Thomas Bygrave (1763 - 1819)
Thomas Bygrave was born in Hertfordshire in 1763. He was the fourth son and youngest child of Robert Bygrave and Esther Tomlinson. He was christened at Aldenham, Hertfordshire on 5 April 1763.
Thomas father died when he was 4 and despite this, it appears that the family prospered. Little is know of his life up until 1791, but it is possible that Thomas was draw to Jamaica by his Tomlison connections. There are a family of Tomlinson who were based in Jamaica from the 1730s - this is yet to be confirmed. It appears that Thomas studies once Thomas arrived in Jamaica (likely around 1790) he studied to become an Attorney - generally done via the apprenticeship system with submission of articles after completion of 5 years . It has not been possible to determine exactly when Thomas departed the UK for Jamaica, how he got there or why he went.
We have record of Thomas in Jamaica as early as 1791 where he is working as a Clerk to an Attorney. is in Aug 1798 where the christening of his son Richard is recorded in the parish of Vere.
Thomas married - undertaking a clerkship with Adam Smith Esq - his name appears in multiple Accounts Product filings between 1791 and 1796 for the following leading land owners:
- Rymesbury Estate, Rymesbury Pen and Yarmouth Pen - owned by Lord Viscount Dudley and Ward
- Halse Hall Estate and Hanbury Pen - owned by Thomas de le Beche
It could be that this the end of 1796 (the filing for that year would have occurred in 1797) represented the conclusion of Thomas clerkship, or it could be that he simply took over the operation of his new wifes estate - Green Pond.
What ever the reason, Thomas found himself in Manchester where he marries his wife Hannah Sill on 29 September 1797 at Green Pond Coffee Plantation. Based on records, Hannah was born in 25 Oct 1778 to Richard Sill and ? ? Walker of Green Pond Coffee Plantations - a neighbouring coffee plantation. in 1797 By 1798 her father Richard Sill has passed away and Thomas - as the executor of Richards will - filled the accounts on Green Pond Plantation from 1799 to 1802 . By 1817 Thomas Walker Sill (her brother) was in possession of Green Pond , and it is here that Hannah passed away on Apr 17 1817 at the age of 38. It is unknown why she returned to her family home to pass away, especially given she had teenage children. Her brother Thomas Walker Sill passed away he continued to operate it until his death around 1828.
Thomas and Hannah had 5 known children (3 boys and 2 girls) :
- Richard Bygrave. Born 1798. Died 1829
- John Bygrave. Born 1799. Died before 1831
- Ann Bygrave . Born 1801. Married John McCammon Trew ?. Died 1842
- Jane Bygrave. Born 1803. Died before 1831
- Thomas Bygrave. Born 1804. Died 1851.
It appears that between 1802 and 1817 Thomas acted as the Deputy Postmaster for Leeward, Green Pond. We are unsure when he purchased the May Day Hill Plantation however the first returns which included names were captured in 1811.
Hannah passed away at Green Pond Plantation on Apr 17 1817 at the age of 38.
Based1817 April 17th
Bygrave, Mrs Hannah, wife of Thomas bygrave Esq of May Day Hill, died at Green Pond on Thursday the 17th day of April, and was buried at same place on the Saturday following.
Aged 38 years, six months and 18 days
J Mc Trew - Rector
It is unknown why she returned to her family home to pass away, especially given she had teenage children, however based on extract the will of his brother - John Bygrave Esq - Thomas also had 2 illegitimate children by a Jane Sill, given that the Sills baptised all of their slaves with the Sill last name. it is most likely that Jane was a slave brought to the plantation to act as a servant to Hannah
- Elizabeth Sill
- Mary Sill Born ? Married John Snowling Middlesex 1844
Thomas died 2 years later on Oct 14 1819
1819 Oct 14th Thomas Bygrave aged years was buried by me at May Day Plantation
Geo. W. Bridges
His property appears to be run under trust for the majority of the next 9 years until taken over on a permanent basis by his youngest son Dr Thomas Bygrave. The key exception to this is a 2 year period (1822 and 1823) where it appears to have been operated by his eldest son Richard Bygrave.
