David Cranstoun of Antigua
|
David Cranstoun was born in 1795 and died in 1865, cause of death diahrrea caused by ulcers. David was a planter, plantation owner, a justice of the peace, an attorney and a prominent Anglican in Antigua in the early to mid 1800's. He had a brother named George Cranstoun (died 1842) who he was very close to and two sisters, Jane Cranstoun, married a Wesston and Anne Cranstoun (1794-1874) and a brother named James Cranstoun who died very young. The interesting fact about the Cranstoun family of Antigua is they were "prominent men of colour"...I am white. When I discovered this fact I was blown away and it motivated me to find out all the information I could on my family. David Cranstoun and his brother George Cranstoun in 1823 were part of the "Committee of Correspondence" (see History Of The Island of Antigua Volume I, for complete list of signees) who signed the free coloured petition prior to the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. David Cranstoun, James Hicks, Gratinius Hart, Joseph Shervington, George Athill, and John Athill, a merchant and landowner who was appointed Deputy Postmaster General, and Tyrrell Shervington, a merchant who was appointed Clerk of the Council (CO 7/34/60, 8 November 1832). All were men from prominent free coloured families whose names will recur frequently in what follows. They were leaders in Antigua amd included Weekly Register editor Henry Loving and his associate Nathaniel Hill, a member of the Anti-Slavery Society and signer of the covering letter accompanying the 1830 petition. Loving, born a slave and manumitted at age 9, was bitterly opposed to the legal disabilities that made him inferior to any white man, no matter how poor, ill-educated, or lacking in “gentility or standing in the community” (Brown 1985: 2). - from Dr. Susan Lowes dissertation. David Cranstoun married twice, first to Elizabeth Symes (died in childbirth on March 31, 1831 and buried at Ebeneezer Methodist Church, the first one, in St. John's Antigua) by whom he had seven children. After Elizabeth died David Cranstoun married Sarah Sawcolt Tait daughter of Dr. Robert Tait (buried at Ebeneezer Methodist Church (the first one) in St. John's Antigua) as his second wife and they had three children. It is through the Tait family that we can trace the Antigua Cranstoun line back to the Lord Cranstoun line. It is my opinion that we can find some hints to the history of our family from the way David Cranstoun named his children (just like every other family of the time did), whether knowingly or not he left hints as to who he was with the naming of his children. (Why would David be different than any other family man of his time?) Some Important Petioners Of The "Committe of Correspondence"
Who Was David Cranstoun? So, just who was David Cranstoun? I must go back to Dr. Susan Lowes dissertation to make any sense of this as all the above mentioned men were “prominent men of colour” which means they all had white fathers and coloured or mulatto mothers. They were all upper and middle class families who owned slaves and plantations, were members of the government, attorneys and merchants, which means they were traders of sugar cane. So where do I go to find out about David Cranstoun? The first place I looked was in the Slave Records and I found his name as a slave owner, plantation manager and plantation owner and finally as an attorney for the head of the Bank of England. That’s right, a “freeman of colour” was the attorney for William Mannaing, the head of the Bank of England in Antigua in 1837. I put it to the reader, that there is no possible way this could be unless a powerful white relative had him invited into the club. Putting it in modern terms, Bill Gates the richest man in the world, wanted to become a member of the Augusta Country Club, where they play the Master’s Golf Tournament, an old boys club and he was turned away. I leave it to the readers common sense as to how you think a “freeman of colour” would fair back in the early 1800’s without a powerful white relative behind him? He most definitely would not have been the attorney for the head of the Bank of England. So now the question arises as to how a “freeman of colour” attains the position that David Cranstoun enjoyed. Did he fall from the sky onto the island of Antigua and poof he is accepted and a respected man? I think not, but again, I did not have a paper trail other than Slave Records to base my thoughts. Think of the times, early 1800’s, think of the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, that’s