James Dudgeon Harper of Antigua
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James Dudgeon Harper ran Harper’s Drug Store making it into a famous landmark in the city of St. John’s. He was also a planter as he owned and managed a few plantations, Blake’s, Friars Hill Estate as well. When he died in 1915, he was manager of Friars Hill Estate. "Bessie’s" brother, James Watkins Harper, went to school in Canada at the University of Manitoba in the Faculty of Medicine, he eventually became a surgeon. In 1917 he joined the Canadian army during WWI and held the rank of Lieutenant in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force. He left with the rank of Captain. He later moved to Auckland, New Zealand and had a practice there. More on James Watkins Harper. Bessie sold the Harper's Drug Store building and business to a Cranstoun daughter Alice Ann Louise Cranstoun Mercer and her friend, Dr. Wynter's daughter, Sarah Adner Wynter in 1950. The Mercer family lived in a house on the opposite corner to Harper’s, which is now Scotiabank. From the history of the Royal Bank Of Canada: “RBC Royal Bank of Canada first opened for business in Antigua on Long Street on March 15, 1915 in a two storey wooden building owned by the Harper family, proprietors of Harper’s Drug Store, and moved to its own building on the corner of High and Market Streets after a few years.” (across the street) Will Of James Dudgeon Harper
"This is the last Will and Testament of James Dudgeon Harper of Friars Hill Estate in the Island of Antigua dated January 16, 1914. I hereby revoke all Wills and Testamentary Disposition made by me and declare this to be my last Will and Testament. I direct that all my just debts, Funeral and Testamentary Expenses be paid and justified by my Executors hereinafter named as soon as conveiently possible after my decease. I appoint my beloved wife Annie Constable Harper Executrix and Trustee and my Brother-In-Law Langford Selly Cranstoun and my friend Benjamin Augustus Queeley, Executors to this my Will. I give and bequeath all my household furniture and effects also my stock and trade of my business situated at the corner of Market and High Streets in the city of St. John's in the aforesaid Island of Antigua to my wife Annie Constable Harper and my two children Elizabeth Sophia Harper and James Watkins Harper for their respective use and benefit share and share alike. (the business was known as Harper's Drug Store) Provided that should my mother Ann Gibbons of the Island of Montserrat survive me, I direct that she be paid for the time of her natural life the sum of one pound sterling per month from and out of the said business. I give devise and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Sophia Harper my property situated on Long Street in the city of Saint John's also my policy of insurance numbered 5274 effected on my life in the Barbados Mutal Life Assurence Society for her sole use and benefit subject to the payment out of the said policy of Assurance of the following legacy that is to say to my mother the said Ann Gibbons the sum of Ten Pounds Sterling. In case my daughter Elizabeth Sophia Harper should die without issue it is my desire that all she inherits under this Will should be devolved to her brother James Watkins Harper and in case that they both have died then their beloved mother the said Annie Constable Harper shall take their respective shares for her own use and benefit and at her bequeath all benefits shall devolve to the daughters of my sister Evelina Cranstoun who at that time shall be unmarried or widows and in case they shall all be married then the inheritance shall be divided among them share and share alike. I give devise and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my estate real and personal wheresoever and whatever of which I may have possesed or be entitled to at the time of my death unto my beloved wife Annie Constable Harper and my two children Elizabeth Sophia Harper and James Watkins Harper absolutely. In witness thereof I have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand the sixteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fourteen. Signed by the testator and acknowledged by him to br his last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time and descrbed by us in the presence of the said tatator and of each by her." James Dudgeon Harper Samuel Lauchland Athill Jr., Clerk to The Attorney General It is interesting that Samuel Lauchland Athill signed James’ will as he was related through marriage to the Semper family and Irene Evelina Cranstoun’s daughter, Muriel Aileen Malone, married Dudley Henry Semper. James' wife named in his Will is Anna Constable Watkins. Anna’s brother was named George Eccles Watkins and he moved to New Zealand where he married Eliza Jane Mitchell and they had three daughters:
