Ann Swaby (née Mullings)

1. Ann Mullings (June 10, 1790 – June 8, 1872) was the youngest child of Edward and Susanna Mullings. Other offspring of Edward Mullings and Susanna were John Ennis Mullings (24/12/1784) and Mary Mullings (14/10/1787). Ann Mullings married Thomas Swaby “near Bellvue” on 3/11/1807 by license. Thomas was the reputed natural son of the Hon. Joseph James Swaby (Custos of Saint Elizabeth Parish), by Martha Wilson Brown. Thomas and Ann had seven children – Mary Ann Swaby (2/1/1808), Deborah Mullings Swaby (25/10/1809), Thomas Joseph Swaby (1/3/1811), John Ennis Mullings Swaby (8/7/1813), Edward Mullings Swaby (6/6/1815), Elizabeth Ann Swaby (20/6/1818) and William Mullings Swaby (26/8/1820).

2. Ann’s father Edward Mullings owned considerable land holdings in St. Elizabeth. During the last years of his life he must have felt the need to provide for the future for his grandchildren. In an indenture dated 12/7/1815, he granted to Ann and Thomas Swaby’s infant sons, Thomas Joseph Swaby and John Ennis Mullings Swaby, 40 acres of land in St. Elizabeth, for the consideration of ten shillings. Ann’s brother John Ennis Mullings died sometime prior to 1819. Her sister Mary Mullings married John Frederick Bromfield on (20/3/1805). The last will and testament of Edward Mullings written on 20/10/1818, is appreciably in legal terms a conventional will of the period, duly witnessed, sealed and registered. It was proved on 10/2/1819, and named Thomas Swaby and John Frederick Bromfield as executors. His main heirs were his wife, daughters and elder granddaughters. The relationship between Edward Mullings and Susanna was that of common-law marriage. He left her two enslaved women for the term of her natural life, after which the enslaved women were to be transferred to their granddaughter Mary Ann Swaby. To his eldest grandchildren, Mary Ann Swaby and Sophia Ann Bromfield, he bequeathed a coffee plantation called Fort Rose and a mountain land called the Lodge along with seven enslaved people. The properties and enslaved people were to be held as tenants in common. Ann Swaby and Mary Bromfield inherited the remainder of Mullings’ estate including properties called Brown’s Hill, Pedro, and Mount Unity as tenants in common.

3. By means of a deed notarized 5/6/1820 an equitable arrangement was made between the Swaby and Bromfield families whereby the inherited properties, including those of the granddaughters, were divided between the respective joint holders. This division is evident in the Jamaica almanacs of this period. Although inherited in 1819, Brown’s Hill does not reappear in the Jamaican almanac until 1826, when it is listed under Mary Ann Swaby. This listing for Brown’s Hill includes 12 enslaved people and 2 stock. According to the 1845 Jamaica Almanac, Brown’s Hill subsequent to the division was 100 acres. By 1829, Hope Vale, Thomas Swaby’s property holding, may have been sold as it is no longer listed in the Jamaica Almanac under St. Elizabeth. Instead, an entry for Ann Swaby, proprietor of Brown’s Hill, appears. The 1829 listing for Brown’s hill includes 12 enslaved people and 2 stock.

4. Ann Swaby died 8/7/1872. The death register states 96 years of age and natural causes. However, if her birth record is accurate she would have died two days short of her 82nd birthday. She was buried at Brown’s Hill on 9/7/1872. The ceremony was performed by M. Bromfield.

We are grateful to Denny Swaby for compiling this entry.

1. Registrar’s General Department St. Catherine/Jamaica, Church of England Parish Register.

2. LOS Wills: Vol 95 folio 257/Registrar’s General Department St Catherine.

3. Jamaican Almanacs 1817, 1821, 1826, 1845.

4. Registrar’s General Department St. Catherine/Jamaica, Church of England Parish Register.