Finding information about British slave owner Henry Stanley in Jamaica/England?

Question

In his will my 2nd great grandfather Henry Stanley Robert Pearce (1821-1868) leaves

all my estate and interest whatsoever in the lands and hereditaments called Gale Mount and Dunsinane in the island of Jamaica

to his sister Henrica Stanley Leger Pearce (1819-1893).

I watched David Olugosa's "Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners" on BBC2 and followed the link to the UCL database of compensation claims where I found Robert Pearce (1793-1861; my 3rd great grandfather) making a claim in 1834 for compensation for Farm Hill, Jamaica as executor & legatee of the will of Henry Stanley of Kennington. Farm Hill is not Gale Mount or Dunsinane but there is clearly a link here.

Henry Stanley's will mentions all the above 3 Pearces. He also names:

• Elizabeth Mary Pearce, Robert's wife, as his niece;
• Henry Turpin of Jamaica, nephew.

Robert Pearce's will make no mention of estates in Jamaica so presumably he had already passed it on to son Henry Stanley Robert Pearce.

My problem is tying Elizabeth Mary Pearce nee Wilkins (1793-1842) to Henry Stanley. Henry Stanley clearly had some influence (financial?) on Robert & Elizabeth as they name both their children after him.

I can find nothing about Henry Stanley other than his will & burial in 1826 at St Mary, Newington, Surrey giving his age as 60 yrs. There are also death notices in various newspapers (e.g. The Gentleman's magazine, Volume 96, Part 1) saying Henry Stanley gentleman of Kennington.

Any suggestions what their connection could have been? Where do I look for more information aside from the "usual ancestry subscription sites"?

Answer 1

You mention "death notices in various newspapers" which are presumably British and from 1826.

However, I recommend that you also try to consult Jamaica newspapers that are earlier than that.

The National Library of Jamaica says that it has significant runs for two newspapers that cover your period of interest:

• The Royal Gazette 1780 - 1837, 1844
• St. Jago de la Vega Gazette 1791 - 1837

There is also a Jamaica Newspapers page on FamilySearch that would be worth watching for updates.

While looking for other Jamaica newspapers I came across Jamaican Family Search and by using a search string of henry stanley farm hill I found records of his slave owning in Jamaica from about 1809-1832. The second date being later than his death date of 1826 suggests his slaves continued to be owned in his name after his decease which fits with Robert Pearce making the claim in 1834.

The listings below are from the Surrey sections of Jamaica Almanac Givings-in for the different parishes in different years.

Proprietor, Property, Slaves / Stock [If there is only one number it is the number of slaves]

• 1811 (for 1809): Stanley, Henry, Farm Hill 150/ -

• 1811 (for 1810): Stanley, Henry, Gale Mount 52/ 18

• 1812 (for 1811): Stanley, Henry, Farm Hill 154/ 13

• 1812 (for 1811): Stanley, Henry, Gale Mount 48

• 1816 (for 1815): Stanley, Henry, Farm-Hill 200/ 12

• 1817 (for 1816): Stanley, Henry, Farm Hill, 196/T

• 1818 (for 1817): Stanley, Henry, Farm Hill, 191/14

• 1820 (for 1819): Stanley, Henry, Farm Hill 189

• 1821 (for 1820): Stanley, Henry, Farm Hill 193

• 1822 (for 1821): Stanley, Henry, Farm Hill 194/ 16

• 1823 (for 1822): Stanley, Henry, Farm Hill 193/ 16

• 1824 (presumably for 1823): Stanley, Henry, Farm Hill 191/ 16

• 1825 (for 1824): Stanley, Henry, Farm Hill 195/14

• 1826 (for 1825): Stanley, Henry, Farm Hill 181 / 12

• 1828 (for 1827): Stanley, Henry, Farm Hill, 203

• 1832 (for 1831): Stanley, Henry, Farm Hill, 152/ 2

• 1833 (for 1832): Stanley, Henry, Farm Hill 189/ 2

Also, Henry Turpin was in the Jamaican Militia of 1824.