench M.D, Ch.B, FRCS(Edinburgh),FRCP(London)
"a distinguished son of Jamaica"
"I am proud of him as a Jamaican"
Just 2
years ago in spring 2009, I knew very little about my grandfather Dr Ernest G
Ffrench. He died 11 years before I was born and my own father died nearly 30
years ago. If only I had talked to him about his parents before he died.
I had been told that Ernest had been an eminent Harley Street Doctor, who
had eloped with a young American society girl and that for some reason he had
been born in Spanish Town, Jamaica--the son of Arthur Ffrench a "Customs
Official" and Jane Victoria(Nee Smith) his wife who apparently came from a
prominent Irish family. I supposed they had been expatriate civil servants,
posted temporarily to Jamaica.
It was only after a trip to Ireland
with my siblings, to research our "Irish roots" that it became
apparent that all was not what it seemed. There were simply no records either
of Jane, Arthur or their marriage. So I decided to do a little research on my
grandfather and get his birth/baptism record-- from Jamaica. Imagine my surprise when
it read "Illegitimate and colored"!
Little did I expect that the Ffrench's were a long established Jamaican
family,(there was even a Lieut Thomas French in the 1655 Penn/Venables force
which took Jamaica from the Spanish) with variously coloured members, some of
whom appear descended from slaves; that Ernest's mother Jane(also
illegitimate!) was a serious business woman and Lodging House keeper in
Kingston, with links to Mary Seacole, "the black Florence
Nightingale" and that Ernest's father Arthur had actually married another
woman & had 5 other Jamaican children with her, all of whom he abandoned,&
fled Jamaica to a working mens' hostel in East London, eventually dying alone
in a poor part of Clapham, London.
And Ernest's Jewish-American wife Adele Carvalho, had a famous father, David
Carvalho a handwriting expert who had testified in the Dreyfus trial in Paris,
and a grandfather Solomon Carvalho who had crossed the US on horseback with Col
Fremont's expedition and painted Abraham Lincoln!
The more I discovered about Ernest the more impressed I became by his journey
from such an unpromising start in life. We keepsearching but this is the story
uncovered--so far. I do hope you enjoy it!
Nancy Atkinson(Nee Ffrench) June 28 2011
This has
been a wonderfully collaborative effort so firstly thanks to my “old family” my sister
Susan Lamb & my brother Simon Ffrench,
plus my “new family” viz;
Michael Ffrench, Canada;
Big J and Aubrey Ffrench, Don Kemeel Jones
& Icy in Jamaica;
Donna Marie Jones-Cover in Florida
David L Ffrench
Philadelphia (all these Ffrench);
Sally Graff in Louisiana (Carvalho);
Brenda McKeever, Ireland,
Roseanne & Lana Jeffers UK (all Smiths)
+ those who encouraged me, gave me leads or
contributed to "the truth"
Prof Elizabeth Anionwu (Seacole Memorial Statue
Foundation),
Dr Douglas J Austin, Cambridge ( Seacole research)
Nicole Bryan (Library of Jamaica)
Steve Campbell (RGD,
SpanishTown),
Dr Barry Davidson,
Cirencester, Uk
(Seacole research)
Terri England (Family
History Researcher),
Mara French ( French Family Association),
Julia French-Wood (French
family DNA project)
Sally Graff
(Sturhahn-Carvalho family)
Brenda Grey (Ffrench family friend Ocho Rios)
Patricia Jackson (Jamaica
Family Search.com),
Dr Aleric Josephs (University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica),
Dorothy Kew(Genealogist, Jamaica
Family History Research Canada),
Paulette Kerr(Author of Lodging House Keepers of Jamaica),
Paul Kerr (TV producer--The Real Heroine of the
Crimean war),
Donald Lindo(Genealogist and Historian, Kingston, Jamaica),
Dr Joy Lumsden (Historian, Kingston, Jamaica),
Madeleine
Mitchell(Genealogist/Jamaican Historian),
Ronnie Peralta
(Genealogist-David Carvalho papers)
Stephen D Porter(Historian & Friends of Georgian Jamaica
Society),
Michael Prescod (Glave family researcher, Jamaica),
Helen Rappaport(Author & Mary Seacole
Researcher),
Jane Robinson(Mary Seacole Biographer),
Cynthia Rosers(Jamaica Family History Researcher),
Racquel Stratchan (Jamaica
Archives, Spanish
Town),
Akira Sugihara(Glave
Family member & Researcher,USA)
Leovia Taylor (RGD SpanishTown),
Sharon Tomlin(LDS London
Jamaica
Family History Researcher)
and Cleo Sylvestre for her one-woman Mary Seacole
show!
Finally I dedicate this to
my father Geoffrey Ernest Ffrench who would have been fascinated………….
1 Now to set
the scene!............Jamaica
by Noel Coward
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (Like Corsica, Guam and Tasmania)
The tourist does not need to wear a topee Or other macabre miscellanea.
Remember that this is a tropical place Where violet hues are abundant
& bright-coloured clothes with a bright yellow face, Look frankly a
trifle redundant.
A simple ensemble of trousers & shirt Becomes both the saint &
the sinner
& if a head-waiter looks bitterly hurt You can wear a jacket for
dinner.
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (It shares this distinction with Elba)
Its easy to order a goat fricassee But madness to ask for Peach Melba.
You’ll find (to the best of this writer’s belief) That if you want rice
you can get it
But visitors ordering mutton or beef Will certainly live to regret it.
There’s seldom a shortage of ackees & yams Or lobsters if anyone’s
caught them
But if you’ve a passion for imported hams You’d bloody well better
import them.
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (It has this in common with Cuba)
Its national tunes, to a certain degree, Are founded on be-bop-a-duba.
‘Neath tropical palms under tropical skies Where equally tropical stars
are
The vocal Jamaicans betray no surprise However off-key their guitars
are.
The native calypsos which seem to be based On hot-air-conditioned
reflexes
Conclusively prove that to people of taste There’s nothing so funny as
sex is.
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (Like Alderney, Guernsey & Sark
are)
Its wise not to drive with exuberant glee Where large barracuda &
shark are.
The reefs are entrancing; the water is clear The colouring couldn’t be
dreamier
But one coral scratch & you may spend a year In bed with acute
septicaemia.
The leading hotels are extremely well run The service both cheerful
& dextrous
But even the blisters you get from the sun Are firmly included as
extras.
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (unlike Ecuador
or Guiana)
The tourist may not have a “Fromage de Brie” But always can have a
banana.
He also can have, if he has enough cash, a pleasantly rum-sodden liver
& cure his rheumatic complaints in a flash By shooting himself at Milk River.
In fact every tourist who visits these shores Can thank his benevolent
Maker
For taking time off from the rest of his chores To fashion the Isle of
Jamaica.
INDEX
Chapter 1 The Cast of
Characters in order of appearance! Images
Plus Ernest
George Ffrench’s Family Trees 2
Ernest's Paternal ancestors;
Chap 2
-early Ffrench's in Jamaica
; inc Thomas, Peter & Catherine 3-14
Chap
3 George I Ffrench & Miss
Jane Charlotte Beckford, + their sons George II & Edward I (" white
quadroons"),Robert and dau Ann Eliza
15-34
Chap
4 Robert I Ffrench, his wife
Letitia Dunn Lindo, children Arthur I, Robert II, George III, Edward II, Maria
Moore & Alexander Dunn
35-46
Chap
5 Geo III Ffrench-Arthur George’s
father?-& wife Eliza Minot 47-59
Chap
6 Known issue of George III/Eliza;
Robert Burke,Anna Maria, EdwardIII Shafto Burke, Letitia Emily, Hedley John
Cecil,Alfred Ernest 60-65
Chapter 7 Arthur George Ffrench—Ernest’s
father—Father GeorgeIII? 66-79
Ernest’s Maternal ancestors;
Chapter 8 Lieut Michael Edward Smith,
& the Smith's of Ireland 80-131
Chapter 9 Eliza & Louisa Grant, &
the Mary Seacole connection
132-160
Chapter 10 Miss Jane Victoria Smith,
& her life 161-174
Ernest George Ffrench HIMSELF;
Chapter 11 Ernest, his wife Adele Carvalho and
his life 175-199
Chapter 12 Ernest's in-laws, the
Carvalho's, esp. Solomon & David
200-229
Chapter 13 Ernest & Adele’s children,
Violet & Geoffrey, + grandchildren Jonathan, Susan, Simon & me!
230-237
Chapter 14 An interview with Ernest by the Hartford Courier 1935 238-240
Appendices;
1)Timeline Arthur George Ffrench
2)Timeline Carvalho family
3) Timelines George I Ffrench
4) Burke’s Landed Gentry Smiths of Annesbrook
5) Burke’s Landed Gentry Ffrench of Monivea
6) Mary Seacole’s Will Page 1
7) Mary Seacole’s Will Page 2
8) Mary Seacole’s Will page 3 + Probate Form
9) History of the 64th Regiment (1834-52 excerpt)-
published by Leo Cooper
10)Jane Charlotte Beckford’s Will Inventory of 1829 (Lodging house contents) (3 pages
with many thanks to the Jamaica
Archives for this)
11) The Beckford story
12) Burke’s Landed Gentry Beckfords
13) Monumental Inscriptions
The Beckfords in Spanish
Town Cathedral
Chapter 1 THE CAST OF CHARACTERS--in order of
appearance—By Head of Family!
Peter Ffrench Descendants
1-Peter
Ffrench (about 1710-19 March 1755)
+Catherine1
Noke (about 1714-)
. . 2-Catherine2 Ffrench
(21 October 1734-26 October 1794)
. .
2-Bethiah Ffrench (5 February 1736-9 August 1778)
. .
2-Anthony John Ffrench (18 March 1738-18 March 1740)
. .
2-Elizabeth Sarah Ffrench (3 October 1740-)
. .
2-George1 Ffrench (2 June 1742-13 February 1795)
. .
+Jane Charlotte Beckford (1759-23 October 1825)
. . . .
3-GeorgeII Ffrench (9 June 1777-)
. . . .
3-EdwardI Ffrench (7 October 1782-7 September 1835)
. . . .
3-Robert1 Ffrench (1785-11 October 1835)
. . . .
+Letitia Dunn Lindo (about 1795-)
. . . .
. . 4-Arthur I Ffrench (23 June 1813-)
. . . .
. . 4-Robert II Ffrench (2 June 1817-)
. . . .
. . 4-GeorgeIII Ffrench (30 December 1819-11 February 1897)
. . . .
. . +Eliza (Shirley?) Minot
(about 1826-12 March 1898)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Robert Burke Ffrench (31 October 1849-4 May 1850)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Anna Maria Ffrench (about 1853-10 January 1881)
. . . .
. . . . 5-EdwardIII Shafto Burke Ffrench (1855-after 1923)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Letitia Emily Ffrench (1856-10 November 1869)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Hedley John Cecil Ffrench (1858-31 March 1864)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Alfred Ernest Ffrench (23 February 1861-24 April 1926)
. . . .
. . . . +Isadora Maud Burke Moodie (5 August 1864-about 1953)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Frankie Ffrench (1884-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Nellie Ffrench (about 1885-8 May 1944)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-GeorgeIV A Ffrench (27 December 1886-5 February 1957)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Shafto Moodie Ffrench (23 January 1889-27 August 1979)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Ernest Minott Ffrench (17 August 1890-before 1926)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Enid Clare Ffrench (March 1896-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Leslie St Clair Ffrench (3 May 1900-3 April 1987)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Mary Bernice Prendergast (-1965)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Derek L Ffrench (31 March 1922-2007)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-David L Ffrench (22 February 1925-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-June Ffrench (1928-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Ouida Ffrench (4 February 1933-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Shirley Lorraine Ffrench (8 January 1902-18 July 1969)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Enid Susan Hind (1904-1988)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-John(Big J) Ffrench (25 January 1940-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Michael Ernest Ffrench (1943-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Norman Ffrench (23 October 1925-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Aubrey Ffrench (1930-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Corinne E Ffrench (9 May 1905-15 June 1993)
. . . .
. . +Unknown Mother (-)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Arthur George Ffrench (about 1851-8 August 1905)
. . . .
. . . . +Jane Victoria Smith (23 October 1840-12 May 1927)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Ernest George Ffrench (15 November 1876-25 July 1937)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Adele Miriam Carvalho (21 December 1876-1958)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Violet Anne Victoria Ffrench (15 June 1916-31 July 2003)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . +George F Davis (21 December 1917-20 August 1998)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Robin N Davis (24 April 1943-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . +Laura Hooper (about 1944-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 9-Geoffrey Davis (1970-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Christopher Davis (August 1948-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Geoffrey Ernest Ffrench (25 November 1917-25 January 1980)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . +Marjory Grace Godfrey (11 November 1918-August 2007)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Jonathan Ffrench (25 February 1944-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Susan Adele Ffrench (4 July 1947-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Nancy Rosalind Ffrench (28 November 1948-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . +Keith Melvyn Atkinson (28 June 1943-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Simon Geoffrey Ffrench (26 January 1950-)
. . . .
. . . . +Frances Fanny Ann Glave (20 June 1845-after 1922)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Kathleen Glave Ffrench (10 March 1875-after 1922)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Frances Eliza Ffrench (22 March 1878-after 1922)
. . . .
. . . . . . +David Charles Thomas (1880-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-St George Moore Ffrench (9 December 1879-11 December 1922)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Arthur Peter Ffrench (30 November 1881-February 1968)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Irene Getfield (-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Myrtle Mae Ffrench (27 September 1917-4 April 1994)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . +Charles Adolphus Jones (14 August 1907-20 January 2000)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Donna Marie Jones-Cover (about 1955-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . +Desmond Cover (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-Jordan Cover (-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Don Kemeel Jones (about 1960-)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Amy Adina Thomas (1902-December 1994)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Gladys Ffrench (18 October 1918-20 July 2005)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . +Hepburn Ashman (-2 November 1968)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Living Ashman (-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Stephen Shirley Ffrench (3 September 1884-16 March 1896)
. . . .
. . 4-EdwardII Ffrench (6 February 1822-10 March 1880)
. . . .
. . +Sarah Harrison Buchan (1833-before 1880)
. . . .
. . 4-Maria Moore
Ffrench (8 December 1826-14 December 1918)
. . . .
. . +John Moore (about 1820-before 1918)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Ella Louise Moore
(-1 October 1938)
. . . .
. . 4-Alexander Dunn Ffrench (9 December 1828-)
. . . .
3-Ann Eliza Ffrench (1787-13 October 1835)
. .
+Elizabeth Ann Jackson (about 1765-about 1825)
. . . .
3-John Ffrench (1789-6 January 1790)
. . . .
3-Henry Ffrench (21 October 1793-18 January 1800)
Descendants Henry Smith
1-Henry1 Smith (15 June
1748-1817)
+Martha Steele (-)
. . 2-Henry2 Jeremiah 11th
Dragoons Smith (28 November 1783-15 February 1857)
. . +Margaret Osbourne (about
1782-about 1805)
. . . . 3-Henry3 Jeremiah
Smith (October 1803-)
. . . . +Sarah Maria Harrison
(about 1810-)
. . . . . . 4-Henry4 Jeremiah
Smith (14 September 1829-)
. . . . 3-Francis Edward Smith
(1805-)
. . +Elizabeth Radcliffe
(1790-5 March 1872)
. . . . 3-Catherine Matilda
Smith (about 1810-)
. . . . +Robert Col Sir
Wallace (-)
. . . . 3-Elizabeth Smith
(about 1811-)
. . . . +Hugh Lyons Montgomery (-)
. . . . 3-Stephen Henry Smith
(1813-1890)
. . . . +Georgina
Barbra Pelly (-1874)
. . . . 3-St George William
Smith (1813-about 1892)
. . . . 3-Michael Edward Smith
(10 November 1814-19 May 1903)
. . . . +Jane Grace Smith Syme
(1829-17 March 1913)
. . . . +Eliza Louisa Grant
(about 1815-21 July 1905)
. . . . . . 4-Jane Victoria Smith (23
October 1840-12 May 1927)
. . . . . . +Arthur George
Ffrench (about 1851-8 August 1905)
. . . . . . . . 5-Ernest
George Ffrench (15 November 1876-25 July 1937)
. . . . . . . . +Adele Miriam
Carvalho (21 December 1876-1958)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Violet
Anne Victoria Ffrench (15 June 1916-31 July 2003)
. . . . . . . . . . +George F
Davis (21 December 1917-20 August 1998)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Robin N Davis (24 April 1943-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Laura
Hooper (about 1944-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Geoffrey Davis (1970-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Christopher Davis (August 1948-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Geoffrey
Ernest Ffrench (25 November 1917-25 January 1980)
. . . . . . . . . . +Marjory
Grace Godfrey (11 November 1918-August 2007)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Jonathan Ffrench (25 February 1944-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Susan Adele Ffrench (4 July 1947-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Nancy Rosalind Ffrench (28 November 1948-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Keith
Melvyn Atkinson (28 June 1943-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Simon Geoffrey Ffrench (26 January 1950-)
. . . . 3-William Thomas Smith
(about 1816-)
. . . . 3-Richard Edward
Jeremiah Smith (about 1819-March 1877)
. . . . +Adela Archer (about
1840-)
. . . . 3-Kynaston Walter
Smith (about 1827-1857)
. . . . 3-Matilda Cox Smith
(1828-)
. . . . 3-Emily Smith (about
1829-)
. . . . 3-Mary Henrietta Smith
(1830-1876)
. . . . +Ralph4 Smyth (about
1817-)
. . . . 3-Frederick Augustus
Smith (18 November 1826-27 July 1887)
Descendants Samuel Nunes Carvalho
1-Samuel Nunes Carvalho (about
1665-1728)
. . 2-Isaac Nunes Carvalho
(about 1690-1733)
. . . . 3-Samuel Nunes
Carvalho (about 1715-)
. . . . +Bathsheba De Meza (-)
. . . . . . 4-Solomon1 Nunes
Carvalho (1740-before 1835)
. . . . . . +Judith(Jeudit)
Henriques Pimental (1744-before 1840)
. . . . . . . . 5-Emanuel
Carvalho (14 November 1770-1817)
. . . . . . . . 5-David1 Nunes
Carvalho (4 November 1785-1860)
. . . . . . . . +Sarah Cohen
D'Azevedo (1793-20 March 1864)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Solomon2
Nunes Carvalho (27 April 1815-21 May 1897)
. . . . . . . . . . +Sarah
Miriam Solis (15 October 1824-2 May 1894)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-David2 Nunes Carvalho (29 September 1848-29 June 1925)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Annie
M Abrams (16 November 1857-2 June 1903)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Adele Miriam Carvalho (21 December 1876-1958)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Ernest George Ffrench (15 November 1876-25 July 1937)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Violet Anne Victoria Ffrench (15 June 1916-31 July 2003)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +George F Davis (21 December 1917-20 August 1998)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Robin N Davis (24 April 1943-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . +Laura Hooper (about 1944-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 11-Geoffrey Davis
(1970-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Christopher Davis
(August 1948-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Geoffrey Ernest Ffrench (25 November 1917-25 January 1980)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +Marjory Grace Godfrey (11 November 1918-August 2007)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-Jonathan
Ffrench (25 February 1944-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Susan Adele Ffrench (4 July 1947-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Nancy Rosalind Ffrench (28 November 1948-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . +Keith Melvyn Atkinson (28 June 1943-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Simon Geoffrey Ffrench (26 January 1950-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-BertramI Nunes Carvalho (27 May 1878-1975)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Jesselyn Pierce (8 October 1875-30 December 1938)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-John Bertram Carvalho (30 April 1904-15 May 1968)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Adelaide P Carvalho (26 November 1906-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Curtis Bolton Pierce Carvalho (1908-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +Elizabeth Jean Teal (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Curtis Christian Carvalho (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-David3 Nunes Carvalho (about 1911-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-BertramII Nunes Carvalho (7 February 1913-8 January 1994)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +Janet Van Franken Garfield
Stone (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +unknown Carlson (1885-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Dayton Carvalho (1880-1881)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Maie Nunes Carvalho (19 May 1882-14 April 1974)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Carl Friedrich Herman Ferdinand Sturhahn (25 January 1871-13 December 1939)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Herbert Carl Sturhahn (29 July 1902-1939)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Edward Marshall
Sr Sturhahn (15 May 1906-3 May 1992)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +Louise Dailey Sturhahn (8 January 1909-9 July 1996)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Joan Sturhahn (23 September 1930-11 April 2010)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . +Garland
Mourning McNutt Jnr (24 August 1923-2 October 2008)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 11-Garland Marshall McNutt (26 September 1956-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Edward Marshall
Jnr Sturhahn (30 March 1934-1 April 1993)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . +Sharon Lee Manford (31 October 1942-8 September 1969)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 11-Natalie Anita(Sally) Ann Williamson Sturhahn Graff (25 December
1961-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . +Bruce Michael McGee (1951-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 12-Kelli Diane McGee (1982-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . +Dan Gradley Graff (1957-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Leslie Russell Nunes Carvalho (7 November 1885-December 1955)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Sophia G Goodman (about 1890-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Paul D Carvalho (about 1915-7 November 1940)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Anne Carvalho (about 1920-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Claire Carvalho (13 September 1888-27 October 1970)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Herbert A Weiller (21 August 1887-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Sylvia Weiller (about 1914-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Jacob Solis Carvalho (23 September 1852-13 March 1937)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
+Suzanne Walker (about 1854-before 1950)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Charity(Charrie) N Carvalho (12 April 1850-5 April 1945)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Solomon Solis Carvalho (16 January 1856-12 April 1942)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Helen
Cusack (about 1858-before 1955)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Sarah Virginia Carvalho (about 1896-before 1995)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Helen Carvalho (about 1898-before 1995)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Emanuel
Nunes Carvalho (22 March 1817-13 March 1883)
. . . . . . . . . . +Caroline
A Woolf (-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Julia
Carvalho (4 July 1819-22 January 1887)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Rachel
Carvalho (1822-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Sarah
Carvalho (September 1823-13 November 1842)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Clara
Nunes Carvalho (1826-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Benjamin
Carvalho (1827-January 1843)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Sophia
Carvalho (1828-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Isaac
Carvalho (1835-1835)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Miriam
Carvalho (10 November 1838-)
. . . . . . . . . . +Isadore
Osorio (March 1840-)
. . . . . . +Est(h)er de Isaac
Alvarez (-)
2 PEDIGREE
OF ERNEST George Ffrench
Chapter
2
Ernest’s Paternal ancestors “ Generation x” Way back & traditionally,
according to my father, we Ffrench’s originated from Monivea and Ffrench
Castle, near Galway in western Ireland, which had a regular shipping route via Spain to the Caribbean.
There’s actually a Ffrench roundabout in Galway
city!
;)
3 Ffrench Roundabout Galway City
--but so far the only connection
we have made between the Jamaica Ffrench's and the Irish ones is this dated
1823;
DIED In December last, at Paradise Estate, Jamaica, Anthony FfRENCH, Esq.,
aged
23 (or 25) years, son of R. FfRENCH, Esq., of Beagh, in this County. Those
only who knew Mr. FfRENCH and appreciated his merits, can judge of the regret
of his parents, and his friends must feel at the loss of so amiable a young
gentleman.
But
the French’s must originally have left Ireland about 100+ years earlier because
as far back as the 1700's there were F(f)rench's in Jamaica, West Possibly they
arrived as soldiers--one Lieut Thomas French was with Colonel Richard
Fortescue's Regiment(the Third) , who under Penn Venables, invaded Jamaica in 1655, taking it from the
Spanish. Fortescue had been a Lt Col under the Earl of Essex and a Colonel in
Cromwell's New Model. Fortescue's Regiment was stationed in Spanish Town.
Fortescue thought Jamaica
"a fruitful and pleasant Island and a fit
receptacle for honest men" "there is accomodation and worke for
them.Here they may serve God, their countery and themselves". Fortescue
died 3 Oct 1655 but maybe he convinced Lieut Thomas to stay.
A second Thomas French b 1680 d
1758 had with Esther(coloured?); son Thomas (b 2 Feb1697), George (b 2
Sept 1699 d 29 Mar 1702),Jeremiah(b 7 Dec 1701 d 17 Feb 1702) and Elizabeth (b
5 May 1705 d 4 July 1706) An Esther French dies 12 May 1705 just after Elizabet
was born. All in St Catherines. Only Thomas survives—or does he? 6 June 1720 a Thomas French is buried in St
Catherines
;)
4
Thomas & esther’s Son
Thomas
A third Thomas French married in 1741 Mary Mathews &
had Thomas (b 1 Nov 1742 bap 26 Nov 1742). A Mary French dies in Kingston 8 June 1755 “the
wife of Thomas French Esquire”
;)
5 Thomas & Mary’s Son
Thomas
He also had with Eleanor Peete (mulatto);
dau Susanna(b 5 Mar 1754), son George(b 4 Mar 1759) and dau Mary(b 4 May 1763). He died 13 Aug 1783
;)
;)
;)
;)
6 7 8
Susannah, George(x 2) and Mary
A fourth Thomas French was acting Governor Jamaica 1702.
A (fifth) Major General Thomas French is mentioned in "Fuertado's
Official Personages (in Jamaica) 1655-1790" & in the Jamaica
Almanacs as JP 1751, M.A. Kingston 1753,
Custos for Kingston in 1780 ,Speaker pro tem in 1781 and Chief Justice in
1788.The 1782 Almanac calls him the Hon Thomas French. This Thomas died 16 Jan
1783 aged 66 “Custos” so born 1717
One of the Jamaica
French’s—or a later immigrant English/Irish French?—must have produced Peter French (b abt 1710 d abt 1785)
Generation 1
Peter French born abt 1710 of Kingston, When he married
24th Dec 1734 Catherine Noke of Kingston
( b abt 1716) he was “ Bookkeeper” of a Plantation.
He would supervise the slaves in the fields & superintend the manufacture of
sugar & rum.
;)
9 Peter & Catherine’s
marriage
Before they married they had Catherine (b 21st Oct 1734, bap 23rd Feb
1735; a Catherine French dies Kingston “a spinster” 26 Oct 1794); then Bethiah , (b 5th Feb 1736, bap 24th Feb
1736; a Bethiah French dies Kingston “a spinster” 9 Aug 1778); Anthony
John (b18th March 1738, bap 14th Apr 1739; an Anthony John French dies aged
6(?), buried by his father 18 Mar 1740); Elizabeth Sarah,(b 3rd Oct 1740, bap 28th Oct
1740; and
George I (b 2 Jun 1742
and bap on 23rd June 1742)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
10 11 12 13 14
Catherine, Bethiah,
Anthony, Elizabeth & GeorgeI’s KINGSTON
baptisms
Peter became Government Coroner
in 1751 per the Jamaica
Almanac—at that time a coloured could not aspire to such a post so we assume
Catherine Noke was white.A Peter French
“Esquire” died Kingston
19 March 1755.
Chapter 3
Generation 2
2.1 GeorgeI Ffrench,(as
above) b 1742, is listed in the Fuertado Official Personages 1655-1790 and the
1790 Jamaica Almanac as the Crown Solicitor/Clerk of the Jamaica Assembly
around 1780/5, aged 38.By 1782 George is in the High Court,Assistant
Judge,Solicitor for the Crown and Clerk of the Peace in Spanish Town,St Catherine's
on a fat salary! So was he a lawyer? Did he have legal training in London or Dublin?
There's a George French in the 1782 List of Attorneys-at-Law admitted to
practice at His Majesty's Supreme Court of Judicature.
His long-term mistress was Miss Jane
Charlotte Beckford "a free mulatto woman” of Spanish Town, Jamaica,
born 1759 died 23 Oct 1825; presumably the illegitimate daughter of either
Richard Beckford (Speaker St Catherine's 1747) or Ballard Beckford (Member of
the Council St Catherine 1754).
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
SPANISH TOWN TODAY
Ballard Beckford was somewhat notorious , having figured
prominently as co-respondent in a much publicized divorce case, which resulted
in the passing of Jamaica’s
first Divorce Act and his expulsion from the House of Assembly 3 years earlier.
Many of the Beckfords are buried in the Spanish Town
Cathedral.
George must have been besotted by Jane and/or
his 2 young quadroon sons GeorgeII b
1777 & EdwardI b 1782 as he had a
Private Act of the Jamaica Parliament passed in 1784 (he wld be 42) giving her
and his sons (then aged 7 and 2) equal rights to those born of wholly white
parents & sent them to
England for their education.
Jane Charlotte Beckford's Act
of the Jamaica
Parliament 1784
Jamaica Is. An Act to entitle Jane Charlotte Beckford of the Parish of Saint
Catherine a free Mulatto Woman and George French and Edward French Free
Quadroons the Children of the said Jane Charlotte Beckford to the same Rights
and Priviledges with English subjects born of White Parents under certain
Restrictions
Whereas the said Jane Charlotte Beckford hath been Baptised Educated and
Instructed in the principles of the Christian Religion and in the Communion of
the Church of England as by Law Established and hath caused her said children
to be Baptised the elder of whom hath been sent to England and where it is
intended that the younger of them shall also be sent at a proper age to be
brought up in the like principles and Educated in such manner as to make them
useful to the Community which with the assistance that will be afforded them
will raise them above the level of people of Colour in general But by reason of
their being Mulattoes they are Subject and liable to the same pains and penalties
to which free Negroes and Mulattoes are in this Island who have neither
education nor property Wherefore
We your Majesty’s dutiful and loyal Subjects the Lieutenant Governor Council
and Assembly of this Island humbly beseech your Majesty that it may be Enacted
and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same that the said Jane
Charlotte Beckford and her issue begotten by White Men and the said George
French and Edward French and their Issue born of White Women shall from
henceforth be deemed and taken for free and Natural born Subjects of this
Island and shall be Tried and adjudged for all Crimes Misdemeanors and Offences
which they or either of them shall be hereafter Charged with in the same manner
as if they and every of them were free and Natural born Subjects of great
Britain and in no other manner whatsoever and that they and every of them shall
be entitled to have and enjoy all Rights Priviledges Immunities and Advantages
whatsoever as if they and every of them were born and descended of and from
White Ancestors any Law Custom or Useage to the Contrary in any wise
notwithstanding.Provided always that nothing in this Act contained shall be
construed or understood to confer upon the said Jane Charlotte Beckford and the
said George French and Edward French or any or either of them any Capacity or
Ability of Sitting or Voting either in the Council or Assembly of this Island
or of holding or enjoying any Office Civil or Military or serving as Jurors or
Vestrymen or of voting at any Election whatsoever. But that they the said Jane
Charlotte Beckford George French and Edward French and each and every of them
shall be totally excluded therefrom any Law Custom or Usage to the Contrary in
any wise notwithstanding./
Passed the Council this 15th
day of December 1784 Will Dunlop Speaker.
I consent this 14th day of December 1784 Cncl
Alured Clarke Passed the Assembly this 23rd day of ed the
Assembly December 1784 IW Slaughter
;)
27The
Jamaica
Act of Parliament making the Quadroons “white”!
A mulatto is half-European, half-African; a quadroon is the issue of a
European and a mulatto; an African is someone who had been shipped from Africa; a Creole is someone (of any race) born on the
island.
GeorgeI & Jane's 4 children were GeorgeII born 9 June 1777;EdwardI
born 7 Oct 1782 died 7 Sep 1835; Robert born 1785 died 11 Oct 1835 and
Ann Eliza born 1788 died 13 Oct 1835—there must have been an epidemic. There
was no Act of Parliament for the later
children .They were all baptised in St Catherine's.
Jane Charlotte Beckford ran a lodging house in Spanish Town
called "Miss Ffrench's" at the corner of Ellis Street and Whitechurch Street to which Lady Nugent,
the Governor's wife, sent guests in 1803--(She would not have sent her guests
to anywhere second-rate so it must have been "upmarket"!). There is a
French Street
and a Beckford Street
in Spanish Town today . From her birth date of 1759
Jane would appear to be the illegitimate daughter of planter Richard Beckford, or
Ballard Beckford
Philip Wright's Monumental
Inscriptions of Jamaica:
p. 130 –“ Spanish
Town. No. 28,
Whitechurch St” Not seen. Recorded by Frank Cundall 1918.
