George Ricketts (abt. 1684 - 1760)

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Waite) Ricketts — married before 1714 in Jamaica

Husband of Elizabeth (Cleaver) Goodin — married 2 Oct 1759 in Westmoreland, Jamaica

Descendants

Died 2 Oct 1760 at about age 76 in Cornwall, Westmoreland, Jamaica

Biography

This profile is part of the Ricketts Name Study.

George Ricketts was born about 1684, probably on the Canaan estate. We assume that he participated in the family enterprises, but may not have traveled much in connection with them. He apparently lived mostly in Jamaica at Canaan (which he inherited after his father’s death), while his siblings made their primary homes elsewhere. He became a Major General in the Jamaican Militia.

George was named in the 1699 will of his father William. ^[1] He was also named in the 1735 will of his brother William Ricketts of New York. ^[2]

It is believed his first wife was Sara Waite/Wayte, daughter of Raynes Waite. They are said to have 27 children before her death on 2 Jun 1759, age 56. She was buried at Canaan on 3 Jun 1759. ^[3]

His second marriage was to Sarah Bennet, the widow of John Lewis of Cornwall, Jamaica.

George Ricketts Esq of the parish of Westmoreland married Elizabeth Cleaver, his third wife, of the same parish, spinster on 2 Oct 1759 at Westmoreland. ^[4] The parish register is not indexed but can be viewed clearly in the image.

George died 2 Oct 1760, age 76, buried at Canaan. His widow Elizabeth married George Robert Goodin Esq, a grand-nephew of Mary Goodin; two children. Born 5 Jul 1737, Elizabeth died 13 Sep 1762, age 25; possibly in or resulting from the second childbirth.

George Ricketts of Westmoreland, Esquire. Estate probated in Jamaica in 1762. Slave-ownership at probate: 288 of whom 143 were listed as male and 145 as female. 67 were listed as boys, girls or children. Total value of estate at probate: £43892.11 Jamaican currency of which £15854.88 currency was the value of enslaved people. Estate valuation included £35 currency cash, £22895.79 currency debts and £171.76 currency plate.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ 'Captain William Ricketts', Legacies of British Slavery database, UCL accessed 16th September 2023.
2. ↑ An abstract of his will is to be found in "Abstracts of Wills on file in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York (Volume III. 1730-1744) by New York (County) Surrogate's Court". This was published in Volume XXVII of the New York Historical Society Fund in 1885.
3. ↑ Parish register transcripts: "Jamaica, Church of Englan...er Transcripts, 1664-1880"
   Catalog: Parish register transcripts Westmoreland Parish Baptism, marr., burial index (v. 1-2) 1739-1871 Baptism, burial index (v. 3) 1858-1871 Baptisms, marr., burials (v. 1) 1739-1825
   Image path: Jamaica, Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 > Westmoreland > Baptisms, marriages, burials 1739-1825, Vol. 1 > image 19 of 223
   FamilySearch Image: 939F-DDL1-T (accessed 23 July 2023)
4. ↑ Parish register transcripts: "Jamaica, Church of Englan...er Transcripts, 1664-1880"
   Catalog: Parish register transcripts Westmoreland Parish Baptism, marr., burial index (v. 1-2) 1739-1871 Baptism, burial index (v. 3) 1858-1871 Baptisms, marr., burials (v. 1) 1739-1825
   Image path: Jamaica, Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 > Westmoreland > Baptisms, marriages, burials 1739-1825, Vol. 1 > image 19 of 223
   FamilySearch Image: 939F-DDL1-T (accessed 23 July 2023)
5. ↑ 'George Ricketts of Canaan', Legacies of British Slavery database, UCL [accessed 16th September 2023].

• "Jamaica, Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VHDW-WSB : 16 August 2019), George Ricketts in entry for George William Ricketts, 16 Dec 1760, Christening; citing p. 40, Westmoreland, Jamaica, Registrar General's Department, Spanish Town; FHL microfilm 1,224,000.
• "Jamaica, Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VHD7-SW9 : 16 August 2019), Geo Ricketts in entry for Mary Ricketts, 04 Oct 1718, Christening; citing p. 17, Vere, Jamaica, Registrar General's Department, Spanish Town; FHL microfilm 1,291,677.