James Grant of Leguan

Co-owner with Peter Grant (q.v.) of the Amsterdam estate in British Guiana, the compensation for which was paid as to one-third to James Grant's son Charles Grant (q.v.) and as to two-thirds to Nicholas Conyngham Tindal as trustee. There were counterclaims from Jane Grant of George Town Demerara and Sophia Fresson born Grant, each for annuity of £50 bequest by codicil to last will of Peter Grant dated 19th May 1823. The Register of Claims describes Tindal as trustee of James Grant and the one-third paid to Charles Grant as 'the compensation paid to heirs of Peter Grant'.

1. The will of James Grant formerly of the island of Leguan in the River Essequibo but now of Thoby Priory near Ingatestone Essex was proved 23/03/1823. Under the will he stated that he was 'possessed of or entitled unto' two third parts of Amsterdam, formerly two plantations (named Amsterdam and Good Intent), and his brother Peter entitled to the other one third share. He left his share of the estate for 99 years to his brother but the benefits from it in trust (the trustees in addition to Nicholas Conyngham Tyndal were the London merchants Robert and William Pulsford of Great St Helens) divided into one-seventh shares among his children and grandchildren, including two-sevenths to Charles (described as merchant of the City of Antwerp) and one-seventh each to his daughters Mary Pickford, Anna Sarah Tindal (her marriage was the origin of the family connection to Nicholas Conyngham Tindal) and Isabella, who married Henry Tucker, a London stockbroker.

2. James Grant of Thoby Priory was buried in St Mary the Virgin, Fryerning, Essex 16/11/1822 aged 80.

3. James Grant's daughter Anna Sarah Grant married Charles Tindal, almost certainly the brother of Nicholas Conyngham Tindal. In 1861, widow aged 67, fundholder, born West Indies St Vincent she was living with six unmarried adult daughters at Speen in Berkshire.

T71/887 British Guiana no. 2382. David Alston, Slaves & Highlanders shows the origins of James and Peter Grant in Banffshire, before establishing a mercantile firm on St Vincent, and identifies the two women counterclaimants as the 'mulatto women Jane and Sophia Grant' who had sought manumission in 1815; see http://www.spanglefish.com/slavesandhighlanders/index.asp?pageid=441232 [accessed 20/04/2020].

1. PROB 11/1667/332. It is indexed online as the will of James Grant of Choby [sic] Priory near Ingatestone Essex.

2. Essex Record Office, D/P 249/1/8.

3. 1861 census online [she is indexed as Anne S. Tindale].