Jane
Charlotte Beckford, died 23 October, 1825, aged 66.(So born 1759)
Miss Ffrench’s Lodging
House;-the Gleaner 1887(Note double ff that early)
;)
Picture of present day
building still used in 2010 as the Freemasons Hamilton Lodge Meeting
House ;)
28 29 Miss Ffrench’s Lodging House today
Jane Charlotte Beckford’s Will inventory of 1829
Beckford Jane C Entrd
14th Feb 1829. An Inventory
and appraisement of all and singular the Goods and Chattels rights and Credits
which were of Jane Charlotte Beckford late of the Parish of St Catherine
deceased-----------------------------
1 Mahogany Bedstead
with Feather bed Hair Mattrass Bolster & Pillows 160/-
1 Mahogany large Chest
40/- 1 Looking glass 13/4 1 Globe 6/8
£11-00-00
1 Mahogany Bedstead
with Feather Bed Bolster & Pillows with Nett 106/8
1 Washstand 5/- 1
Mahogany chair 5/- 1 Looking glass 2/6 £ 5-19-02
1 Mahogany Bedstead
58/4 1 Table 6/8 1 Looking glass 6/8 1 Bason stand 6/8
9 large & small
Mahogany tables 175/- 2 Sofhas 40/- £14-13-04
1 Mahogany desk 10/- 1
Plated Cruet stand 10/- 1 Mahogany Chest 40/-
1 small Chest of
Drawers 13/4 1 Basan stand 10/- £4-03-04
4 Looking Glass 10/- 4
Bedroom Chairs 40/- 2 pair shoes 20/-
1 pair hand ??? shades
10/- 2 Night Chairs 26/8 1 Liquor cooler 40/-£7-06-08
19 Mahogany Highback
Chairs 190/- 3 pair Plated Candlesticks 30/-
1 Mahogany Sideboard
Tray 80/- 1 Dripstone ??? 100/-
£20-00-00
1 Mahogany Bedstead
Straw bed Hair Mattrass & 2 Pillows 26/8 1 Table 6/8
1 Chair 6/8 1 Bason
Stand 6/8 1 Large Chest 10/- £2-16-08
1 Mahogany Bedstead
and Feather Bed 80/- 1 Table 5/- 1 Looking glass 5/-
1 Bason stand 5/- a
Lot assorted glassware 26/8 £6-01-08
1 Mahogany Bedstead
Hair Mattrass with Bolster & Pillows 100/- 1 Table 6/8
1 Looking Glass 6/8 1
Bason Stand 6/8 4 Water jars 6/8 £6-06-08
2 doz Large
Tablecloths 240/- 1 1/2 Doz middle size Tablecloths 90/-
2 Doz Breakfast Cloths
180/- a Lot Crockery ware 80/- £29-10-00
1 Sett Breakfast Cups
& Saucers 40/- A Legacy bequeathed under the Will
of Christian Allen
with Interest from 8 June 1811 £31-10-0 £33-10-00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------£132-07-06
In obedience to the
Warrant of appraisement hereunto annexed we have inventoried and appraised all
and Singular the Goods and Chattels rights and Credits which were of Jane
Charlotte Beckford deceased as they were shewn unto us by Ann Eliza French her
administratix or which we knew belonged to the said Deceased at the time of her
death and we do find the same amount to the sum of One hundred and thirty two
pounds seven shillings and sixpence Current money of Jamaica as will more
particularly appear above Given our hands and seals this 27th day of
January annoque Domini 1829--Isaac Lopes--William Oliver
Note Very
much an ongoing establishment--with 6 Mahogany Bedsteads, 19 High back Dining
Chairs, tablecloths, crockery etc—presumably being run by daughter Ann Eliza
Ffrench (Original in Appendix 10)
;)
;)
30,30a,31a,31b 1786 MapS
Spanish
Town & key
Why did so many European
men take coloured mistresses? See below from Major Frederick Johnston who wrote
to his wife(in England)
in 1794;
"The
English mulatto women are the handsomest, they have all the finest teeth I ever
saw and they take a great deal of care of them, cleaning them twice a day with
Tamarin wood, indeed I am sorry to say that all together they are more cleanly
than my fair Country Women.I can assure you the English women that are here are
quite Nasty to look at. They give one the idea of a person that has been buried
and risen again. It is quite the fashion for everybody....to have one of these
princesses to live with them as housekeepers or Nurses....for I am given to
understand that unless you are taken care of by them you must die for as soon
as you are ill all your friends desert you for fear of infection..."
Despite all this, a year after their 4th child
Ann Eliza was born by Jane Charlotte in 1787, George I Ffrench (aged 46) married
Elizabeth Ann Jackson in Kingston
31 Jan 1788.
;)
31
Marriage Of George I
Ffrench & Elizabeth Ann Jackson
Was she the daughter of Chief
Justice William Jackson? They had son John in 1789 & Henry in 1793- John
died St Catherines 4 Jan 1790
;)
32 John French dies Age 1
George I died “of the dropsy” 13 Feb 1795. Note the causes of death for
others at the same time—mainly “fever” but also “age” “decay” “murder”
“decline” and “effects of licquor”
Healthy life styles!
;)
33 George I French Clerk of
the Assembly died 13 Feb 1795 St Catherine
His Will leaves everything to
his "dear wife Elizabeth Ann" and his "minor son Henry"
(aged 2)-- older son John having already
died.
1795 Will of George
French Esq
Jamaica Is. In the name of God Amen I George French of the Parish
of Saint Catherine in the County of Middlesex and Island of Jamaica Esquire do
make publish this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following
that is to say I will and desire that my just debts and funeral expenses be
paid off and satisfied as soon as conveniently maybe by my Executrix and
Executors herein after named and as to such estate and Effects that I may die
possessed of I give devise and bequeath unto my dear wife Elizabeth Ann French
and my beloved son Henry French all such my Estate real personal or mi**(?) of
what nature or kind soever or where so ever the same may be at the time of my
decease to be equally divided between my wife and son share and share alike to
hold as tenants in common and not as joint tenants but in case of the death of
either my said wife or my said son before he attains the age of twenty one
years then the part and share either of them so dying to go to the survivor her
or his heirs and assigns forever and I do hereby nominate constitute and
appoint my said wife Elizabeth Ann French and Francis Rigby Brodbilt Esquire
and Alexander Aikman of the parish of Kingston Esquire Executrix and Executors
of this my last will and testament and Guardian of my said son Henry French
until he attain the age of twenty one years, and I do revoke and make void all
former and other wills by me at anytime heretofore made and declare this only
to be my last will and testament In witness whereof I the said George French
have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal this thirty first
day of January in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety
five
Signed sealed published and declared by the testator George French Geo ffrench SEAL as and for his last
will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in each others presence have subscribed our names as
witnesses to the same
R R Parker
Thos’ Talbot
Stevens Wood
(The Slave Registers of 1817 also list a George Ffrench, b. ca. 1785,
creole,slave living in St. George,
Jamaica, the
property of Elizabeth Ann Ffrench on 28 Jun 1817. He was then 32 years old.
George was one of 12 slaves listed as her property.)
When Elizabeth Ann, his widow makes her will she does not mention
Henry--as he had died too, aged 7, of a "sore throat". How desperate
to lose both sons—there were of course no synthetic medicines then.
;)
34 Henry French child died 18 Jan 1800
St Catherine’s Aged 7
Will of Elizabeth
Ann Ffrench dated 10 Aug 1825
10/- Jamaica Is -- George the fourth by the Grace of God of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King and of Jamaica Lord,
Defender of the Faith & so onTo our trusty and well-beloved John Biggar and
James Forsyth Esquires
Know ye that we have constituted authorised and appointed and by these
presents do constitute authorise and appoint ye or either of ye to administer
an oath unto George Barnett of the City and Parish of Kingston Gentlemen or any
other that are witnesses and can make oath of the signing sealing publishing
and declaring of the last will and testament of Elizabeth Ann Ffrench late of
the parish of Kingston widow deceased and hereof you or either of you are to
make a due return under your or either of your hands and seals unto our Captain
General and Governor in Chief of the said Island or to the Governor and
Commander in chief of the same for the time with this power annexed
Witness His Grace William Duke of Manchester Captain General and
Governor in Chief of our said Island at St Jago de la Vega (SpanishTown)
the 26th day of August Anno q Domini 1825 and in the sixth year of
our reign (sgnd) Manchester Passed Secretary’s office W.
Bullock Secretary
Jamaica Island The execution of the
within Dedimus Potestatem appears by the Will and probate thereof
hereunto annexed. Given under my hand this 23rd day of September
1825 (sgnd) I Forsyth Ffrench
Elizabeth A Entr’d 15th Oct
1825
Jamaica Is -- In the name of God Amen I Elizabeth Ann Ffrench of the
City and Parish of Kingston in the County of Surry and Island aforesaid Widow
being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding do make publish and
declare my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. That is to say
Imprimis I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral and testamentary
expences be fully paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my
decease And for such purpose I do hereby direct and authorise and empower my
Executrix and Executor hereinafter named to enter upon and take possession of
my coffee plantation or settlement called The Cottage situate in the Parish of
St Andrew in the County of Surry and Island aforesaid and to contract for and
actually sell and dispose of the said plantation or settlement as soon as
possible after my decease and to grant and execute to the Purchaser thereof
good and sufficient title thereto and if need be to allow unto the purchaser
thereof a reasonable time for the payment or part payment thereof and I do
hereby declare that the receipt of my Executrix and Executor hereinafter named
shall be a good and sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers thereof
for any monies therein expressed and that such purchaser or purchasers shall not be answerable or
accountable for the non-application or misapplication of such purchase money.
And it is my will and desire that my debts and funeral and testamentary
expenses be paid and discharged out of the proceeds of such Sale in preference to my personal estate.
I hereby manumise enfranchise and forever set free of and from all
servitude slavery and bondage my Negro Woman Slaves named Elizabeth Dowling and
Jane Waters to hold such Manumission Enfranchisement and Freedom unto the said
Elizabeth Dowling and Jane Waters and their future issue offspring and increase
forever.
I give devise and bequeath unto Samuel Bruce Smith my mulatto man slave
named George Simpson to hold to his heirs and assigns forever but it is my will
and desire and I do hereby direct that in case the said Mulatto slave named
George Simpson shall at any time hereafter during the minority of the said
Samuel Bruce Smith be able to purchase his freedom either by himself or with
the assistance of his friends that such freedom be granted to him upon a
reasonable sum being paid to the said Samuel Bruce Smith and I do hereby
authorise my Executrix and Executor to execute and deliver all necessary deeds
and instruments whatsoever for such purpose but in the event of the said Samuel
Bruce Smith departing this life before he shall attain his age of 21 years or
before the said Mulatto boy George Simpson shall have purchased his freedom as
aforesaid I then give devise and bequeath the said slave unto Rachel Smith (was
Rachel Smith her married sister?) of the said city and parish of Kingston
Widow the mother of the said Samuel Bruce Smith to hold to her and his heirs
and assigns forever but subject to the like condition and power to the said
slave to purchase his freedom from the said Rachel Smith.(signed) E A Ffrench
Whereas I am entitled under the will of my late uncle John Jackson (her
maiden name) to a legacy of £2000 now I give and bequeath £200 thereof unto
Mrs Elizabeth Dallas (another sister?) the widow of the late Stuart George
Dallas Esq.I give and bequeath one hundred pounds thereof to Samuel
Jackson Dallas Esq.I give and bequeath £200 thereof to the Rev Robert William
Dallas the present Rector of Manchester but it is (my) express will and intention
that the said last three mentioned legacies shall be only paid and
payable out of the said legacy of £2000(if ever the same should be paid) &
not out of any other part of my real or personal estate I give and bequeath all my wearing apparel
unto the said Rachel Smith.
All the rest residue and remainder of my estate real personal and
mixt I give devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto Elizabeth
Martha Smith, Jane Smith, James William Smith, Frances Smith and Samuel Bruce
Smith, daughter and sons of the said Rachel Smith or such of them as shall be
living at the time of my decease to be divided among them share and share alike
to hold to them and to the Survivors orSurvivor of them and to the heirs
executors administrators and assigns of such survivor forever.
And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Rachel
Smith and her son James William Smith Executrix and Executor of this my said
will hereby revoking all former and other wills by me at anytime heretofore
made and declaring this only to be and contain my last Will and Testament.
In witness hereof I have to the first sheet of this my Will set and
subscribed my hand and to the second and last sheet thereof set and subscribed
my hand and affixed my seal this tenth day of August 1825
(signed) E A Ffrench
An E A Ffrench dies Kingston 15 Aug 1825
Generation 3 To Summarise-Children of George I Ffrench ;
with Jane Charlotte Beckford,
George II Ffrench , b. 9 June
1777 died ??, was the quadroon son of Jane Charlotte Beckford and George I
Ffrench. He was schooled in England.
Edward I Ffrench , b. 7
Oct 1782 d 7 Sep1835, was the quadroon son of Jane Charlotte Beckford and
George I Ffrench. Schooled in England.
Robert I Ffrench b 1784 m Letitia Dunn
spinster,("late Lindo " ie née?) d 11 Oct 1835 both described
as "Free persons of colour"
Ann Eliza Ffrench b 1787 Jane Charlotte Beckford’s Administratix
d 13 Oct 1835 or 1845 ? Manchester?
with Elizabeth Ann Jackson Ffrench
John Ffrench b 1789 d 6 Jan 1790
Henry Ffrench b 21 Oct 1793 d 18 Jan 1800
Chapter 4
Generation
4
RobertI "a free quadroon" married Letitia Dunn Lindo
Ffrench "a free bro(wn)" had 6 children—all baptized Kingston. They were “Free
persons of colour”.
Arthur I born
23rd June 1813; RobertII ,born 2 June 1817; George III ,born 30 Dec 1819;
Edward II born 6 Feb 1822 , Maria Moore
born 8 Dec 1826(at Foster Lane-the family home?) & Alexander Dunn b 9 Dec
1828
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 Arthur
i, RobertII, GeorgeIII, EdwardII’s maria moore,
Alexander dunn baptisms
(Maria’s death notice also shows her to be a sister of
GeorgeIII and confirms a birth year of 1826. She became a teacher at Wolmer’s
school then matron of the Kingston
Naval Hospital
in 1875. She married John Moore of Swanswick Estate Trelawney and died in 1918
;)
44 Maria Moore’s death Notice
The matching DNA tests that have been taken by living Michael &
Simon Ffrench currently indicate they have a common ancestor. David L Ffrench
states he believes Arthur George was his grandfather Alfred Ernest’s brother so
George III would have been his father even if Eliza Minot was not his
mother. Arthur George Ffrench was born
in 1851
At present we know nothing about Arthur I b 1813 or Robert II b
1817 or Alexander Dunn. George III’s story is in Chapter 5.
Edward II Ffrench was b 6 Feb 1822 Did he school in Kingston and after leaving, work for his father Robert or
in the Militia perhaps?His older brother George III had joined the Portland Tax Dept in 1847
aged 27;
Before 13 Aug 1851 Edward II was presumably living at the family home
in Foster Lane Kingston. Could he aged 28 have fathered Arthur then? Edward spent “2
days out of Jamaica” that
year—Cuba?
Haiti?
Edward II was appointed on 13
Aug 1851 as "acting clerk to the sub-(tax) collector Port
Morant" aged 29 at £150 pa by the Governor. His £100 security bond
was provided by brother George “Clerk
Vestry Portland” & John Joseph Duval of St Andrews. Perhaps George III got him his job?
In 1854 he was promoted to Sub-Collector and Lands Waiter and Searcher
for Morant Bay @ £225 pa.. His bond was increased
to £500 and George Ffrench's name on the bond was replaced by John Burger,
watchmaker, Kingston.
20 May 1857 he was married by Rev John Radcliffe to Sarah
Harrison Buchan in the Kingston
Kirk(Presbyterian) Witnesses Hon A(lexander) Barclay and Jno Naro(?)
;)
45 Edward II Ffrench &
sarah Harrison Buchan marriage certificate
In Oct 1858 he is promoted to Sub-Collector, Old
Harbour (the other side of Kingston).Security now
from John Burger and William Andrews Attorney-at-law. He remained there till 1860, when he disappears without comment from
the Civil Service Blue Books. Perhaps fraud?
On 9 June 1866 Edward Ffrench, Kingston
is included in a list of names in the Gleaner of "Insolvents".
In Jan 1867 his "bail is enlarged" by the Surry Insolvent Debtors Court.
In 1876 Arthur George marries Frances Ann Glave in Manchester Witnesses are FW Bonitto + Jno
Sawyers ie no Ffrench’s present.
December 1879 both George Ffrench in Portland & Arthur St
Catherines take long leave on half-pay. Why? Coincidence? To care for dying
widower brother/uncle Edward II?
On 10 March 1880 Edward II dies a widower aged 59, "much &
deservedly regretted" per the Gleaner notice. On the death certificate his
occupation was “lumber measurer”(probably learned from his time at Port Morant)The
informant is George III Ffrench, brother, of 16 Foster Lane, Kingston (the Ffrench family home for 50+years).
;)
46 EdwardII Ffrench’s death record
In May 1896 his name appears on a Government Notice of estates
forfeited to the Govt because of non-claimants for £6-13-10d. No will found
yet.
Curiously in 1850 an unidentified George Ffrench died at Foster lane
aged 34—maybe the son of one of Robert & Letitia’s other sons?
Chapter 5
GeorgeIII Ffrench, b.30 Dec 1819, d. 7 May 1897
Presumably like brother Edward he grew up in Robert & Letitia’s
home in Foster Lane Kingston. Where did he school? What did he
do between 1837 & 1847? Ie after leaving school before getting his job in Portland aged 28? Robert
& Letitia were “free coloureds” so George III would be too
George III moved from Kingston to Portland
in 1847 joining the Colonial Administration as Collector of Taxes --& paid partly on
commission! Two years later he gets married to Eliza Minot
George III “Clerk of the Vestry of this Parish” was married by Licence by Rev J Stone Rector to Eliza Minot 4.31, in Portland on 4 Jan 1849.
;)
47 Marriage George Ffrench/Eliza Minot
We think Eliza may have been the daughter of a
slave… The 1817 return of Slave Registers of former
British Colonial Dependencies shows a Maria Kirkland 11, "sambo"&
“creole”; her mother Betty 29 as"negro"&
"african"--- owner Francoise Adelaide Lebrun (African ie off a slave
ship);
9 years later the 1826 return shows an Eliza Minot 1 1/2 yrs
"mulatto",creole (ie born in Jamaica);
her mother Maria Kirkland 20 "sambo", her grandmother
Betty Ann Kirkland 38, "African"---attorney Philip P Kirkland, Parish
of St George. Kirkland’s estate was “Paradise”.
The ages match up. In the 1829 return Betty has gone, Maria
("alias Mariah Kirkland") is 22, Eliza Minot is 3--both after then
"manumised" ie freed.This would make Eliza Minot 23 in 1849 when she
married GeorgeIII
In 1925 Eliza's son Alfred Ernest Ffrench talks of his grandmother
"Maria Shirley"--is this Maria Kirkland? David L Ffrench believed her
family name was Shirley and that she came from th Rio Grande Valley
behind Port Antonio. There is a plantation called Minots there. Paradise is slightly west of
here but still close to the Rio Grande.
Image 47a
;)
;)
48 49 Slave Returns For
Eliza,maria,Betty
;)
50 Advertisement from the Dec 1803 Jamaica Royal Gazette for sale of
Slaves
Both Arthur George & Alfred Ernest Ffrench named a child “Shirley” ,
GeorgeIII's established issue with Eliza Minot in Port Antonio,
Portland, Jamaica
were 2 daughters & 4 sons; the only one whose baptism we have found is
the first Robert who died young. Why? Were the records lost or were the
children not baptized? Unlikely as later George is on the Anglican Church
Finance Board. We believe them to be;-
Birth year
31 May 1849 Robert Burke Ffrench
who died 4 May 1850 at 6 months
1851 Arthur George Ffrench ?
1853 Anna Maria Ffrench d 10
Jan 1881 at 28
1855? Edward Shafto Burke
Ffrench, Joined Tax Dpt1873. d aft 1923 @ 68+
1856 Letitia Emily
Ffrench d 10 Nov 1869 of Typhoid “at 13”.
1858 Hedley John Cecil
Ffrench d 31 Mar 1864 at 6
23 Apr1861 (Honorable) Alfred
Ernest Ffrench He became JP, MP, and MBE. He got the MBE during WWI for work
with the Red Cross. He was a member of the Legislative Council. He died 24 Apr
1926 at 65. Long obit in Gleaner. We
have traced many of his living descendants down to great grandchildren, living
in the USA Canada and Jamaica
Only
2 sons(+ Arthur George) of George & Eliza’s 6 children survived their
parents.
So
George III could easily have fathered
Arthur George in 1851—after losing his first born son—either with Eliza or
perhaps with another woman?
(Another George French
owned sugar estates, Queenhithe and Tobalskie(about 5500acres)in St Ann's
on the North coast of Jamaica near Runaway bay and Ocho Rhios and Rooksby Park
but he appears to be an absentee owner from Kent, England and unconnected)
By 1857 George III was also an Ensign in the volunteer militia army for
Portland; by
1865 a lieutenant, then Captain. George III Ffrench’s name appears all over the
Almanacs( to which he contributed for Portland), the Gleaner etc. This
after the 1865 Rebellion;-
;)
50a Lieut George III
Ffrench after the 1865 Rebellion
1866 Eliza his wife, and their daughters Anna
Maria and Letitia Emily were signatories to one of the
thank-you letters to the “now infamous” Governor Eyre from the Ladies of Port
Antonio and Manchioneal for saving them from the insurgents rebellion. George
III signs a similar letter of support for Governor Eyre expressing “deep
indignation at the misrepresentations” made.
George III Ffrench owned
property in Portland, eg Mount Pleasant(805 acres), True Blue(300acres).4 July
1867 "The Colonial Standard" reported George's vain attempt to clear
his land at Mount Pleasant, Portland of squatters.
;)
51 Here is a photo of
George III Ffrench
;)
52 And here is Eliza Minot
Ffrench
;)
53
Plan of Port Antonio where
they lived
7 January 1868 There is an amazing account of a shipwreck off Cuba
over Christmas 1867 written by George III himself.
He writes he was with "his 2 sons". These were probably
therefore Edward III Shafto (aged 13) and Alfred Ernest (aged 6+). Arthur
George would be 16 and had possibly left home. Alternatively this remark might
imply that Arthur George was GeorgeIII Ffrench's “spare” child ie illegitimate.
As Ansell Hart later wrote “every proud mother was only too prone to register
the name of the father of her illegitimate child”
54 George III is ship-wrecked!
;)
When St George Parish was merged with Portland around 1867/8 George was offered
Clarendon but successfully objected. He received a pension.
;)
55 George is to be transferred but refuses!
;)
56 1870 Promoted to 2nd Class clerk
aged 50
Feb 28 1870 In the Colonial Standard a valedictory address from the
good & great of Port Antonio, "accompanied by bumpers of
champagne"
;)
57 Valedictory Address on George's promotion to
Westmoreland parish "after an extended residence in Port Antonio of nearly
a quarter of a century" (ie from 1846/7)
He remained at Sav la Mar,
Westmoreland for 10 years and became
proprietor of a property there called “Blue Hole” & a lessee of Roslyn
Lodge Pens. His salary was £400 per year plus a £50 housing allowance--a
serious amount at the time.
Dec 1879 he took long leave on
half pay-- at the same time as Arthur George—to look after his dying brother
Edward?
Apr 1880 aged 60 he retired & moved to Kingston . He had been a JP, Captain of the Portland Volunteers, Parochial Board
member, Clerk of the Vestry of the Parish of Portland, etc. and a
well-respected worthy citizen.
1890 aged 70, &
despite substantial pensions and assets, George III seems to have got into
financial difficulties with foreclosures on properties he owned eg Mount
Pleasant Estate, 805 acres in Portland.
May 1891(aged 69) he is
elected to the Kingston
City Council
1893 He is the defendant over
a disputed Bill of Exchange for £331.
Sept 17th 1896 per Gleaner
He seems to have been somewhat cantankerous, falling out with the Mayor of Kingston, but
takes on a short-term role as acting clerk Portland Parish that year.
1897 A messy bankruptcy
7 May 1897 he died aged 78
at 2 Harbour St, Kingston. No will found yet but he was bankrupt. The informant
was solicitor Thadeous Rudolph McMillan “who caused the body to be buried”. Why
no family present?
;)
58 GeorgeIII Ffrench’s death certificate
His son, the 36 years old Honorable Alfred E.
Ffrench MP,JP, was his executor and had to sort out the mess. George’s widow Eliza Minot Ffrench died a year later in 1898,
also in Kingston.
Here's George's obituary;
;)
59 GeorgeIII Ffrench’s obituary
from “The Colonies & India”
Chapter 6
Generation 5-- Issue
of George Ffrench III & Eliza (Minot)
Ffrench,
Apart from the baptism of
their first child Robert (named after Geo's father) Burke Ffrench, we have been
unable to find the baptism records of any of George and Eliza's other children
in the LDS microfilm records or in the RGD
Spanish Town
records or in the Jamaica
Archives. We have put this summary together therefore largely from articles in
the Gleaner and The Colonial Standard. (All
children believed born in parish of Portland)
1) George & Eliza Minot Ffrench were married 4 Jan 1849 (LDS
film 1291729 Vol 5 fo 254) by Rector John C Stone
2) Robert Burke Ffrench was
born 31 Oct 1849 bap 4 Jan 1850 abode Port Antonio (LDS film 1291717
vol 12 fo 257) Rector WJ Cavard. Robert died 4 May 1850 (buried Port Antonio
churchyard).
;)
60 Baptism of Robert Burke Ffrench in Portland Parish (not
St George)
Perhaps as a result of Robert’s premature death George & Eliza lost
their faith and failed to baptise their successive issue--but this seems
unlikely as GeorgeIII ends up on the Diocesan Finance Board of the Church of
England—so probably the Portland
records have just gone missing.
3) The Gleaner of Nov 19th 1869 "at Port Antonio on the 10th inst
of Typhoid fever at the early age of 16 years Letitia (after George's mother)
Emily the second daughter of George
Ffrench" . If she was 16 she was born 1853 but no baptism
record found. Burial record 11 Nov 1869 film 1291717 vol 7 fo
33 says age 13 so born 1856. POR 1856 ENF 1847-1870. Rector Wm Smith
4) In the letter to Governor Eyre of 1 Jan 1866(Google Books) there are
signatures from "Eliza Ffrench, Ann M Ffrench & Emily Letitia
Ffrench".
So Ann M(aria) Ffrench must have been first daughter—born say 1853
;)
61 Letter
supporting Governor Eyre from the Ladies of Port Antonio re the Mourant
uprising
5) On May 6 1903 in a Gleaner
article on "The Portland Case" there is a witness called
"EdwardIII Shafto(n) Ffrench , a son of Mr George Ffrench...His mother(ie
Eliza Minot Ffrench) was half sister to the plaintiff(Miss Frances
Champier)" “Edward lived with his father George Ffrench” Edward S Ffrench
was in the Tax Dept joining 28 May 1873 as second class clerk St Ann per
the Blue Book. If he was 18 then, E S Ffrench
was born in 1855. Alternative names are Edward Shafto Burke/or Buchan Ffrench
viz Gleaner 1 Mar 1913 "In the Supreme Court etc.....Gertrude Emily
Ffrench the wife of Edward Shafto Buchan Ffrench...etc"
In the Colonial Standard
appear the following items;
CS: 7th April
1864. Page 2, col. 1 “DIED At Tichfield, Portland, on Thursday 31st ultimo,
HEDLEY JOHN CECIL, third son of GEORGE FFRENCH, Esq. aged 6 years.” So Born
about 1858
CS: 18th November
1869. Page 2, col. 3 “DIED At Port Antonio on Wednesday the 10th
instant, of Typhoid Fever, a the early age of 16 years, LETITIA EMILY, the
second daughter of Mr. GEORGE FFRENCH.”
CS: 19th
January 1881. Page 2, col. 2 "DIED At Port Antonio on the 10th
instant ANNA MARIA, Eldest daughter of GEORGE & ELIZA FFRENCH in the 28th
year of her age, much and deservedly regretted." Born about 1853
Colonial standard of 7th
January 1868. Page 2, cols. 4, 5 & 6
“Wreck of the Schooner Fanny
of Port Antonio”.
“Mr. Geo. Ffrench of Port
Antonio arrived in Kingston on Friday last with
his two sons and the Captain and crew of the Schr. “Fanny” which vessel
was wrecked off Cuba
on the 21st ultimo.” Ie not “2 of his sons”
6) The two ship-wrecked sons were probably Edward III Shafto and Alfred
Ernest & not Arthur George who would
be 16 then
7) In the Tri-Weekly Gleaner of Thursday Nov 18 1897(after George
Ffrench had died 11 Feb 1897) there is reported a supreme Court Case where
"A E Ffrench was the representative of
the estate of George Ffrench, being the Administrator"."Mr Johnson
said.(he)...represented George Ffrench up to his death....then he represented a
son who became Administrator(A E Ffrench).Per Who's Who in Jamaica 1916 "Alfred
Ernest Ffrench born Port Antonio 23 Feb 1861 Son of the late George
Ffrench,Collector of Taxes and Eliza Ffrench. Staunch Roman Catholic.” Per ?
1923 Gleaner he is quoted when electioneering "Now stop a little, 39 years
ago (ie 1884 aged 23) I married a dark Portland
lady (Isadora Maud Burke Moodie)....I have 8 children by that
marriage...." Per his death cert
copy he died 24 Apr 1926 aged 60(?-he was 65) certified by his son Shafto
Moodie Ffrench
;)
;)
62 Isadora’s baptism &
her marriage to Alfred-(both times in Anglican churches)
There are various Ffrench surnamed children born/died in Portland around this time
that we cannot place—perhaps George III or Edward II’s “spares”? or their
siblings’ issue ie Arthur I, Robert or Alexander Dunn’s?
1-George Henry Ffrench born 8 Mar 1849 before GeorgeIII’s marriage.The
mother is named as Ann Buckley & the father unnamed-- & GeorgeIII
Ffrench would have been known to the baptizing rector Cavard—but perhaps he was
being discreet?
;)
63 George Henry Ffrench’s
baptism
2-Frederick Horatio Ffrench b 12 May 1850 mother “Elizabeth
Minot”.Too soon after Robert-- no father named on baptism. Cavard Rector
64 Frederick Horatio Ffrench
baptism
3-Charles Arthur Ffrench, b 5 Nov 1869 Port Antonio, mother Mary Ann
Bryan, bap 29 May 1870. Could he be an illegitimate son of GeorgeIII—or even of
Arthur George then packed off to St Catherine's to join Tax Dept?
(No Image)
;)
65 A George Ffrench dies
Port Antonio aged 39—who can this be?
Chapter 7
From the start we thought Arthur George Ffrench was born 1851 & must
be the son of George III as his birth date of 1851 would put him neatly between
Robert Burke1849 and Anna Maria 1853. Further he became a Tax Collector—like
George III. David L Ffrench said he believed Arthur George was a brother of his
grandfather Alfred Ernest & a coffee planter in Manchester parish.
In the absence of a baptism we established his birth year from the 1891
English Census return—age 40, his English death certificate--54 in 1905 and the
Freemasons records—25 in 1876
From the DNA match between my brother Simon and Michael Ffrench
(documented descendant of George III Ffrench) we know that they have a common ancestor. So
Arthur could be;-
A legitimate son of George & Eliza; an illegitimate son of either
George III or of Edward II(Edward did not marry till 1857) or;
the legitimate/illegitimate son of any of their siblings Arthur I b
1813, Robert II b 1817 or Alexander Dunn b 1828 or of;
even earlier parentage George II b 1777 Edward I b 1781 or Robert I b
1784
Perhaps his Arthur George’s
mother (if not Eliza) had died young which might explain his later penchant for
older women. We do not know for sure where he was born other than “Jamaica” per the UK Census or where he schooled but
he must have been smart. In Sep 1870 Arthur appears in the Jamaica Civil Service Annual Blue Books for the
first time as 2nd class clerk, Tax Dept, Spanish Town,
St Catherine when he would be aged 18 if born in 1851.
So we are surmising that he,
like Edward III Shafto Burke/Buchan Ffrench,
got the job through family connections eg tax-collector “uncle/father?” George
Ffrench III or Edward II Ffrench However
George III seems the more likely as EdwardII had left the Tax dept by 1867
& had become bankrupt before 1870.
1st Jan 1873 Arthur
George was promoted to 1st class clerk .In Apr 1874 he was “ordered
to Manchester to act as Asst Collector of Taxes” for 6 months where, aged 23,
he met and 3 months later inJune 1874 impregnated Frances(Fanny) Ann Glave , heiress, she aged
29!
Nov 1874 he was transferred back to Spanish Town.
His daughter with Fanny, ie Kathleen was born in March 1875-illegitimate &
“colored”.1875 he appears in the Blue Books briefly as George Arthur Ffrench. He is living in King Street
Spanish Town,
big houses just off the main square. ;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
66 67 68 69 70 King Street just off the main Spanish
Town square plus King St
houses.
Jan 1876 Arthur joined the Spanish Town Freemasons
February 1876 despite the above, & aged 25, he impregnated my spinster
great-grandmother Jane Victoria Smith, aged 36, a local trader & businesswoman.
15th Nov 1876 Jane had son Ernest George Ffrench (my grandfather). She had him baptized by Rev Chas Douet-an
establishment figure-- in Spanish Town where Arthur worked clearly naming him as the
father “Clerk of Municipal Board” and giving the address Spanish
Town although she was almost certainly
living in Kingston
at the time. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned etc….Perhaps she had been
living with him as” House Keeper” not
knowing that his intended was “upcountry”?
