John Vernon 'of Boulogne'

John Vernon of Boulogne, awarded part of the compensation for the enslaved people on Vernon's estate on Antigua, as tenant-for-life. The bulk of the compensation was paid to trustees of an annuity of £230 p.a. on the life of John Vernon.

1. Referred to as 'Captain Vernon' in correspondence from his brother Rev. William Vernon (q.v.) of Grindleton Clitheroe, an annuitant on John Vernon's estate.

2. John Vernon was already in Boulogne in 1826 when he wrote to George Canning to defend the institution of slavery and to trace the growth of the enslaved population on the family estate from 152 in 1755 to 385.

3. The family had long-standing links with Antigua. 'Lt-Colonel' John Vernon (1773-1859) was shown as the son of John Joseph James Vernon (1744-1823) and marrying E.G. Casamajor, the daughter of Justinian Casamajor in an enquiry in Notes & Queries in 1867 which drew a clarification that Major (rather than Lt-Colonel) Vernon had died at Boulogne. The will of John Vernon late of Chartham [sic] in Kent and of Boulogne-Sur-Mer a Major in HM's Army who died at Boulogne 21/12/1859 was proved 31/12/1859 effects under £200.

4. Administration of the will of John Joseph James Vernon late of Whitehall Clitheroe Lancashire but formerly of Eaton Road County of Chester (made in 1804) was granted 19/07/1837 to Emma Vernon, natural daughter. In the will he left his property to the children of his two marriages except for his (unnamed) estate in Antigua settled on his eldest son and the mortgage debt due to him in the name of Justinian Casamajor.

5. There is no apparent direct connection with John Vernon of Clontarff Castle, whose will was proved in 1808. Maria Sophia Fawkes, otherwise Butler otherwise Vernon, executed a release for Henry Maxwell 'now of Boulgone-sur-mer' 20/12/1828 from an 1806 indenture made by John Vernon and Maria Sophia Vernon in which the two made over £1000 on trust to Maxwell and another trustee. Maria Sophia Vernon was certainly the daughter of John Vernon of Clontarf Castle and had married Pierce Butler; the will also shows a son John Vernon, but makes no apparent reference to property in Antigua.

T71/877 Antigua no. 324.

1. T71/1609 Antigua bundle, Re. William Vernon to the Commissioners 27/10/1834.

2. Some official correspondence of George Canning (1821-1827), Vol. 1, by Edward John Stapleton and George Canning, pp. 363-4.

3. Cavan County Council Small Private Collections, Archive Services, Farnham Papers P013/005 http://www.cavancoco.ie/cavanweb/publish/domain/cavancoco/file/leisure-and-culture/Archives/Private%20Collections.pdf [accessed 13/06/2012]; Visitation of England and Wales Vol. 7 p.91 'Fawkes of Farnley Hall and Hawksworth Hall, co. York'; Notes & Queries 3rd & 4th Series Vol.XII 24/08/1867 pp. 147-148.

4. PROB 11/1882/226.

5. Will of John Vernon of Clontarff Castle proved 19/05/1808, PROB 11/1480/98.