RESERVED

Substantial archive of Barbados plantations,

including appraised inventory of enslaved people

John Gibbons; William Gibbons; Rebecca Watson; William Watson; Samuel le Gay; Matthew Coulthurst; Joseph Pickering; George Blackman; Thomas Watkinson et. al.

[1]. Deed of sale for Bakers Plantation under decree.

Barbados, 1771.

9 plano paper sheets (ca. 60x70 cm.), folded and sealed together.

[with:]

[2]. Grant of rent charge of £ 400 out of a plantation in Barbados upon the marriage of his son William Gibbons Esq. with Miss Watson.

Barbados, 1771.

11 plano vellum sheets (60x70 cm.) and 1 sealed paper sheet attached, folded and sealed together.

[with:]

[3]. Assignment.

Barbados, August 22nd 1798.

8 plano vellum sheets (60x70 cm.) and 1 sealed paper sheet attached, folded and sealed together.

Important colonial West-Indies primary source containing a wealth of information about the Gibbons family-owned sugar plantations in Barbados. Consisting of three sets of deeds drafted on different occasions that all relate to the transfer of ownership of said plantations. Several early 19^th century entries were added in ink on the recto’s, regarding later ownership changes. Most detailed information is available in set 1, of which one sheet names all 70 enslaved workers of the Baker’s plantation, states their supposed value and mentions several more women and children, along with other “inventory”.
                Until 1776 the owner of all Gibbons plantations was Sir Gibbons 2nd Bart. (1717-1776), a high ranking society member and MP for Stockbridge (1754-1761) and for Wallingford (1761-1768). He stated in his will (made in 1772, proved 22/02/1777) that he had settled his English property under entail on his son William on the latter's marriage to Rebecca Watson in 1771 (see set number 2), with reversion to his second son John and in turn to his younger sons. In the will he rehearsed an indenture of 1771 - the marriage settlement of his son William - whereby he had pledged an estate called Bishops to raise an annuity of £400 p.a. to William Buller and Joseph Pickering as trustees, which he shifted to the Morgan Lewis and Baker’s Hill estates. It also identified the Haymans and Mullins estates as his. The William marriage settlement is number 2 of the collections that we offer here. Set number 1 was drafted for the sale of the Baker’s plantation to second son John Gibbons (?-1843), Reverend and Rector of Puddletown, Dorset, but residing in the Parish of Saint Peters in Barbados for the inventory and appraisal of his plantation needed for the deed. He rented a part out to George Blackman and Thomas Watkinson, leased some to Joseph Pickering of Pickerings plantation and later sold the plantation to the Coulthurst family. Set number 3 arranges the rent that was settled in the elder Gibbons’ will of £400 p.a. to William Buller and Joseph Pickering.

Condition: Poor general condition. Number 1: damaged at the folds with loss of text, sheet 1 partially detached, inset sheet worn. Number 2: worn at the folds, first sheets three minor holes, otherwise in good condition. Number 3: slight wear, some damage to first sheet.

Sources:

The Peerage: Sir John Gibbons 2nd Bt.; History of Parliament online: entry by Mary M. Drummond. See: http://thepeerage.com/p41876.htm#i418753

Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery, UCL. See: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/