29th Nov 1876 Arthur “Clerk of Municipal Board, St
Catherines” aged 25 was married by Rev WJ Drought by licence to Frances(Fanny) Ann Glave aged 31 in (the now
ruined) Duppy Church,
Mile Gully, Manchester!
(Duppy is Jamaican for ghost).Witnesses Jno Sawers & FW Bonitto—ie no
Ffrench’s
71 Arthur George Ffrench
& Frances Ann Glave Marriage Record
See next page…
;)
1877 Gets Frances
pregnant again(dau named Frances
“Fran” Eliza –Frances
after her mother-- Eliza after Eliza Minot perhaps? David L Ffrench met Fran
& her 2 daughters)
1878 Arthur is appointed
Executor to the Estate of Sophia Galway of Mandeville, Manchester. ( a family connection?). Attends
inauguration new Custos Isaac Levy as . Hon Sec Hamilton Lodge Freemasons
Mar 1879 Gets Fanny pregnant (son named St George Moore— many Irish
“Arthur St George Ffrench”s—Moore
after Arthur’s Aunt Maria Moore?
Dec1879 Takes 6+ months leave on half-pay(same time as George
III-coincidence?) Why? Paternity leave??!! Or looking after dying widower
“Uncle/Father” Edward II?
25 Nov 1880 Elected Member of the Institute
of Jamaica, Kingston
Feb 1881 Gets Fanny pregnant(son Arthur Peter Ffrench –named Arthur
after father-Peter after ??)= Living Don & Donna Jones’ Grandfather
5 June 1883 Ridiculed in the Gleaner for his “Literary Society”
;)
72 Ffrench’s Literary Society
March 1884 Gets Fanny pregnant(Stephen Shirley Glave Ffrench.Note
Shirley- a name that Alfred Ernest also uses for a son and which might be a
name of Eliza Minot. 1884/5 Voted
Master of the Freemasons Hamilton Lodge 6 Sept 1884 See this Fund Raiser for
the Masons where both GeorgeIII Ffrench & A G Ffrench are listed—was there
a family connection?
;)
73 Arthur & George at the Masonic
;)
73A Arthur George Ffrench
abt 1885 with daughter Kathleen(10?) & Frances (?)
73b Arthur George Ffrench 1885
28 July 1885 His name appears on the advertised Tender for the Parish
of St Catherine re the Ewarton Railway.
22 July 1886 A letter to the Gleaner
about a suspicious theft of £300 from Arthur’s office—the money “later
found in the possession of a young fellow whom Mr Ffrench entertains” .
Implying what exactly? Was he gay?
Oddly no further mention in the Gleaner.
;)
74 A bare-faced robbery +
Railway tender
Dec 1886 According to the Blue Books “ dismissed” . According to the Colonial Standard (published in Kingston,
Jamaica & Extracted
and indexed by Stephen D. Porter, from
microfilm, at the Newspaper Library, Colindale, London.)
1887, Friday 28th January; page 2, col 5
"Official Announcements. In consequence of the absence from the
island, without leave, of Mr. A. G. Ffrench, Clerk of the Parochial Board of
St. Catherine, His Excellency the Governor has declared that office
vacant."
1887, Tuesday 26th April; page 2, col 2
"Mr. A. G. Ffrench. It
may prove of interest to some parties to learn of the whereabouts of the late
Clerk of the Parochial Boards of St. Catherine. We are in a position to state
that on the 28th ultimo, he was in London, but
he intended leaving for Australia
in the early part of the present month. Our information adds, that it may be
some months before Mr. Ffrench returns to Jamaica."
No
immigration record of his arrival into the UK (or Australia) has been found but
four years later;
1891 UK Census shows an Arthur Ffrench aged 39 (born 1851 Jamaica, West
Indies), clerk, "married" but living alone as a lodger in a mens'
hostel in Whitechapel, East London called The Charles William Mowl
Victoria Home.
Per Wikipedia;- Large lodging house at 39-41 Commercial St, east London
situated on the south-western corner with Wentworth St. Registered in November
1887, it was run at that time by Augustus Wilkie of 77 Whitechapel Road and was
originally licensed to house 370 male lodgers, though expansion allowed for an
increase in occupants within a short time. In 1888, a press report outlined its
intentions and its initial success:
"It was with a view to ameliorate the condition of the poor that
Lord Radstock and other gentlemen, with a purely philanthropic motive, acquired
two years since a warehouse of four floors in Commercial-street, at the corner
of Wentworth-street, and converted it into a model lodging-house. The success
of the venture led to the acquisition of the adjoining premises, and the number
of beds now provided is 500. In every respect this lodging-house - the only one
of its sort in London
- deserves to be imitated. First, its charges are low - viz., 4d for a single
bed, or 2s per week; and 6d for a "cabin," or 3s per week. Each bed
has two blankets, two sheets, and a quilt; the bedstead is of iron, and a kind
of shield at the head affords a certain degree of privacy. The floor space is
partitioned into rooms, containing each ten or a dozen beds; whilst in the
"cabins" there is only one. A "casual" ward for the
reception of newcomers has lately been added, and probationers are transferred
thence to floors above. Many of the lodgers are regulars, but some are
birds of passage purely. The lavatory, ventilating, and sanitary arrangements
are on an enlightened scale. In the common kitchen food may be cooked at the
great fire, or obtained at low charges at the bar, a dinner with vegetables for
fourpence, or a bowl of soup for a penny. No known bad characters are admitted.
Tickets for beds are issued from five p.m. until 12.30 midnight, and after that
hour if a man wants to get in he must have a pass. It is by these rules,
especially, and by the exclusion of women, that the Victoria Home
is so greatly to be preferred to the most modern and "improved" of
the lodging-houses which are strictly commercial undertakings."
The rules of the home were such as to deter 'bad characters':
1) No person in a state of intoxication will be on any account
admitted.
2) No swearing or obscene language will be tolerated; order and decorum
are insisted in the kitchens; silence in the bedrooms.
3) No person will be admitted after one o'clock a.m. without a special
pass.
4) Any lodger interfering with the comfort of others is at once
ejected.
5) Lodgers who are fortunate enough to possess extra clothing or other
personal effects, can leave them in charge of the deputy, who will give a
receipt for the same.
6) Baths, warm or cold, can be had in the house. For a warm bath, the
charge of one penny is made
In April 1891 it was being run by Charles William Mowl and housed
nearly 500 men.
The Victoria Working Men's Home was totally destroyed during an air
raid in the Second World War and the site remained empty for many years before
being redeveloped as part of the New Holland Estate in the late 1960s.(Tyne Street redevelopment - plans 1964-71 (London
Metropolitan
Archives)
How the mighty
have fallen! From Clerk of the Vestry of St Catherines to this!
;)
75
Victoria Working Men's Home, Commercial
Street, c.1900
The 1901 UK Census has Arthur Ffrench aged 46 (ie born
1855 but probably incorrect as would surely be too young at 15 to
join Tax Dept in 1870) born in Jamaica,
"single", Clerk in the "Guardians Office”.
;)
76 The 1891 and 1901 Censusses showing 1851 or
1855 as Arthur’s D.O.B.
The Guardians was the name of the Wandsworth and Clapham Poor Law
Administrators They ran the WorkHouses in the Borough, looked after
orphans—sending many to foster parents in rural Canada, sometimes aged just
10--, giving handouts and getting jobs to persons in need. Arthur first appears
in the Guardian Office records as 4th Assistant Clerk in the Clerks
Office from November 1895 up until 8 August 1905 (when he died).Perhaps the
Freemasons helped him secure the job?
He was living alone in one room at 61 Strathblaine Rd,
Battersea,Wandsworth,SW11. This house still stands and is now a nice
substantial residence in a good area. The main occupiers in 1901 were a
builder, his wife & 9th month old daughter--so Arthur was the
"lodger".
;)
77 61 Strathblaine Rd, Wandsworth, London
Arthur, living in Clapham, was
described in the Censuses and his death cert as “Occupation- Poor Law Clerk
Guardians’ Office”. The Guardians were the Trustees appointed in
each Borough to administer the Poor Law. They collected the “Poor Law rates”
and used the funds to run the local Workhouses where homeless, jobless local
persons were employed; to help find homes for orphans(many at this time were
shipped off to rural Canada
to foster homes); to help place unfortunate young women in work and generally
to administer handouts where needed.
Extracts from records at London Metropolitan Archives
Arthur was appointed 21 Nov 1895 as temporary 4th assistant
clerk in the Clerk’s Office at a wage of 30 shillings a week. It is recorded in
the Register of Officers 1890-99 ref WaBG194/2 of the Wandsworth & Clapham
(Poor Law) Union and in Folio Vol 4 page 496
of the Minute Book of the Guardians, It was reported to the Local Government
Board on 31 Dec 1895. His appointment letter was referenced “Form of Query
LB6/408” but cannot be traced in the Form of Query files. His appointment was
sanctioned by the Local Government Board 4 March 1896—Number of LGB letter 44
(not found).
His salary was increased to 35 shillings a week 10 Mar 1898 per Minute
Book 6 page 653 effective 11 March—LGB letter 92. On15 June 1900 a dinner
allowance of £15 (p.a.?) in lieu of dinner was added No 166 SR Folio 88. The
appointment was made permanent after the purchase by the Guardians of the
Tooting Workhouse and he remained employed by the Guardians until his death in
August 1905
He died of kidney/cardiac failure at 54--intestate
but his estate of £62 was administered by his landlady Emily Ashelford (aged 46
married to a bricklayer 16 years older than herself) .This and a chest of his
belongings reached his widow Frances Ann
Glave Ffrench in Jamaica.
Her grand daughter Icy-now 91- remembers her father Arthur Peter Ffrench
telling her the chest arrived on the United Fruit Cos White ship and that she
still has a glass inscribed with Arthur George’s name—perhaps a necessary
precaution in the workhouse
And here is his death
certificate of 1905- a "Poor Law Clerk" in a poorer part of Clapham, London. He died at 54 of
various unpleasant illnesses—rough justice perhaps for someone who messed up so
many people's lives;
He had never returned to Jamaica and in a 1904 marriage announcement in
the Gleaner for their 2nd daughter, Frances Ann Ffrench nee Glave had actually described
him as the "late Arthur George Ffrench" Perhaps that's why
there's no further reference of him in the Gleaner. David L Ffrench
tought he had actually died in Manchester
Parish so perhaps the scandal had been covered up by the family.
;)
78 Arthur George Ffrench
death Certificate providing 1851 as D.O.B.
This address 20 Oberstein Rd is only a few hundred
yards from 61 Strathblaine Rd
but in a much less attractive area and now very run down.
;)
79 20 Oberstein Rd
Arthur had 5 children in all with Frances (Fanny) -the last when she
was 39 and he 33. The first, daughter Kathleen, was recorded when
baptised as illegitimate, coloured. The others' colours are not recorded. Donna
Cover-Jones great grand daughter said
Fanny considered herself
“mulatto”.
They were all born in Heavitree, Mile Gully, Manchester, Jamaica.
Heavitree Coffee estate had been left to Frances by her father Stephen
Sharpe Glave, born Yorkshire 1814 died 1 Apr 1873, Jamaica. Frances Ann Ffrench is
shown in the 1910 Almanac as the owner of Heavitree. Her father’s “wife”
was Kitty—the housekeeper?
Another indication that Arthur was related to George III is that
George III when in financial difficulties around 1890 mortgaged for
pnds300 a property he owned to Eliza(beth) Glave b 1853 who was Arthur’s wife
Frances’s sister--- ie Arthur's sister-in-law lent George III money. Why unless
they were “family”?
To
summarise;
Generation 6--Children of Arthur George Ffrench
with Frances Ann Glave,
Kathleen Ann Ffrench, b. 10
March 1875 in Heavitree, Manchester, recorded as colored. d ?
Frances “Fran” Eliza Ffrench b 22 Mar 1878 d aft 1930 as D L Ffrench
met her?
St George Moore
Ffrench, b. 9 Dec 1879 in Heavitree, Mile Gully, Manchester.d 11 Dec 1922
Arthur Peter Ffrench, b. 30 Nov 1881 in Heavitree, Mile Gully,
Manchester, d Feb1968 Grand-father of Icy, Donna & Don
Stephen Shirley Ffrench, b. 3 Sept 1884. d 16 Mar 1896 of tetanus
with Jane Victoria
Smith,
Lt Col. Ernest George Ffrench (my hero!)
b. 15 Nov 1876 baptised in Spanish Town, Jamaica
(ie not Kingston) Died 1937 in Kent, UK.
Ernest's maternal
ancestors
Chapter 8
Jane Victoria Smith was born
illegitimately 23rd Oct 1840 and baptised in St Catherine's Parish in January
1841.On her baptism record her father was named as"Lieut Smith 64th Regiment"
and her mother as Eliza Grant. Address 49 Wellington Street
Spanish Town,
St Catherine's.
;)
80(Extract) & 81 Jane’s Baptism record
;)
82
What her Spanish
Town home might have
looked like----
Jane Victoria Smith's Parents;
a) Jane's father-- Lieutenant Michael Edward Smith
On the 1839 Harts Army List of Officers, under the 64th(2nd
Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot, which is shown as stationed then in Jamaica,
is Michael Edward Smith (Ensign, promoted to Lieutenant Feb 1840). Smith
had purchased his commission--normal in those days. Michael Edward Smith b 10
Nov 1814 was the 5th child(of 15), 3rd son of Henry Jeremiah Smith , JP, Deputy
Lord Lieutenant, Co Meath, the latter's
father being wealthy establishment figure Henry Smith of Beabeg ;
;)
83
Henry Smith of Beabeg
Henry Smith's son Henry Jeremiah Smith had been a "cornet" or
Ensign in the 11th Light Dragoons(ie mounted on horseback) in 1809;
;)
84 Army List 1809
;)
85
Henry Jeremiah Smith of
Beabeg & Annesbrook
;)
86 Beabeg
His second wife,
Michael Edward Smith's mother, was Elizabeth Radcliffe Smith.
;)
87 Elizabeth
Radcliffe Smith when young
Elizabeth's mother was Catherine Cox Radcliffe, Michael's grandmother
;)
88 Elizabeth Radcliffe’s
mother (Catherine
Cox Radcliffe)
The family seat was Annesbrooke, Duleek, Co Meath just north of Dublin. Henry Jeremiah
Smith had purchased this around 1803 from Mr Hamilton and extended it
substantially. He was on social terms with King George IV
The following is taken from
Mark Bence-Jones book ‘A Guide To Irish Country Houses’. Annesbrook, Duleek, Co. Meath. A 2 storey 3 bay Georgian
house with ground floor windows set under relieving arches and a large
rusticated and fanlighted doorway; to which an impressive portico of 4
fluted Ionic columns and a single-storey wing containing a charming Georgian-Gothic
“banqueting room” were added early in c19 by Henry (Jeremiah) Smith. According
to the story, he made these additions 1821 for when George IV came over to dine
with him while staying with Lady Conyngham at Slane Castle;
the monarch, however never saw the banqueting room, preferring to dine out of
doors. Then under the entry for Slane
Castle he states that ‘George IV
stayed in Slane Castle as Prince of Wales, and again as
King 1821; the wife of 1st Marquess being the Lady Conyngham who was
his favourite. The dead straight road from Dublin to Slane is said to have been made
especially for him.
;)
89 Annesbrook
Michael
Edward Smith inherited this in 1892 after the death of his 2 elder brothers.
;)
90 Dining at Annesbrook
;)
91 The Hunt at nearby Duleek;
;)
92 a Smith family get-together about 1905!
The piece following summarises Michael Edward Smith's
life, mostly compiled around 1910 by a niece of Michael, Emily
Gertrude Cox(Nee Smith) , daughter of Richard Jeremiah Smith, younger brother
of Michael, when she researched the
family tree--she knew both Michael & his wife Jane Grace Syme
;)
93 Emily Cox Smith—the author
Emily’s writing is mainly in
italics with further comments
from Brenda McKeever underlined --additional items
have also been added by Keith/Nancy Atkinson, or where there are conflicts in
details; this includes details of Michael's military career extracted from the
quarterly Regimental Muster Rolls at The National Archives, Kew, England
)
Michael’s father was Henry
Jeremiah Smith, J.P., Dep Lieut Co Meath, Ireland, born 28 Nov 1783;
He married; firstly 28 Dec
1802 Margaret Osbourne Smith by whom he had 2 sons—Henry Jeremiah and
Francis Edward;
secondly; Elizabeth Radcliffe
Smith of Tinnakilly, Co Wicklow with whom he had 7 sons and 5 daughters.
94 Elizabeth
Radcliffe Smith when older
94a 13 Molesworth Street, Dublin;
Michael Edward Smith was the 3rd son 5th
child of Elizabeth Radcliffe Smith & was born on the 10th
November 1814 at the house of his great-grandmother
Lady Catherine Cox, 13
Molesworth St, Dublin.He was baptized round the corner at St. Anne’s
Church, Dawson Street.
Lady Cox was also his godmother, his godfather being the
Hon. Edward Taylor Massey, his mother’s cousin. He was called Michael
after his great-grandfather the Rev. Sir Michael Cox Bt. Of Dunmanway and
Edward after his godfather.The date of his birth is given at November 10th
in the entry made by his mother in the family bible; on the monument erected to
his memory in Duleek Church the date is given at November 8th, which
must be a mistake. (Unfortunately Duleek church is no longer used as a church and most
of the memorials in the church were vandalized, )
;)
95 Duleek Church
;)
96 Duleek
church plaque for Henry Jeremiah Smith
Michael Edward Smith was educated at Dundalk Grammar School, the
Headmaster at that time being a Dr. Donaldson. Later on(about 1833 ?) he
was sent, with Richard Jeremiah, his brother, born 1817, to Switzerland, where
they read with Dr. Caesar Malan, a well known divine in his day, and afterwards
with Merle D’Aubigny, who was engaged in writing his world-famed “History of
the Reformation” when they lived with him in Geneva.
.In common with many other
"third sons" who joined either the Army or the Clergy In November 1837 aged 23 Michael
Edward obtained (ie purchased)
a commission as an Ensign in the 40th ( incorrect--was 64th)
Regiment of Foot--The North Staffordshires or Prince of Wales.
And it was the first one signed by young Victoria after she came
to the throne.
Michael
starts at the 64th's UK base or "Depot" in Dundee.1838 Michael spends
4 months in Dundee before making a 6 day foot march from May 4-9 with the
Company from Dundee to Paisley (Near Glasgow) 90 miles with an allowance of 5
shillings a day. He signs the allowance slip for 1 pound 10 shillings!
During
1838 he is stationed in Londonderry where in Dec 1838 he is ordered to join the
main regiment in Jamaica.The Regiment, along with
others including the 8th(The Kings),56th(West Essex) & 68th(Durham) were
sent to Jamaica in 1837 in case of a violent outburst after the end of slavery
August 1st, 1838. In the event it passed peacefully. He sets sail in the "Hopewell" on Feb 2nd 1839.
The
“Hopewell” regularly sailed to Jamaica from Londonderry although other officers
seem to have sailed from Cork
this time. It takes 45 days to reach Jamaica. Michael receives a ration
allowance of 3 pence per day on the ship--and he disembarks on 18th March 1839.
The
64th in Jamaica
at that time consisted of 25 officers,32 seargeants,26 corporals,9 drummers, pipers
& fifers and 461 privates. Michael is initially based with a detachment at
Stony Hill, just northwest of Kingston.
Onshore
his ration allowance is 2.5 pence per day. By this time he has a fulltime
servant/batman. Michael has 1.5 pence per day stopped from his pay to cover the
servant's rations
Extracts from Lloyds Shipping Register re “Hopewell”
97 The Hopewell
;)
98 Michael’s
Marching Allowance and his stoppages for his batman’s food
;)
99 Harts Army List early 1839
20 Dec 1839 aged 25 he is made up to
Lieut(commission purchased). 1840
In April he is stationed in Kingston--in June Fort Augusta.
Between July & September he commands a Company--for which he signs for
£280-16-5 3/4 for the mens' Pay & Beer Money for the quarter!
;)
100 Harts
Army List July 1840
But Michael has been busy
because on 23 Oct 1840 Jane Victoria Smith is born to " Lieut Smith of the
64th Regiment" and Eliza Grant; Jane is baptized in St Catherine's Jamaica. Address
given was 49 Wellington Street
Spanish Town--was Michael billetted there?
;)
101
49 Wellington St
today!
Today it’s a hairdressing
salon & not the original building!
Perhaps
Michael had succumbed to yellow fever, convalesced at "Blundells
Hall" then being run by Mary Jane Seacole née Grant and met Eliza Grant
there? Is Eliza in fact Louisa Grant, Mary Seacole's sister?
But why St Catherines, not Kingston? The other baptisms on the register
are for tailors, bricklayer, cook, butler, labourers, servants, “collector of
petty debts” Perhaps Eliza was there just to have her baby ? Or was it their
love nest-- in which case he would have known
of the pregnancy.
But in any case Michael-aged 26- has already
sailed off to Halifax, Canada on October 12th 1840--just 2
weeks before his daughter is born. It takes 18 days to reach Halifax where he remains for 2 years.
;)
102 Harts Army List Oct 1841
1841 In this period
there were many deserters from the 64th. Did they fancy life in Canada or were they keen to get back to the
warmth--but disease--of the Caribbean? The
alternative might have been famine in Ireland.
1842 Aged 28 On
17th August Michael is put in charge of a shipload of invalids returning to Europe. This task done he takes a 6 month leave to 31
March 1843 when he exchanges into the 78th Highlanders (The Seaforths) a
regiment he was much attached to and very proud of .
Perhaps
he did not wish to return to Halifax
with the 64th? He does not actually join
the 78th till 27th November 1843 when he leaves for India
initially with a detachment of the 78th in Bombay.
1844 On 9th January he leaves Bombay for "Kurachee" till June.
Between July and August he is at Sukker Camp in Scinde Province.
"In 1839" (This cannot
be correct—the niece’s story conveniently overlooks the whole Jamaica
period!) he took part in the fatal
march from Kureelie to Sukher and was one of the few survivors. Through
some blunder the regiment had been ordered to Sukher in the height of the hot
weather with the result the seven hundred of the men lost their lives! My
uncle was taken very ill with internal inflammation and left for dead
Lt Col
Ernest George Ffrench M.D, Ch.B, FRCS(Edinburgh),FRCP(London)
"a distinguished son of Jamaica"
"I am proud of him as a Jamaican"
Just 2
years ago in spring 2009, I knew very little about my grandfather Dr Ernest G
Ffrench. He died 11 years before I was born and my own father died nearly 30
years ago. If only I had talked to him about his parents before he died.
I had been told that Ernest had been an eminent Harley Street Doctor, who
had eloped with a young American society girl and that for some reason he had
been born in Spanish Town, Jamaica--the son of Arthur Ffrench a "Customs
Official" and Jane Victoria(Nee Smith) his wife who apparently came from a
prominent Irish family. I supposed they had been expatriate civil servants,
posted temporarily to Jamaica.
It was only after a trip to Ireland
with my siblings, to research our "Irish roots" that it became
apparent that all was not what it seemed. There were simply no records either
of Jane, Arthur or their marriage. So I decided to do a little research on my
grandfather and get his birth/baptism record-- from Jamaica. Imagine my surprise when
it read "Illegitimate and colored"!
Little did I expect that the Ffrench's were a long established Jamaican
family,(there was even a Lieut Thomas French in the 1655 Penn/Venables force
which took Jamaica from the Spanish) with variously coloured members, some of
whom appear descended from slaves; that Ernest's mother Jane(also
illegitimate!) was a serious business woman and Lodging House keeper in
Kingston, with links to Mary Seacole, "the black Florence
Nightingale" and that Ernest's father Arthur had actually married another
woman & had 5 other Jamaican children with her, all of whom he abandoned,&
fled Jamaica to a working mens' hostel in East London, eventually dying alone
in a poor part of Clapham, London.
And Ernest's Jewish-American wife Adele Carvalho, had a famous father, David
Carvalho a handwriting expert who had testified in the Dreyfus trial in Paris,
and a grandfather Solomon Carvalho who had crossed the US on horseback with Col
Fremont's expedition and painted Abraham Lincoln!
The more I discovered about Ernest the more impressed I became by his journey
from such an unpromising start in life. We keepsearching but this is the story
uncovered--so far. I do hope you enjoy it!
Nancy Atkinson(Nee Ffrench) June 28 2011
This has
been a wonderfully collaborative effort so firstly thanks to my “old family” my sister
Susan Lamb & my brother Simon Ffrench,
plus my “new family” viz;
Michael Ffrench, Canada;
Big J and Aubrey Ffrench, Don Kemeel Jones
& Icy in Jamaica;
Donna Marie Jones-Cover in Florida
David L Ffrench
Philadelphia (all these Ffrench);
Sally Graff in Louisiana (Carvalho);
Brenda McKeever, Ireland,
Roseanne & Lana Jeffers UK
(all Smiths)
+ those who encouraged me, gave me leads or
contributed to "the truth"
Prof Elizabeth Anionwu (Seacole Memorial Statue
Foundation),
Dr Douglas J Austin, Cambridge ( Seacole research)
Nicole Bryan (Library of Jamaica)
Steve Campbell (RGD, SpanishTown),
Dr Barry Davidson,
Cirencester, Uk
(Seacole research)
Terri England (Family
History Researcher),
Mara French ( French Family Association),
Julia French-Wood (French
family DNA project)
Sally Graff
(Sturhahn-Carvalho family)
Brenda Grey (Ffrench family friend Ocho Rios)
Patricia Jackson (Jamaica Family
Search.com),
Dr Aleric Josephs (University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica),
Dorothy Kew(Genealogist, Jamaica
Family History Research Canada),
Paulette Kerr(Author of Lodging House Keepers of Jamaica),
Paul Kerr (TV producer--The Real Heroine of the
Crimean war),
Donald Lindo(Genealogist and Historian, Kingston, Jamaica),
Dr Joy Lumsden (Historian, Kingston, Jamaica),
Madeleine
Mitchell(Genealogist/Jamaican Historian),
Ronnie Peralta
(Genealogist-David Carvalho papers)
Stephen D Porter(Historian & Friends of Georgian Jamaica
Society),
Michael Prescod (Glave family researcher, Jamaica),
Helen Rappaport(Author & Mary Seacole
Researcher),
Jane Robinson(Mary Seacole Biographer),
Cynthia Rosers(Jamaica Family History Researcher),
Racquel Stratchan (Jamaica
Archives, Spanish
Town),
Akira Sugihara(Glave
Family member & Researcher,USA)
Leovia Taylor (RGD SpanishTown),
Sharon Tomlin(LDS London
Jamaica
Family History Researcher)
and Cleo Sylvestre for her one-woman Mary Seacole
show!
Finally I dedicate this to
my father Geoffrey Ernest Ffrench who would have been fascinated………….
1 Now to set
the scene!............Jamaica
by Noel Coward
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (Like Corsica, Guam and Tasmania)
The tourist does not need to wear a topee Or other macabre miscellanea.
Remember that this is a tropical place Where violet hues are abundant
& bright-coloured clothes with a bright yellow face, Look frankly a
trifle redundant.
A simple ensemble of trousers & shirt Becomes both the saint &
the sinner
& if a head-waiter looks bitterly hurt You can wear a jacket for
dinner.
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (It shares this distinction with Elba)
Its easy to order a goat fricassee But madness to ask for Peach Melba.
You’ll find (to the best of this writer’s belief) That if you want rice
you can get it
But visitors ordering mutton or beef Will certainly live to regret it.
There’s seldom a shortage of ackees & yams Or lobsters if anyone’s
caught them
But if you’ve a passion for imported hams You’d bloody well better
import them.
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (It has this in common with Cuba)
Its national tunes, to a certain degree, Are founded on be-bop-a-duba.
‘Neath tropical palms under tropical skies Where equally tropical stars
are
The vocal Jamaicans betray no surprise However off-key their guitars
are.
The native calypsos which seem to be based On hot-air-conditioned
reflexes
Conclusively prove that to people of taste There’s nothing so funny as
sex is.
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (Like Alderney, Guernsey & Sark
are)
Its wise not to drive with exuberant glee Where large barracuda &
shark are.
The reefs are entrancing; the water is clear The colouring couldn’t be
dreamier
But one coral scratch & you may spend a year In bed with acute
septicaemia.
The leading hotels are extremely well run The service both cheerful
& dextrous
But even the blisters you get from the sun Are firmly included as
extras.
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (unlike Ecuador
or Guiana)
The tourist may not have a “Fromage de Brie” But always can have a
banana.
He also can have, if he has enough cash, a pleasantly rum-sodden liver
& cure his rheumatic complaints in a flash By shooting himself at Milk River.
In fact every tourist who visits these shores Can thank his benevolent
Maker
For taking time off from the rest of his chores To fashion the Isle of
Jamaica.
INDEX
Chapter 1 The Cast of
Characters in order of appearance! Images
Plus Ernest
George Ffrench’s Family Trees 2
Ernest's Paternal ancestors;
Chap 2
-early Ffrench's in Jamaica
; inc Thomas, Peter & Catherine 3-14
Chap
3 George I Ffrench & Miss
Jane Charlotte Beckford, + their sons George II & Edward I (" white
quadroons"),Robert and dau Ann Eliza
15-34
Chap
4 Robert I Ffrench, his wife
Letitia Dunn Lindo, children Arthur I, Robert II, George III, Edward II, Maria
Moore & Alexander Dunn 35-46
Chap
5 Geo III Ffrench-Arthur George’s
father?-& wife Eliza Minot 47-59
Chap
6 Known issue of George III/Eliza;
Robert Burke,Anna Maria, EdwardIII Shafto Burke, Letitia Emily, Hedley John
Cecil,Alfred Ernest 60-65
Chapter 7 Arthur George Ffrench—Ernest’s
father—Father GeorgeIII? 66-79
Ernest’s Maternal ancestors;
Chapter 8 Lieut Michael Edward Smith,
& the Smith's of Ireland 80-131
Chapter 9 Eliza & Louisa Grant, &
the Mary Seacole connection
132-160
Chapter 10 Miss Jane Victoria Smith,
& her life 161-174
Ernest George Ffrench HIMSELF;
Chapter 11 Ernest, his wife Adele Carvalho and
his life 175-199
Chapter 12 Ernest's in-laws, the
Carvalho's, esp. Solomon & David
200-229
Chapter 13 Ernest & Adele’s children,
Violet & Geoffrey, + grandchildren Jonathan, Susan, Simon & me!
230-237
Chapter 14 An interview with Ernest by the Hartford Courier 1935 238-240
Appendices;
1)Timeline Arthur George Ffrench
2)Timeline Carvalho family
3) Timelines George I Ffrench
4) Burke’s Landed Gentry Smiths of Annesbrook
5) Burke’s Landed Gentry Ffrench of Monivea
6) Mary Seacole’s Will Page 1
7) Mary Seacole’s Will Page 2
8) Mary Seacole’s Will page 3 + Probate Form
9) History of the 64th Regiment (1834-52 excerpt)-
published by Leo Cooper
10)Jane Charlotte Beckford’s Will Inventory of 1829 (Lodging house contents) (3 pages
with many thanks to the Jamaica
Archives for this)
11) The Beckford story
12) Burke’s Landed Gentry Beckfords
13) Monumental Inscriptions
The Beckfords in Spanish
Town Cathedral
Chapter 1 THE CAST OF CHARACTERS--in order of
appearance—By Head of Family!
Peter Ffrench Descendants
1-Peter
Ffrench (about 1710-19 March 1755)
+Catherine1
Noke (about 1714-)
. . 2-Catherine2 Ffrench
(21 October 1734-26 October 1794)
. .
2-Bethiah Ffrench (5 February 1736-9 August 1778)
. .
2-Anthony John Ffrench (18 March 1738-18 March 1740)
. .
2-Elizabeth Sarah Ffrench (3 October 1740-)
. .
2-George1 Ffrench (2 June 1742-13 February 1795)
. .
+Jane Charlotte Beckford (1759-23 October 1825)
. . . .
3-GeorgeII Ffrench (9 June 1777-)
. . . .
3-EdwardI Ffrench (7 October 1782-7 September 1835)
. . . .
3-Robert1 Ffrench (1785-11 October 1835)
. . . .
+Letitia Dunn Lindo (about 1795-)
. . . .
. . 4-Arthur I Ffrench (23 June 1813-)
. . . .
. . 4-Robert II Ffrench (2 June 1817-)
. . . .
. . 4-GeorgeIII Ffrench (30 December 1819-11 February 1897)
. . . .
. . +Eliza (Shirley?) Minot
(about 1826-12 March 1898)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Robert Burke Ffrench (31 October 1849-4 May 1850)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Anna Maria Ffrench (about 1853-10 January 1881)
. . . .
. . . . 5-EdwardIII Shafto Burke Ffrench (1855-after 1923)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Letitia Emily Ffrench (1856-10 November 1869)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Hedley John Cecil Ffrench (1858-31 March 1864)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Alfred Ernest Ffrench (23 February 1861-24 April 1926)
. . . .
