George Cranstoun of Antigua 1803-1842
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George Cranstoun was the brother of David Cranstoun in 1823 they were part of the Committe of Correspondence who signed the signed the free colored petition prior to the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Will Of George Cranstoun 1842 "In the name of God I George Cranstoun of the Island of Antigua being of sound mind and disposing mind memory and understanding but at present very sick and weak in body and knowing the uncertainty of life do make this my Will and Testament in manner and form follow is to say I commit my Soul to the Almighty humbly hoping for salvation through the merits of Christ and desire that my body may be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors and Executrix hereinafter named and as it had pleased the Lord for his providence to give me some portion of the worlds goods it is my wish to bequeath the same after the following manner to my dear friends and relatives who shall survive me. I will and desire that the sum of one hundred pounds currency be given to each of my brother David Cranstoun’s children, that is to say, John Duer Cranstoun, the sum of one hundred pounds currency, to James Edmund Cranstoun, the sum of one hundred pounds currency, to George Augustus Cranstoun, the sum of one hundred pounds currency, to David Anderdon Cranstoun, the sum of one hundred pounds currency, to Jane Ann Cranstoun, the sum of one hundred pounds currency, to Elizabeth Margaret Cranstoun, the sum of one hundred pounds currency, to Mary Spencer Cranstoun, the sum of one hundred pounds currency, and to Sarah Rigg Cranstoun, the sum of one hundred pounds currency. I give to my brother, David Cranstoun, my gold watch. I give to John Duer Cranstoun my horse gig and harness. I give to Patrick Lenaghan (business partner) and Edward Wesston (sister Jane’s husband) my two gold rings, one to each of them. I give to my old servant Cibby 10 pounds currency to be paid to her as soon as possible after my decease. I give to my sister Ann Cranstoun for life my half of the house and lot on High Street, purchased from Miss Greenway in the names of both of us and at her death to my sister Jane Wesston for her and heirs and assigns forever, but in case my sister Ann Cranstoun shall survive my sister Jane Wesston then the said half belonging to me in the said house and lot shall be and remain the property of my sister Ann Cranstoun for her and her heirs forever. The next residue and remainder of my property both real and personal and of what nature or kind I charge with the foregoing legacies as well as the payment of all my just debts and funeral expenses and whatever remains whether of landed property, personal estate, monies, debts, dues and demands coming or belonging to me in any way whatever. It is my will and desire that the same shall be equally divided among my two dear sisters Ann Cranstoun and Jane Wesston equally share and share alike as tenants in common and not as joint tenants. And, lastly I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my brother David Cranstoun and Edward Wesston Executors and my sister Ann Cranstoun Executrix to this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making null and void all or any other Will or Wills by me at anytime heretofore made. In witness whereof I have hereinto set and subscribed my hand and seal this seventh day of May 1842. Signed sealed and delivered by the Testor George Cranstoun as and for his last Will and Testament in the precence of us who at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses this seventh day of May one thousand and eight hundred and forty two. Thomas Ward, John Keightley, William S Nibbs" George signed the will Geo Cranstoun which was his standard signature as witnessed by the Slave Record Return for Jane Spencer in 1832. Cibby mentioned in his Will is one of the two slaves named in the Slave Record Return for Jane Spencer. I am not sure what happened to Betsy who was the second slave on the return. Cibby and Betsy may even have been married due to their respective ages, 50 for Betsy and 48 for Cibby in 1832. George was a merchant who ran a company called George Cranstoun & Company, his partner was Patrick Lenaghan and in November 1839 the company was dissolved as Patrick was about to leave Antigua for Ireland. George died in May 1842, David appoligized, in his letter to Robert Sutton, for not writing earlier due to the death of his brother, George. I found on http://www.stjohnthedivineantigua.com (see Churchyard) that George Cranstoun is buried there. In January 2013, I went to the St. John’s Cathedral Churchyard to see for myself, unfortunately they were renovating the Cathedral and there were wooden walls surrounding the Cathedral so I could not find George’s grave. I was assured at the gate that his grave was behind the walls. George was David’s brother and he died in May 1842 from drinking bad water, according to the “Letter’s Of David Cranstoun”. In David’s letter to Robert Sutton dated May 21, 1842 David Cranstoun describes the conditons in Antigua as being very hot and dry and the water supply in the cisterns had turned bad and “many sudden unexpected deaths” occurred in St. John’s, “puzzling the medical men”. George unfortunately drank some of the water and was confined to his bed for a few days and David was by his side when he died. David decribes George as a “kind and affectionate brother”. He says. “it pleased God to summon him from me” which shows, I think, that David was somewhat of a religious man. George’s Will also shows George to be a religious man as well. We know that David was a prominent Anglican and both of his wives were Methodist’s and according to his Will he requested, “It is my desire that my body may be decently and economically buried where the other part of my family are buried”. We have seen the stone for his first wife and Sarah Sawcolt Cranstoun was still alive, so I feel quite confident in believing David Cranstoun is buried with his brother George at the St. John’s Cathedral.
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