what it was like and David Cranstoun was a leader of the society and a respected man. How could this possibly be? I checked school records in England, Scotland the US, even the Caribbean and found nothing, there had to be, after all he was an attorney and Justice of the Peace. Enter my father with his emphasis on royalty. So I pursued his line of thinking and traced the Lord Cranstoun’s to the island of St. Kitts. This is where the story becomes interesting and controversial, but until I’m proven wrong, I believe my thinking is correct (see James 8th Lord Cranstoun). What I find most troublesome about all this information is, that after having 10 children, only the eldest John Duer Cranstoun (luckily for us) has any information one can find, with great difficulty, the rest simply disappeared. All the other families in the History of Antigua intermarried with other members of local families on Antigua, but nothing can be found for the Cranstoun’s, why? I’ve heard the explanations of earthquakes, hurricanes and fires and I can understand that records would be lost however, every family has records but the Cranstoun’s, very, very strange indeed. From the book Emancipation Of The West Indies - A Six Month Tour, “We called on the American Consul, Mr. Higginbothom, at his country residence, about four miles from St. John’s. (you will see later he leased this place from David Cranstoun) Shortly after we reached his elevated and picturesque seat, we were joined by Mr. Cranstoun, a planter, who had been invited to dine with us. Mr. C. is a colored gentleman. The Consul received him in such a manner as plainly showed that they were on terms of intimacy. Mr. C. is a gentleman of intelligence and respectability, and occupies a station of trust and honor in the island. On taking leave of us, he politely requested our company at breakfast on a following morning, saying, he would send his gig for us.” A chapter from the same book, “A VISIT TO MR. CRANSTOUN’S”. "On the following morning Mr. C.’s gig came for us, and we drove out to his residence. We were met at the door by the American Consul, who breakfasted with us. When he had taken leave, Mr. C. proposed that we should go over his grounds. To reach the estate, which lies in a beautiful valley far below Mr. C.’s mountainous residence, we were obliged to go on foot by a narrow path that wound along the sides of the precipitous hills. This estate is the property of Mr. Athill, a colored gentleman now residing in England. Mr. A. is post-master general of Antigua, one of the first merchants in St. John’s, and was a member of the assembly until the close of 1836, when, on account of his continued absence, he resigned his seat. A high-born white man, the Attorney General, now occupies the same chair which this colored member vacated. Mr. C. was formerly attorney for several estates, is now agent for a number of them, and also a magistrate. He remarked, that since emancipation the nocturnal disorders and quarrels in the negro villages, which were incessant during slavery, had nearly ceased. The people were ready and willing to work. He had frequently given his gang jobs, instead of paying them by the day. This had proved a great stimulant to industry, and the work of the estate was performed so much quicker by this plan that it was less expensive than daily wages. When they had jobs given them, they would sometimes go to work by three o’clock in the morning, and work by moonlight. When the moon was not shining, he had known them to kindle fires among the trash or dry cane leaves to work by. They would then continue working all day until four o’clock, stopping only for breakfast, and dispensing with the usual intermission from twelve to two. We requested him to state briefly what were in his estimation the advantages of the free system over slavery. He replied thus: There are two reflections which the perusal of these items will probably suggest to most minds: 1st. The coincidence in the replies of different planters to the question - What are the advantages of freedom over slavery? While we were in the boiling-house we witnessed a scene which illustrated one of the benefits of freedom to the slave; it came quite opportunely, and supplied the deficiency in the manager’s enumeration of advantages. The head boiler was performing the work of ‘striking off;’ i.e. of removing the liquor, after it had been sufficiently boiled, from the copper to the coolers. The liquor had been taken out of the boiler by the skipper, and thence was being conducted to the coolers by a long