Robert Kirk

Merchant, resident on Grenada in the 1830s but back in Britain (possibly temporarily) in the 1830s and then redomiciled in Liverpool by the 1840s, awarded in his own right or with his partner John Todd the compensation for 20 awards in Grenada. The two men were awarded the compensation for almost 100 enslaved people in St George Grenada as owners-in-fee, but a number of their smaller awards may reflect activity in buying up small claims from resident Grenada slave owners and collecting the award in London.

1. Notice of dissolution of the partnership in the business of merchants at Liverpool of Robert Kirk and John Todd under the firm of Kirk, Todd and Company, 31/12/1846.

2. "Robert Kirk merchant Island of Grenada & Frances Ann Bain residing in Barony daughter of the late James Bain Esqr formerly of the Island of Grenada West Indies married at Elmbank Place the 12th day of April 1836 by the Revd George Almond minister of St Mary's Episcopal Chapel." Robert Kirk and Frances Ann had 5 children: Margaret Selina (born 10/02/1837 and baptised 12/04/1837 at Barony, Lanarkshire), Frances Ann Victoire (born 29/10/1838 and baptised 27/11/1838 at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Liverpool), Eliza Emelina (born 28/06/1840 and baptised 20/08/1840 at St Andrew's, Liverpool), twins Robert John and Marion Jessie Crooks (born 08/05/1842 and baptised 20/05/1842 at St Andrew's, Liverpool).

3. Robert Kirk, Commission merchant aged 46 [sic] born Scotland living at No. 3 Rimrose Terrace Derby Road Bootle in 1851 with sister Eliza born Scotland aged 49 housekeeper and daughters Margaret 14 born Scotland and Francesca aged 13, Eliza 10 and Marion 10 all born Liverpool; and (2) General Commission merchant widower aged 66 born Scotland living at Baliol Road Bootle in 1861 with daughters Margaret 22, Francesca A Victoria 20, Marion 17 and sister Eliza 67 with a visitor Eliza Mercy Kirk aged 57 widow born Grenada West Indies.

4. Given that one of his daughters has the middle name Crooks and that both Margaret and Eliza are visitors at the house of James K. Crooks (age 17, clerk in S. American markets) at New Brighton, Wallasey, Cheshire, in the census of 1871, this seems a very likely match for the birth of Robert Kirk: "Robert Kirk 5th Son and 10th Child of John Kirk Shoemaker and Janet Crooks his wife born 13th February 1795 & baptized 22nd Feby 95 by Mr Russill"

5. Robert Kirk and his mother-in-law Margaret Bain were the executors of his father-in-law James Bain (q.v., died 1835, owner of Belmont and Cape Sale estates in Grenada). The assets of James Bain's estate could not meet the legacies of his will; Robert Kirk and Margaret Bain also agreed to a covenant to pay some of the estate's assets to two of James's sons in order to fund a South American business venture. Disputes over payments for the covenant and legacies resulted in the case Bain vs. Kirk in 1849.

6. "From the Supreme Court Records of Grenada (FHL microfilm), 7 Sep 1849, Robert Kirk, late of Grenada but now of Liverpool appoints Alexander Bain student of the Inner Temple London, but at present in Grenada and John Dirom Gilbert merchant of Grenada, attorneys." Alexander Bain (1821-1852) was Robert's brother-in-law.

T71/880 Grenada claim nos. 102, 103, 111, 114, 216, 234, 347, 381, 383, 384, 454 (Belmont Estate), 461 (St George Estate), 462 (St George Estate), 497, 567 (Mount Nelson), 658, 867 (Cape Sale Estate), 942, 970 and 983.

Grenada claim no. 970 in T71/880 identifies Kirk and Todd as 'Town of St George, merchants.'

T71/1609 letter from Robert Kirk Tavistock Hotel 21/10/1835: please give me details of Grenada claim no. 461, for the purpose of obtaining a power of attorney which I will forward to my partner Mr Todd of that colony. T71/880 Grenada 461 & 462 (St George).

1. London Gazette, Issue 20692, 15/01/1847, p. 171.

2. General Registry Office for Scotland OPR Marriages 622 170 336 Barony. Familysearch batch nos. C11966-6 and C02404-1.

3. 1851 and 1861 census online. The ages in the 1861 census appear more plausible.

4. 1871 census online. General Registry Office for Scotland OPR Births 597 030 354 Kilmarnock.

5. Law Journal Reports divided into Equity and Bankruptcy Cases. Common Law Cases 1836-1858, Volume 27, Part 2 (Google eBook), pp. 83-86.

6. Email from Daphne Phillips Diafas, 25/04/2013. See imperial legacies entry for James Bain for more information on Alexander Bain.

We are grateful to Daphne Phillips Daifas for her assistance in compiling this entry.