William Cort

Claimed unsuccessfully as owner of the enslaved people on Hampshire estate in Berbice. Brother of Frederick Cort (q.v.) and father of Charlotte Anne Howard formerly Gray (nee Cort) (q.v.), a Surinam slave-owner.

1. In 1819 William Cort registered the enslaved on Hampshire & Williamsburg, situate on the West Coast of Corentyn as his own property. The estate was still in his possession when it was put up for auction in 1844 at the behest of John Crosthwaite & Co.

2. William and Frederick Cort were the sons of the iron pioneer Henry Cort (c. 1740-1800). In 1802 the family acquired three lots of land on the Courentyne Coast under the name of 'Kort & Co.' William was in Berbice from before 1805, and died there in 1853.

1. 1819 Slave Registers Berbice pp.131-132; London Gazette20399 01/11/1844 p. 3737.

2. David Alston, Slaves & Highlanders, 'Cort', http://www.spanglefish.com/slavesandhighlanders/index.asp?pageid=609368 [accessed 23/06/2016].