open spout. By some means the spout became choaked, and the liquor began to run over. Mr. C. ordered the man to let down the valve, but he became confused, and instead of letting go the string which lifted the valve, he pulled on it the more. The consequence was that the liquor poured over the sides of the spout in a torrent. The manager screamed at the top of his voice “let down the valve, let it down". But the poor man, more and more frightened, hoisted it still higher, and the precious liquid, pure sugar spread in a thick sheet over the earthern floor. The manager at last sprang forward, thrust aside the man, and stopped the mischief, but not until many gallons of sugar were lost. Such an accident as this, occurring during slavery, would have cost the negro a severe flogging. As it was, however, in the present case, although Mr. C. "looked daggers", and exclaimed by the workings of his countenance, "a kingdom for a cat", yet the severest thing which he could say was, “You bungling fellow, if you can’t manage better than this, I shall put some other person in your place that’s all.” "That’s all" indeed, but it would not have been all, three years ago. The negro replied to his eludings in a humble way, saying "I couldn’t help it, sir, I couldn’t help it." Mr. C. finally turned to us, and said in a calmer tone, “The poor fellow got confused, and was frightened half to death.” The above was from the book Emancipation In The West Indies - A Six Month Tour 1837. As you can see, the people David and George Cranstoun associated with were the top echelon of the Antiguan society and the world, the excerpts prove he was an attorney. I am now in possesion of a lease that David made to Mr. Higginbothom in 1836 for Buckley’s Estate. I’ve been to Buckley’s and the house previously discussed in the story was at Buckley’s which David had purchased from John Athill. John Athill was also Godfather to David’s daughter, Jane Ann Cranstoun. David Cranstoun wrote in “1840-1845, three letters to Robert Sutton and Lydia Sutton, East Bilney, near East Dereham, Norfolk”. The question then became who are they? In The History Of Antigua I found that Lydia Sutton was the daughter of Samuel Byam his father was Edward Byam Govenor of the Leeward Islands and President of the Council of Antigua and Robert Sutton was Reverend Robert Sutton, who inherited Willis Freemans plantation from his mother in 1852. (more on these letters see George Cranstoun) Excerpt from one of the letters to Robert and Lydia Sutton: “... We hailed the intelligence of the ministers plan of reducing the duty on sugar with much satisfaction in hopes it will materially benefit us. There are however some who are skeptical on this head conceiving the British West Indies will not benefit to the extent anticipated, in consequence of the great reduction which has also taken place in foreign...” I was able to acquire these letters from the Senate House Library in London, England and they provided some information as to the times and death of David’s brother George and showed David to be the plantation manager and attorney to Robert Sutton’s mother of the Willis Freemans Estate. 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 21 May 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 Cranstoun 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. Robert Sutton was a Reverend and he married Lydia Byam on 27 January, 1768. His mother owned Willis Freemans estate in 1829 (430 acres and 122 slaves) until her death and Robert inherited it in 1852. In this particular letter David describes the amount of sugar he is sending to England from Willis’. As this date is after emancipation of the slaves there is no record one can find to verify my belief that David was in all likelihood the attorney for Robert’s mother and the manager of the Willis plantation. Robert and Lydia Sutton lived in lived in East Bilney, Norfolk, England. George died in May 1842, David appoligized, in his letter, 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. 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. Documents Obtained From The Antigua National Archives David’s birth records are gone, due to earthquakes, floods and basically poor management of records however, we know that George’s mother was Jane Spencer. David and Ann are approximately 8 years older than George and Jane, however, David named a daughter Mary Spencer, and a daughter Jane Ann which suggests Jane Spencer was his mother as well. I also discovered a Slave Return by David for James (David's father), who was dead in 1817.