. . . . +Isadora Maud Burke Moodie (5 August 1864-about 1953)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Frankie Ffrench (1884-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Nellie Ffrench (about 1885-8 May 1944)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-GeorgeIV A Ffrench (27 December 1886-5 February 1957)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Shafto Moodie Ffrench (23 January 1889-27 August 1979)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Ernest Minott Ffrench (17 August 1890-before 1926)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Enid Clare Ffrench (March 1896-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Leslie St Clair Ffrench (3 May 1900-3 April 1987)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Mary Bernice Prendergast (-1965)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Derek L Ffrench (31 March 1922-2007)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-David L Ffrench (22 February 1925-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-June Ffrench (1928-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Ouida Ffrench (4 February 1933-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Shirley Lorraine Ffrench (8 January 1902-18 July 1969)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Enid Susan Hind (1904-1988)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-John(Big J) Ffrench (25 January 1940-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Michael Ernest Ffrench (1943-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Norman Ffrench (23 October 1925-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Aubrey Ffrench (1930-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Corinne E Ffrench (9 May 1905-15 June 1993)
. . . .
. . +Unknown Mother (-)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Arthur George Ffrench (about 1851-8 August 1905)
. . . .
. . . . +Jane Victoria Smith (23 October 1840-12 May 1927)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Ernest George Ffrench (15 November 1876-25 July 1937)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Adele Miriam Carvalho (21 December 1876-1958)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Violet Anne Victoria Ffrench (15 June 1916-31 July 2003)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . +George F Davis (21 December 1917-20 August 1998)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Robin N Davis (24 April 1943-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . +Laura Hooper (about 1944-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 9-Geoffrey Davis (1970-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Christopher Davis (August 1948-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Geoffrey Ernest Ffrench (25 November 1917-25 January 1980)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . +Marjory Grace Godfrey (11 November 1918-August 2007)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Jonathan Ffrench (25 February 1944-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Susan Adele Ffrench (4 July 1947-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Nancy Rosalind Ffrench (28 November 1948-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . +Keith Melvyn Atkinson (28 June 1943-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Simon Geoffrey Ffrench (26 January 1950-)
. . . .
. . . . +Frances Fanny Ann Glave (20 June 1845-after 1922)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Kathleen Glave Ffrench (10 March 1875-after 1922)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Frances Eliza Ffrench (22 March 1878-after 1922)
. . . .
. . . . . . +David Charles Thomas (1880-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-St George Moore Ffrench (9 December 1879-11 December 1922)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Arthur Peter Ffrench (30 November 1881-February 1968)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Irene Getfield (-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Myrtle Mae Ffrench (27 September 1917-4 April 1994)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . +Charles Adolphus Jones (14 August 1907-20 January 2000)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Donna Marie Jones-Cover (about 1955-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . +Desmond Cover (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-Jordan Cover (-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Don Kemeel Jones (about 1960-)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Amy Adina Thomas (1902-December 1994)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Gladys Ffrench (18 October 1918-20 July 2005)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . +Hepburn Ashman (-2 November 1968)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Living Ashman (-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Stephen Shirley Ffrench (3 September 1884-16 March 1896)
. . . .
. . 4-EdwardII Ffrench (6 February 1822-10 March 1880)
. . . .
. . +Sarah Harrison Buchan (1833-before 1880)
. . . .
. . 4-Maria Moore
Ffrench (8 December 1826-14 December 1918)
. . . .
. . +John Moore (about 1820-before 1918)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Ella Louise Moore
(-1 October 1938)
. . . .
. . 4-Alexander Dunn Ffrench (9 December 1828-)
. . . .
3-Ann Eliza Ffrench (1787-13 October 1835)
. .
+Elizabeth Ann Jackson (about 1765-about 1825)
. . . .
3-John Ffrench (1789-6 January 1790)
. . . .
3-Henry Ffrench (21 October 1793-18 January 1800)
Descendants Henry Smith
1-Henry1 Smith (15 June
1748-1817)
+Martha Steele (-)
. . 2-Henry2 Jeremiah 11th
Dragoons Smith (28 November 1783-15 February 1857)
. . +Margaret Osbourne (about
1782-about 1805)
. . . . 3-Henry3 Jeremiah
Smith (October 1803-)
. . . . +Sarah Maria Harrison
(about 1810-)
. . . . . . 4-Henry4 Jeremiah
Smith (14 September 1829-)
. . . . 3-Francis Edward Smith
(1805-)
. . +Elizabeth Radcliffe
(1790-5 March 1872)
. . . . 3-Catherine Matilda
Smith (about 1810-)
. . . . +Robert Col Sir
Wallace (-)
. . . . 3-Elizabeth Smith
(about 1811-)
. . . . +Hugh Lyons Montgomery (-)
. . . . 3-Stephen Henry Smith
(1813-1890)
. . . . +Georgina
Barbra Pelly (-1874)
. . . . 3-St George William
Smith (1813-about 1892)
. . . . 3-Michael Edward Smith
(10 November 1814-19 May 1903)
. . . . +Jane Grace Smith Syme
(1829-17 March 1913)
. . . . +Eliza Louisa Grant
(about 1815-21 July 1905)
. . . . . . 4-Jane Victoria Smith (23
October 1840-12 May 1927)
. . . . . . +Arthur George
Ffrench (about 1851-8 August 1905)
. . . . . . . . 5-Ernest
George Ffrench (15 November 1876-25 July 1937)
. . . . . . . . +Adele Miriam
Carvalho (21 December 1876-1958)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Violet
Anne Victoria Ffrench (15 June 1916-31 July 2003)
. . . . . . . . . . +George F
Davis (21 December 1917-20 August 1998)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Robin N Davis (24 April 1943-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Laura
Hooper (about 1944-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Geoffrey Davis (1970-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Christopher Davis (August 1948-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Geoffrey
Ernest Ffrench (25 November 1917-25 January 1980)
. . . . . . . . . . +Marjory
Grace Godfrey (11 November 1918-August 2007)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Jonathan Ffrench (25 February 1944-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Susan Adele Ffrench (4 July 1947-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Nancy Rosalind Ffrench (28 November 1948-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Keith
Melvyn Atkinson (28 June 1943-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Simon Geoffrey Ffrench (26 January 1950-)
. . . . 3-William Thomas Smith
(about 1816-)
. . . . 3-Richard Edward
Jeremiah Smith (about 1819-March 1877)
. . . . +Adela Archer (about
1840-)
. . . . 3-Kynaston Walter
Smith (about 1827-1857)
. . . . 3-Matilda Cox Smith
(1828-)
. . . . 3-Emily Smith (about
1829-)
. . . . 3-Mary Henrietta Smith
(1830-1876)
. . . . +Ralph4 Smyth (about
1817-)
. . . . 3-Frederick Augustus
Smith (18 November 1826-27 July 1887)
Descendants Samuel Nunes Carvalho
1-Samuel Nunes Carvalho (about
1665-1728)
. . 2-Isaac Nunes Carvalho
(about 1690-1733)
. . . . 3-Samuel Nunes
Carvalho (about 1715-)
. . . . +Bathsheba De Meza (-)
. . . . . . 4-Solomon1 Nunes
Carvalho (1740-before 1835)
. . . . . . +Judith(Jeudit)
Henriques Pimental (1744-before 1840)
. . . . . . . . 5-Emanuel
Carvalho (14 November 1770-1817)
. . . . . . . . 5-David1 Nunes
Carvalho (4 November 1785-1860)
. . . . . . . . +Sarah Cohen
D'Azevedo (1793-20 March 1864)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Solomon2
Nunes Carvalho (27 April 1815-21 May 1897)
. . . . . . . . . . +Sarah
Miriam Solis (15 October 1824-2 May 1894)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-David2 Nunes Carvalho (29 September 1848-29 June 1925)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Annie
M Abrams (16 November 1857-2 June 1903)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Adele Miriam Carvalho (21 December 1876-1958)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Ernest George Ffrench (15 November 1876-25 July 1937)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Violet Anne Victoria Ffrench (15 June 1916-31 July 2003)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +George F Davis (21 December 1917-20 August 1998)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Robin N Davis (24 April 1943-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . +Laura Hooper (about 1944-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 11-Geoffrey Davis
(1970-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Christopher Davis
(August 1948-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Geoffrey Ernest Ffrench (25 November 1917-25 January 1980)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +Marjory Grace Godfrey (11 November 1918-August 2007)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-Jonathan
Ffrench (25 February 1944-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Susan Adele Ffrench (4 July 1947-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Nancy Rosalind Ffrench (28 November 1948-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . +Keith Melvyn Atkinson (28 June 1943-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Simon Geoffrey Ffrench (26 January 1950-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-BertramI Nunes Carvalho (27 May 1878-1975)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Jesselyn Pierce (8 October 1875-30 December 1938)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-John Bertram Carvalho (30 April 1904-15 May 1968)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Adelaide P Carvalho (26 November 1906-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Curtis Bolton Pierce Carvalho (1908-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +Elizabeth Jean Teal (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Curtis Christian Carvalho (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-David3 Nunes Carvalho (about 1911-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-BertramII Nunes Carvalho (7 February 1913-8 January 1994)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +Janet Van Franken Garfield
Stone (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +unknown Carlson (1885-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Dayton Carvalho (1880-1881)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Maie Nunes Carvalho (19 May 1882-14 April 1974)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Carl Friedrich Herman Ferdinand Sturhahn (25 January 1871-13 December 1939)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Herbert Carl Sturhahn (29 July 1902-1939)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Edward Marshall
Sr Sturhahn (15 May 1906-3 May 1992)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +Louise Dailey Sturhahn (8 January 1909-9 July 1996)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Joan Sturhahn (23 September 1930-11 April 2010)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . +Garland
Mourning McNutt Jnr (24 August 1923-2 October 2008)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 11-Garland Marshall McNutt (26 September 1956-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Edward Marshall
Jnr Sturhahn (30 March 1934-1 April 1993)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . +Sharon Lee Manford (31 October 1942-8 September 1969)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 11-Natalie Anita(Sally) Ann Williamson Sturhahn Graff (25 December
1961-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . +Bruce Michael McGee (1951-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 12-Kelli Diane McGee (1982-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . +Dan Gradley Graff (1957-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Leslie Russell Nunes Carvalho (7 November 1885-December 1955)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Sophia G Goodman (about 1890-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Paul D Carvalho (about 1915-7 November 1940)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Anne Carvalho (about 1920-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Claire Carvalho (13 September 1888-27 October 1970)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Herbert A Weiller (21 August 1887-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Sylvia Weiller (about 1914-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Jacob Solis Carvalho (23 September 1852-13 March 1937)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
+Suzanne Walker (about 1854-before 1950)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Charity(Charrie) N Carvalho (12 April 1850-5 April 1945)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Solomon Solis Carvalho (16 January 1856-12 April 1942)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Helen
Cusack (about 1858-before 1955)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Sarah Virginia Carvalho (about 1896-before 1995)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Helen Carvalho (about 1898-before 1995)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Emanuel
Nunes Carvalho (22 March 1817-13 March 1883)
. . . . . . . . . . +Caroline
A Woolf (-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Julia
Carvalho (4 July 1819-22 January 1887)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Rachel
Carvalho (1822-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Sarah
Carvalho (September 1823-13 November 1842)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Clara
Nunes Carvalho (1826-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Benjamin
Carvalho (1827-January 1843)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Sophia
Carvalho (1828-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Isaac
Carvalho (1835-1835)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Miriam
Carvalho (10 November 1838-)
. . . . . . . . . . +Isadore
Osorio (March 1840-)
. . . . . . +Est(h)er de Isaac
Alvarez (-)
2 PEDIGREE OF ERNEST George Ffrench
Chapter
2
Ernest’s Paternal ancestors “ Generation x” Way back & traditionally,
according to my father, we Ffrench’s originated from Monivea and Ffrench
Castle, near Galway in western Ireland, which had a regular shipping route via Spain to the Caribbean.
There’s actually a Ffrench roundabout in Galway
city!
3 Ffrench Roundabout Galway City
--but so far the only connection
we have made between the Jamaica Ffrench's and the Irish ones is this dated
1823;
DIED In December last, at Paradise Estate, Jamaica,
Anthony FfRENCH, Esq., aged
23 (or 25) years, son of R. FfRENCH, Esq., of Beagh, in this County. Those
only who knew Mr. FfRENCH and appreciated his merits, can judge of the regret
of his parents, and his friends must feel at the loss of so amiable a young
gentleman.
But
the French’s must originally have left Ireland about 100+ years earlier because
as far back as the 1700's there were F(f)rench's in Jamaica, West Possibly they
arrived as soldiers--one Lieut Thomas French was with Colonel Richard
Fortescue's Regiment(the Third) , who under Penn Venables, invaded Jamaica in 1655, taking it from the
Spanish. Fortescue had been a Lt Col under the Earl of Essex and a Colonel in
Cromwell's New Model. Fortescue's Regiment was stationed in Spanish Town.
Fortescue thought Jamaica
"a fruitful and pleasant Island and a fit
receptacle for honest men" "there is accomodation and worke for
them.Here they may serve God, their countery and themselves". Fortescue
died 3 Oct 1655 but maybe he convinced Lieut Thomas to stay.
A second Thomas French b 1680 d
1758 had with Esther(coloured?); son Thomas (b 2 Feb1697), George (b 2
Sept 1699 d 29 Mar 1702),Jeremiah(b 7 Dec 1701 d 17 Feb 1702) and Elizabeth (b
5 May 1705 d 4 July 1706) An Esther French dies 12 May 1705 just after Elizabet
was born. All in St Catherines. Only Thomas survives—or does he? 6 June 1720 a Thomas French is buried in St
Catherines
4
Thomas & esther’s Son
Thomas
A third Thomas French married in 1741 Mary Mathews &
had Thomas (b 1 Nov 1742 bap 26 Nov 1742). A Mary French dies in Kingston 8 June 1755 “the
wife of Thomas French Esquire”
5 Thomas & Mary’s Son
Thomas
He also had with Eleanor Peete (mulatto);
dau Susanna(b 5 Mar 1754), son George(b 4 Mar 1759) and dau Mary(b 4 May 1763). He died 13 Aug 1783
6 7 8
Susannah, George(x 2) and Mary
A fourth Thomas French was acting Governor Jamaica 1702.
A (fifth) Major General Thomas French is mentioned in "Fuertado's
Official Personages (in Jamaica) 1655-1790" & in the Jamaica
Almanacs as JP 1751, M.A. Kingston 1753,
Custos for Kingston in 1780 ,Speaker pro tem in 1781 and Chief Justice in
1788.The 1782 Almanac calls him the Hon Thomas French. This Thomas died 16 Jan
1783 aged 66 “Custos” so born 1717
One of the Jamaica
French’s—or a later immigrant English/Irish French?—must have produced Peter French (b abt 1710 d abt 1785)
Generation 1
Peter French born abt 1710 of Kingston, When he married
24th Dec 1734 Catherine Noke of Kingston
( b abt 1716) he was “ Bookkeeper” of a Plantation.
He would supervise the slaves in the fields & superintend the manufacture of
sugar & rum.
9 Peter & Catherine’s
marriage
Before they married they had Catherine (b 21st Oct 1734, bap 23rd Feb
1735; a Catherine French dies Kingston “a spinster” 26 Oct 1794); then Bethiah , (b 5th Feb 1736, bap 24th Feb
1736; a Bethiah French dies Kingston “a spinster” 9 Aug 1778); Anthony
John (b18th March 1738, bap 14th Apr 1739; an Anthony John French dies aged
6(?), buried by his father 18 Mar 1740); Elizabeth Sarah,(b 3rd Oct 1740, bap 28th Oct
1740; and
George I (b 2 Jun 1742
and bap on 23rd June 1742)
10 11 12 13 14
Catherine, Bethiah, Anthony,
Elizabeth & GeorgeI’s KINGSTON
baptisms
Peter became Government Coroner
in 1751 per the Jamaica
Almanac—at that time a coloured could not aspire to such a post so we assume
Catherine Noke was white.A Peter French
“Esquire” died Kingston
19 March 1755.
Chapter 3
Generation 2
2.1 GeorgeI Ffrench,(as
above) b 1742, is listed in the Fuertado Official Personages 1655-1790 and the
1790 Jamaica Almanac as the Crown Solicitor/Clerk of the Jamaica Assembly
around 1780/5, aged 38.By 1782 George is in the High Court,Assistant
Judge,Solicitor for the Crown and Clerk of the Peace in Spanish Town,St Catherine's
on a fat salary! So was he a lawyer? Did he have legal training in London or Dublin?
There's a George French in the 1782 List of Attorneys-at-Law admitted to
practice at His Majesty's Supreme Court of Judicature.
His long-term mistress was Miss Jane
Charlotte Beckford "a free mulatto woman” of Spanish Town, Jamaica,
born 1759 died 23 Oct 1825; presumably the illegitimate daughter of either
Richard Beckford (Speaker St Catherine's 1747) or Ballard Beckford (Member of
the Council St Catherine 1754).
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
SPANISH TOWN TODAY
Ballard Beckford was somewhat notorious , having figured
prominently as co-respondent in a much publicized divorce case, which resulted
in the passing of Jamaica’s
first Divorce Act and his expulsion from the House of Assembly 3 years earlier.
Many of the Beckfords are buried in the Spanish Town
Cathedral.
George must have been besotted by Jane and/or
his 2 young quadroon sons GeorgeII b
1777 & EdwardI b 1782 as he had a
Private Act of the Jamaica Parliament passed in 1784 (he wld be 42) giving her
and his sons (then aged 7 and 2) equal rights to those born of wholly white
parents & sent them to
England for their education.
Jane Charlotte Beckford's Act
of the Jamaica
Parliament 1784
Jamaica Is. An Act to entitle Jane Charlotte Beckford of the Parish of Saint
Catherine a free Mulatto Woman and George French and Edward French Free
Quadroons the Children of the said Jane Charlotte Beckford to the same Rights
and Priviledges with English subjects born of White Parents under certain
Restrictions
Whereas the said Jane Charlotte Beckford hath been Baptised Educated and
Instructed in the principles of the Christian Religion and in the Communion of
the Church of England as by Law Established and hath caused her said children
to be Baptised the elder of whom hath been sent to England and where it is
intended that the younger of them shall also be sent at a proper age to be
brought up in the like principles and Educated in such manner as to make them
useful to the Community which with the assistance that will be afforded them
will raise them above the level of people of Colour in general But by reason of
their being Mulattoes they are Subject and liable to the same pains and penalties
to which free Negroes and Mulattoes are in this Island who have neither
education nor property Wherefore
We your Majesty’s dutiful and loyal Subjects the Lieutenant Governor Council
and Assembly of this Island humbly beseech your Majesty that it may be Enacted
and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same that the said Jane
Charlotte Beckford and her issue begotten by White Men and the said George
French and Edward French and their Issue born of White Women shall from
henceforth be deemed and taken for free and Natural born Subjects of this
Island and shall be Tried and adjudged for all Crimes Misdemeanors and Offences
which they or either of them shall be hereafter Charged with in the same manner
as if they and every of them were free and Natural born Subjects of great
Britain and in no other manner whatsoever and that they and every of them shall
be entitled to have and enjoy all Rights Priviledges Immunities and Advantages
whatsoever as if they and every of them were born and descended of and from
White Ancestors any Law Custom or Useage to the Contrary in any wise
notwithstanding.Provided always that nothing in this Act contained shall be
construed or understood to confer upon the said Jane Charlotte Beckford and the
said George French and Edward French or any or either of them any Capacity or
Ability of Sitting or Voting either in the Council or Assembly of this Island
or of holding or enjoying any Office Civil or Military or serving as Jurors or
Vestrymen or of voting at any Election whatsoever. But that they the said Jane
Charlotte Beckford George French and Edward French and each and every of them
shall be totally excluded therefrom any Law Custom or Usage to the Contrary in
any wise notwithstanding./
Passed the Council this 15th
day of December 1784 Will Dunlop Speaker.
I consent this 14th day of December 1784 Cncl
Alured Clarke Passed the Assembly this 23rd day of ed the
Assembly December 1784 IW Slaughter
27The
Jamaica
Act of Parliament making the Quadroons “white”!
A mulatto is half-European, half-African; a quadroon is the issue of a
European and a mulatto; an African is someone who had been shipped from Africa; a Creole is someone (of any race) born on the
island.
GeorgeI & Jane's 4 children were GeorgeII born 9 June 1777;EdwardI
born 7 Oct 1782 died 7 Sep 1835; Robert born 1785 died 11 Oct 1835 and
Ann Eliza born 1788 died 13 Oct 1835—there must have been an epidemic. There
was no Act of Parliament for the later
children .They were all baptised in St Catherine's.
Jane Charlotte Beckford ran a lodging house in Spanish Town
called "Miss Ffrench's" at the corner of Ellis Street and Whitechurch Street to which Lady Nugent,
the Governor's wife, sent guests in 1803--(She would not have sent her guests
to anywhere second-rate so it must have been "upmarket"!). There is a
French Street
and a Beckford Street
in Spanish Town today . From her birth date of 1759
Jane would appear to be the illegitimate daughter of planter Richard Beckford, or
Ballard Beckford
Philip Wright's Monumental
Inscriptions of Jamaica:
p. 130 –“ Spanish
Town. No. 28,
Whitechurch St” Not seen. Recorded by Frank Cundall 1918.
Jane
Charlotte Beckford, died 23 October, 1825, aged 66.(So born 1759)
Miss Ffrench’s Lodging
House;-the Gleaner 1887(Note double ff that early)
Picture of present day
building still used in 2010 as the Freemasons Hamilton Lodge Meeting
House
28 29 Miss Ffrench’s Lodging House today
Jane Charlotte Beckford’s Will inventory of 1829
Beckford Jane C Entrd
14th Feb 1829. An Inventory
and appraisement of all and singular the Goods and Chattels rights and Credits
which were of Jane Charlotte Beckford late of the Parish of St Catherine
deceased-----------------------------
1 Mahogany Bedstead
with Feather bed Hair Mattrass Bolster & Pillows 160/-
1 Mahogany large Chest
40/- 1 Looking glass 13/4 1 Globe 6/8
£11-00-00
1 Mahogany Bedstead
with Feather Bed Bolster & Pillows with Nett 106/8
1 Washstand 5/- 1
Mahogany chair 5/- 1 Looking glass 2/6 £ 5-19-02
1 Mahogany Bedstead
58/4 1 Table 6/8 1 Looking glass 6/8 1 Bason stand 6/8
9 large & small
Mahogany tables 175/- 2 Sofhas 40/- £14-13-04
1 Mahogany desk 10/- 1
Plated Cruet stand 10/- 1 Mahogany Chest 40/-
1 small Chest of
Drawers 13/4 1 Basan stand 10/- £4-03-04
4 Looking Glass 10/- 4
Bedroom Chairs 40/- 2 pair shoes 20/-
1 pair hand ??? shades
10/- 2 Night Chairs 26/8 1 Liquor cooler 40/-£7-06-08
19 Mahogany Highback
Chairs 190/- 3 pair Plated Candlesticks 30/-
1 Mahogany Sideboard
Tray 80/- 1 Dripstone ??? 100/-
£20-00-00
1 Mahogany Bedstead
Straw bed Hair Mattrass & 2 Pillows 26/8 1 Table 6/8
1 Chair 6/8 1 Bason
Stand 6/8 1 Large Chest 10/- £2-16-08
1 Mahogany Bedstead
and Feather Bed 80/- 1 Table 5/- 1 Looking glass 5/-
1 Bason stand 5/- a
Lot assorted glassware 26/8 £6-01-08
1 Mahogany Bedstead
Hair Mattrass with Bolster & Pillows 100/- 1 Table 6/8
1 Looking Glass 6/8 1
Bason Stand 6/8 4 Water jars 6/8 £6-06-08
2 doz Large
Tablecloths 240/- 1 1/2 Doz middle size Tablecloths 90/-
2 Doz Breakfast Cloths
180/- a Lot Crockery ware 80/- £29-10-00
1 Sett Breakfast Cups
& Saucers 40/- A Legacy bequeathed under the Will
of Christian Allen
with Interest from 8 June 1811 £31-10-0 £33-10-00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------£132-07-06
In obedience to the
Warrant of appraisement hereunto annexed we have inventoried and appraised all
and Singular the Goods and Chattels rights and Credits which were of Jane
Charlotte Beckford deceased as they were shewn unto us by Ann Eliza French her
administratix or which we knew belonged to the said Deceased at the time of her
death and we do find the same amount to the sum of One hundred and thirty two
pounds seven shillings and sixpence Current money of Jamaica as will more
particularly appear above Given our hands and seals this 27th day of
January annoque Domini 1829--Isaac Lopes--William Oliver
Note Very
much an ongoing establishment--with 6 Mahogany Bedsteads, 19 High back Dining
Chairs, tablecloths, crockery etc—presumably being run by daughter Ann Eliza
Ffrench (Original in Appendix 10)
30,30a,31a,31b 1786 MapS
Spanish
Town & key
Why did so many European
men take coloured mistresses? See below from Major Frederick Johnston who wrote
to his wife(in England)
in 1794;
"The
English mulatto women are the handsomest, they have all the finest teeth I ever
saw and they take a great deal of care of them, cleaning them twice a day with
Tamarin wood, indeed I am sorry to say that all together they are more cleanly
than my fair Country Women.I can assure you the English women that are here are
quite Nasty to look at. They give one the idea of a person that has been buried
and risen again. It is quite the fashion for everybody....to have one of these
princesses to live with them as housekeepers or Nurses....for I am given to
understand that unless you are taken care of by them you must die for as soon
as you are ill all your friends desert you for fear of infection..."
Despite all this, a year after their 4th child
Ann Eliza was born by Jane Charlotte in 1787, George I Ffrench (aged 46) married
Elizabeth Ann Jackson in Kingston
31 Jan 1788.
31
Marriage Of George I
Ffrench & Elizabeth Ann Jackson
Was she the daughter of Chief
Justice William Jackson? They had son John in 1789 & Henry in 1793- John
died St Catherines 4 Jan 1790
32 John French dies Age 1
George I died “of the dropsy” 13 Feb 1795. Note the causes of death for
others at the same time—mainly “fever” but also “age” “decay” “murder”
“decline” and “effects of licquor”
Healthy life styles!
33 George I French Clerk of
the Assembly died 13 Feb 1795 St Catherine
His Will leaves everything to
his "dear wife Elizabeth Ann" and his "minor son Henry"
(aged 2)-- older son John having already died.
1795 Will of George
French Esq
Jamaica Is. In the name of God Amen I George French of the Parish
of Saint Catherine in the County of Middlesex and Island of Jamaica Esquire do
make publish this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following
that is to say I will and desire that my just debts and funeral expenses be
paid off and satisfied as soon as conveniently maybe by my Executrix and
Executors herein after named and as to such estate and Effects that I may die
possessed of I give devise and bequeath unto my dear wife Elizabeth Ann French
and my beloved son Henry French all such my Estate real personal or mi**(?) of
what nature or kind soever or where so ever the same may be at the time of my
decease to be equally divided between my wife and son share and share alike to
hold as tenants in common and not as joint tenants but in case of the death of
either my said wife or my said son before he attains the age of twenty one
years then the part and share either of them so dying to go to the survivor her
or his heirs and assigns forever and I do hereby nominate constitute and
appoint my said wife Elizabeth Ann French and Francis Rigby Brodbilt Esquire
and Alexander Aikman of the parish of Kingston Esquire Executrix and Executors
of this my last will and testament and Guardian of my said son Henry French
until he attain the age of twenty one years, and I do revoke and make void all
former and other wills by me at anytime heretofore made and declare this only
to be my last will and testament In witness whereof I the said George French
have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal this thirty first
day of January in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety
five
Signed sealed published and declared by the testator George French Geo ffrench SEAL as and for his last
will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in each others presence have subscribed our names as
witnesses to the same
R R Parker
Thos’ Talbot
Stevens Wood
(The Slave Registers of 1817 also list a George Ffrench, b. ca. 1785,
creole,slave living in St. George,
Jamaica, the
property of Elizabeth Ann Ffrench on 28 Jun 1817. He was then 32 years old.
George was one of 12 slaves listed as her property.)
When Elizabeth Ann, his widow makes her will she does not mention
Henry--as he had died too, aged 7, of a "sore throat". How desperate
to lose both sons—there were of course no synthetic medicines then.
34 Henry French child died 18 Jan 1800
St Catherine’s Aged 7
Will of Elizabeth
Ann Ffrench dated 10 Aug 1825
10/- Jamaica Is -- George the fourth by the Grace of God of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King and of Jamaica Lord,
Defender of the Faith & so onTo our trusty and well-beloved John Biggar and
James Forsyth Esquires
Know ye that we have constituted authorised and appointed and by these
presents do constitute authorise and appoint ye or either of ye to administer
an oath unto George Barnett of the City and Parish of Kingston Gentlemen or any
other that are witnesses and can make oath of the signing sealing publishing
and declaring of the last will and testament of Elizabeth Ann Ffrench late of
the parish of Kingston widow deceased and hereof you or either of you are to
make a due return under your or either of your hands and seals unto our Captain
General and Governor in Chief of the said Island or to the Governor and
Commander in chief of the same for the time with this power annexed
Witness His Grace William Duke of Manchester Captain General and
Governor in Chief of our said Island at St Jago de la Vega (SpanishTown)
the 26th day of August Anno q Domini 1825 and in the sixth year of
our reign (sgnd) Manchester Passed Secretary’s office W.
Bullock Secretary
Jamaica Island The execution of the
within Dedimus Potestatem appears by the Will and probate thereof
hereunto annexed. Given under my hand this 23rd day of September
1825 (sgnd) I Forsyth Ffrench
Elizabeth A Entr’d 15th Oct
1825
Jamaica Is -- In the name of God Amen I Elizabeth Ann Ffrench of the
City and Parish of Kingston in the County of Surry and Island aforesaid Widow
being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding do make publish and
declare my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. That is to say
Imprimis I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral and testamentary
expences be fully paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my
decease And for such purpose I do hereby direct and authorise and empower my
Executrix and Executor hereinafter named to enter upon and take possession of
my coffee plantation or settlement called The Cottage situate in the Parish of
St Andrew in the County of Surry and Island aforesaid and to contract for and
actually sell and dispose of the said plantation or settlement as soon as
possible after my decease and to grant and execute to the Purchaser thereof
good and sufficient title thereto and if need be to allow unto the purchaser
thereof a reasonable time for the payment or part payment thereof and I do
hereby declare that the receipt of my Executrix and Executor hereinafter named shall
be a good and sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers thereof for
any monies therein expressed and that such purchaser or purchasers shall not be answerable or
accountable for the non-application or misapplication of such purchase money.
And it is my will and desire that my debts and funeral and testamentary
expenses be paid and discharged out of the proceeds of such Sale in preference to my personal estate.
I hereby manumise enfranchise and forever set free of and from all
servitude slavery and bondage my Negro Woman Slaves named Elizabeth Dowling and
Jane Waters to hold such Manumission Enfranchisement and Freedom unto the said
Elizabeth Dowling and Jane Waters and their future issue offspring and increase
forever.
I give devise and bequeath unto Samuel Bruce Smith my mulatto man slave
named George Simpson to hold to his heirs and assigns forever but it is my will
and desire and I do hereby direct that in case the said Mulatto slave named
George Simpson shall at any time hereafter during the minority of the said
Samuel Bruce Smith be able to purchase his freedom either by himself or with
the assistance of his friends that such freedom be granted to him upon a
reasonable sum being paid to the said Samuel Bruce Smith and I do hereby
authorise my Executrix and Executor to execute and deliver all necessary deeds
and instruments whatsoever for such purpose but in the event of the said Samuel
Bruce Smith departing this life before he shall attain his age of 21 years or
before the said Mulatto boy George Simpson shall have purchased his freedom as
aforesaid I then give devise and bequeath the said slave unto Rachel Smith (was
Rachel Smith her married sister?) of the said city and parish of Kingston
Widow the mother of the said Samuel Bruce Smith to hold to her and his heirs
and assigns forever but subject to the like condition and power to the said
slave to purchase his freedom from the said Rachel Smith.(signed) E A Ffrench
Whereas I am entitled under the will of my late uncle John Jackson (her
maiden name) to a legacy of £2000 now I give and bequeath £200 thereof unto
Mrs Elizabeth Dallas (another sister?) the widow of the late Stuart George
Dallas Esq.I give and bequeath one hundred pounds thereof to Samuel
Jackson Dallas Esq.I give and bequeath £200 thereof to the Rev Robert William
Dallas the present Rector of Manchester but it is (my) express will and intention
that the said last three mentioned legacies shall be only paid and
payable out of the said legacy of £2000(if ever the same should be paid) &
not out of any other part of my real or personal estate I give and bequeath all my wearing apparel
unto the said Rachel Smith.