During this period, 51 of his slaves were baptised by Robert M Dallas, Rector of Manchester on 25 March 1824 at the request of John McCammon Trew (his son in law and trustee of his estate) and 23 couples were married in 5 separate ceremonies on 9 Jan 1820, 23 Jan 1820, 5 Mar 1820, 25 Feb 1824 and 5 Mar 1824.
Plantation Owner - Jamaica
The Jamaican Almanac provides information that has been useful in helping to piece together Thomas's work history.
It appears that between 1802 and 1817 Thomas acted as the Deputy Postmaster for Leeward, Green Pond.
The 1804 Jamaica Gazette Notes the following
| S/N | County | Part | Parish | Up | L-Rt | Prop Type | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 291 | Middlesex | South | Vere | F | 4 | Place | May Day Hills |
| 292 | Middlesex | South | Vere | F | 4 | Prop | Bygraves |
| 293 | Middlesex | South | Vere | F | 4 | Prop | Morant's |
| 294 | Middlesex | South | Vere | F | 5 | Place | Green Pond |
| 295 | Middlesex | South | Vere | F | 5 | Prop | Stewart's |
| 296 | Middlesex | South | Vere | F | 5 | Prop | Sill's |
The map below shows the location of Green Pond and the Byrgrave plantation (in red circles)
The 1811 Almanac was the first to capture property names and owners, and he is noted as the owner of May Day Hill Coffee Plantation. The almanac provides the following information about the property in terms of slave and stock numbers.
| Year | Slaves | Stock | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1811 | 93 | Almanac | ||
| 1812 | 99 | Almanac | ||
| 1815 | Almanac | |||
| 1817 | 111 | Almanac | ||
| 1817 | 107 | Slave Return | Noted as 53 Males and 54 Females | |
| 1818 | 108 | Almanac | March Qtr 1817 | |
| 1820 | 112 | Almanac | ||
| 1820 | 108 | Slave Return | Noted as 54 Males and 54 Females | |
| 1821 | 118 | Almanac | Estate of Thomas Bygrave Mayday Hill | |
| 1823 | 115 | Slave Return | Noted as 57 Males and 58 Females | |
| 1825 | 115 | Almanac | Estate of Thomas Bygrave Mayday Hill | |
| 1826 | 119 | 25 | Almanac | Estate of Thomas Bygrave Mayday Hill |
| 1826 | 6 | Slave Return | At St Thomas in the East in the possession of John McCammon | |
| 1826 | 115 | Slave Return | At May Day Hill | |
| 1827 | 118 | Almanac | Estate of Thomas Bygrave Mayday Hill | |
| 1828 | 116 | Almanac | Estate of Thomas Bygrave Mayday Hill | |
| 1829 | 134 | Almanac | Estate of Thomas Bygrave Mayday Hill |
On 29 September 1816 John McCammon Trew (later his son-in-law) baptised 48 slaves at May Day Hill.
On 17 April 1817 his wife Hannah died at Green Pond
1817 April 17th
Bygrave, Mrs Hannah, wife of Thomas bygrave Esq of May Day Hill, died at Green Pond on Thursday the 17th day of April, and was buried at same place on the Saturday following. Aged 38 years, six months and 18 days
J Mc Trew - Rector
Thomas died 2 years later on Oct 14 1819
1819 Oct 14th Thomas Bygrave aged years was buried by me at May Day Plantation
Geo. W. Bridges
His property appears to be run under trust for the majority of the next 9 years until taken over on a permanent basis by his youngest son Dr Thomas Bygrave. The key exception to this is a 2 year period (1822 and 1823) where it appears to have been operated by his eldest son Richard Bygrave.
During this period, 51 of his slaves were baptised by Robert M Dallas, Rector of Manchester on 25 March 1824 at the request of John McCammon Trew (his son in law and trustee of his estate) and 23 couples were married in 5 separate ceremonies on 9 Jan 1820, 23 Jan 1820, 5 Mar 1820, 25 Feb 1824 and 5 Mar 1824.Many thanks to Mark Bygrave for his assistance in this research - specifically in identifying his marriage and early work records in Jamaica