• In 1830 William Manning, Frederick Manning and John Lavicount Anderdon of New Bank Buildings in the city of London, England appoint David Cranstoun as their true and lawful attorney for the purchase of the Estate called Carlisle’s. • In 1836 there was an Indenture between John Athill and David Cranstoun and George Cranstoun for sixty pounds, fifteen shillings paid to John Athill for fifteen acres. It names all of David Cranstoun’s children as heirs should anything happen to himself or his brother. • In 1830 there was an Indenture between Robert McDonald, John McDonald and George Succe to lease a portion of Buckley’s containing 80 to 90 acres from David Cranstoun for one hundred and twenty pounds to be paid twice yearly on July 1 and January 1. • In 1836 there was an Indenture between Ralph Higginbothom, Consul of the United States of America and David Cranstoun for yearly rental of Buckley Farm containing 90 acres, 30 head of cattle, 60 sheep and a horse and cart for the term of three years. Should Ralph Higginbothom be removed by the American Government the term shall not exceed two years for the sum of 200 pounds per year. Mr. Higginbothom had the option of leasing for more years if he made the three year term. A diagram of the property was attached to the document. • On 22 Februrary 1836 there was an Indenture between David Cranstoun and Margaret Symes (spinster), Executor and Executrix of the estate of the late Patricia Symes and Thomas Lauchland Scholar for the sum of 100 pounds sterling paid to them for a parcel of land owned by the late Patricia Symes (spinster). (Margaret Symes was the sister of David’s late wife Elizabeth Symes Cranstoun). • David Cranstoun was also the Executor to his father-in law John Symes and his mother-in-law Sarah Symes. On 20 April 1837 there was an Indenture between Dr. Robert Tait and David Cranstoun (Dr. Robert Tait was the father of David’s second wife Sarah Sawcolt Tait) for twenty shillings for two parcels of land. One was on St Mary’s Street bounded to the east by public land commonly called Old Pond, lately granted unto the Wesley Missionary Society. The other piece of land on North Street. There were provisions in the agreement for the children of Dr. Robert Tait. (see his will) • The Will of John Athill 1842 names Jane Ann Cranstoun David’s daughter as his Goddaughter and leaves her 50 pounds sterling and appointed David Cranstoun as one of the Executors. • In 1858 there was an Indenture between David Cranstoun and Walter Thibou Ryan to rent the house at Nevis and Cross Street (his mothers house). David’s sister Jane Wesston and all his daughters are mentioned in this Indenture. • Jane Ann Cranstoun Wesston sister to David Cranstoun • Jane Ann Cranstoun born 12 December 1805 and was the sister to David Cranstoun. she married Edward Wesston 23 June 1836. There seems to been a bit of internal Wesston family squabbling for a period as you will see over properties. Edward Wesston appears to have been married at least once, probably twice prior to marrying Jane Cranstoun. On 23 July 1836 an Indenture between Edward Wesston, of the first part, Angelica Cecile Wesston, his daughter, George Martin Wesston, his son, of the second part and Jane Cranstoun (spinster), David Barnes and William Thibou, of the third part witness in the consideration of the natural love Edward Wesston has for his children and for the sum of two shillings paid by parties of the third part for a parcel of land on Nevis Street. Measuring from East to West thirty-one feet six inches and North to South eighty-one feet nine inces. Knowing everything above, on my second trip to Antigua I acquired documents showing David Cranstoun had the power of Attorney for William Manning, Frederick Manning and John Proctor Anderdon for the Seaforth Estate which he was the Manager of when owned by Justin Casamajor. This new document further cements David Cranstoun as respected and trusted man. After the emancipation of the slaves David Cranstoun, owner of Buckley’s Estate, in 1843 sold parcels of land off to the now free workers thus precipitating Buckley’s Village in Antigua.
