In July 1838 a young woman born in Jamaica was buried in the Chorlton graveyard.
My interest in this young woman was roused because she is mentioned in the pages of the UCL Legacies of British Slave - ownership project. **
The young woman was 19 year old Emily Lawes Pink, she was one of 8 children whose father was a major plantation owner in the parish of St Ann. Not only did her father own two plantations but her mother held one in her own right.
Unfortunately, we do not know how Emily came to be living in fashionable Chorlton on Medlock in the 1830’s but we do know something about her origins.
Her father was John Pink and her mother was Rebecca Hiatt. As mentioned, they had 8 children together but were never married. A line in John's will may explain why. Rebecca was described as, ‘my respected friend and housekeeper’. Also when we see the baptism records for their first son, we see that he is recorded as a ‘free quadroon’. It is reasonable to surmise that Rebecca was of mixed race and therefore marriage was out of the question at that time. However it would appear that to all intents and purposes they led a married life and the children were raised in the family home. We also know that Rebecca was in fact the daughter of one of the most powerful Planters in Jamaica and was bequeathed one of her father's estates on his passing.
The Pink's plantation of Drax Hall was one of the largest in the parish and was worked by 275 slaves. Sugar was milled with a ‘modern’ water wheel and this helped to make the plantation one of the wealthiest in Jamaica.
In August 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act came in to force and this is when planters such as John Pink started to receive their compensation. Pink received over £7000 (almost £5.5 million today) but also, as part of the settlement he was allowed to keep his workforce as ‘apprentices’ for a further 6 years without having to pay them.
John Pink died in 1834, Rebecca had already passed away in 1829 and his vast estates and wealth was shared out between his children. They each received very large allowances until they were 21 and then earnings from their ownership share in the estate which continued to be run by a son.
Emily and other siblings end up in England as wealthy young people. They seem to have gone to different parts of the country and become part of genteel society. Why did Emily settle in Manchester? It would be wonderful to learn more about her short life and times in Manchester, the daughter of a Jamaican plantation owner.
Dave Rawson © 2020
Dave Rawson, is a Manchester City Councillor for Chorlton Park Ward
Location; Jamaica, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Picture, Chorlton Parish Church, circa 1870 from the collection of Tony Walker, and the burial ground, 2008, from the collection of Andrew Simpson
*“that wickedness, whereby an hundred thousand Africans are annually murdered” ………stories of Chorlton and slavery .... part 1, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2020/07/that-wickedness-whereby-hundred.html
**Legacies of British Slave-ownership, https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/
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| St Clement's and the parish burial ground, circa 1870 |
The young woman was 19 year old Emily Lawes Pink, she was one of 8 children whose father was a major plantation owner in the parish of St Ann. Not only did her father own two plantations but her mother held one in her own right.
Unfortunately, we do not know how Emily came to be living in fashionable Chorlton on Medlock in the 1830’s but we do know something about her origins.
Her father was John Pink and her mother was Rebecca Hiatt. As mentioned, they had 8 children together but were never married. A line in John's will may explain why. Rebecca was described as, ‘my respected friend and housekeeper’. Also when we see the baptism records for their first son, we see that he is recorded as a ‘free quadroon’. It is reasonable to surmise that Rebecca was of mixed race and therefore marriage was out of the question at that time. However it would appear that to all intents and purposes they led a married life and the children were raised in the family home. We also know that Rebecca was in fact the daughter of one of the most powerful Planters in Jamaica and was bequeathed one of her father's estates on his passing.
The Pink's plantation of Drax Hall was one of the largest in the parish and was worked by 275 slaves. Sugar was milled with a ‘modern’ water wheel and this helped to make the plantation one of the wealthiest in Jamaica.
 |
| The parish burial ground, 2008 |
John Pink died in 1834, Rebecca had already passed away in 1829 and his vast estates and wealth was shared out between his children. They each received very large allowances until they were 21 and then earnings from their ownership share in the estate which continued to be run by a son.
Emily and other siblings end up in England as wealthy young people. They seem to have gone to different parts of the country and become part of genteel society. Why did Emily settle in Manchester? It would be wonderful to learn more about her short life and times in Manchester, the daughter of a Jamaican plantation owner.
Dave Rawson © 2020
Dave Rawson, is a Manchester City Councillor for Chorlton Park Ward
Location; Jamaica, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Picture, Chorlton Parish Church, circa 1870 from the collection of Tony Walker, and the burial ground, 2008, from the collection of Andrew Simpson
*“that wickedness, whereby an hundred thousand Africans are annually murdered” ………stories of Chorlton and slavery .... part 1, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2020/07/that-wickedness-whereby-hundred.html
**Legacies of British Slave-ownership, https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/
Wow interesting thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteVery fascinating , thanks for sharing David , must go and pay respects.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing. I am researching my family and uncovering my connection to this family.
ReplyDelete