Charles Drax of Shelton, Parish of St. Ann, Jamaica, West Indies, resident of Ewittenham, Middlesex, England died in 1721. Charles Drax is considered to be the founder of Jamaica College, since it began as the Drax Free School in 1789. His executors were William Parrott of London, Merchant and Captain Robert Toublay. There was a lengthy legal process before Drax's Will was put into effect in full. William Beckford acquired the estate in 1722 from Samuel Reynolds, Charles Drax's brother-in-law. William Beckford died in 1770 and his son, also named William inherited the estate.
Following is an excerpt from Charles Drax's will 1721.
'I give Catherine Lush, (daughter of John Lush, Esq.) a negro woman slave called Bisstole which is in the possession of her mother.
..I give onto my (sp?) slaves Abnah and her daughter Fraust (sp? sp?.)
and onto Robin and his son
and onto Maria
Lreenah
Croofa and her daughter Mimba
Ibhoma
Long
Qnow
and Bungy
Olabroo and his wife Jane
all of them my slaves full and intire liberty and freedom from all slavery and bondage whatsoever.... from and immediately after my demise.
And onto my slave Aurora full ..... freedom and immediately after the demise of Mrs. Prire (sp?)
And my will and mind is that my slave Robin's son be admitted into the free school or ... hospital and be brought up and placed out as one of them.
? I give onto my Molatto boy Sam his full freedom when he shall attain the age of one and twenty years. sp?
I give onto Sarah Murphow Widow ten pounds per annum doing her life towards the maintenance of her children the first payment to be made on the first usual sp? day after my demise and I will and order that she be permitted to live upon a pairt of Landraloo Rio Nova in the Parish of St. Mary aforesaid and do injoy the fruits produce and profits therof.'
Please note that due to the lack of punctuation, I have separated the names of the enslaved people as they appear to me. I cannot confirm the accuracy of the names at this time. I do not know if Sarah Murphow Widow was a freeperson or enslaved.
Sources
Will of Charles Drax 1721, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills 1384-1858
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D3366775#imageViewerLink
Parish of St. Mary, Jamaica
jis.gov.jm/parish-profile-st-mary/
Pictures of St. Mary's Parish, Jamaica
www.digjamaica.com/st_mary
Drax Free School
jamaicacollege.org/about-jamaica-college/jc-history/
Drax Hall
thelastgreatgreathouseblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/drax-hall-great-house/
Following is an excerpt from Charles Drax's will 1721.
'I give Catherine Lush, (daughter of John Lush, Esq.) a negro woman slave called Bisstole which is in the possession of her mother.
..I give onto my (sp?) slaves Abnah and her daughter Fraust (sp? sp?.)
and onto Robin and his son
and onto Maria
Lreenah
Croofa and her daughter Mimba
Ibhoma
Long
Qnow
and Bungy
Olabroo and his wife Jane
all of them my slaves full and intire liberty and freedom from all slavery and bondage whatsoever.... from and immediately after my demise.
And onto my slave Aurora full ..... freedom and immediately after the demise of Mrs. Prire (sp?)
And my will and mind is that my slave Robin's son be admitted into the free school or ... hospital and be brought up and placed out as one of them.
? I give onto my Molatto boy Sam his full freedom when he shall attain the age of one and twenty years. sp?
I give onto Sarah Murphow Widow ten pounds per annum doing her life towards the maintenance of her children the first payment to be made on the first usual sp? day after my demise and I will and order that she be permitted to live upon a pairt of Landraloo Rio Nova in the Parish of St. Mary aforesaid and do injoy the fruits produce and profits therof.'
Please note that due to the lack of punctuation, I have separated the names of the enslaved people as they appear to me. I cannot confirm the accuracy of the names at this time. I do not know if Sarah Murphow Widow was a freeperson or enslaved.
Sources
Will of Charles Drax 1721, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills 1384-1858
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D3366775#imageViewerLink
Parish of St. Mary, Jamaica
jis.gov.jm/parish-profile-st-mary/
Pictures of St. Mary's Parish, Jamaica
www.digjamaica.com/st_mary
Drax Free School
jamaicacollege.org/about-jamaica-college/jc-history/
Drax Hall
thelastgreatgreathouseblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/drax-hall-great-house/
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