David Cranstoun died on 28 October 1865 as a result of bowel desease caused by ulcers. Will of David Cranstoun 1795-1865 "David, planter, leaves Colonial Life Assurance Office Policy for L208/6/8 to wife Sarah Sawcolt Cranstoun, to “reimburse her part of the monies used from money left by her father, the late Dr. Robert Tait.” His executors are to collect all the money owed him, and after debts are paid, the balance is to be divided into 11 equal parts, as follows: wife Sarah Sawcolt Cranstoun (2 parts); daughter Jane Ann (3 parts), daughter Sarah Rigg (3 parts), son John Duer (1 part), son George Augustus (1 part), youngest son William Oke (1 part). He married Sarah in 1834. At that time, he executed a deed conveying Buckley’s to his children after his death born of Elizabeth Symes, his first wife, and then to his wife Sarah and to future children by her. This will confirms that. Adelaide Cottage with buildings and 15 acres purchased from the late John Athill is willed to the children born of Elizabeth; this will confirms this. His own furniture and house at Body Ponds goes to his wife for her exclusive benefit. The furniture and dwelling house at Buckley’s is to go to his son John Duer and his wife. He leaves all wearing apparel and the press it is in to his son George Augustus. He leaves L5 each to his three grandchildren, Ann Elizabeth, Mary Angelica, and Langford Selly." Will of Edward Wesston 1854 Husband of Jane Cranstoun David's Sister “In his Will dated 7 November 1854 he bequeaths unto his very affectionate and beloved dear wife Jane Wesston all that he is possed of at the time of his death. He leaves a property left to him from his dear father butted to the East by the land of John Mascall, to the North by the lands of the heirs of Lynch and to the South by the lands of P. Hosier and to the West by Cross Street in trust to his mother Ann Wesston as long as she shall live to his wife Jane Wesston. Should Jane Wesston predecease his mother everything is left to her. David Cranstoun, William Thibou, William L Nibbs Executors and Jane Weston Executrix.” So Jane is married to Edward Wesston and he dies, so she owns the property on Cross Street by virtue of his Will Will of Ann Wesston 1865 “In her Will dated 12 November 1865, she is the widow of Daniel Wesston, and whereas his buildings in Cross Street were put in trust 21 February 1825, to Edward Wesston for the benefit of Jane Wesston, his daughter and Ann Smallwood to whom he was to be married, and if Jane died Ann was to have the entire rent issues and profits for herself and her heirs but if she had no issue, then the property to Edward Wesston forever. Whereas I was married to Daniel Wesston and had issue, a son Samuel Wesston, who died in infancy and Jane Wesston being also dead, I am entitled to the rent issues and profits of the property on Cross Street, as heir to my son, Samuel. I hereby bequeath and entrust the buildings and lands of the property on Cross Street, intrust for Jane Wesston, wife of Edward Wesston, and assign all rents and profits be paid to her, and not to be subject to the control or engagements of any future husband. (Edward Wesston died in 1854) And I grant the right to the Trustees to sell the said property and provide the proceeds to Jane Wesston for her sole use.” Ann Cranstoun David's Sister Ann Cranstoun, born 1794 and died 14 March 1874, the eldest child, out lived her brother David Cranstoun and never married and in 1872 she was the head of the Female Orphan Assylum. 1st Wife - Elizabeth Symes Elizabeth Symes was the daughter of John Symes and the first wife of David Cranstoun by whom she had: Having travelled to Antigua and searching for David Cranstoun, my wife had found, on the internet, the headstone of Elizabeth Symes Cranstoun. A year later when we returned to Antigua we found her headstone for oursleves at the back of the new Ebeneezer Methodist Church where it had been preserved. Headstone Of Elizabeth Symes Cranstoun CRANSTOUN, ELIZABETH Here lies the body of ELIZABETH (Wife of DAVID CRANSTOUN) who departed this life on the 31st March 1831 shortly after giving birth to a still born child This monument is erected to her memory by her affectionate husband. The name of the still born child is also on the headstone: Josiah Phelp Islington London Cranstoun
Elizabeth Symes Cranstoun is buried at the very first Ebenezer Methodist Chapel. The neat strong wooden chapel, established in 1763, was built in Tanner Street. This structure was succeeded by today's stone church in St. Mary's Street, the site on which it's located, was generously granted by the Legislature of the island.
Sarah Sawcolt Tait daughter of Dr. Robert Tait was David Cranstoun's second wife and they had 3 children. Children •
John Duer Cranstoun (died 1881) - Child of Elizabeth
Symes and David Cranstoun • George
Augustus Cranstoun (1823-1873) - Child of Elizabeth Symes
and David Cranstoun Parents David Cranstoun was the son of James Cranstoun and Jane Spencer. David's brother George Cranstoun.
|
David Cranstoun of Antigua, British West Indies is my great, great, great grandfather. Sadly, there are no pictures I could find anywhere of him.