Annie Sophia Gillender Watkins will become important later on. Antigua Legislative Council From Dr. Susan Lowes dissertation: "There were actually two nonwhites on the council for a very brief period in the early 1900s. Delos Martin was appointed in 1898 and James Dudgeon Harper in 1899, but Martin was off by 1905. Harper was replaced by Langford Selly Cranstoun (who had married Harper's sister Evelina). All of these men were from the old middle class. The first member of the new middle class to be appointed was Joseph Anderson Harney, who replaced Cranstoun in 1920." Will of Annie Constable Watkins Harper (1863-1943) "I Annie Constable Harper of the city of St. John’s on the Island of Antigua, hereby revoke all testamentary 1. I appoint my daughter Elizabeth Sophia Harper the sole Executrix of my Will. 2. I appoint Barclays Bank (Dominion Colonial and Overseas) hereinafter called ”The Bank” to be the Trustee of (a) The Bank may act by its proper officer or agents and employ and pay any agent or agents to transact any (b) The Bank shall be entitled to remuneration (including the customary share of brokerage) in accordance with the Banks scale of fees or remuneration now in force, such remuneration to be free from duties and deductions and to be paid or retained out of the capital or income of my estate or the appropriate part or pars therof. (c) The Bank may act as banker and transact any bankin or allied business on behalf or in connection with my (d) I approve of the employment of T. F. Burrowes as Solicitor in connexion with my Estate but without prejudice to the right of the Bank in its discretion to employ other Solicitors. 3. I bequeath to the Bank as my Trustee (i) The sum of two thousand pounds which I have directed the Manager to invest on my behalf, upon trust to pay the income arising there from to my daughter Elizabeth Sophia Harper aforesaid during her life and thereafter at her death should she have any child or children surviving her, to the Guardian of such child or children during their minority for their benefit equally if there be more than one child until such child attains the age of 21 years when the whole amount of any such child shall be distributed to that child and should there no such child surviving her to distribute the same equal shares to the six grandchildren of my brother George Eccles Watkins at present residing at 51 Oliphant Street, Pousonby, Auckland, New Zealand, namely. Lawrence, Frederick, Ivan and Mary Pohlen and June and Elizabeth Partridge (children of George Eccles Watkins daughter Mabel Jane Watkins Partridge. (ii) All investments at the date of this my Will in my name in the United States of America other than those which may be changed in my lifetime or which I may hereafter require upon trust to pay the income arising therefrom to my daughter Elizabeth Sophia Harper aforesaid and hereafter at her death should she have any child or children surviving her, to the Guardian of such child or children during their minority for their benefit equally if there be more than one child until such child attains the age of 21 years when the whole amount of any such child shall be distributed to that child and should there no such child surviving her to transfer to Mrs. Mary Waite of 56 Hawthorne Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A. or should she not survive to her heirs in equal shares. 4. I devise and bequeath the residue of my Estate both real and personal to my daughter Elizabeth Sophia Harper aforesaid absolutely. The estate included a 570 acre plantation, in St. Georges Parish, known as “The Grove” which was put into Elizabth Sophia Harper’s name on September 15, 1943. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this day and year first above written." Witnesses: signature of the clerk of T. F Burrows and T. F Burrows, Solicitor. Elizabeth Sophia Harper of Long Street in the city of St. John’s, Antigua, Spinster, had the Will put through probate on 10 August, 1943 in the Supreme Court of the Leeward Islands, Antigua Circuit. The gross value of the estate amounted to 10,511 pounds 17 shillings and 5 pence. Elizabeth Sophia "Bessie" Harper
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James Dudgeon Harper was the son of William Henry Harper, a planter from Montserrat. and Ann Gibbons. He owned Mannings in Antigua which he inherited. James was brother-in-law to 
