Mary Cartwright

1. Mary Cartwright was described as a "mulatta belonging to Mrs Eliza Sarah Vose" in the baptism record for her children Henry White (born 05/12/1808) and Mary Jane White (born 19/03/1810), both baptised 07/02/1811 at Oxford, St Elizabeth, the estate owned by their father Andrew White senior. She was described as "a free mulatto" at the baptism of her son William White (born 12/08/1812), 10/08/1813 at Oxford. The will of Andrew White senior (proved 1820) stipulated that the £5000 bequeathed to his daughter Eliza Mary Vose was to be reduced to £500 if she did not free Mary Cartwright and her children, Lavinia Wright 'born in Liverpool' and six others, and increased by £500 if she did. Andrew White's will also bequeathed annuities of £30 per annum for life to Mary Cartwright and her six children by him, and £10 per annum to Lavinia Cartwright, chargeable on Oxford estate and Evergreen pen.

2. "Mary Morrice alias Mary Cartwright & children Lavinia Cartwright, Henry, Mary Jane, William" were manumitted 19/01/1822 by payment of 10s "James Vase & ux to confirm a former deed 15 Dec 1812 by Andrew White & ux". Mary Cartwright and her children Lavinia Cartwright, Henry White, Jane White, William White, Catherine White, John White and James Dunlevy White were manumitted "£500 Sterling left, as the value of their manumission, to a Devisee, who also forfeits a legacy of £5000 Sterlg if such manumission be not effected".

3. Mary Cartwright and her children have not been identified in the slave registers. They do not appear in James Vose's registration of 1823. Note that although Mary Cartwright was registered as manumitted in 1822, she was also described as "free" in 1811 and owned property in trust from at least 1817. Mary Cartwright and her children were joint owners of Comfort Hall in Manchester, Jamaica.

1. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online]; PROB 11/1635/258.

2. 'List of Jamaican Manumissions of 1821-1825 in the Public Record Office (2)', http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Samples/Manumit2.htm'; 'List of Jamaican Manumissions of 1821-1825 in the Public Record Office (5)', http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Samples/Manumit5.htm.

3. T71/67 p. 314; see estate information for Comfort Hall.

We are grateful to Paul Hitchings for his assistance with compiling this entry.