Hon. Thomas Bernard

Resident slave-owner, given as 'Thomas Barnard' in both the Accounts Produce and the History of Parliament, but identifiable as Thomas Bernard from his will, proved of St Catherine 05/12/1728. Father of Susanna Bernard, who married William Campbell of Liston Hall: their child was John Campbell II (c. 1750-1826), MP for Ayr Burghs 1794-1807.

1. Under his will, Thomas Bernard left £5000 to his daughter Susanna at 18 or on marriage, secured on his estates in Jamaica and England. He left his share in the estate held jointly with Giles Diston, and all the other property of his own purchase, to his son William Henry Bernard and his heirs, failiing whom to his daughter Susanna, failing whom (except the negroes of his own purchase on Colbeck, an estate that had descended to him from his father, and whom he wished to follow the entail) to his cousin Samuel Bernard of London and Charles Bernard of London, subject to £1000 to 'my brother' James Lawes. He instructed his trustees to put the money he had in the funds in Britain into the purchase of an estate in Britain, and empowered them to sell the half-share he held in the estate with Giles Diston.

2. Thomas Bernard of St Catherine, Esquire. Estate probated in Jamaica in 1729. Slave-ownership at probate: 360 of whom 211 were listed as male and 149 as female. 101 were listed as boys, girls or children. Total value of estate at probate: £15099.79 Jamaican currency of which £9074.5 currency was the value of enslaved people. Estate valuation included £72.53 currency cash, £877 currency debts and £407.61 currency plate.

PROB 11/626/234; http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/campbell-john-ii-1750-1826 [accessed 04/05/2017].

1. PROB 11/626/234.

2. Trevor Burnard, Database of Jamaican inventories, 1674-1784.