John Palmer

Husband of Rebecca Ann (James) Weekes — married 10 Jul 1792 in Hanover, Jamaica

Died 16 Mar 1797 in Jamaica

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Biography

John's date and place of birth is unknown, but he was probably from an old, prominent Jamaican family. was the Owner of the Palmyra plantation in St James, Jamaica.

He served as: -
Custos and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, St.James, 1774-87;
Member of the Legislative Council of Jamaica from 1776
President of the Council in 1797
Major-General of Militia, County of Cornwall,1779-96
Colonel-in-Chief of the Western Division of the Island's Militia, 1790.

He married firstly unknown, by whom he had 2 sons. His sons resided in England.

John married secondly to Rosa Witter, nee Kelly, 5 May1767, Hanover, Jamaica. ^[1] Rosa had previously been married 3 times. She had inherited Rose Hall plantation from her first husband. Somewhere between 1770 and 1780, they built he great house, Rose Hall. When Rosa died in 1790, she bequeathed him Rose Hall.

Like many other rich planters of the period, John lived on credit, which was fine as long as the sugar boom lasted. His wealth was more apparent than real, and the more he spent on building and furnishing Rose Hall, the deeper he floundered into debt. In financial difficulties by 1792, when he mortgaged Rose Hall and Palmyra; both estates ended up in administration in the Court of Chancery and he removed to live at his more modest accommodation at Brandon Hill. The receivers saw to the administration of slave labour, providing such plantation supplies, food, clothing, medical attention, (such as it was in those days), doled out punishment if necessary, sold and shipped the sugar and rum. They were responsible for submitting accounts which were officially lodged with the Court

He married a third time to the much younger, Rebecca Ann James, 01 Jul 1792, Hanover, Jamaica, ^[2] and again on the 4 August 1792, in Rebecca's home town, at Trelawny, Jamaica. ^[3]

He died 16 Mar 1797,Brandon Hill, Jamaica.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ "Caribbean Marriages, 1591-1905", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLKK-MQT : 1 February 2020), John Palmer, 1767.
   Parish Register, Hanover, Jamaica, page 35
   A Register of Marriages in the Parish of St James in the Island of Jamaica, 1767 & 1768
   Palmer; The Honbl John Palmer & Rosa Witter; both of the Parish of St. James, were joined together in the holy State of Matrimony on the 5th of May 1767.
   Digital Folder Number: 004005264; Microfilm Number: 1224327; Image Number: 00346; Originating System: EASY; Indexing Batch: I03814-0
2. ↑ "Caribbean Marriages, 1591-1905", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLKK-7QL : 1 February 2020), Rebecca Ann James in entry for John Palmer, 1792.
   A Register of Marriages 1792, Hanover, Jamaica
   John Palmer of the parish of St. James and Rebecca Ann James of the parish of Trelawny Spinster were joined together in the Holy state of Matrimony, 10th July 1792
   Digital Folder Number: 004005264; Microfilm Number: 1224327; Image Number: 00368; Originating System: EASY; Indexing Batch: I03814-0
3. ↑ "Caribbean Marriages, 1591-1905", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLK2-JQ7 : 1 February 2020), Rebecca Ann James in entry for John Palmer, 1792.
   Trelawny Marriages
   1792, Augt 4th; John Palmer of the parish of St. James and Rebecca Ann James of the parish of Trelawny Spinster were joined together in the Holy state of Matrimony 4th August 1791.
   Digital Folder Number: 004005266; Microfilm Number: 1291671; Image Number: 00322; Originating System: EASY; Indexing Batch: I04099-9
4. ↑ The Columbian Magazine or Monthly Miscellany, March 1797, Published in Kingston, Jamaica, 1796-1799
   DIED at Brandon Hill, the Hon. John Palmer, Esq.

• https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/2146644535

• https://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Samples2/mpalmer.htm

• https://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Samples/fred03.htm