All the rest residue and remainder of my estate real personal and
mixt I give devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto Elizabeth
Martha Smith, Jane Smith, James William Smith, Frances Smith and Samuel Bruce
Smith, daughter and sons of the said Rachel Smith or such of them as shall be
living at the time of my decease to be divided among them share and share alike
to hold to them and to the Survivors orSurvivor of them and to the heirs
executors administrators and assigns of such survivor forever.
And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Rachel
Smith and her son James William Smith Executrix and Executor of this my said
will hereby revoking all former and other wills by me at anytime heretofore
made and declaring this only to be and contain my last Will and Testament.
In witness hereof I have to the first sheet of this my Will set and
subscribed my hand and to the second and last sheet thereof set and subscribed
my hand and affixed my seal this tenth day of August 1825 (signed)
E A Ffrench
An E A Ffrench dies Kingston 15 Aug 1825
Generation 3 To Summarise-Children of George I Ffrench ;
with Jane Charlotte Beckford,
George II Ffrench , b. 9 June
1777 died ??, was the quadroon son of Jane Charlotte Beckford and George I
Ffrench. He was schooled in England.
Edward I Ffrench , b. 7
Oct 1782 d 7 Sep1835, was the quadroon son of Jane Charlotte Beckford and
George I Ffrench. Schooled in England.
Robert I Ffrench b 1784 m Letitia Dunn
spinster,("late Lindo " ie née?) d 11 Oct 1835 both described
as "Free persons of colour"
Ann Eliza Ffrench b 1787 Jane Charlotte Beckford’s Administratix
d 13 Oct 1835 or 1845 ? Manchester?
with Elizabeth Ann Jackson Ffrench
John Ffrench b 1789 d 6 Jan 1790
Henry Ffrench b 21 Oct 1793 d 18 Jan 1800
Chapter 4
Generation
4
RobertI "a free quadroon" married Letitia Dunn Lindo
Ffrench "a free bro(wn)" had 6 children—all baptized Kingston. They were “Free
persons of colour”.
Arthur I born
23rd June 1813; RobertII ,born 2 June 1817; George III ,born 30 Dec 1819;
Edward II born 6 Feb 1822 , Maria Moore
born 8 Dec 1826(at Foster Lane-the family home?) & Alexander Dunn b 9 Dec
1828
35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 Arthur
i, RobertII, GeorgeIII, EdwardII’s maria moore,
Alexander dunn baptisms
(Maria’s death notice also shows her to be a sister of
GeorgeIII and confirms a birth year of 1826. She became a teacher at Wolmer’s
school then matron of the Kingston
Naval Hospital
in 1875. She married John Moore of Swanswick Estate Trelawney and died in 1918
44 Maria Moore’s death Notice
The matching DNA tests that have been taken by living Michael &
Simon Ffrench currently indicate they have a common ancestor. David L Ffrench
states he believes Arthur George was his grandfather Alfred Ernest’s brother so
George III would have been his father even if Eliza Minot was not his mother. Arthur George Ffrench was born in 1851
At present we know nothing about Arthur I b 1813 or Robert II b
1817 or Alexander Dunn. George III’s story is in Chapter 5.
Edward II Ffrench was b 6 Feb 1822 Did he school in Kingston and after leaving, work for his father Robert or
in the Militia perhaps?His older brother George III had joined the Portland Tax Dept in 1847
aged 27;
Before 13 Aug 1851 Edward II was presumably living at the family home
in Foster Lane Kingston. Could he aged 28 have fathered Arthur then? Edward spent “2
days out of Jamaica” that
year—Cuba?
Haiti?
Edward II was appointed on 13
Aug 1851 as "acting clerk to the sub-(tax) collector Port
Morant" aged 29 at £150 pa by the Governor. His £100 security bond
was provided by brother George “Clerk
Vestry Portland” & John Joseph Duval of St Andrews. Perhaps George III got him his job?
In 1854 he was promoted to Sub-Collector and Lands Waiter and Searcher
for Morant Bay @ £225 pa.. His bond was increased
to £500 and George Ffrench's name on the bond was replaced by John Burger,
watchmaker, Kingston.
20 May 1857 he was married by Rev John Radcliffe to Sarah
Harrison Buchan in the Kingston
Kirk(Presbyterian) Witnesses Hon A(lexander) Barclay and Jno Naro(?)
45 Edward II Ffrench &
sarah Harrison Buchan marriage certificate
In Oct 1858 he is promoted to Sub-Collector, Old
Harbour (the other side of Kingston).Security now
from John Burger and William Andrews Attorney-at-law. He remained there till 1860, when he disappears without comment from
the Civil Service Blue Books. Perhaps fraud?
On 9 June 1866 Edward Ffrench, Kingston
is included in a list of names in the Gleaner of "Insolvents".
In Jan 1867 his "bail is enlarged" by the Surry Insolvent Debtors Court.
In 1876 Arthur George marries Frances Ann Glave in Manchester Witnesses are FW Bonitto + Jno
Sawyers ie no Ffrench’s present.
December 1879 both George Ffrench in Portland & Arthur St
Catherines take long leave on half-pay. Why? Coincidence? To care for dying
widower brother/uncle Edward II?
On 10 March 1880 Edward II dies a widower aged 59, "much &
deservedly regretted" per the Gleaner notice. On the death certificate his
occupation was “lumber measurer”(probably learned from his time at Port Morant)The
informant is George III Ffrench, brother, of 16 Foster Lane, Kingston (the Ffrench family home for 50+years).
46 EdwardII Ffrench’s death record
In May 1896 his name appears on a Government Notice of estates
forfeited to the Govt because of non-claimants for £6-13-10d. No will found
yet.
Curiously in 1850 an unidentified George Ffrench died at Foster lane
aged 34—maybe the son of one of Robert & Letitia’s other sons?
Chapter 5
GeorgeIII Ffrench, b.30 Dec 1819, d. 7 May 1897
Presumably like brother Edward he grew up in Robert & Letitia’s
home in Foster Lane Kingston. Where did he school? What did he
do between 1837 & 1847? Ie after leaving school before getting his job in Portland aged 28? Robert
& Letitia were “free coloureds” so George III would be too
George III moved from Kingston to Portland
in 1847 joining the Colonial Administration as Collector of Taxes --& paid partly on
commission! Two years later he gets married to Eliza Minot
George III “Clerk of the Vestry of this Parish” was married by Licence by Rev J Stone Rector to Eliza Minot 4.31, in Portland on 4 Jan 1849.
47 Marriage George Ffrench/Eliza Minot
We think Eliza may have been the daughter of a
slave… The 1817 return of Slave Registers of former
British Colonial Dependencies shows a Maria Kirkland 11, "sambo"&
“creole”; her mother Betty 29 as"negro"&
"african"--- owner Francoise Adelaide Lebrun (African ie off a slave
ship);
9 years later the 1826 return shows an Eliza Minot 1 1/2 yrs
"mulatto",creole (ie born in Jamaica);
her mother Maria Kirkland 20 "sambo", her grandmother
Betty Ann Kirkland 38, "African"---attorney Philip P Kirkland, Parish
of St George. Kirkland’s estate was “Paradise”.
The ages match up. In the 1829 return Betty has gone, Maria
("alias Mariah Kirkland") is 22, Eliza Minot is 3--both after then
"manumised" ie freed.This would make Eliza Minot 23 in 1849 when she
married GeorgeIII
In 1925 Eliza's son Alfred Ernest Ffrench talks of his grandmother
"Maria Shirley"--is this Maria Kirkland? David L Ffrench believed her
family name was Shirley and that she came from th Rio Grande Valley
behind Port Antonio. There is a plantation called Minots there. Paradise is slightly west of
here but still close to the Rio Grande.
Image 47a
48 49 Slave Returns For
Eliza,maria,Betty
50 Advertisement from the Dec 1803 Jamaica Royal Gazette for sale of
Slaves
Both Arthur George & Alfred Ernest Ffrench named a child “Shirley” ,
GeorgeIII's established issue with Eliza Minot in Port Antonio,
Portland, Jamaica
were 2 daughters & 4 sons; the only one whose baptism we have found is
the first Robert who died young. Why? Were the records lost or were the
children not baptized? Unlikely as later George is on the Anglican Church
Finance Board. We believe them to be;-
Birth year
31 May 1849 Robert Burke Ffrench
who died 4 May 1850 at 6 months
1851 Arthur George Ffrench ?
1853 Anna Maria Ffrench d 10
Jan 1881 at 28
1855? Edward Shafto Burke
Ffrench, Joined Tax Dpt1873. d aft 1923 @ 68+
1856 Letitia Emily
Ffrench d 10 Nov 1869 of Typhoid “at 13”.
1858 Hedley John Cecil
Ffrench d 31 Mar 1864 at 6
23 Apr1861 (Honorable) Alfred
Ernest Ffrench He became JP, MP, and MBE. He got the MBE during WWI for work
with the Red Cross. He was a member of the Legislative Council. He died 24 Apr
1926 at 65. Long obit in Gleaner. We
have traced many of his living descendants down to great grandchildren, living
in the USA Canada and Jamaica
Only
2 sons(+ Arthur George) of George & Eliza’s 6 children survived their
parents.
So
George III could easily have fathered
Arthur George in 1851—after losing his first born son—either with Eliza or perhaps
with another woman?
(Another George French
owned sugar estates, Queenhithe and Tobalskie(about 5500acres)in St Ann's
on the North coast of Jamaica near Runaway bay and Ocho Rhios and Rooksby Park
but he appears to be an absentee owner from Kent, England and unconnected)
By 1857 George III was also an Ensign in the volunteer militia army for
Portland; by
1865 a lieutenant, then Captain. George III Ffrench’s name appears all over the
Almanacs( to which he contributed for Portland), the Gleaner etc. This
after the 1865 Rebellion;-
50a Lieut George III
Ffrench after the 1865 Rebellion
1866 Eliza his wife, and their daughters Anna
Maria and Letitia Emily were signatories to one of the
thank-you letters to the “now infamous” Governor Eyre from the Ladies of Port
Antonio and Manchioneal for saving them from the insurgents rebellion. George
III signs a similar letter of support for Governor Eyre expressing “deep
indignation at the misrepresentations” made.
George III Ffrench owned
property in Portland, eg Mount Pleasant(805 acres), True Blue(300acres).4 July
1867 "The Colonial Standard" reported George's vain attempt to clear
his land at Mount Pleasant, Portland of squatters.
51 Here is a photo of
George III Ffrench
52 And here is Eliza Minot
Ffrench
53
Plan of Port Antonio where
they lived
7 January 1868 There is an amazing account of a shipwreck off Cuba
over Christmas 1867 written by George III himself.
He writes he was with "his 2 sons". These were probably
therefore Edward III Shafto (aged 13) and Alfred Ernest (aged 6+). Arthur George
would be 16 and had possibly left home. Alternatively this remark might imply that
Arthur George was GeorgeIII Ffrench's “spare” child ie illegitimate. As Ansell
Hart later wrote “every proud mother was only too prone to register the name of
the father of her illegitimate child”
54 George III is ship-wrecked!
When St George Parish was merged with Portland around 1867/8 George was offered
Clarendon but successfully objected. He received a pension.
55 George is to be transferred but refuses!
56 1870 Promoted to 2nd Class clerk aged
50
Feb 28 1870 In the Colonial Standard a valedictory address from the
good & great of Port Antonio, "accompanied by bumpers of
champagne"
57 Valedictory Address on George's promotion to
Westmoreland parish "after an extended residence in Port Antonio of nearly
a quarter of a century" (ie from 1846/7)
He remained at Sav la Mar, Westmoreland
for 10 years and became proprietor of a
property there called “Blue Hole” & a lessee of Roslyn Lodge Pens. His
salary was £400 per year plus a £50 housing allowance--a serious amount at the
time.
Dec 1879 he took long leave on
half pay-- at the same time as Arthur George—to look after his dying brother
Edward?
Apr 1880 aged 60 he retired & moved to Kingston . He had been a JP, Captain of the Portland Volunteers, Parochial Board
member, Clerk of the Vestry of the Parish of Portland, etc. and a
well-respected worthy citizen.
1890 aged 70, &
despite substantial pensions and assets, George III seems to have got into
financial difficulties with foreclosures on properties he owned eg Mount
Pleasant Estate, 805 acres in Portland.
May 1891(aged 69) he is
elected to the Kingston
City Council
1893 He is the defendant over
a disputed Bill of Exchange for £331.
Sept 17th 1896 per Gleaner
He seems to have been somewhat cantankerous, falling out with the Mayor of Kingston, but
takes on a short-term role as acting clerk Portland Parish that year.
1897 A messy bankruptcy
7 May 1897 he died aged 78
at 2 Harbour St, Kingston. No will found yet but he was bankrupt. The informant
was solicitor Thadeous Rudolph McMillan “who caused the body to be buried”. Why
no family present?
58 GeorgeIII Ffrench’s death certificate
His son, the 36 years old Honorable Alfred E.
Ffrench MP,JP, was his executor and had to sort out the mess. George’s widow Eliza Minot Ffrench died a year later in 1898,
also in Kingston.
Here's George's obituary;
59 GeorgeIII Ffrench’s obituary
from “The Colonies & India”
Chapter 6
Generation 5-- Issue
of George Ffrench III & Eliza (Minot)
Ffrench,
Apart from the baptism of
their first child Robert (named after Geo's father) Burke Ffrench, we have been
unable to find the baptism records of any of George and Eliza's other children
in the LDS microfilm records or in the RGD
Spanish Town
records or in the Jamaica
Archives. We have put this summary together therefore largely from articles in
the Gleaner and The Colonial Standard. (All
children believed born in parish of Portland)
1) George & Eliza Minot Ffrench were married 4 Jan 1849 (LDS
film 1291729 Vol 5 fo 254) by Rector John C Stone
2) Robert Burke Ffrench was
born 31 Oct 1849 bap 4 Jan 1850 abode Port Antonio (LDS film 1291717
vol 12 fo 257) Rector WJ Cavard. Robert died 4 May 1850 (buried Port Antonio
churchyard).
60 Baptism of Robert Burke Ffrench in Portland Parish (not
St George)
Perhaps as a result of Robert’s premature death George & Eliza lost
their faith and failed to baptise their successive issue--but this seems
unlikely as GeorgeIII ends up on the Diocesan Finance Board of the Church of
England—so probably the Portland
records have just gone missing.
3) The Gleaner of Nov 19th 1869 "at Port Antonio on the 10th inst
of Typhoid fever at the early age of 16 years Letitia (after George's mother)
Emily the second daughter of George
Ffrench" . If she was 16 she was born 1853 but no baptism
record found. Burial record 11 Nov 1869 film 1291717 vol 7 fo
33 says age 13 so born 1856. POR 1856 ENF 1847-1870. Rector Wm Smith
4) In the letter to Governor Eyre of 1 Jan 1866(Google Books) there are
signatures from "Eliza Ffrench, Ann M Ffrench & Emily Letitia
Ffrench".
So Ann M(aria) Ffrench must have been first daughter—born say 1853
61 Letter
supporting Governor Eyre from the Ladies of Port Antonio re the Mourant
uprising
5) On May 6 1903 in a Gleaner
article on "The Portland Case" there is a witness called
"EdwardIII Shafto(n) Ffrench , a son of Mr George Ffrench...His mother(ie
Eliza Minot Ffrench) was half sister to the plaintiff(Miss Frances
Champier)" “Edward lived with his father George Ffrench” Edward S Ffrench
was in the Tax Dept joining 28 May 1873 as second class clerk St Ann per
the Blue Book. If he was 18 then, E S Ffrench
was born in 1855. Alternative names are Edward Shafto Burke/or Buchan Ffrench
viz Gleaner 1 Mar 1913 "In the Supreme Court etc.....Gertrude Emily
Ffrench the wife of Edward Shafto Buchan Ffrench...etc"
In the Colonial Standard
appear the following items;
CS: 7th April
1864. Page 2, col. 1 “DIED At Tichfield, Portland, on Thursday 31st ultimo,
HEDLEY JOHN CECIL, third son of GEORGE FFRENCH, Esq. aged 6 years.” So Born
about 1858
CS: 18th November
1869. Page 2, col. 3 “DIED At Port Antonio on Wednesday the 10th
instant, of Typhoid Fever, a the early age of 16 years, LETITIA EMILY, the
second daughter of Mr. GEORGE FFRENCH.”
CS: 19th
January 1881. Page 2, col. 2 "DIED At Port Antonio on the 10th
instant ANNA MARIA, Eldest daughter of GEORGE & ELIZA FFRENCH in the 28th
year of her age, much and deservedly regretted." Born about 1853
Colonial standard of 7th
January 1868. Page 2, cols. 4, 5 & 6
“Wreck of the Schooner Fanny
of Port Antonio”.
“Mr. Geo. Ffrench of Port
Antonio arrived in Kingston on Friday last with
his two sons and the Captain and crew of the Schr. “Fanny” which vessel
was wrecked off Cuba on the 21st ultimo.” Ie not “2 of his sons”
6) The two ship-wrecked sons were probably Edward III Shafto and Alfred
Ernest & not Arthur George who would
be 16 then
7) In the Tri-Weekly Gleaner of Thursday Nov 18 1897(after George
Ffrench had died 11 Feb 1897) there is reported a supreme Court Case where
"A E Ffrench was the representative of
the estate of George Ffrench, being the Administrator"."Mr Johnson
said.(he)...represented George Ffrench up to his death....then he represented a
son who became Administrator(A E Ffrench).Per Who's Who in Jamaica 1916 "Alfred
Ernest Ffrench born Port Antonio 23 Feb 1861 Son of the late George
Ffrench,Collector of Taxes and Eliza Ffrench. Staunch Roman Catholic.” Per ?
1923 Gleaner he is quoted when electioneering "Now stop a little, 39 years
ago (ie 1884 aged 23) I married a dark Portland
lady (Isadora Maud Burke Moodie)....I have 8 children by that
marriage...." Per his death cert
copy he died 24 Apr 1926 aged 60(?-he was 65) certified by his son Shafto
Moodie Ffrench
62 Isadora’s baptism & her
marriage to Alfred-(both times in Anglican churches)
There are various Ffrench surnamed children born/died in Portland around this time
that we cannot place—perhaps George III or Edward II’s “spares”? or their
siblings’ issue ie Arthur I, Robert or Alexander Dunn’s?
1-George Henry Ffrench born 8 Mar 1849 before GeorgeIII’s marriage.The
mother is named as Ann Buckley & the father unnamed-- & GeorgeIII
Ffrench would have been known to the baptizing rector Cavard—but perhaps he was
being discreet?
63 George Henry Ffrench’s
baptism
2-Frederick Horatio Ffrench b 12 May 1850 mother “Elizabeth
Minot”.Too soon after Robert-- no father named on baptism. Cavard Rector 64 Frederick Horatio
Ffrench baptism
3-Charles Arthur Ffrench, b 5 Nov 1869 Port Antonio, mother Mary Ann
Bryan, bap 29 May 1870. Could he be an illegitimate son of GeorgeIII—or even of
Arthur George then packed off to St Catherine's to join Tax Dept?
(No Image)
65 A George Ffrench dies
Port Antonio aged 39—who can this be?
Chapter 7
From the start we thought Arthur George Ffrench was born 1851 & must
be the son of George III as his birth date of 1851 would put him neatly between
Robert Burke1849 and Anna Maria 1853. Further he became a Tax Collector—like
George III. David L Ffrench said he believed Arthur George was a brother of his
grandfather Alfred Ernest & a coffee planter in Manchester parish.
In the absence of a baptism we established his birth year from the 1891
English Census return—age 40, his English death certificate--54 in 1905 and the
Freemasons records—25 in 1876
From the DNA match between my brother Simon and Michael Ffrench (documented
descendant of George III Ffrench) we know that they have a common ancestor. So
Arthur could be;-
A legitimate son of George & Eliza; an illegitimate son of either
George III or of Edward II(Edward did not marry till 1857) or;
the legitimate/illegitimate son of any of their siblings Arthur I b
1813, Robert II b 1817 or Alexander Dunn b 1828 or of;
even earlier parentage George II b 1777 Edward I b 1781 or Robert I b
1784
Perhaps his Arthur George’s mother
(if not Eliza) had died young which might explain his later penchant for older
women. We do not know for sure where he was born other than “Jamaica” per the UK Census or where he schooled but
he must have been smart. In Sep 1870 Arthur appears in the Jamaica Civil Service Annual Blue Books for the
first time as 2nd class clerk, Tax Dept, Spanish Town,
St Catherine when he would be aged 18 if born in 1851.
So we are surmising that he,
like Edward III Shafto Burke/Buchan Ffrench,
got the job through family connections eg tax-collector “uncle/father?” George
Ffrench III or Edward II Ffrench However
George III seems the more likely as EdwardII had left the Tax dept by 1867
& had become bankrupt before 1870.
1st Jan 1873 Arthur
George was promoted to 1st class clerk .In Apr 1874 he was “ordered
to Manchester to act as Asst Collector of Taxes” for 6 months where, aged 23,
he met and 3 months later inJune 1874 impregnated Frances(Fanny) Ann Glave , heiress, she aged
29!
Nov 1874 he was transferred back to Spanish Town.
His daughter with Fanny, ie Kathleen was born in March 1875-illegitimate &
“colored”.1875 he appears in the Blue Books briefly as George Arthur Ffrench. He is living in King Street
Spanish Town,
big houses just off the main square.
66 67 68 69 70 King Street just off the main Spanish
Town square plus King St
houses.
Jan 1876 Arthur joined the Spanish Town Freemasons
February 1876 despite the above, & aged 25, he impregnated my spinster
great-grandmother Jane Victoria Smith, aged 36, a local trader & businesswoman.
15th Nov 1876 Jane had son Ernest George Ffrench (my grandfather). She had him baptized by Rev Chas Douet-an
establishment figure-- in Spanish Town where Arthur worked clearly naming him as the
father “Clerk of Municipal Board” and giving the address Spanish
Town although she was almost certainly
living in Kingston
at the time. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned etc….Perhaps she had been
living with him as” House Keeper” not
knowing that his intended was “upcountry”?
29th Nov 1876 Arthur “Clerk of Municipal Board, St
Catherines” aged 25 was married by Rev WJ Drought by licence to Frances(Fanny) Ann Glave aged 31 in (the now
ruined) Duppy Church,
Mile Gully, Manchester!
(Duppy is Jamaican for ghost).Witnesses Jno Sawers & FW Bonitto—ie no
Ffrench’s
71 Arthur George Ffrench
& Frances Ann Glave Marriage Record
See next page…
1877 Gets Frances
pregnant again(dau named Frances
“Fran” Eliza –Frances
after her mother-- Eliza after Eliza Minot perhaps? David L Ffrench met Fran
& her 2 daughters)
1878 Arthur is appointed
Executor to the Estate of Sophia Galway of Mandeville, Manchester. ( a family connection?). Attends
inauguration new Custos Isaac Levy as . Hon Sec Hamilton Lodge Freemasons
Mar 1879 Gets Fanny pregnant (son named St George Moore— many Irish “Arthur
St George Ffrench”s—Moore
after Arthur’s Aunt Maria Moore?
Dec1879 Takes 6+ months leave on half-pay(same time as George
III-coincidence?) Why? Paternity leave??!! Or looking after dying widower
“Uncle/Father” Edward II?
25 Nov 1880 Elected Member of the Institute
of Jamaica, Kingston
Feb 1881 Gets Fanny pregnant(son Arthur Peter Ffrench –named Arthur
after father-Peter after ??)= Living Don & Donna Jones’ Grandfather
5 June 1883 Ridiculed in the Gleaner for his “Literary Society”
72 Ffrench’s Literary Society
March 1884 Gets Fanny pregnant(Stephen Shirley Glave Ffrench.Note Shirley-
a name that Alfred Ernest also uses for a son and which might be a name of
Eliza Minot. 1884/5 Voted Master of
the Freemasons Hamilton Lodge 6 Sept 1884 See this Fund Raiser for the Masons
where both GeorgeIII Ffrench & A G Ffrench are listed—was there a family
connection?
73 Arthur & George at the Masonic
73A Arthur George Ffrench
abt 1885 with daughter Kathleen(10?) & Frances (?)
73b Arthur George Ffrench 1885
28 July 1885 His name appears on the advertised Tender for the Parish
of St Catherine re the Ewarton Railway.
22 July 1886 A letter to the Gleaner
about a suspicious theft of £300 from Arthur’s office—the money “later
found in the possession of a young fellow whom Mr Ffrench entertains” .
Implying what exactly? Was he gay?
Oddly no further mention in the Gleaner.
74 A bare-faced robbery +
Railway tender
Dec 1886 According to the Blue Books “ dismissed” . According to the Colonial Standard (published in Kingston,
Jamaica & Extracted
and indexed by Stephen D. Porter, from
microfilm, at the Newspaper Library, Colindale, London.)
1887, Friday 28th January; page 2, col 5
"Official Announcements. In consequence of the absence from the
island, without leave, of Mr. A. G. Ffrench, Clerk of the Parochial Board of
St. Catherine, His Excellency the Governor has declared that office
vacant."
1887, Tuesday 26th April; page 2, col 2
"Mr. A. G. Ffrench. It
may prove of interest to some parties to learn of the whereabouts of the late
Clerk of the Parochial Boards of St. Catherine. We are in a position to state
that on the 28th ultimo, he was in London, but
he intended leaving for Australia
in the early part of the present month. Our information adds, that it may be
some months before Mr. Ffrench returns to Jamaica."
No
immigration record of his arrival into the UK (or Australia) has been found but
four years later;
1891 UK Census shows an Arthur Ffrench aged 39 (born 1851 Jamaica, West
Indies), clerk, "married" but living alone as a lodger in a mens'
hostel in Whitechapel, East London called The Charles William Mowl
Victoria Home.
Per Wikipedia;- Large lodging house at 39-41 Commercial St, east London
situated on the south-western corner with Wentworth St. Registered in November
1887, it was run at that time by Augustus Wilkie of 77 Whitechapel Road and was
originally licensed to house 370 male lodgers, though expansion allowed for an
increase in occupants within a short time. In 1888, a press report outlined its
intentions and its initial success:
"It was with a view to ameliorate the condition of the poor that
Lord Radstock and other gentlemen, with a purely philanthropic motive, acquired
two years since a warehouse of four floors in Commercial-street, at the corner
of Wentworth-street, and converted it into a model lodging-house. The success
of the venture led to the acquisition of the adjoining premises, and the number
of beds now provided is 500. In every respect this lodging-house - the only one
of its sort in London
- deserves to be imitated. First, its charges are low - viz., 4d for a single
bed, or 2s per week; and 6d for a "cabin," or 3s per week. Each bed
has two blankets, two sheets, and a quilt; the bedstead is of iron, and a kind
of shield at the head affords a certain degree of privacy. The floor space is
partitioned into rooms, containing each ten or a dozen beds; whilst in the
"cabins" there is only one. A "casual" ward for the
reception of newcomers has lately been added, and probationers are transferred
thence to floors above. Many of the lodgers are regulars, but some are
birds of passage purely. The lavatory, ventilating, and sanitary arrangements
are on an enlightened scale. In the common kitchen food may be cooked at the
great fire, or obtained at low charges at the bar, a dinner with vegetables for
fourpence, or a bowl of soup for a penny. No known bad characters are admitted.
Tickets for beds are issued from five p.m. until 12.30 midnight, and after that
hour if a man wants to get in he must have a pass. It is by these rules,
especially, and by the exclusion of women, that the Victoria Home
is so greatly to be preferred to the most modern and "improved" of
the lodging-houses which are strictly commercial undertakings."
The rules of the home were such as to deter 'bad characters':
1) No person in a state of intoxication will be on any account
admitted.
2) No swearing or obscene language will be tolerated; order and decorum
are insisted in the kitchens; silence in the bedrooms.
3) No person will be admitted after one o'clock a.m. without a special
pass.
4) Any lodger interfering with the comfort of others is at once
ejected.
5) Lodgers who are fortunate enough to possess extra clothing or other
personal effects, can leave them in charge of the deputy, who will give a
receipt for the same.
6) Baths, warm or cold, can be had in the house. For a warm bath, the
charge of one penny is made
In April 1891 it was being run by Charles William Mowl and housed
nearly 500 men.
The Victoria Working Men's Home was totally destroyed during an air
raid in the Second World War and the site remained empty for many years before
being redeveloped as part of the New Holland Estate in the late 1960s.(Tyne Street redevelopment - plans 1964-71 (London
Metropolitan
Archives)
How the mighty
have fallen! From Clerk of the Vestry of St Catherines to this!
75
Victoria Working Men's Home, Commercial
Street, c.1900
The 1901 UK Census has Arthur Ffrench aged 46 (ie born
1855 but probably incorrect as would surely be too young at 15 to
join Tax Dept in 1870) born in Jamaica,
"single", Clerk in the "Guardians Office”.
76 The 1891 and 1901 Censusses showing 1851 or
1855 as Arthur’s D.O.B.
The Guardians was the name of the Wandsworth and Clapham Poor Law
Administrators They ran the WorkHouses in the Borough, looked after
orphans—sending many to foster parents in rural Canada, sometimes aged just
10--, giving handouts and getting jobs to persons in need. Arthur first appears
in the Guardian Office records as 4th Assistant Clerk in the Clerks
Office from November 1895 up until 8 August 1905 (when he died).Perhaps the
Freemasons helped him secure the job?
He was living alone in one room at 61 Strathblaine Rd,
Battersea,Wandsworth,SW11. This house still stands and is now a nice
substantial residence in a good area. The main occupiers in 1901 were a
builder, his wife & 9th month old daughter--so Arthur was the
"lodger".
77 61 Strathblaine Rd, Wandsworth, London
Arthur, living in Clapham, was
described in the Censuses and his death cert as “Occupation- Poor Law Clerk
Guardians’ Office”. The Guardians were the Trustees appointed in
each Borough to administer the Poor Law. They collected the “Poor Law rates”
and used the funds to run the local Workhouses where homeless, jobless local
persons were employed; to help find homes for orphans(many at this time were
shipped off to rural Canada
to foster homes); to help place unfortunate young women in work and generally
to administer handouts where needed.
Extracts from records at London Metropolitan Archives
Arthur was appointed 21 Nov 1895 as temporary 4th assistant
clerk in the Clerk’s Office at a wage of 30 shillings a week. It is recorded in
the Register of Officers 1890-99 ref WaBG194/2 of the Wandsworth & Clapham
(Poor Law) Union and in Folio Vol 4 page 496
of the Minute Book of the Guardians, It was reported to the Local Government
Board on 31 Dec 1895. His appointment letter was referenced “Form of Query
LB6/408” but cannot be traced in the Form of Query files. His appointment was
sanctioned by the Local Government Board 4 March 1896—Number of LGB letter 44
(not found).
His salary was increased to 35 shillings a week 10 Mar 1898 per Minute
Book 6 page 653 effective 11 March—LGB letter 92. On15 June 1900 a dinner
allowance of £15 (p.a.?) in lieu of dinner was added No 166 SR Folio 88. The
appointment was made permanent after the purchase by the Guardians of the
Tooting Workhouse and he remained employed by the Guardians until his death in
August 1905
He died of kidney/cardiac failure at 54--intestate
but his estate of £62 was administered by his landlady Emily Ashelford (aged 46
married to a bricklayer 16 years older than herself) .This and a chest of his
belongings reached his widow Frances Ann
Glave Ffrench in Jamaica.
Her grand daughter Icy-now 91- remembers her father Arthur Peter Ffrench
telling her the chest arrived on the United Fruit Cos White ship and that she
still has a glass inscribed with Arthur George’s name—perhaps a necessary
precaution in the workhouse
And here is his death
certificate of 1905- a "Poor Law Clerk" in a poorer part of Clapham, London. He died at 54 of
various unpleasant illnesses—rough justice perhaps for someone who messed up so
many people's lives;
He had never returned to Jamaica and in a 1904 marriage announcement in
the Gleaner for their 2nd daughter, Frances Ann Ffrench nee Glave had actually described
him as the "late Arthur George Ffrench" Perhaps that's why
there's no further reference of him in the Gleaner. David L Ffrench
tought he had actually died in Manchester
Parish so perhaps the scandal had been covered up by the family.
78 Arthur George Ffrench death
Certificate providing 1851 as D.O.B.
This address 20 Oberstein Rd is only a few hundred
yards from 61 Strathblaine Rd
but in a much less attractive area and now very run down.
79 20 Oberstein Rd
Arthur had 5 children in all with Frances (Fanny) -the last when she
was 39 and he 33. The first, daughter Kathleen, was recorded when
baptised as illegitimate, coloured. The others' colours are not recorded. Donna
Cover-Jones great grand daughter said
Fanny considered herself
“mulatto”.
They were all born in Heavitree, Mile Gully, Manchester, Jamaica.
Heavitree Coffee estate had been left to Frances by her father Stephen
Sharpe Glave, born Yorkshire 1814 died 1 Apr 1873, Jamaica. Frances Ann Ffrench is
shown in the 1910 Almanac as the owner of Heavitree. Her father’s “wife”
was Kitty—the housekeeper?
