Henry Laird senior

Owner of Prospect estate in St Elizabeth, Jamaica. Died in 1800.

1. Mr Henry Laird and Miss Mary Laird [sic] were married in St.Elizabeth by licence, 03/01/1765.

2. Described as late of Prospect, Jamaica, died at his house in Park Street, Bristol, July 1800.

3. Will of Henry Laird of St Elizabeth Jamaica [made in 1784 and reiterated in 1792] was proved 31/12/1801. In the will he left 1/3rd of his property to his wife Mary and gave consent for her to live on Prospect with life 'and a proper number of house negroes and horses.' He left £1000 currency each to his daughters Mary and Laetitia Isabella. He left the rest of his estate to his sons Henry and James and their heirs, with contingent remainder to his [the testator's] brothers Rev. William Laird of Belfast and Cairns Laird merchant of Dublin.

4. His widow died in Park Street, 27/09/1814. His eldest daughter Mary died at Cheltenham, 27/09/1818.

1. Familysearch.org, Jamaican Parish Registers, St Elizabeth, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1705-1820 p. 294.

2. Kentish Gazette, 25/07/1800 (death “last week”).

3. PROB 11/1367/281.

4. Bristol Times and Mirror, 01/10/1814; Bath Chronicle, 08/10/1818.

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