James Sutherland (abt. 1775 - 1831)

Born about 1775 in Jamaica

Descendants

Died 1831 at about age 56 in Manchester, Jamaica [uncertain]

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Biography

James Sutherland was almost certainly the eldest son of John Sutherland, Surveyor, and his wife Frances Grant, who lived mostly in St Thomas in the Vale (the parish records for which have not survived, meaning he has no birth record). That he was a member of this family is shown by the fact that c. 1819 he purchased a sick slave named Margaret Winter and her child as a favour for Agnes Lobban, the partner of John Grant Sutherland, one of James' presumed brothers. She died before the next slave return having been "long sick". James links to a family from the Highlands is demonstrated by the fact that he subscribed to the Gaelic Dictionary published in 1822.

James is first recorded in 1792-3 as a book-keeper and overseer on Dunkley's Dry River (sugar) Plantation in Vere, Jamaica. By 1799, he had acquired his Dunrobin Plantation in Clarendon (later in Manchester), where he grew coffee and presumably citrus fruits. While the coffee plants were presumably still maturing, in 1801 he served as overseer for Samuel Virgin on Hope Pen, Clarendon, which lay a short horse ride from Dunrobin.

In 1817, James served as Quartermaster in the Manchester Regiment, and was made Ensign on 11 Jan 1819. In 1824, he became coroner and treasurer of the workhouse.

Around 1816 he took a "mestee" life partner named Bethia Bryce, sister of Eleanor Young, whose partner Daniel Virtue was James' close friend and business associate. James and Bethia produced four "white-by-law" children, who were the principal beneficiaries in his will. The middle names of his children are the surnames of his friends and fellow Manchester planters.

By 1824, James held 59 slaves and 28 head of stock, and by 1826 he held 81 slaves, some of whom he had hired. He made his will in 1829 and died in the early part of 1831. His brother Alexander is named in his will, which was witnessed by a Robert Sutherland, presumably another brother (probably Robert William Sutherland). Following his demise, his executor Adam Hogg (nephew of Daniel Virtue, now deceased) purchased his slaves.

Sources

• Jamaica Church of England Transcripts
• Jamaica Almanacs (Givings-In and Military Lists)
• Will of James Sutherland. Jamaica Island Registry Office, Spanish Town
• Slave Registers forAgnes Lobban, St. Thomas in the Vale, Jamaica; James Sutherland, Manchester, Jamaica.
• Legacies of British Slave Ownership website