Another indication that Arthur was related to George III is that
George III when in financial difficulties around 1890 mortgaged for
pnds300 a property he owned to Eliza(beth) Glave b 1853 who was Arthur’s wife
Frances’s sister--- ie Arthur's sister-in-law lent George III money. Why unless
they were “family”?
To
summarise;
Generation 6--Children of Arthur George Ffrench
with Frances Ann Glave,
Kathleen Ann Ffrench, b. 10
March 1875 in Heavitree, Manchester, recorded as colored. d ?
Frances “Fran” Eliza Ffrench b 22 Mar 1878 d aft 1930 as D L Ffrench
met her?
St George Moore
Ffrench, b. 9 Dec 1879 in Heavitree, Mile Gully, Manchester.d 11 Dec 1922
Arthur Peter Ffrench, b. 30 Nov 1881 in Heavitree, Mile Gully,
Manchester, d Feb1968 Grand-father of Icy, Donna & Don
Stephen Shirley Ffrench, b. 3 Sept 1884. d 16 Mar 1896 of tetanus
with Jane Victoria
Smith,
Lt Col. Ernest George Ffrench (my hero!)
b. 15 Nov 1876 baptised in Spanish Town, Jamaica
(ie not Kingston) Died 1937 in Kent, UK.
Ernest's maternal
ancestors
Chapter 8
Jane Victoria Smith was born
illegitimately 23rd Oct 1840 and baptised in St Catherine's Parish in January
1841.On her baptism record her father was named as"Lieut Smith 64th Regiment"
and her mother as Eliza Grant. Address 49 Wellington Street
Spanish Town,
St Catherine's.
80(Extract) & 81 Jane’s Baptism record
82
What her Spanish
Town home might have
looked like----
Jane Victoria Smith's Parents;
a) Jane's father-- Lieutenant Michael Edward Smith
On the 1839 Harts Army List of Officers, under the 64th(2nd
Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot, which is shown as stationed then in Jamaica,
is Michael Edward Smith (Ensign, promoted to Lieutenant Feb 1840). Smith
had purchased his commission--normal in those days. Michael Edward Smith b 10
Nov 1814 was the 5th child(of 15), 3rd son of Henry Jeremiah Smith , JP, Deputy
Lord Lieutenant, Co Meath, the latter's
father being wealthy establishment figure Henry Smith of Beabeg ;
83
Henry Smith of Beabeg
Henry Smith's son Henry Jeremiah Smith had been a "cornet" or
Ensign in the 11th Light Dragoons(ie mounted on horseback) in 1809;
84 Army List 1809
85
Henry Jeremiah Smith of
Beabeg & Annesbrook
86 Beabeg
His second wife, Michael
Edward Smith's mother, was Elizabeth Radcliffe Smith.
87 Elizabeth
Radcliffe Smith when young
Elizabeth's mother was Catherine Cox Radcliffe, Michael's grandmother
88 Elizabeth Radcliffe’s
mother (Catherine
Cox Radcliffe)
The family seat was Annesbrooke, Duleek, Co Meath just north of Dublin. Henry Jeremiah
Smith had purchased this around 1803 from Mr Hamilton and extended it
substantially. He was on social terms with King George IV
The following is taken from
Mark Bence-Jones book ‘A Guide To Irish Country Houses’. Annesbrook, Duleek, Co. Meath. A 2 storey 3 bay Georgian
house with ground floor windows set under relieving arches and a large
rusticated and fanlighted doorway; to which an impressive portico of 4
fluted Ionic columns and a single-storey wing containing a charming Georgian-Gothic
“banqueting room” were added early in c19 by Henry (Jeremiah) Smith. According
to the story, he made these additions 1821 for when George IV came over to dine
with him while staying with Lady Conyngham at Slane Castle;
the monarch, however never saw the banqueting room, preferring to dine out of
doors. Then under the entry for Slane
Castle he states that ‘George IV
stayed in Slane Castle as Prince of Wales, and again as
King 1821; the wife of 1st Marquess being the Lady Conyngham who was
his favourite. The dead straight road from Dublin to Slane is said to have been made especially
for him.
89 Annesbrook
Michael
Edward Smith inherited this in 1892 after the death of his 2 elder brothers.
90 Dining at Annesbrook
91 The Hunt at nearby Duleek;
92 a Smith family get-together about 1905!
The piece following summarises Michael Edward Smith's life,
mostly compiled around 1910 by a niece of Michael, Emily
Gertrude Cox(Nee Smith) , daughter of Richard Jeremiah Smith, younger brother
of Michael, when she researched the
family tree--she knew both Michael & his wife Jane Grace Syme
93 Emily Cox Smith—the author
Emily’s writing is mainly in
italics with further comments
from Brenda McKeever underlined --additional items have
also been added by Keith/Nancy Atkinson, or where there are conflicts in
details; this includes details of Michael's military career extracted from the
quarterly Regimental Muster Rolls at The National Archives, Kew, England
)
Michael’s father was Henry
Jeremiah Smith, J.P., Dep Lieut Co Meath, Ireland, born 28 Nov 1783;
He married; firstly 28 Dec
1802 Margaret Osbourne Smith by whom he had 2 sons—Henry Jeremiah and
Francis Edward;
secondly; Elizabeth Radcliffe
Smith of Tinnakilly, Co Wicklow with whom he had 7 sons and 5 daughters.
94 Elizabeth
Radcliffe Smith when older
94a 13
Molesworth Street, Dublin;
Michael Edward Smith was the 3rd son 5th
child of Elizabeth Radcliffe Smith & was born on the 10th
November 1814 at the house of his great-grandmother
Lady Catherine Cox, 13
Molesworth St, Dublin.He was baptized round the corner at St. Anne’s
Church, Dawson Street.
Lady Cox was also his godmother, his godfather being the
Hon. Edward Taylor Massey, his mother’s cousin. He was called Michael
after his great-grandfather the Rev. Sir Michael Cox Bt. Of Dunmanway and
Edward after his godfather.The date of his birth is given at November 10th
in the entry made by his mother in the family bible; on the monument erected to
his memory in Duleek Church the date is given at November 8th, which
must be a mistake. (Unfortunately Duleek church is no longer used as a church and most
of the memorials in the church were vandalized, )
95 Duleek Church
96 Duleek
church plaque for Henry Jeremiah Smith
Michael Edward Smith was educated at Dundalk Grammar School, the
Headmaster at that time being a Dr. Donaldson. Later on(about 1833 ?) he
was sent, with Richard Jeremiah, his brother, born 1817, to Switzerland, where
they read with Dr. Caesar Malan, a well known divine in his day, and afterwards
with Merle D’Aubigny, who was engaged in writing his world-famed “History of
the Reformation” when they lived with him in Geneva.
.In common with many other
"third sons" who joined either the Army or the Clergy In November 1837 aged 23 Michael
Edward obtained (ie purchased)
a commission as an Ensign in the 40th ( incorrect--was 64th)
Regiment of Foot--The North Staffordshires or Prince of Wales.
And it was the first one signed by young Victoria after she came
to the throne.
Michael
starts at the 64th's UK base or "Depot" in Dundee.1838 Michael spends
4 months in Dundee before making a 6 day foot march from May 4-9 with the
Company from Dundee to Paisley (Near Glasgow) 90 miles with an allowance of 5
shillings a day. He signs the allowance slip for 1 pound 10 shillings!
During
1838 he is stationed in Londonderry where in Dec 1838 he is ordered to join the
main regiment in Jamaica.The Regiment, along with
others including the 8th(The Kings),56th(West Essex) & 68th(Durham) were
sent to Jamaica in 1837 in case of a violent outburst after the end of slavery
August 1st, 1838. In the event it passed peacefully. He sets sail in the "Hopewell" on Feb 2nd 1839.
The
“Hopewell” regularly sailed to Jamaica from Londonderry although other officers
seem to have sailed from Cork
this time. It takes 45 days to reach Jamaica. Michael receives a ration
allowance of 3 pence per day on the ship--and he disembarks on 18th March 1839.
The
64th in Jamaica
at that time consisted of 25 officers,32 seargeants,26 corporals,9 drummers, pipers
& fifers and 461 privates. Michael is initially based with a detachment at
Stony Hill, just northwest of Kingston.
Onshore
his ration allowance is 2.5 pence per day. By this time he has a fulltime
servant/batman. Michael has 1.5 pence per day stopped from his pay to cover the
servant's rations
Extracts from Lloyds Shipping Register re “Hopewell”
97 The Hopewell
98 Michael’s
Marching Allowance and his stoppages for his batman’s food
99 Harts Army List early 1839
20 Dec 1839 aged 25 he is made up to
Lieut(commission purchased). 1840
In April he is stationed in Kingston--in June Fort Augusta.
Between July & September he commands a Company--for which he signs for £280-16-5
3/4 for the mens' Pay & Beer Money for the quarter!
100 Harts
Army List July 1840
But Michael has been busy
because on 23 Oct 1840 Jane Victoria Smith is born to " Lieut Smith of the
64th Regiment" and Eliza Grant; Jane is baptized in St Catherine's Jamaica. Address
given was 49 Wellington Street
Spanish Town--was Michael billetted there?
101
49 Wellington St
today!
Today it’s a hairdressing
salon & not the original building!
Perhaps
Michael had succumbed to yellow fever, convalesced at "Blundells
Hall" then being run by Mary Jane Seacole née Grant and met Eliza Grant
there? Is Eliza in fact Louisa Grant, Mary Seacole's sister?
But why St Catherines, not Kingston? The other baptisms on the register
are for tailors, bricklayer, cook, butler, labourers, servants, “collector of
petty debts” Perhaps Eliza was there just to have her baby ? Or was it their
love nest-- in which case he would have known
of the pregnancy.
But in any case Michael-aged 26- has already
sailed off to Halifax, Canada on October 12th 1840--just 2
weeks before his daughter is born. It takes 18 days to reach Halifax where he remains for 2 years.
102 Harts Army List Oct 1841
1841 In this period
there were many deserters from the 64th. Did they fancy life in Canada or were they keen to get back to the
warmth--but disease--of the Caribbean? The
alternative might have been famine in Ireland.
1842 Aged 28 On
17th August Michael is put in charge of a shipload of invalids returning to Europe. This task done he takes a 6 month leave to 31
March 1843 when he exchanges into the 78th Highlanders (The Seaforths) a
regiment he was much attached to and very proud of .
Perhaps
he did not wish to return to Halifax
with the 64th? He does not actually join
the 78th till 27th November 1843 when he leaves for India
initially with a detachment of the 78th in Bombay.
1844 On 9th January he leaves Bombay for "Kurachee" till June.
Between July and August he is at Sukker Camp in Scinde Province.
"In 1839" (This cannot
be correct—the niece’s story conveniently overlooks the whole Jamaica
period!) he took part in the fatal
march from Kureelie to Sukher and was one of the few survivors. Through
some blunder the regiment had been ordered to Sukher in the height of the hot
weather with the result the seven hundred of the men lost their lives! My
uncle was taken very ill with internal inflammation and left for dead
Lt Col
Ernest George Ffrench M.D, Ch.B, FRCS(Edinburgh),FRCP(London)
"a distinguished son of Jamaica"
"I am proud of him as a Jamaican"
Just 2
years ago in spring 2009, I knew very little about my grandfather Dr Ernest G
Ffrench. He died 11 years before I was born and my own father died nearly 30
years ago. If only I had talked to him about his parents before he died.
I had been told that Ernest had been an eminent Harley Street Doctor, who
had eloped with a young American society girl and that for some reason he had
been born in Spanish Town, Jamaica--the son of Arthur Ffrench a "Customs
Official" and Jane Victoria(Nee Smith) his wife who apparently came from a
prominent Irish family. I supposed they had been expatriate civil servants,
posted temporarily to Jamaica.
It was only after a trip to Ireland
with my siblings, to research our "Irish roots" that it became
apparent that all was not what it seemed. There were simply no records either
of Jane, Arthur or their marriage. So I decided to do a little research on my
grandfather and get his birth/baptism record-- from Jamaica. Imagine my surprise when
it read "Illegitimate and colored"!
Little did I expect that the Ffrench's were a long established Jamaican
family,(there was even a Lieut Thomas French in the 1655 Penn/Venables force
which took Jamaica from the Spanish) with variously coloured members, some of
whom appear descended from slaves; that Ernest's mother Jane(also
illegitimate!) was a serious business woman and Lodging House keeper in
Kingston, with links to Mary Seacole, "the black Florence
Nightingale" and that Ernest's father Arthur had actually married another
woman & had 5 other Jamaican children with her, all of whom he abandoned,&
fled Jamaica to a working mens' hostel in East London, eventually dying alone
in a poor part of Clapham, London.
And Ernest's Jewish-American wife Adele Carvalho, had a famous father, David
Carvalho a handwriting expert who had testified in the Dreyfus trial in Paris,
and a grandfather Solomon Carvalho who had crossed the US on horseback with Col
Fremont's expedition and painted Abraham Lincoln!
The more I discovered about Ernest the more impressed I became by his journey
from such an unpromising start in life. We keepsearching but this is the story
uncovered--so far. I do hope you enjoy it!
Nancy Atkinson(Nee Ffrench) June 28 2011
This has
been a wonderfully collaborative effort so firstly thanks to my “old family” my sister
Susan Lamb & my brother Simon Ffrench,
plus my “new family” viz;
Michael Ffrench, Canada;
Big J and Aubrey Ffrench, Don Kemeel Jones
& Icy in Jamaica;
Donna Marie Jones-Cover in Florida
David L Ffrench
Philadelphia (all these Ffrench);
Sally Graff in Louisiana (Carvalho);
Brenda McKeever, Ireland,
Roseanne & Lana Jeffers UK
(all Smiths)
+ those who encouraged me, gave me leads or
contributed to "the truth"
Prof Elizabeth Anionwu (Seacole Memorial Statue
Foundation),
Dr Douglas J Austin, Cambridge ( Seacole research)
Nicole Bryan (Library of Jamaica)
Steve Campbell (RGD, SpanishTown),
Dr Barry Davidson,
Cirencester, Uk
(Seacole research)
Terri England (Family
History Researcher),
Mara French ( French Family Association),
Julia French-Wood (French
family DNA project)
Sally Graff
(Sturhahn-Carvalho family)
Brenda Grey (Ffrench family friend Ocho Rios)
Patricia Jackson (Jamaica Family
Search.com),
Dr Aleric Josephs (University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica),
Dorothy Kew(Genealogist, Jamaica
Family History Research Canada),
Paulette Kerr(Author of Lodging House Keepers of Jamaica),
Paul Kerr (TV producer--The Real Heroine of the
Crimean war),
Donald Lindo(Genealogist and Historian, Kingston, Jamaica),
Dr Joy Lumsden (Historian, Kingston, Jamaica),
Madeleine
Mitchell(Genealogist/Jamaican Historian),
Ronnie Peralta
(Genealogist-David Carvalho papers)
Stephen D Porter(Historian & Friends of Georgian Jamaica
Society),
Michael Prescod (Glave family researcher, Jamaica),
Helen Rappaport(Author & Mary Seacole
Researcher),
Jane Robinson(Mary Seacole Biographer),
Cynthia Rosers(Jamaica Family History Researcher),
Racquel Stratchan (Jamaica
Archives, Spanish
Town),
Akira Sugihara(Glave
Family member & Researcher,USA)
Leovia Taylor (RGD SpanishTown),
Sharon Tomlin(LDS London
Jamaica
Family History Researcher)
and Cleo Sylvestre for her one-woman Mary Seacole
show!
Finally I dedicate this to
my father Geoffrey Ernest Ffrench who would have been fascinated………….
1 Now to set
the scene!............Jamaica
by Noel Coward
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (Like Corsica, Guam and Tasmania)
The tourist does not need to wear a topee Or other macabre miscellanea.
Remember that this is a tropical place Where violet hues are abundant
& bright-coloured clothes with a bright yellow face, Look frankly a
trifle redundant.
A simple ensemble of trousers & shirt Becomes both the saint &
the sinner
& if a head-waiter looks bitterly hurt You can wear a jacket for
dinner.
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (It shares this distinction with Elba)
Its easy to order a goat fricassee But madness to ask for Peach Melba.
You’ll find (to the best of this writer’s belief) That if you want rice
you can get it
But visitors ordering mutton or beef Will certainly live to regret it.
There’s seldom a shortage of ackees & yams Or lobsters if anyone’s
caught them
But if you’ve a passion for imported hams You’d bloody well better
import them.
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (It has this in common with Cuba)
Its national tunes, to a certain degree, Are founded on be-bop-a-duba.
‘Neath tropical palms under tropical skies Where equally tropical stars
are
The vocal Jamaicans betray no surprise However off-key their guitars
are.
The native calypsos which seem to be based On hot-air-conditioned
reflexes
Conclusively prove that to people of taste There’s nothing so funny as
sex is.
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (Like Alderney, Guernsey & Sark
are)
Its wise not to drive with exuberant glee Where large barracuda &
shark are.
The reefs are entrancing; the water is clear The colouring couldn’t be
dreamier
But one coral scratch & you may spend a year In bed with acute
septicaemia.
The leading hotels are extremely well run The service both cheerful
& dextrous
But even the blisters you get from the sun Are firmly included as
extras.
Jamaica’s an island
surrounded by sea (unlike Ecuador
or Guiana)
The tourist may not have a “Fromage de Brie” But always can have a
banana.
He also can have, if he has enough cash, a pleasantly rum-sodden liver
& cure his rheumatic complaints in a flash By shooting himself at Milk River.
In fact every tourist who visits these shores Can thank his benevolent
Maker
For taking time off from the rest of his chores To fashion the Isle of
Jamaica.
INDEX
Chapter 1 The Cast of
Characters in order of appearance! Images
Plus Ernest
George Ffrench’s Family Trees 2
Ernest's Paternal ancestors;
Chap 2
-early Ffrench's in Jamaica
; inc Thomas, Peter & Catherine 3-14
Chap
3 George I Ffrench & Miss
Jane Charlotte Beckford, + their sons George II & Edward I (" white
quadroons"),Robert and dau Ann Eliza
15-34
Chap
4 Robert I Ffrench, his wife
Letitia Dunn Lindo, children Arthur I, Robert II, George III, Edward II, Maria
Moore & Alexander Dunn 35-46
Chap
5 Geo III Ffrench-Arthur George’s
father?-& wife Eliza Minot 47-59
Chap
6 Known issue of George III/Eliza;
Robert Burke,Anna Maria, EdwardIII Shafto Burke, Letitia Emily, Hedley John
Cecil,Alfred Ernest 60-65
Chapter 7 Arthur George Ffrench—Ernest’s
father—Father GeorgeIII? 66-79
Ernest’s Maternal ancestors;
Chapter 8 Lieut Michael Edward Smith,
& the Smith's of Ireland 80-131
Chapter 9 Eliza & Louisa Grant, &
the Mary Seacole connection
132-160
Chapter 10 Miss Jane Victoria Smith,
& her life 161-174
Ernest George Ffrench HIMSELF;
Chapter 11 Ernest, his wife Adele Carvalho and
his life 175-199
Chapter 12 Ernest's in-laws, the
Carvalho's, esp. Solomon & David
200-229
Chapter 13 Ernest & Adele’s children,
Violet & Geoffrey, + grandchildren Jonathan, Susan, Simon & me!
230-237
Chapter 14 An interview with Ernest by the Hartford Courier 1935 238-240
Appendices;
1)Timeline Arthur George Ffrench
2)Timeline Carvalho family
3) Timelines George I Ffrench
4) Burke’s Landed Gentry Smiths of Annesbrook
5) Burke’s Landed Gentry Ffrench of Monivea
6) Mary Seacole’s Will Page 1
7) Mary Seacole’s Will Page 2
8) Mary Seacole’s Will page 3 + Probate Form
9) History of the 64th Regiment (1834-52 excerpt)-
published by Leo Cooper
10)Jane Charlotte Beckford’s Will Inventory of 1829 (Lodging house contents) (3 pages
with many thanks to the Jamaica
Archives for this)
11) The Beckford story
12) Burke’s Landed Gentry Beckfords
13) Monumental Inscriptions
The Beckfords in Spanish
Town Cathedral
Chapter 1 THE CAST OF CHARACTERS--in order of
appearance—By Head of Family!
Peter Ffrench Descendants
1-Peter
Ffrench (about 1710-19 March 1755)
+Catherine1
Noke (about 1714-)
. . 2-Catherine2 Ffrench
(21 October 1734-26 October 1794)
. .
2-Bethiah Ffrench (5 February 1736-9 August 1778)
. .
2-Anthony John Ffrench (18 March 1738-18 March 1740)
. .
2-Elizabeth Sarah Ffrench (3 October 1740-)
. .
2-George1 Ffrench (2 June 1742-13 February 1795)
. .
+Jane Charlotte Beckford (1759-23 October 1825)
. . . .
3-GeorgeII Ffrench (9 June 1777-)
. . . .
3-EdwardI Ffrench (7 October 1782-7 September 1835)
. . . .
3-Robert1 Ffrench (1785-11 October 1835)
. . . .
+Letitia Dunn Lindo (about 1795-)
. . . .
. . 4-Arthur I Ffrench (23 June 1813-)
. . . .
. . 4-Robert II Ffrench (2 June 1817-)
. . . .
. . 4-GeorgeIII Ffrench (30 December 1819-11 February 1897)
. . . .
. . +Eliza (Shirley?) Minot
(about 1826-12 March 1898)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Robert Burke Ffrench (31 October 1849-4 May 1850)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Anna Maria Ffrench (about 1853-10 January 1881)
. . . .
. . . . 5-EdwardIII Shafto Burke Ffrench (1855-after 1923)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Letitia Emily Ffrench (1856-10 November 1869)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Hedley John Cecil Ffrench (1858-31 March 1864)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Alfred Ernest Ffrench (23 February 1861-24 April 1926)
. . . .
. . . . +Isadora Maud Burke Moodie (5 August 1864-about 1953)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Frankie Ffrench (1884-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Nellie Ffrench (about 1885-8 May 1944)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-GeorgeIV A Ffrench (27 December 1886-5 February 1957)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Shafto Moodie Ffrench (23 January 1889-27 August 1979)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Ernest Minott Ffrench (17 August 1890-before 1926)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Enid Clare Ffrench (March 1896-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Leslie St Clair Ffrench (3 May 1900-3 April 1987)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Mary Bernice Prendergast (-1965)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Derek L Ffrench (31 March 1922-2007)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-David L Ffrench (22 February 1925-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-June Ffrench (1928-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Ouida Ffrench (4 February 1933-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Shirley Lorraine Ffrench (8 January 1902-18 July 1969)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Enid Susan Hind (1904-1988)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-John(Big J) Ffrench (25 January 1940-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Michael Ernest Ffrench (1943-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Norman Ffrench (23 October 1925-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Aubrey Ffrench (1930-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Corinne E Ffrench (9 May 1905-15 June 1993)
. . . .
. . +Unknown Mother (-)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Arthur George Ffrench (about 1851-8 August 1905)
. . . .
. . . . +Jane Victoria Smith (23 October 1840-12 May 1927)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Ernest George Ffrench (15 November 1876-25 July 1937)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Adele Miriam Carvalho (21 December 1876-1958)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Violet Anne Victoria Ffrench (15 June 1916-31 July 2003)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . +George F Davis (21 December 1917-20 August 1998)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Robin N Davis (24 April 1943-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . +Laura Hooper (about 1944-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 9-Geoffrey Davis (1970-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Christopher Davis (August 1948-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Geoffrey Ernest Ffrench (25 November 1917-25 January 1980)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . +Marjory Grace Godfrey (11 November 1918-August 2007)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Jonathan Ffrench (25 February 1944-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Susan Adele Ffrench (4 July 1947-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Nancy Rosalind Ffrench (28 November 1948-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . +Keith Melvyn Atkinson (28 June 1943-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Simon Geoffrey Ffrench (26 January 1950-)
. . . .
. . . . +Frances Fanny Ann Glave (20 June 1845-after 1922)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Kathleen Glave Ffrench (10 March 1875-after 1922)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Frances Eliza Ffrench (22 March 1878-after 1922)
. . . .
. . . . . . +David Charles Thomas (1880-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-St George Moore Ffrench (9 December 1879-11 December 1922)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Arthur Peter Ffrench (30 November 1881-February 1968)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Irene Getfield (-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Myrtle Mae Ffrench (27 September 1917-4 April 1994)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . +Charles Adolphus Jones (14 August 1907-20 January 2000)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Donna Marie Jones-Cover (about 1955-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . +Desmond Cover (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-Jordan Cover (-)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Don Kemeel Jones (about 1960-)
. . . .
. . . . . . +Amy Adina Thomas (1902-December 1994)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . 7-Gladys Ffrench (18 October 1918-20 July 2005)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . +Hepburn Ashman (-2 November 1968)
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 8-Living Ashman (-)
. . . .
. . . . . . 6-Stephen Shirley Ffrench (3 September 1884-16 March 1896)
. . . .
. . 4-EdwardII Ffrench (6 February 1822-10 March 1880)
. . . .
. . +Sarah Harrison Buchan (1833-before 1880)
. . . .
. . 4-Maria Moore
Ffrench (8 December 1826-14 December 1918)
. . . .
. . +John Moore (about 1820-before 1918)
. . . .
. . . . 5-Ella Louise Moore
(-1 October 1938)
. . . .
. . 4-Alexander Dunn Ffrench (9 December 1828-)
. . . .
3-Ann Eliza Ffrench (1787-13 October 1835)
. .
+Elizabeth Ann Jackson (about 1765-about 1825)
. . . .
3-John Ffrench (1789-6 January 1790)
. . . .
3-Henry Ffrench (21 October 1793-18 January 1800)
Descendants Henry Smith
1-Henry1 Smith (15 June
1748-1817)
+Martha Steele (-)
. . 2-Henry2 Jeremiah 11th
Dragoons Smith (28 November 1783-15 February 1857)
. . +Margaret Osbourne (about
1782-about 1805)
. . . . 3-Henry3 Jeremiah
Smith (October 1803-)
. . . . +Sarah Maria Harrison
(about 1810-)
. . . . . . 4-Henry4 Jeremiah
Smith (14 September 1829-)
. . . . 3-Francis Edward Smith
(1805-)
. . +Elizabeth Radcliffe
(1790-5 March 1872)
. . . . 3-Catherine Matilda
Smith (about 1810-)
. . . . +Robert Col Sir
Wallace (-)
. . . . 3-Elizabeth Smith
(about 1811-)
. . . . +Hugh Lyons Montgomery (-)
. . . . 3-Stephen Henry Smith
(1813-1890)
. . . . +Georgina
Barbra Pelly (-1874)
. . . . 3-St George William
Smith (1813-about 1892)
. . . . 3-Michael Edward Smith
(10 November 1814-19 May 1903)
. . . . +Jane Grace Smith Syme
(1829-17 March 1913)
. . . . +Eliza Louisa Grant
(about 1815-21 July 1905)
. . . . . . 4-Jane Victoria Smith (23
October 1840-12 May 1927)
. . . . . . +Arthur George
Ffrench (about 1851-8 August 1905)
. . . . . . . . 5-Ernest
George Ffrench (15 November 1876-25 July 1937)
. . . . . . . . +Adele Miriam
Carvalho (21 December 1876-1958)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Violet
Anne Victoria Ffrench (15 June 1916-31 July 2003)
. . . . . . . . . . +George F
Davis (21 December 1917-20 August 1998)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Robin N Davis (24 April 1943-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Laura
Hooper (about 1944-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Geoffrey Davis (1970-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Christopher Davis (August 1948-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Geoffrey
Ernest Ffrench (25 November 1917-25 January 1980)
. . . . . . . . . . +Marjory
Grace Godfrey (11 November 1918-August 2007)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Jonathan Ffrench (25 February 1944-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Susan Adele Ffrench (4 July 1947-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Nancy Rosalind Ffrench (28 November 1948-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Keith
Melvyn Atkinson (28 June 1943-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Simon Geoffrey Ffrench (26 January 1950-)
. . . . 3-William Thomas Smith
(about 1816-)
. . . . 3-Richard Edward
Jeremiah Smith (about 1819-March 1877)
. . . . +Adela Archer (about
1840-)
. . . . 3-Kynaston Walter
Smith (about 1827-1857)
. . . . 3-Matilda Cox Smith
(1828-)
. . . . 3-Emily Smith (about
1829-)
. . . . 3-Mary Henrietta Smith
(1830-1876)
. . . . +Ralph4 Smyth (about
1817-)
. . . . 3-Frederick Augustus
Smith (18 November 1826-27 July 1887)
Descendants Samuel Nunes Carvalho
1-Samuel Nunes Carvalho (about
1665-1728)
. . 2-Isaac Nunes Carvalho
(about 1690-1733)
. . . . 3-Samuel Nunes
Carvalho (about 1715-)
. . . . +Bathsheba De Meza (-)
. . . . . . 4-Solomon1 Nunes
Carvalho (1740-before 1835)
. . . . . . +Judith(Jeudit)
Henriques Pimental (1744-before 1840)
. . . . . . . . 5-Emanuel
Carvalho (14 November 1770-1817)
. . . . . . . . 5-David1 Nunes
Carvalho (4 November 1785-1860)
. . . . . . . . +Sarah Cohen
D'Azevedo (1793-20 March 1864)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Solomon2
Nunes Carvalho (27 April 1815-21 May 1897)
. . . . . . . . . . +Sarah
Miriam Solis (15 October 1824-2 May 1894)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-David2 Nunes Carvalho (29 September 1848-29 June 1925)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Annie
M Abrams (16 November 1857-2 June 1903)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Adele Miriam Carvalho (21 December 1876-1958)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Ernest George Ffrench (15 November 1876-25 July 1937)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Violet Anne Victoria Ffrench (15 June 1916-31 July 2003)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +George F Davis (21 December 1917-20 August 1998)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Robin N Davis (24 April 1943-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . +Laura Hooper (about 1944-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 11-Geoffrey Davis
(1970-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Christopher Davis
(August 1948-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Geoffrey Ernest Ffrench (25 November 1917-25 January 1980)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +Marjory Grace Godfrey (11 November 1918-August 2007)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-Jonathan
Ffrench (25 February 1944-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Susan Adele Ffrench (4 July 1947-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Nancy Rosalind Ffrench (28 November 1948-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . +Keith Melvyn Atkinson (28 June 1943-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Simon Geoffrey Ffrench (26 January 1950-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-BertramI Nunes Carvalho (27 May 1878-1975)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Jesselyn Pierce (8 October 1875-30 December 1938)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-John Bertram Carvalho (30 April 1904-15 May 1968)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Adelaide P Carvalho (26 November 1906-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Curtis Bolton Pierce Carvalho (1908-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +Elizabeth Jean Teal (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Curtis Christian Carvalho (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-David3 Nunes Carvalho (about 1911-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-BertramII Nunes Carvalho (7 February 1913-8 January 1994)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +Janet Van Franken Garfield
Stone (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +unknown Carlson (1885-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Dayton Carvalho (1880-1881)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Maie Nunes Carvalho (19 May 1882-14 April 1974)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Carl Friedrich Herman Ferdinand Sturhahn (25 January 1871-13 December 1939)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Herbert Carl Sturhahn (29 July 1902-1939)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Edward Marshall
Sr Sturhahn (15 May 1906-3 May 1992)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. +Louise Dailey Sturhahn (8 January 1909-9 July 1996)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Joan Sturhahn (23 September 1930-11 April 2010)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . +Garland
Mourning McNutt Jnr (24 August 1923-2 October 2008)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 11-Garland Marshall McNutt (26 September 1956-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10-Edward Marshall
Jnr Sturhahn (30 March 1934-1 April 1993)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . +Sharon Lee Manford (31 October 1942-8 September 1969)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 11-Natalie Anita(Sally) Ann Williamson Sturhahn Graff (25 December
1961-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . +Bruce Michael McGee (1951-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 12-Kelli Diane McGee (1982-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . +Dan Gradley Graff (1957-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Leslie Russell Nunes Carvalho (7 November 1885-December 1955)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Sophia G Goodman (about 1890-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Paul D Carvalho (about 1915-7 November 1940)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Anne Carvalho (about 1920-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Claire Carvalho (13 September 1888-27 October 1970)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
+Herbert A Weiller (21 August 1887-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 9-Sylvia Weiller (about 1914-)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Jacob Solis Carvalho (23 September 1852-13 March 1937)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
+Suzanne Walker (about 1854-before 1950)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Charity(Charrie) N Carvalho (12 April 1850-5 April 1945)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
7-Solomon Solis Carvalho (16 January 1856-12 April 1942)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Helen
Cusack (about 1858-before 1955)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Sarah Virginia Carvalho (about 1896-before 1995)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-Helen Carvalho (about 1898-before 1995)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Emanuel
Nunes Carvalho (22 March 1817-13 March 1883)
. . . . . . . . . . +Caroline
A Woolf (-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Julia
Carvalho (4 July 1819-22 January 1887)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Rachel
Carvalho (1822-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Sarah
Carvalho (September 1823-13 November 1842)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Clara
Nunes Carvalho (1826-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Benjamin
Carvalho (1827-January 1843)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Sophia
Carvalho (1828-)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Isaac
Carvalho (1835-1835)
. . . . . . . . . . 6-Miriam
Carvalho (10 November 1838-)
. . . . . . . . . . +Isadore
Osorio (March 1840-)
. . . . . . +Est(h)er de Isaac
Alvarez (-)
2 PEDIGREE OF ERNEST George Ffrench
Chapter
2
Ernest’s Paternal ancestors “ Generation x” Way back & traditionally,
according to my father, we Ffrench’s originated from Monivea and Ffrench
Castle, near Galway in western Ireland, which had a regular shipping route via Spain to the Caribbean.
