John James Vidal

Slave-owner and then annuitant of Berkshire Hall estate in Jamaica, dying in Clifton in 1823. Husband of Elizabeth Wade Vidal (q.v.) and father of John Gale Vidal (q.v.).

1. John James, son of John Vidal and his wife Mary, born 19/09/1763 and baptised in Westmoreland, Jamaica, 12/12/1763.

2. Will of John James Vidal of Clifton Gloucestershire [made in 1823] was proved 25/02/1824. In the will, 'not having any debts whatever that I know of', he recited that he and his wife were entitled to an annuity of £300 p.a. from John Hayman of the City of London secured on the Berkshire Hall estate and 'on my death' to an annuity of £200 p.a. from his son John Gale Vidal secured on St Iago Park Pen in St Catherine. He left his house in Richmond Terrace Clifton to his wife for life, then to be sold and the proceeds to go to his eldest son John Gale Vidal. He had, he said, provided to the best of his ability for his daughter Jane Caroline James, and [therefore] left £2000 each to his sons Francis and Robert, and £4000, 'or such other sum as I may have in the hands of Messieurs George William Samuel Hibbert & Co. of London, to his son George, on the grounds that he [John James Vidal] was unlikely to live long enough to accomplish George's education. He left £50 each to his son-in-law Herbert Jarrett James and daughter-in-law Georgina Archbould Vidal, and smaller monetary legacies to his grandchildren. His residuary legatee was his eldest son John Gale Vidal.

1. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online].

2. PROB 11/1682/198.