Capt Thomas Middlemore Anderson Bygrave (1835 - ??)
Thomas Middlemore Anderson Bygrave was born May Day Hill Plantation, Manchester Co. Jamaica. She was a slave born to Plantation Owner and medical doctor Thomas Bygrave Esq and mother unknown. He was christened on 26 June 1835 in Manchester and is noted, so there is a likelihood that he was born free.
In 1833 the British Parliament passed a law to abolish slavery as of August 1, 1834, throughout the British Empire. Whilst Thomas would have been born free his mother would have falled under the Apprenticeship System, wherebyall Jamaican slaves over the age of 6 were bound (indentured) to their former owners' service, albeit with a guarantee of rights, until 1838. The freed population faced significant hardships which resulted in many plantation owners going broke and emigrating.
Little is known about the circumstances of Thomas's birth, (It is unknown whether she is the result of a dalliance with a plantation slave or a mistress, however the failure to record the parents detail on the christening would imply this a slave birth). Thomas's movements or situation in the years between his birth and 1851 are unknown. In Thomas's will of 1851 he left Thomas personal property property (my ? pistols and a pair of Spring Candlesticks also ? complete ) and a financial settlement, subsequent to the sale of his remaining property.
Due to the challenging economic situation in the colony (many coffee plantations were in foreclosure) it may have taken a while to dispose of these assets, but despite this there would have most likely been a reasonable nest egg remaining.
It is most likely with this that Thomas bought his way into the Merchant Navy (where he had ticket No. 458972).
| Year | Direction | Date | Boat | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1853 | Out | 17/11 | Vere, London | Apprentice |
| 1854 | Out | 16/11 | Arena, London | Able Seaman |
| 1854 | Home | 6/5 | Vere, London | Able Seaman |
| 1855 | Out | 22/6 | Arena, London | S & ? |
| 1856 | Out | 14/8 | Jane, London | Able Seaman |
| 1856 | Home | 20/7 | Daninial Daly, London | Able Seaman |
Thomas appears to have spent quite a few years in the Merchant Navy, he does not appear in the 1861 census, but Ships at Sea were not recorded. the next evidence of him is his marriage to Mary Ann Best in 1853 1863 where he is living at Vernon St in Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Thomas married Mary Ann Best on May 7 1863 at St Pauls in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. Mary Ann was born on 7 Jan 1844 in Corfe-Mullen, Dorset, England. She was the third child of nine and eldest daughter of Emanuel Best (1810 - 1887) and Fanny Phillips (1821 - 1900). The marriage was solemnized by J. H Stafford and witnessed by Robert Logan and Hannah Wright. Emanuel is noted as a Mariner and this might be how the couple met.
Thomas and Mary Ann stayed in England for a number of years, but by 1867 they had returned to Jamaica settling in Kingston, where they had a family of 4 children (3 sons and 1 daughter) :
- John Henry Bygrave. Born 18 Jul 1867
- Thomas Bygrave. Born 22 Mar 1869
- Charles Richard Bygrave. Born 28 Sep 1872
- Alice Rebecca Bygrave. Born 9 Aug 1878. Died 13 Sep 1881
Thomas continued is Marine career in Kingston and by 1872 was a captain.