There’s actually a Ffrench roundabout in Galway
city!
3 Ffrench Roundabout Galway City
--but so far the only connection
we have made between the Jamaica Ffrench's and the Irish ones is this dated
1823;
DIED In December last, at Paradise Estate, Jamaica,
Anthony FfRENCH, Esq., aged
23 (or 25) years, son of R. FfRENCH, Esq., of Beagh, in this County. Those
only who knew Mr. FfRENCH and appreciated his merits, can judge of the regret
of his parents, and his friends must feel at the loss of so amiable a young
gentleman.
But
the French’s must originally have left Ireland about 100+ years earlier because
as far back as the 1700's there were F(f)rench's in Jamaica, West Possibly they
arrived as soldiers--one Lieut Thomas French was with Colonel Richard
Fortescue's Regiment(the Third) , who under Penn Venables, invaded Jamaica in 1655, taking it from the
Spanish. Fortescue had been a Lt Col under the Earl of Essex and a Colonel in
Cromwell's New Model. Fortescue's Regiment was stationed in Spanish Town.
Fortescue thought Jamaica
"a fruitful and pleasant Island and a fit
receptacle for honest men" "there is accomodation and worke for
them.Here they may serve God, their countery and themselves". Fortescue
died 3 Oct 1655 but maybe he convinced Lieut Thomas to stay.
A second Thomas French b 1680 d
1758 had with Esther(coloured?); son Thomas (b 2 Feb1697), George (b 2
Sept 1699 d 29 Mar 1702),Jeremiah(b 7 Dec 1701 d 17 Feb 1702) and Elizabeth (b
5 May 1705 d 4 July 1706) An Esther French dies 12 May 1705 just after Elizabet
was born. All in St Catherines. Only Thomas survives—or does he? 6 June 1720 a Thomas French is buried in St
Catherines
4
Thomas & esther’s Son
Thomas
A third Thomas French married in 1741 Mary Mathews &
had Thomas (b 1 Nov 1742 bap 26 Nov 1742). A Mary French dies in Kingston 8 June 1755 “the
wife of Thomas French Esquire”
5 Thomas & Mary’s Son
Thomas
He also had with Eleanor Peete (mulatto);
dau Susanna(b 5 Mar 1754), son George(b 4 Mar 1759) and dau Mary(b 4 May 1763). He died 13 Aug 1783
6 7 8
Susannah, George(x 2) and Mary
A fourth Thomas French was acting Governor Jamaica 1702.
A (fifth) Major General Thomas French is mentioned in "Fuertado's
Official Personages (in Jamaica) 1655-1790" & in the Jamaica
Almanacs as JP 1751, M.A. Kingston 1753,
Custos for Kingston in 1780 ,Speaker pro tem in 1781 and Chief Justice in
1788.The 1782 Almanac calls him the Hon Thomas French. This Thomas died 16 Jan
1783 aged 66 “Custos” so born 1717
One of the Jamaica
French’s—or a later immigrant English/Irish French?—must have produced Peter French (b abt 1710 d abt 1785)
Generation 1
Peter French born abt 1710 of Kingston, When he married
24th Dec 1734 Catherine Noke of Kingston
( b abt 1716) he was “ Bookkeeper” of a Plantation.
He would supervise the slaves in the fields & superintend the manufacture of
sugar & rum.
9 Peter & Catherine’s
marriage
Before they married they had Catherine (b 21st Oct 1734, bap 23rd Feb
1735; a Catherine French dies Kingston “a spinster” 26 Oct 1794); then Bethiah , (b 5th Feb 1736, bap 24th Feb
1736; a Bethiah French dies Kingston “a spinster” 9 Aug 1778); Anthony
John (b18th March 1738, bap 14th Apr 1739; an Anthony John French dies aged
6(?), buried by his father 18 Mar 1740); Elizabeth Sarah,(b 3rd Oct 1740, bap 28th Oct
1740; and
George I (b 2 Jun 1742
and bap on 23rd June 1742)
10 11 12 13 14
Catherine, Bethiah, Anthony,
Elizabeth & GeorgeI’s KINGSTON
baptisms
Peter became Government Coroner
in 1751 per the Jamaica
Almanac—at that time a coloured could not aspire to such a post so we assume
Catherine Noke was white.A Peter French
“Esquire” died Kingston
19 March 1755.
Chapter 3
Generation 2
2.1 GeorgeI Ffrench,(as
above) b 1742, is listed in the Fuertado Official Personages 1655-1790 and the
1790 Jamaica Almanac as the Crown Solicitor/Clerk of the Jamaica Assembly
around 1780/5, aged 38.By 1782 George is in the High Court,Assistant
Judge,Solicitor for the Crown and Clerk of the Peace in Spanish Town,St Catherine's
on a fat salary! So was he a lawyer? Did he have legal training in London or Dublin?
There's a George French in the 1782 List of Attorneys-at-Law admitted to
practice at His Majesty's Supreme Court of Judicature.
His long-term mistress was Miss Jane
Charlotte Beckford "a free mulatto woman” of Spanish Town, Jamaica,
born 1759 died 23 Oct 1825; presumably the illegitimate daughter of either
Richard Beckford (Speaker St Catherine's 1747) or Ballard Beckford (Member of
the Council St Catherine 1754).
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
SPANISH TOWN TODAY
Ballard Beckford was somewhat notorious , having figured
prominently as co-respondent in a much publicized divorce case, which resulted
in the passing of Jamaica’s
first Divorce Act and his expulsion from the House of Assembly 3 years earlier.
Many of the Beckfords are buried in the Spanish Town
Cathedral.
George must have been besotted by Jane and/or
his 2 young quadroon sons GeorgeII b
1777 & EdwardI b 1782 as he had a
Private Act of the Jamaica Parliament passed in 1784 (he wld be 42) giving her
and his sons (then aged 7 and 2) equal rights to those born of wholly white
parents & sent them to
England for their education.
Jane Charlotte Beckford's Act
of the Jamaica
Parliament 1784
Jamaica Is. An Act to entitle Jane Charlotte Beckford of the Parish of Saint
Catherine a free Mulatto Woman and George French and Edward French Free
Quadroons the Children of the said Jane Charlotte Beckford to the same Rights
and Priviledges with English subjects born of White Parents under certain
Restrictions
Whereas the said Jane Charlotte Beckford hath been Baptised Educated and
Instructed in the principles of the Christian Religion and in the Communion of
the Church of England as by Law Established and hath caused her said children
to be Baptised the elder of whom hath been sent to England and where it is
intended that the younger of them shall also be sent at a proper age to be
brought up in the like principles and Educated in such manner as to make them
useful to the Community which with the assistance that will be afforded them
will raise them above the level of people of Colour in general But by reason of
their being Mulattoes they are Subject and liable to the same pains and penalties
to which free Negroes and Mulattoes are in this Island who have neither
education nor property Wherefore
We your Majesty’s dutiful and loyal Subjects the Lieutenant Governor Council
and Assembly of this Island humbly beseech your Majesty that it may be Enacted
and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same that the said Jane
Charlotte Beckford and her issue begotten by White Men and the said George
French and Edward French and their Issue born of White Women shall from
henceforth be deemed and taken for free and Natural born Subjects of this
Island and shall be Tried and adjudged for all Crimes Misdemeanors and Offences
which they or either of them shall be hereafter Charged with in the same manner
as if they and every of them were free and Natural born Subjects of great
Britain and in no other manner whatsoever and that they and every of them shall
be entitled to have and enjoy all Rights Priviledges Immunities and Advantages
whatsoever as if they and every of them were born and descended of and from
White Ancestors any Law Custom or Useage to the Contrary in any wise
notwithstanding.Provided always that nothing in this Act contained shall be
construed or understood to confer upon the said Jane Charlotte Beckford and the
said George French and Edward French or any or either of them any Capacity or
Ability of Sitting or Voting either in the Council or Assembly of this Island
or of holding or enjoying any Office Civil or Military or serving as Jurors or
Vestrymen or of voting at any Election whatsoever. But that they the said Jane
Charlotte Beckford George French and Edward French and each and every of them
shall be totally excluded therefrom any Law Custom or Usage to the Contrary in
any wise notwithstanding./
Passed the Council this 15th
day of December 1784 Will Dunlop Speaker.
I consent this 14th day of December 1784 Cncl
Alured Clarke Passed the Assembly this 23rd day of ed the
Assembly December 1784 IW Slaughter
27The
Jamaica
Act of Parliament making the Quadroons “white”!
A mulatto is half-European, half-African; a quadroon is the issue of a
European and a mulatto; an African is someone who had been shipped from Africa; a Creole is someone (of any race) born on the
island.
GeorgeI & Jane's 4 children were GeorgeII born 9 June 1777;EdwardI
born 7 Oct 1782 died 7 Sep 1835; Robert born 1785 died 11 Oct 1835 and
Ann Eliza born 1788 died 13 Oct 1835—there must have been an epidemic. There
was no Act of Parliament for the later
children .They were all baptised in St Catherine's.
Jane Charlotte Beckford ran a lodging house in Spanish Town
called "Miss Ffrench's" at the corner of Ellis Street and Whitechurch Street to which Lady Nugent,
the Governor's wife, sent guests in 1803--(She would not have sent her guests
to anywhere second-rate so it must have been "upmarket"!). There is a
French Street
and a Beckford Street
in Spanish Town today . From her birth date of 1759
Jane would appear to be the illegitimate daughter of planter Richard Beckford, or
Ballard Beckford
Philip Wright's Monumental
Inscriptions of Jamaica:
p. 130 –“ Spanish
Town. No. 28,
Whitechurch St” Not seen. Recorded by Frank Cundall 1918.
Jane
Charlotte Beckford, died 23 October, 1825, aged 66.(So born 1759)
Miss Ffrench’s Lodging
House;-the Gleaner 1887(Note double ff that early)
Picture of present day
building still used in 2010 as the Freemasons Hamilton Lodge Meeting
House
28 29 Miss Ffrench’s Lodging House today
Jane Charlotte Beckford’s Will inventory of 1829
Beckford Jane C Entrd
14th Feb 1829. An Inventory
and appraisement of all and singular the Goods and Chattels rights and Credits
which were of Jane Charlotte Beckford late of the Parish of St Catherine
deceased-----------------------------
1 Mahogany Bedstead
with Feather bed Hair Mattrass Bolster & Pillows 160/-
1 Mahogany large Chest
40/- 1 Looking glass 13/4 1 Globe 6/8
£11-00-00
1 Mahogany Bedstead
with Feather Bed Bolster & Pillows with Nett 106/8
1 Washstand 5/- 1
Mahogany chair 5/- 1 Looking glass 2/6 £ 5-19-02
1 Mahogany Bedstead
58/4 1 Table 6/8 1 Looking glass 6/8 1 Bason stand 6/8
9 large & small
Mahogany tables 175/- 2 Sofhas 40/- £14-13-04
1 Mahogany desk 10/- 1
Plated Cruet stand 10/- 1 Mahogany Chest 40/-
1 small Chest of
Drawers 13/4 1 Basan stand 10/- £4-03-04
4 Looking Glass 10/- 4
Bedroom Chairs 40/- 2 pair shoes 20/-
1 pair hand ??? shades
10/- 2 Night Chairs 26/8 1 Liquor cooler 40/-£7-06-08
19 Mahogany Highback
Chairs 190/- 3 pair Plated Candlesticks 30/-
1 Mahogany Sideboard
Tray 80/- 1 Dripstone ??? 100/-
£20-00-00
1 Mahogany Bedstead
Straw bed Hair Mattrass & 2 Pillows 26/8 1 Table 6/8
1 Chair 6/8 1 Bason
Stand 6/8 1 Large Chest 10/- £2-16-08
1 Mahogany Bedstead
and Feather Bed 80/- 1 Table 5/- 1 Looking glass 5/-
1 Bason stand 5/- a
Lot assorted glassware 26/8 £6-01-08
1 Mahogany Bedstead
Hair Mattrass with Bolster & Pillows 100/- 1 Table 6/8
1 Looking Glass 6/8 1
Bason Stand 6/8 4 Water jars 6/8 £6-06-08
2 doz Large
Tablecloths 240/- 1 1/2 Doz middle size Tablecloths 90/-
2 Doz Breakfast Cloths
180/- a Lot Crockery ware 80/- £29-10-00
1 Sett Breakfast Cups
& Saucers 40/- A Legacy bequeathed under the Will
of Christian Allen
with Interest from 8 June 1811 £31-10-0 £33-10-00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------£132-07-06
In obedience to the
Warrant of appraisement hereunto annexed we have inventoried and appraised all
and Singular the Goods and Chattels rights and Credits which were of Jane
Charlotte Beckford deceased as they were shewn unto us by Ann Eliza French her
administratix or which we knew belonged to the said Deceased at the time of her
death and we do find the same amount to the sum of One hundred and thirty two
pounds seven shillings and sixpence Current money of Jamaica as will more
particularly appear above Given our hands and seals this 27th day of
January annoque Domini 1829--Isaac Lopes--William Oliver
Note Very
much an ongoing establishment--with 6 Mahogany Bedsteads, 19 High back Dining
Chairs, tablecloths, crockery etc—presumably being run by daughter Ann Eliza
Ffrench (Original in Appendix 10)
30,30a,31a,31b 1786 MapS
Spanish
Town & key
Why did so many European
men take coloured mistresses? See below from Major Frederick Johnston who wrote
to his wife(in England)
in 1794;
"The
English mulatto women are the handsomest, they have all the finest teeth I ever
saw and they take a great deal of care of them, cleaning them twice a day with
Tamarin wood, indeed I am sorry to say that all together they are more cleanly
than my fair Country Women.I can assure you the English women that are here are
quite Nasty to look at. They give one the idea of a person that has been buried
and risen again. It is quite the fashion for everybody....to have one of these
princesses to live with them as housekeepers or Nurses....for I am given to
understand that unless you are taken care of by them you must die for as soon
as you are ill all your friends desert you for fear of infection..."
Despite all this, a year after their 4th child
Ann Eliza was born by Jane Charlotte in 1787, George I Ffrench (aged 46) married
Elizabeth Ann Jackson in Kingston
31 Jan 1788.
31
Marriage Of George I
Ffrench & Elizabeth Ann Jackson
Was she the daughter of Chief
Justice William Jackson? They had son John in 1789 & Henry in 1793- John
died St Catherines 4 Jan 1790
32 John French dies Age 1
George I died “of the dropsy” 13 Feb 1795. Note the causes of death for
others at the same time—mainly “fever” but also “age” “decay” “murder”
“decline” and “effects of licquor”
Healthy life styles!
33 George I French Clerk of
the Assembly died 13 Feb 1795 St Catherine
His Will leaves everything to
his "dear wife Elizabeth Ann" and his "minor son Henry"
(aged 2)-- older son John having already died.
1795 Will of George
French Esq
Jamaica Is. In the name of God Amen I George French of the Parish
of Saint Catherine in the County of Middlesex and Island of Jamaica Esquire do
make publish this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following
that is to say I will and desire that my just debts and funeral expenses be
paid off and satisfied as soon as conveniently maybe by my Executrix and
Executors herein after named and as to such estate and Effects that I may die
possessed of I give devise and bequeath unto my dear wife Elizabeth Ann French
and my beloved son Henry French all such my Estate real personal or mi**(?) of
what nature or kind soever or where so ever the same may be at the time of my
decease to be equally divided between my wife and son share and share alike to
hold as tenants in common and not as joint tenants but in case of the death of
either my said wife or my said son before he attains the age of twenty one
years then the part and share either of them so dying to go to the survivor her
or his heirs and assigns forever and I do hereby nominate constitute and
appoint my said wife Elizabeth Ann French and Francis Rigby Brodbilt Esquire
and Alexander Aikman of the parish of Kingston Esquire Executrix and Executors
of this my last will and testament and Guardian of my said son Henry French
until he attain the age of twenty one years, and I do revoke and make void all
former and other wills by me at anytime heretofore made and declare this only
to be my last will and testament In witness whereof I the said George French
have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal this thirty first
day of January in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety
five
Signed sealed published and declared by the testator George French Geo ffrench SEAL as and for his last
will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in each others presence have subscribed our names as
witnesses to the same
R R Parker
Thos’ Talbot
Stevens Wood
(The Slave Registers of 1817 also list a George Ffrench, b. ca. 1785,
creole,slave living in St. George,
Jamaica, the
property of Elizabeth Ann Ffrench on 28 Jun 1817. He was then 32 years old.
George was one of 12 slaves listed as her property.)
When Elizabeth Ann, his widow makes her will she does not mention
Henry--as he had died too, aged 7, of a "sore throat". How desperate
to lose both sons—there were of course no synthetic medicines then.
34 Henry French child died 18 Jan 1800
St Catherine’s Aged 7
Will of Elizabeth
Ann Ffrench dated 10 Aug 1825
10/- Jamaica Is -- George the fourth by the Grace of God of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King and of Jamaica Lord,
Defender of the Faith & so onTo our trusty and well-beloved John Biggar and
James Forsyth Esquires
Know ye that we have constituted authorised and appointed and by these
presents do constitute authorise and appoint ye or either of ye to administer
an oath unto George Barnett of the City and Parish of Kingston Gentlemen or any
other that are witnesses and can make oath of the signing sealing publishing
and declaring of the last will and testament of Elizabeth Ann Ffrench late of
the parish of Kingston widow deceased and hereof you or either of you are to
make a due return under your or either of your hands and seals unto our Captain
General and Governor in Chief of the said Island or to the Governor and
Commander in chief of the same for the time with this power annexed
Witness His Grace William Duke of Manchester Captain General and
Governor in Chief of our said Island at St Jago de la Vega (SpanishTown)
the 26th day of August Anno q Domini 1825 and in the sixth year of
our reign (sgnd) Manchester Passed Secretary’s office W.
Bullock Secretary
Jamaica Island The execution of the
within Dedimus Potestatem appears by the Will and probate thereof
hereunto annexed. Given under my hand this 23rd day of September
1825 (sgnd) I Forsyth Ffrench
Elizabeth A Entr’d 15th Oct
1825
Jamaica Is -- In the name of God Amen I Elizabeth Ann Ffrench of the
City and Parish of Kingston in the County of Surry and Island aforesaid Widow
being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding do make publish and
declare my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. That is to say
Imprimis I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral and testamentary
expences be fully paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my
decease And for such purpose I do hereby direct and authorise and empower my
Executrix and Executor hereinafter named to enter upon and take possession of
my coffee plantation or settlement called The Cottage situate in the Parish of
St Andrew in the County of Surry and Island aforesaid and to contract for and
actually sell and dispose of the said plantation or settlement as soon as
possible after my decease and to grant and execute to the Purchaser thereof
good and sufficient title thereto and if need be to allow unto the purchaser
thereof a reasonable time for the payment or part payment thereof and I do
hereby declare that the receipt of my Executrix and Executor hereinafter named shall
be a good and sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers thereof for
any monies therein expressed and that such purchaser or purchasers shall not be answerable or
accountable for the non-application or misapplication of such purchase money.
And it is my will and desire that my debts and funeral and testamentary
expenses be paid and discharged out of the proceeds of such Sale in preference to my personal estate.
I hereby manumise enfranchise and forever set free of and from all
servitude slavery and bondage my Negro Woman Slaves named Elizabeth Dowling and
Jane Waters to hold such Manumission Enfranchisement and Freedom unto the said
Elizabeth Dowling and Jane Waters and their future issue offspring and increase
forever.
I give devise and bequeath unto Samuel Bruce Smith my mulatto man slave
named George Simpson to hold to his heirs and assigns forever but it is my will
and desire and I do hereby direct that in case the said Mulatto slave named
George Simpson shall at any time hereafter during the minority of the said
Samuel Bruce Smith be able to purchase his freedom either by himself or with
the assistance of his friends that such freedom be granted to him upon a
reasonable sum being paid to the said Samuel Bruce Smith and I do hereby
authorise my Executrix and Executor to execute and deliver all necessary deeds
and instruments whatsoever for such purpose but in the event of the said Samuel
Bruce Smith departing this life before he shall attain his age of 21 years or
before the said Mulatto boy George Simpson shall have purchased his freedom as
aforesaid I then give devise and bequeath the said slave unto Rachel Smith (was
Rachel Smith her married sister?) of the said city and parish of Kingston
Widow the mother of the said Samuel Bruce Smith to hold to her and his heirs
and assigns forever but subject to the like condition and power to the said
slave to purchase his freedom from the said Rachel Smith.(signed) E A Ffrench
Whereas I am entitled under the will of my late uncle John Jackson (her
maiden name) to a legacy of £2000 now I give and bequeath £200 thereof unto
Mrs Elizabeth Dallas (another sister?) the widow of the late Stuart George
Dallas Esq.I give and bequeath one hundred pounds thereof to Samuel
Jackson Dallas Esq.I give and bequeath £200 thereof to the Rev Robert William
Dallas the present Rector of Manchester but it is (my) express will and intention
that the said last three mentioned legacies shall be only paid and
payable out of the said legacy of £2000(if ever the same should be paid) &
not out of any other part of my real or personal estate I give and bequeath all my wearing apparel
unto the said Rachel Smith.
All the rest residue and remainder of my estate real personal and
mixt I give devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto Elizabeth
Martha Smith, Jane Smith, James William Smith, Frances Smith and Samuel Bruce
Smith, daughter and sons of the said Rachel Smith or such of them as shall be
living at the time of my decease to be divided among them share and share alike
to hold to them and to the Survivors orSurvivor of them and to the heirs
executors administrators and assigns of such survivor forever.
And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Rachel
Smith and her son James William Smith Executrix and Executor of this my said
will hereby revoking all former and other wills by me at anytime heretofore
made and declaring this only to be and contain my last Will and Testament.
In witness hereof I have to the first sheet of this my Will set and
subscribed my hand and to the second and last sheet thereof set and subscribed
my hand and affixed my seal this tenth day of August 1825 (signed)
E A Ffrench
An E A Ffrench dies Kingston 15 Aug 1825
Generation 3 To Summarise-Children of George I Ffrench ;
with Jane Charlotte Beckford,
George II Ffrench , b. 9 June
1777 died ??, was the quadroon son of Jane Charlotte Beckford and George I
Ffrench. He was schooled in England.
Edward I Ffrench , b. 7
Oct 1782 d 7 Sep1835, was the quadroon son of Jane Charlotte Beckford and
George I Ffrench. Schooled in England.
Robert I Ffrench b 1784 m Letitia Dunn
spinster,("late Lindo " ie née?) d 11 Oct 1835 both described
as "Free persons of colour"
Ann Eliza Ffrench b 1787 Jane Charlotte Beckford’s Administratix
d 13 Oct 1835 or 1845 ? Manchester?
with Elizabeth Ann Jackson Ffrench
John Ffrench b 1789 d 6 Jan 1790
Henry Ffrench b 21 Oct 1793 d 18 Jan 1800
Chapter 4
Generation
4
RobertI "a free quadroon" married Letitia Dunn Lindo
Ffrench "a free bro(wn)" had 6 children—all baptized Kingston. They were “Free
persons of colour”.
Arthur I born
23rd June 1813; RobertII ,born 2 June 1817; George III ,born 30 Dec 1819;
Edward II born 6 Feb 1822 , Maria Moore
born 8 Dec 1826(at Foster Lane-the family home?) & Alexander Dunn b 9 Dec
1828
35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 Arthur
i, RobertII, GeorgeIII, EdwardII’s maria moore,
Alexander dunn baptisms
(Maria’s death notice also shows her to be a sister of
GeorgeIII and confirms a birth year of 1826. She became a teacher at Wolmer’s
school then matron of the Kingston
Naval Hospital
in 1875. She married John Moore of Swanswick Estate Trelawney and died in 1918
44 Maria Moore’s death Notice
The matching DNA tests that have been taken by living Michael &
Simon Ffrench currently indicate they have a common ancestor. David L Ffrench
states he believes Arthur George was his grandfather Alfred Ernest’s brother so
George III would have been his father even if Eliza Minot was not his mother. Arthur George Ffrench was born in 1851
At present we know nothing about Arthur I b 1813 or Robert II b
1817 or Alexander Dunn. George III’s story is in Chapter 5.
Edward II Ffrench was b 6 Feb 1822 Did he school in Kingston and after leaving, work for his father Robert or
in the Militia perhaps?His older brother George III had joined the Portland Tax Dept in 1847
aged 27;
Before 13 Aug 1851 Edward II was presumably living at the family home
in Foster Lane Kingston. Could he aged 28 have fathered Arthur then? Edward spent “2
days out of Jamaica” that
year—Cuba?
Haiti?
Edward II was appointed on 13
Aug 1851 as "acting clerk to the sub-(tax) collector Port
Morant" aged 29 at £150 pa by the Governor. His £100 security bond
was provided by brother George “Clerk
Vestry Portland” & John Joseph Duval of St Andrews. Perhaps George III got him his job?
In 1854 he was promoted to Sub-Collector and Lands Waiter and Searcher
for Morant Bay @ £225 pa.. His bond was increased
to £500 and George Ffrench's name on the bond was replaced by John Burger,
watchmaker, Kingston.
20 May 1857 he was married by Rev John Radcliffe to Sarah
Harrison Buchan in the Kingston
Kirk(Presbyterian) Witnesses Hon A(lexander) Barclay and Jno Naro(?)
45 Edward II Ffrench &
sarah Harrison Buchan marriage certificate
In Oct 1858 he is promoted to Sub-Collector, Old
Harbour (the other side of Kingston).Security now
from John Burger and William Andrews Attorney-at-law. He remained there till 1860, when he disappears without comment from
the Civil Service Blue Books. Perhaps fraud?
On 9 June 1866 Edward Ffrench, Kingston
is included in a list of names in the Gleaner of "Insolvents".
In Jan 1867 his "bail is enlarged" by the Surry Insolvent Debtors Court.
In 1876 Arthur George marries Frances Ann Glave in Manchester Witnesses are FW Bonitto + Jno
Sawyers ie no Ffrench’s present.
December 1879 both George Ffrench in Portland & Arthur St
Catherines take long leave on half-pay. Why? Coincidence? To care for dying
widower brother/uncle Edward II?
On 10 March 1880 Edward II dies a widower aged 59, "much &
deservedly regretted" per the Gleaner notice. On the death certificate his
occupation was “lumber measurer”(probably learned from his time at Port Morant)The
informant is George III Ffrench, brother, of 16 Foster Lane, Kingston (the Ffrench family home for 50+years).
46 EdwardII Ffrench’s death record
In May 1896 his name appears on a Government Notice of estates
forfeited to the Govt because of non-claimants for £6-13-10d. No will found
yet.
Curiously in 1850 an unidentified George Ffrench died at Foster lane
aged 34—maybe the son of one of Robert & Letitia’s other sons?
Chapter 5
GeorgeIII Ffrench, b.30 Dec 1819, d. 7 May 1897
Presumably like brother Edward he grew up in Robert & Letitia’s
home in Foster Lane Kingston. Where did he school? What did he
do between 1837 & 1847? Ie after leaving school before getting his job in Portland aged 28? Robert
& Letitia were “free coloureds” so George III would be too
George III moved from Kingston to Portland
in 1847 joining the Colonial Administration as Collector of Taxes --& paid partly on
commission! Two years later he gets married to Eliza Minot
George III “Clerk of the Vestry of this Parish” was married by Licence by Rev J Stone Rector to Eliza Minot 4.31, in Portland on 4 Jan 1849.
47 Marriage George Ffrench/Eliza Minot
We think Eliza may have been the daughter of a
slave… The 1817 return of Slave Registers of former
British Colonial Dependencies shows a Maria Kirkland 11, "sambo"&
“creole”; her mother Betty 29 as"negro"&
"african"--- owner Francoise Adelaide Lebrun (African ie off a slave
ship);
9 years later the 1826 return shows an Eliza Minot 1 1/2 yrs
"mulatto",creole (ie born in Jamaica);
her mother Maria Kirkland 20 "sambo", her grandmother
Betty Ann Kirkland 38, "African"---attorney Philip P Kirkland, Parish
of St George. Kirkland’s estate was “Paradise”.
The ages match up. In the 1829 return Betty has gone, Maria
("alias Mariah Kirkland") is 22, Eliza Minot is 3--both after then
"manumised" ie freed.This would make Eliza Minot 23 in 1849 when she
married GeorgeIII
In 1925 Eliza's son Alfred Ernest Ffrench talks of his grandmother
"Maria Shirley"--is this Maria Kirkland? David L Ffrench believed her
family name was Shirley and that she came from th Rio Grande Valley
behind Port Antonio. There is a plantation called Minots there. Paradise is slightly west of
here but still close to the Rio Grande.
Image 47a
48 49 Slave Returns For
Eliza,maria,Betty
50 Advertisement from the Dec 1803 Jamaica Royal Gazette for sale of
Slaves
Both Arthur George & Alfred Ernest Ffrench named a child “Shirley” ,
GeorgeIII's established issue with Eliza Minot in Port Antonio,
Portland, Jamaica
were 2 daughters & 4 sons; the only one whose baptism we have found is
the first Robert who died young. Why? Were the records lost or were the
children not baptized? Unlikely as later George is on the Anglican Church
Finance Board. We believe them to be;-
Birth year
31 May 1849 Robert Burke Ffrench
who died 4 May 1850 at 6 months
1851 Arthur George Ffrench ?
1853 Anna Maria Ffrench d 10
Jan 1881 at 28
1855? Edward Shafto Burke
Ffrench, Joined Tax Dpt1873. d aft 1923 @ 68+
1856 Letitia Emily
Ffrench d 10 Nov 1869 of Typhoid “at 13”.
1858 Hedley John Cecil
Ffrench d 31 Mar 1864 at 6
23 Apr1861 (Honorable) Alfred
Ernest Ffrench He became JP, MP, and MBE. He got the MBE during WWI for work
with the Red Cross. He was a member of the Legislative Council. He died 24 Apr
1926 at 65. Long obit in Gleaner. We
have traced many of his living descendants down to great grandchildren, living
in the USA Canada and Jamaica
Only
2 sons(+ Arthur George) of George & Eliza’s 6 children survived their
parents.
So
George III could easily have fathered
Arthur George in 1851—after losing his first born son—either with Eliza or perhaps
with another woman?
(Another George French
owned sugar estates, Queenhithe and Tobalskie(about 5500acres)in St Ann's
on the North coast of Jamaica near Runaway bay and Ocho Rhios and Rooksby Park
but he appears to be an absentee owner from Kent, England and unconnected)
By 1857 George III was also an Ensign in the volunteer militia army for
Portland; by
1865 a lieutenant, then Captain. George III Ffrench’s name appears all over the
Almanacs( to which he contributed for Portland), the Gleaner etc. This
after the 1865 Rebellion;-
50a Lieut George III
Ffrench after the 1865 Rebellion
1866 Eliza his wife, and their daughters Anna
Maria and Letitia Emily were signatories to one of the
thank-you letters to the “now infamous” Governor Eyre from the Ladies of Port
Antonio and Manchioneal for saving them from the insurgents rebellion. George
III signs a similar letter of support for Governor Eyre expressing “deep
indignation at the misrepresentations” made.
George III Ffrench owned
property in Portland, eg Mount Pleasant(805 acres), True Blue(300acres).4 July
1867 "The Colonial Standard" reported George's vain attempt to clear
his land at Mount Pleasant, Portland of squatters.
51 Here is a photo of
George III Ffrench
52 And here is Eliza Minot
Ffrench
53
Plan of Port Antonio where
they lived
7 January 1868 There is an amazing account of a shipwreck off Cuba
over Christmas 1867 written by George III himself.
He writes he was with "his 2 sons". These were probably
therefore Edward III Shafto (aged 13) and Alfred Ernest (aged 6+). Arthur George
would be 16 and had possibly left home. Alternatively this remark might imply that
Arthur George was GeorgeIII Ffrench's “spare” child ie illegitimate. As Ansell
Hart later wrote “every proud mother was only too prone to register the name of
the father of her illegitimate child”
54 George III is ship-wrecked!
When St George Parish was merged with Portland around 1867/8 George was offered
Clarendon but successfully objected. He received a pension.
