Forster Clarke

Resident slave-owner and large-scale attorney on Barbados, although in Britain c. 1837 at the time of Thome & Kimball's visit to Barbados, awarded the compensation for the Halton estate on Barbados. In 1838 when he made his will he was of Woburn Place.

1. Will of Forster Clarke of [the island of Barbados but now residing at] Woburn Place Russell Square proved 27/04/1840. He left his estate called The Garden in Barbados in trust for his wife Hannah Prescod for life and then to be sold. He instructed the process and the rest of his personal estate be invested in the funds or upon security on land in Britain (with leaseholds to be at least 40 years), to fund £2000 to each of his children. He then directed the disposition of two sums of £7714 5s 8d and £14,285 14s 4d 'given by me to to my son George Elliott' on his marriage 'the produce of the sale of the Halton estate' [it is not entirely clear which refers to which sum].

2. A committee of the Council of Barbados produced a report in 1824 which sought to defend slavery and the treatment of the enslaved by planters against the ‘enemies of the West Indies who had charged that there prevailed ‘the grossest injustice…irreligion and immorality…the most unprecedented degradation, and unrelenting cruelty’. One of those who gave evidence to the committee was Forster Clarke, whose testimony can be read here.

3. Administration of the estate of Forster Clarke the younger [who was son of Forster Clarke of this entry] late of the Garden Island of Barbados who died at Clifton Bristol as 29/08/1844 granted 22/02/1859 to Rev. William Grasett Clarke of Upper Slaughter Gloucestershire, the brother and universal legatee, effects in England under £4000. Forster Clarke the elder had married Hannah Grasset [sic] at Bathwick in 1808.

Barbados no. 2935.

1. PROB 11/1925/286.

2. A Report of a Committee of the Council of Barbadoes, appointed to inquire into the actual condition of the slaves in this island (London, 1824), pp. 105-12.

3. National Probate Calendar 1859; Ancestry.com, Pallot's Marriage Index 1780-1837 [database online].