55 George is to be transferred but refuses!
56 1870 Promoted to 2nd Class clerk aged
50
Feb 28 1870 In the Colonial Standard a valedictory address from the
good & great of Port Antonio, "accompanied by bumpers of
champagne"
57 Valedictory Address on George's promotion to
Westmoreland parish "after an extended residence in Port Antonio of nearly
a quarter of a century" (ie from 1846/7)
He remained at Sav la Mar, Westmoreland
for 10 years and became proprietor of a
property there called “Blue Hole” & a lessee of Roslyn Lodge Pens. His
salary was £400 per year plus a £50 housing allowance--a serious amount at the
time.
Dec 1879 he took long leave on
half pay-- at the same time as Arthur George—to look after his dying brother
Edward?
Apr 1880 aged 60 he retired & moved to Kingston . He had been a JP, Captain of the Portland Volunteers, Parochial Board
member, Clerk of the Vestry of the Parish of Portland, etc. and a
well-respected worthy citizen.
1890 aged 70, &
despite substantial pensions and assets, George III seems to have got into
financial difficulties with foreclosures on properties he owned eg Mount
Pleasant Estate, 805 acres in Portland.
May 1891(aged 69) he is
elected to the Kingston
City Council
1893 He is the defendant over
a disputed Bill of Exchange for £331.
Sept 17th 1896 per Gleaner
He seems to have been somewhat cantankerous, falling out with the Mayor of Kingston, but
takes on a short-term role as acting clerk Portland Parish that year.
1897 A messy bankruptcy
7 May 1897 he died aged 78
at 2 Harbour St, Kingston. No will found yet but he was bankrupt. The informant
was solicitor Thadeous Rudolph McMillan “who caused the body to be buried”. Why
no family present?
58 GeorgeIII Ffrench’s death certificate
His son, the 36 years old Honorable Alfred E.
Ffrench MP,JP, was his executor and had to sort out the mess. George’s widow Eliza Minot Ffrench died a year later in 1898,
also in Kingston.
Here's George's obituary;
59 GeorgeIII Ffrench’s obituary
from “The Colonies & India”
Chapter 6
Generation 5-- Issue
of George Ffrench III & Eliza (Minot)
Ffrench,
Apart from the baptism of
their first child Robert (named after Geo's father) Burke Ffrench, we have been
unable to find the baptism records of any of George and Eliza's other children
in the LDS microfilm records or in the RGD
Spanish Town
records or in the Jamaica
Archives. We have put this summary together therefore largely from articles in
the Gleaner and The Colonial Standard. (All
children believed born in parish of Portland)
1) George & Eliza Minot Ffrench were married 4 Jan 1849 (LDS
film 1291729 Vol 5 fo 254) by Rector John C Stone
2) Robert Burke Ffrench was
born 31 Oct 1849 bap 4 Jan 1850 abode Port Antonio (LDS film 1291717
vol 12 fo 257) Rector WJ Cavard. Robert died 4 May 1850 (buried Port Antonio
churchyard).
60 Baptism of Robert Burke Ffrench in Portland Parish (not
St George)
Perhaps as a result of Robert’s premature death George & Eliza lost
their faith and failed to baptise their successive issue--but this seems
unlikely as GeorgeIII ends up on the Diocesan Finance Board of the Church of
England—so probably the Portland
records have just gone missing.
3) The Gleaner of Nov 19th 1869 "at Port Antonio on the 10th inst
of Typhoid fever at the early age of 16 years Letitia (after George's mother)
Emily the second daughter of George
Ffrench" . If she was 16 she was born 1853 but no baptism
record found. Burial record 11 Nov 1869 film 1291717 vol 7 fo
33 says age 13 so born 1856. POR 1856 ENF 1847-1870. Rector Wm Smith
4) In the letter to Governor Eyre of 1 Jan 1866(Google Books) there are
signatures from "Eliza Ffrench, Ann M Ffrench & Emily Letitia
Ffrench".
So Ann M(aria) Ffrench must have been first daughter—born say 1853
61 Letter
supporting Governor Eyre from the Ladies of Port Antonio re the Mourant
uprising
5) On May 6 1903 in a Gleaner
article on "The Portland Case" there is a witness called
"EdwardIII Shafto(n) Ffrench , a son of Mr George Ffrench...His mother(ie
Eliza Minot Ffrench) was half sister to the plaintiff(Miss Frances
Champier)" “Edward lived with his father George Ffrench” Edward S Ffrench
was in the Tax Dept joining 28 May 1873 as second class clerk St Ann per
the Blue Book. If he was 18 then, E S Ffrench
was born in 1855. Alternative names are Edward Shafto Burke/or Buchan Ffrench
viz Gleaner 1 Mar 1913 "In the Supreme Court etc.....Gertrude Emily
Ffrench the wife of Edward Shafto Buchan Ffrench...etc"
In the Colonial Standard
appear the following items;
CS: 7th April
1864. Page 2, col. 1 “DIED At Tichfield, Portland, on Thursday 31st ultimo,
HEDLEY JOHN CECIL, third son of GEORGE FFRENCH, Esq. aged 6 years.” So Born
about 1858
CS: 18th November
1869. Page 2, col. 3 “DIED At Port Antonio on Wednesday the 10th
instant, of Typhoid Fever, a the early age of 16 years, LETITIA EMILY, the
second daughter of Mr. GEORGE FFRENCH.”
CS: 19th
January 1881. Page 2, col. 2 "DIED At Port Antonio on the 10th
instant ANNA MARIA, Eldest daughter of GEORGE & ELIZA FFRENCH in the 28th
year of her age, much and deservedly regretted." Born about 1853
Colonial standard of 7th
January 1868. Page 2, cols. 4, 5 & 6
“Wreck of the Schooner Fanny
of Port Antonio”.
“Mr. Geo. Ffrench of Port
Antonio arrived in Kingston on Friday last with
his two sons and the Captain and crew of the Schr. “Fanny” which vessel
was wrecked off Cuba on the 21st ultimo.” Ie not “2 of his sons”
6) The two ship-wrecked sons were probably Edward III Shafto and Alfred
Ernest & not Arthur George who would
be 16 then
7) In the Tri-Weekly Gleaner of Thursday Nov 18 1897(after George
Ffrench had died 11 Feb 1897) there is reported a supreme Court Case where
"A E Ffrench was the representative of
the estate of George Ffrench, being the Administrator"."Mr Johnson
said.(he)...represented George Ffrench up to his death....then he represented a
son who became Administrator(A E Ffrench).Per Who's Who in Jamaica 1916 "Alfred
Ernest Ffrench born Port Antonio 23 Feb 1861 Son of the late George
Ffrench,Collector of Taxes and Eliza Ffrench. Staunch Roman Catholic.” Per ?
1923 Gleaner he is quoted when electioneering "Now stop a little, 39 years
ago (ie 1884 aged 23) I married a dark Portland
lady (Isadora Maud Burke Moodie)....I have 8 children by that
marriage...." Per his death cert
copy he died 24 Apr 1926 aged 60(?-he was 65) certified by his son Shafto
Moodie Ffrench
62 Isadora’s baptism & her
marriage to Alfred-(both times in Anglican churches)
There are various Ffrench surnamed children born/died in Portland around this time
that we cannot place—perhaps George III or Edward II’s “spares”? or their
siblings’ issue ie Arthur I, Robert or Alexander Dunn’s?
1-George Henry Ffrench born 8 Mar 1849 before GeorgeIII’s marriage.The
mother is named as Ann Buckley & the father unnamed-- & GeorgeIII
Ffrench would have been known to the baptizing rector Cavard—but perhaps he was
being discreet?
63 George Henry Ffrench’s
baptism
2-Frederick Horatio Ffrench b 12 May 1850 mother “Elizabeth
Minot”.Too soon after Robert-- no father named on baptism. Cavard Rector 64 Frederick Horatio
Ffrench baptism
3-Charles Arthur Ffrench, b 5 Nov 1869 Port Antonio, mother Mary Ann
Bryan, bap 29 May 1870. Could he be an illegitimate son of GeorgeIII—or even of
Arthur George then packed off to St Catherine's to join Tax Dept?
(No Image)
65 A George Ffrench dies
Port Antonio aged 39—who can this be?
Chapter 7
From the start we thought Arthur George Ffrench was born 1851 & must
be the son of George III as his birth date of 1851 would put him neatly between
Robert Burke1849 and Anna Maria 1853. Further he became a Tax Collector—like
George III. David L Ffrench said he believed Arthur George was a brother of his
grandfather Alfred Ernest & a coffee planter in Manchester parish.
In the absence of a baptism we established his birth year from the 1891
English Census return—age 40, his English death certificate--54 in 1905 and the
Freemasons records—25 in 1876
From the DNA match between my brother Simon and Michael Ffrench (documented
descendant of George III Ffrench) we know that they have a common ancestor. So
Arthur could be;-
A legitimate son of George & Eliza; an illegitimate son of either
George III or of Edward II(Edward did not marry till 1857) or;
the legitimate/illegitimate son of any of their siblings Arthur I b
1813, Robert II b 1817 or Alexander Dunn b 1828 or of;
even earlier parentage George II b 1777 Edward I b 1781 or Robert I b
1784
Perhaps his Arthur George’s mother
(if not Eliza) had died young which might explain his later penchant for older
women. We do not know for sure where he was born other than “Jamaica” per the UK Census or where he schooled but
he must have been smart. In Sep 1870 Arthur appears in the Jamaica Civil Service Annual Blue Books for the
first time as 2nd class clerk, Tax Dept, Spanish Town,
St Catherine when he would be aged 18 if born in 1851.
So we are surmising that he,
like Edward III Shafto Burke/Buchan Ffrench,
got the job through family connections eg tax-collector “uncle/father?” George
Ffrench III or Edward II Ffrench However
George III seems the more likely as EdwardII had left the Tax dept by 1867
& had become bankrupt before 1870.
1st Jan 1873 Arthur
George was promoted to 1st class clerk .In Apr 1874 he was “ordered
to Manchester to act as Asst Collector of Taxes” for 6 months where, aged 23,
he met and 3 months later inJune 1874 impregnated Frances(Fanny) Ann Glave , heiress, she aged
29!
Nov 1874 he was transferred back to Spanish Town.
His daughter with Fanny, ie Kathleen was born in March 1875-illegitimate &
“colored”.1875 he appears in the Blue Books briefly as George Arthur Ffrench. He is living in King Street
Spanish Town,
big houses just off the main square.
66 67 68 69 70 King Street just off the main Spanish
Town square plus King St
houses.
Jan 1876 Arthur joined the Spanish Town Freemasons
February 1876 despite the above, & aged 25, he impregnated my spinster
great-grandmother Jane Victoria Smith, aged 36, a local trader & businesswoman.
15th Nov 1876 Jane had son Ernest George Ffrench (my grandfather). She had him baptized by Rev Chas Douet-an
establishment figure-- in Spanish Town where Arthur worked clearly naming him as the
father “Clerk of Municipal Board” and giving the address Spanish
Town although she was almost certainly
living in Kingston
at the time. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned etc….Perhaps she had been
living with him as” House Keeper” not
knowing that his intended was “upcountry”?
29th Nov 1876 Arthur “Clerk of Municipal Board, St
Catherines” aged 25 was married by Rev WJ Drought by licence to Frances(Fanny) Ann Glave aged 31 in (the now
ruined) Duppy Church,
Mile Gully, Manchester!
(Duppy is Jamaican for ghost).Witnesses Jno Sawers & FW Bonitto—ie no
Ffrench’s
71 Arthur George Ffrench
& Frances Ann Glave Marriage Record
See next page…
1877 Gets Frances
pregnant again(dau named Frances
“Fran” Eliza –Frances
after her mother-- Eliza after Eliza Minot perhaps? David L Ffrench met Fran
& her 2 daughters)
1878 Arthur is appointed
Executor to the Estate of Sophia Galway of Mandeville, Manchester. ( a family connection?). Attends
inauguration new Custos Isaac Levy as . Hon Sec Hamilton Lodge Freemasons
Mar 1879 Gets Fanny pregnant (son named St George Moore— many Irish “Arthur
St George Ffrench”s—Moore
after Arthur’s Aunt Maria Moore?
Dec1879 Takes 6+ months leave on half-pay(same time as George
III-coincidence?) Why? Paternity leave??!! Or looking after dying widower
“Uncle/Father” Edward II?
25 Nov 1880 Elected Member of the Institute
of Jamaica, Kingston
Feb 1881 Gets Fanny pregnant(son Arthur Peter Ffrench –named Arthur
after father-Peter after ??)= Living Don & Donna Jones’ Grandfather
5 June 1883 Ridiculed in the Gleaner for his “Literary Society”
72 Ffrench’s Literary Society
March 1884 Gets Fanny pregnant(Stephen Shirley Glave Ffrench.Note Shirley-
a name that Alfred Ernest also uses for a son and which might be a name of
Eliza Minot. 1884/5 Voted Master of
the Freemasons Hamilton Lodge 6 Sept 1884 See this Fund Raiser for the Masons
where both GeorgeIII Ffrench & A G Ffrench are listed—was there a family
connection?
73 Arthur & George at the Masonic
73A Arthur George Ffrench
abt 1885 with daughter Kathleen(10?) & Frances (?)
73b Arthur George Ffrench 1885
28 July 1885 His name appears on the advertised Tender for the Parish
of St Catherine re the Ewarton Railway.
22 July 1886 A letter to the Gleaner
about a suspicious theft of £300 from Arthur’s office—the money “later
found in the possession of a young fellow whom Mr Ffrench entertains” .
Implying what exactly? Was he gay?
Oddly no further mention in the Gleaner.
74 A bare-faced robbery +
Railway tender
Dec 1886 According to the Blue Books “ dismissed” . According to the Colonial Standard (published in Kingston,
Jamaica & Extracted
and indexed by Stephen D. Porter, from
microfilm, at the Newspaper Library, Colindale, London.)
1887, Friday 28th January; page 2, col 5
"Official Announcements. In consequence of the absence from the
island, without leave, of Mr. A. G. Ffrench, Clerk of the Parochial Board of
St. Catherine, His Excellency the Governor has declared that office
vacant."
1887, Tuesday 26th April; page 2, col 2
"Mr. A. G. Ffrench. It
may prove of interest to some parties to learn of the whereabouts of the late
Clerk of the Parochial Boards of St. Catherine. We are in a position to state
that on the 28th ultimo, he was in London, but
he intended leaving for Australia
in the early part of the present month. Our information adds, that it may be
some months before Mr. Ffrench returns to Jamaica."
No
immigration record of his arrival into the UK (or Australia) has been found but
four years later;
1891 UK Census shows an Arthur Ffrench aged 39 (born 1851 Jamaica, West
Indies), clerk, "married" but living alone as a lodger in a mens'
hostel in Whitechapel, East London called The Charles William Mowl
Victoria Home.
Per Wikipedia;- Large lodging house at 39-41 Commercial St, east London
situated on the south-western corner with Wentworth St. Registered in November
1887, it was run at that time by Augustus Wilkie of 77 Whitechapel Road and was
originally licensed to house 370 male lodgers, though expansion allowed for an
increase in occupants within a short time. In 1888, a press report outlined its
intentions and its initial success:
"It was with a view to ameliorate the condition of the poor that
Lord Radstock and other gentlemen, with a purely philanthropic motive, acquired
two years since a warehouse of four floors in Commercial-street, at the corner
of Wentworth-street, and converted it into a model lodging-house. The success
of the venture led to the acquisition of the adjoining premises, and the number
of beds now provided is 500. In every respect this lodging-house - the only one
of its sort in London
- deserves to be imitated. First, its charges are low - viz., 4d for a single
bed, or 2s per week; and 6d for a "cabin," or 3s per week. Each bed
has two blankets, two sheets, and a quilt; the bedstead is of iron, and a kind
of shield at the head affords a certain degree of privacy. The floor space is
partitioned into rooms, containing each ten or a dozen beds; whilst in the
"cabins" there is only one. A "casual" ward for the
reception of newcomers has lately been added, and probationers are transferred
thence to floors above. Many of the lodgers are regulars, but some are
birds of passage purely. The lavatory, ventilating, and sanitary arrangements
are on an enlightened scale. In the common kitchen food may be cooked at the
great fire, or obtained at low charges at the bar, a dinner with vegetables for
fourpence, or a bowl of soup for a penny. No known bad characters are admitted.
Tickets for beds are issued from five p.m. until 12.30 midnight, and after that
hour if a man wants to get in he must have a pass. It is by these rules,
especially, and by the exclusion of women, that the Victoria Home
is so greatly to be preferred to the most modern and "improved" of
the lodging-houses which are strictly commercial undertakings."
The rules of the home were such as to deter 'bad characters':
1) No person in a state of intoxication will be on any account
admitted.
2) No swearing or obscene language will be tolerated; order and decorum
are insisted in the kitchens; silence in the bedrooms.
3) No person will be admitted after one o'clock a.m. without a special
pass.
4) Any lodger interfering with the comfort of others is at once
ejected.
5) Lodgers who are fortunate enough to possess extra clothing or other
personal effects, can leave them in charge of the deputy, who will give a
receipt for the same.
6) Baths, warm or cold, can be had in the house. For a warm bath, the
charge of one penny is made
In April 1891 it was being run by Charles William Mowl and housed
nearly 500 men.
The Victoria Working Men's Home was totally destroyed during an air
raid in the Second World War and the site remained empty for many years before
being redeveloped as part of the New Holland Estate in the late 1960s.(Tyne Street redevelopment - plans 1964-71 (London
Metropolitan
Archives)
How the mighty
have fallen! From Clerk of the Vestry of St Catherines to this!
75
Victoria Working Men's Home, Commercial
Street, c.1900
The 1901 UK Census has Arthur Ffrench aged 46 (ie born
1855 but probably incorrect as would surely be too young at 15 to
join Tax Dept in 1870) born in Jamaica,
"single", Clerk in the "Guardians Office”.
76 The 1891 and 1901 Censusses showing 1851 or
1855 as Arthur’s D.O.B.
The Guardians was the name of the Wandsworth and Clapham Poor Law
Administrators They ran the WorkHouses in the Borough, looked after
orphans—sending many to foster parents in rural Canada, sometimes aged just
10--, giving handouts and getting jobs to persons in need. Arthur first appears
in the Guardian Office records as 4th Assistant Clerk in the Clerks
Office from November 1895 up until 8 August 1905 (when he died).Perhaps the
Freemasons helped him secure the job?
He was living alone in one room at 61 Strathblaine Rd,
Battersea,Wandsworth,SW11. This house still stands and is now a nice
substantial residence in a good area. The main occupiers in 1901 were a
builder, his wife & 9th month old daughter--so Arthur was the
"lodger".
77 61 Strathblaine Rd, Wandsworth, London
Arthur, living in Clapham, was
described in the Censuses and his death cert as “Occupation- Poor Law Clerk
Guardians’ Office”. The Guardians were the Trustees appointed in
each Borough to administer the Poor Law. They collected the “Poor Law rates”
and used the funds to run the local Workhouses where homeless, jobless local
persons were employed; to help find homes for orphans(many at this time were
shipped off to rural Canada
to foster homes); to help place unfortunate young women in work and generally
to administer handouts where needed.
Extracts from records at London Metropolitan Archives
Arthur was appointed 21 Nov 1895 as temporary 4th assistant
clerk in the Clerk’s Office at a wage of 30 shillings a week. It is recorded in
the Register of Officers 1890-99 ref WaBG194/2 of the Wandsworth & Clapham
(Poor Law) Union and in Folio Vol 4 page 496
of the Minute Book of the Guardians, It was reported to the Local Government
Board on 31 Dec 1895. His appointment letter was referenced “Form of Query
LB6/408” but cannot be traced in the Form of Query files. His appointment was
sanctioned by the Local Government Board 4 March 1896—Number of LGB letter 44
(not found).
His salary was increased to 35 shillings a week 10 Mar 1898 per Minute
Book 6 page 653 effective 11 March—LGB letter 92. On15 June 1900 a dinner
allowance of £15 (p.a.?) in lieu of dinner was added No 166 SR Folio 88. The
appointment was made permanent after the purchase by the Guardians of the
Tooting Workhouse and he remained employed by the Guardians until his death in
August 1905
He died of kidney/cardiac failure at 54--intestate
but his estate of £62 was administered by his landlady Emily Ashelford (aged 46
married to a bricklayer 16 years older than herself) .This and a chest of his
belongings reached his widow Frances Ann
Glave Ffrench in Jamaica.
Her grand daughter Icy-now 91- remembers her father Arthur Peter Ffrench
telling her the chest arrived on the United Fruit Cos White ship and that she
still has a glass inscribed with Arthur George’s name—perhaps a necessary
precaution in the workhouse
And here is his death
certificate of 1905- a "Poor Law Clerk" in a poorer part of Clapham, London. He died at 54 of
various unpleasant illnesses—rough justice perhaps for someone who messed up so
many people's lives;
He had never returned to Jamaica and in a 1904 marriage announcement in
the Gleaner for their 2nd daughter, Frances Ann Ffrench nee Glave had actually described
him as the "late Arthur George Ffrench" Perhaps that's why
there's no further reference of him in the Gleaner. David L Ffrench
tought he had actually died in Manchester
Parish so perhaps the scandal had been covered up by the family.
78 Arthur George Ffrench death
Certificate providing 1851 as D.O.B.
This address 20 Oberstein Rd is only a few hundred
yards from 61 Strathblaine Rd
but in a much less attractive area and now very run down.
79 20 Oberstein Rd
Arthur had 5 children in all with Frances (Fanny) -the last when she
was 39 and he 33. The first, daughter Kathleen, was recorded when
baptised as illegitimate, coloured. The others' colours are not recorded. Donna
Cover-Jones great grand daughter said
Fanny considered herself
“mulatto”.
They were all born in Heavitree, Mile Gully, Manchester, Jamaica.
Heavitree Coffee estate had been left to Frances by her father Stephen
Sharpe Glave, born Yorkshire 1814 died 1 Apr 1873, Jamaica. Frances Ann Ffrench is
shown in the 1910 Almanac as the owner of Heavitree. Her father’s “wife”
was Kitty—the housekeeper?
Another indication that Arthur was related to George III is that
George III when in financial difficulties around 1890 mortgaged for
pnds300 a property he owned to Eliza(beth) Glave b 1853 who was Arthur’s wife
Frances’s sister--- ie Arthur's sister-in-law lent George III money. Why unless
they were “family”?
To
summarise;
Generation 6--Children of Arthur George Ffrench
with Frances Ann Glave,
Kathleen Ann Ffrench, b. 10
March 1875 in Heavitree, Manchester, recorded as colored. d ?
Frances “Fran” Eliza Ffrench b 22 Mar 1878 d aft 1930 as D L Ffrench
met her?
St George Moore
Ffrench, b. 9 Dec 1879 in Heavitree, Mile Gully, Manchester.d 11 Dec 1922
Arthur Peter Ffrench, b. 30 Nov 1881 in Heavitree, Mile Gully,
Manchester, d Feb1968 Grand-father of Icy, Donna & Don
Stephen Shirley Ffrench, b. 3 Sept 1884. d 16 Mar 1896 of tetanus
with Jane Victoria
Smith,
Lt Col. Ernest George Ffrench (my hero!)
b. 15 Nov 1876 baptised in Spanish Town, Jamaica
(ie not Kingston) Died 1937 in Kent, UK.
Ernest's maternal
ancestors
Chapter 8
Jane Victoria Smith was born
illegitimately 23rd Oct 1840 and baptised in St Catherine's Parish in January
1841.On her baptism record her father was named as"Lieut Smith 64th Regiment"
and her mother as Eliza Grant. Address 49 Wellington Street
Spanish Town,
St Catherine's.
80(Extract) & 81 Jane’s Baptism record
82
What her Spanish
Town home might have
looked like----
Jane Victoria Smith's Parents;
a) Jane's father-- Lieutenant Michael Edward Smith
On the 1839 Harts Army List of Officers, under the 64th(2nd
Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot, which is shown as stationed then in Jamaica,
is Michael Edward Smith (Ensign, promoted to Lieutenant Feb 1840). Smith
had purchased his commission--normal in those days. Michael Edward Smith b 10
Nov 1814 was the 5th child(of 15), 3rd son of Henry Jeremiah Smith , JP, Deputy
Lord Lieutenant, Co Meath, the latter's
father being wealthy establishment figure Henry Smith of Beabeg ;
83
Henry Smith of Beabeg
Henry Smith's son Henry Jeremiah Smith had been a "cornet" or
Ensign in the 11th Light Dragoons(ie mounted on horseback) in 1809;
84 Army List 1809
85
Henry Jeremiah Smith of
Beabeg & Annesbrook
86 Beabeg
His second wife, Michael
Edward Smith's mother, was Elizabeth Radcliffe Smith.
87 Elizabeth
Radcliffe Smith when young
Elizabeth's mother was Catherine Cox Radcliffe, Michael's grandmother
88 Elizabeth Radcliffe’s
mother (Catherine
Cox Radcliffe)
The family seat was Annesbrooke, Duleek, Co Meath just north of Dublin. Henry Jeremiah
Smith had purchased this around 1803 from Mr Hamilton and extended it
substantially. He was on social terms with King George IV
The following is taken from
Mark Bence-Jones book ‘A Guide To Irish Country Houses’. Annesbrook, Duleek, Co. Meath. A 2 storey 3 bay Georgian
house with ground floor windows set under relieving arches and a large
rusticated and fanlighted doorway; to which an impressive portico of 4
fluted Ionic columns and a single-storey wing containing a charming Georgian-Gothic
“banqueting room” were added early in c19 by Henry (Jeremiah) Smith. According
to the story, he made these additions 1821 for when George IV came over to dine
with him while staying with Lady Conyngham at Slane Castle;
the monarch, however never saw the banqueting room, preferring to dine out of
doors. Then under the entry for Slane
Castle he states that ‘George IV
stayed in Slane Castle as Prince of Wales, and again as
King 1821; the wife of 1st Marquess being the Lady Conyngham who was
his favourite. The dead straight road from Dublin to Slane is said to have been made especially
for him.
89 Annesbrook
Michael
Edward Smith inherited this in 1892 after the death of his 2 elder brothers.
90 Dining at Annesbrook
91 The Hunt at nearby Duleek;
92 a Smith family get-together about 1905!
The piece following summarises Michael Edward Smith's life,
mostly compiled around 1910 by a niece of Michael, Emily
Gertrude Cox(Nee Smith) , daughter of Richard Jeremiah Smith, younger brother
of Michael, when she researched the
family tree--she knew both Michael & his wife Jane Grace Syme
93 Emily Cox Smith—the author
Emily’s writing is mainly in
italics with further comments
from Brenda McKeever underlined --additional items have
also been added by Keith/Nancy Atkinson, or where there are conflicts in
details; this includes details of Michael's military career extracted from the
quarterly Regimental Muster Rolls at The National Archives, Kew, England
)
Michael’s father was Henry
Jeremiah Smith, J.P., Dep Lieut Co Meath, Ireland, born 28 Nov 1783;
He married; firstly 28 Dec
1802 Margaret Osbourne Smith by whom he had 2 sons—Henry Jeremiah and
Francis Edward;
secondly; Elizabeth Radcliffe
Smith of Tinnakilly, Co Wicklow with whom he had 7 sons and 5 daughters.
94 Elizabeth
Radcliffe Smith when older
94a 13
Molesworth Street, Dublin;
Michael Edward Smith was the 3rd son 5th
child of Elizabeth Radcliffe Smith & was born on the 10th
November 1814 at the house of his great-grandmother
Lady Catherine Cox, 13
Molesworth St, Dublin.He was baptized round the corner at St. Anne’s
Church, Dawson Street.
Lady Cox was also his godmother, his godfather being the
Hon. Edward Taylor Massey, his mother’s cousin. He was called Michael
after his great-grandfather the Rev. Sir Michael Cox Bt. Of Dunmanway and
Edward after his godfather.The date of his birth is given at November 10th
in the entry made by his mother in the family bible; on the monument erected to
his memory in Duleek Church the date is given at November 8th, which
must be a mistake. (Unfortunately Duleek church is no longer used as a church and most
of the memorials in the church were vandalized, )
95 Duleek Church
96 Duleek
church plaque for Henry Jeremiah Smith
Michael Edward Smith was educated at Dundalk Grammar School, the
Headmaster at that time being a Dr. Donaldson. Later on(about 1833 ?) he
was sent, with Richard Jeremiah, his brother, born 1817, to Switzerland, where
they read with Dr. Caesar Malan, a well known divine in his day, and afterwards
with Merle D’Aubigny, who was engaged in writing his world-famed “History of
the Reformation” when they lived with him in Geneva.
.In common with many other
"third sons" who joined either the Army or the Clergy In November 1837 aged 23 Michael
Edward obtained (ie purchased)
a commission as an Ensign in the 40th ( incorrect--was 64th)
Regiment of Foot--The North Staffordshires or Prince of Wales.
And it was the first one signed by young Victoria after she came
to the throne.
Michael
starts at the 64th's UK base or "Depot" in Dundee.1838 Michael spends
4 months in Dundee before making a 6 day foot march from May 4-9 with the
Company from Dundee to Paisley (Near Glasgow) 90 miles with an allowance of 5
shillings a day. He signs the allowance slip for 1 pound 10 shillings!
During
1838 he is stationed in Londonderry where in Dec 1838 he is ordered to join the
main regiment in Jamaica.The Regiment, along with
others including the 8th(The Kings),56th(West Essex) & 68th(Durham) were
sent to Jamaica in 1837 in case of a violent outburst after the end of slavery
August 1st, 1838. In the event it passed peacefully. He sets sail in the "Hopewell" on Feb 2nd 1839.
The
“Hopewell” regularly sailed to Jamaica from Londonderry although other officers
seem to have sailed from Cork
this time. It takes 45 days to reach Jamaica. Michael receives a ration
allowance of 3 pence per day on the ship--and he disembarks on 18th March 1839.
The
64th in Jamaica
at that time consisted of 25 officers,32 seargeants,26 corporals,9 drummers, pipers
& fifers and 461 privates. Michael is initially based with a detachment at
Stony Hill, just northwest of Kingston.
Onshore
his ration allowance is 2.5 pence per day. By this time he has a fulltime
servant/batman. Michael has 1.5 pence per day stopped from his pay to cover the
servant's rations
Extracts from Lloyds Shipping Register re “Hopewell”
97 The Hopewell
98 Michael’s
Marching Allowance and his stoppages for his batman’s food
99 Harts Army List early 1839
20 Dec 1839 aged 25 he is made up to
Lieut(commission purchased). 1840
In April he is stationed in Kingston--in June Fort Augusta.
Between July & September he commands a Company--for which he signs for £280-16-5
3/4 for the mens' Pay & Beer Money for the quarter!
100 Harts
Army List July 1840
But Michael has been busy
because on 23 Oct 1840 Jane Victoria Smith is born to " Lieut Smith of the
64th Regiment" and Eliza Grant; Jane is baptized in St Catherine's Jamaica. Address
given was 49 Wellington Street
Spanish Town--was Michael billetted there?
101
49 Wellington St
today!
Today it’s a hairdressing
salon & not the original building!
Perhaps
Michael had succumbed to yellow fever, convalesced at "Blundells
Hall" then being run by Mary Jane Seacole née Grant and met Eliza Grant
there? Is Eliza in fact Louisa Grant, Mary Seacole's sister?
But why St Catherines, not Kingston? The other baptisms on the register
are for tailors, bricklayer, cook, butler, labourers, servants, “collector of
petty debts” Perhaps Eliza was there just to have her baby ? Or was it their
love nest-- in which case he would have known
of the pregnancy.
But in any case Michael-aged 26- has already
sailed off to Halifax, Canada on October 12th 1840--just 2
weeks before his daughter is born. It takes 18 days to reach Halifax where he remains for 2 years.
102 Harts Army List Oct 1841
1841 In this period
there were many deserters from the 64th. Did they fancy life in Canada or were they keen to get back to the
warmth--but disease--of the Caribbean? The
alternative might have been famine in Ireland.
1842 Aged 28 On
17th August Michael is put in charge of a shipload of invalids returning to Europe. This task done he takes a 6 month leave to 31
March 1843 when he exchanges into the 78th Highlanders (The Seaforths) a
regiment he was much attached to and very proud of .
Perhaps
he did not wish to return to Halifax
with the 64th? He does not actually join
the 78th till 27th November 1843 when he leaves for India
initially with a detachment of the 78th in Bombay.
1844 On 9th January he leaves Bombay for "Kurachee" till June.
Between July and August he is at Sukker Camp in Scinde Province.
"In 1839" (This cannot
be correct—the niece’s story conveniently overlooks the whole Jamaica
period!) he took part in the fatal
march from Kureelie to Sukher and was one of the few survivors. Through
some blunder the regiment had been ordered to Sukher in the height of the hot
weather with the result the seven hundred of the men lost their lives! My
uncle was taken very ill with internal inflammation and left for dead