James Gale# Senior

  Notes:

Estlin notes;
"Of Beverley, Yorks & of St Elizabeth's Jamaica. Went to St Elizabeth's, Jamaica, to take possession of a large estate (Prospect Hill) left him by the Gale family. He returned to England owing to ill health & died at Bristol, his wife following the same year. The 4 children were brought up by Mrs Laird, their great Aunt.
The Jamaica Property was ruined & robbed by an Agent during the minority of the children of James Gale Senior - & after the Emancipation of the slaves there was no one to cultivate the land, which lapsed to the Crown."
HOWEVER - this last point doesn't tie in with his son Bernard remaining in Jamaica and having AN estate, albeit Salt Spring, not Prospect Hill.

From http://www.bromfield.us/gen_property/JA_Prop29.htm can see that he owned the Salt-Spring property in Jamaica in 1816 with 295 slaves and 559 stock. In subsequent years it was owned by his son Bernard.

Was a 'Gentleman' at the time of his son Frederick's wedding in 1867, although could have been dead by then of course.

Archer notes; "Of Prospect Hill in parish of Westmoreland, Jamaica - an estate left to him by the Gale family. Educated Charterhouse. Member of the Assembly for St Elizabeth in 1781, Assistant Judge of the Jamaica Supreme Court"

His will of 4 Apr 1797 is available for download from the National Archive office.

From Anthony Bateman; The St.Pauls, Bristol, memorial is outside the front door.

Book Caribbeana by Vere Langford Oliver contains text "In Memory of James Gale Senior Esq of the Parish of St Elizabeth in the Island of Jamaica who departed this life on the 3rd day of February 1797 aged 38". Same book also mentions Leatita Martia Senior, Louis Goodin Senior etc in Index. Later; it actually says "James Gale Senior of Jamaica, Esq. Will dated 6 Sep 1796. I am heir-at-law (or one of them) of Wm Gale of Saltspring or of his father Henry Gale esq, deceased. My wife Letitia. My children Louis Goodin Senior, Bernard Martin Senior, Laetitia Maria Senior, and James Gale Senior. Proved 1797 (PCC 273 Exeter. The Gales were a very prominent family in Jamaica the first of whom ......."

James married Letitia# Martin, daughter of Lewis Burwell# Martin and Ann# Cunningham, on 12 Sep 1785 in St Elizabeth, Jamaica. (Letitia# Martin was born in 1768 in Jamaica?, died on 4 Dec 1797 in Clifton, Bristol and was buried in St Paul's, Bristol (see monumental inscriptions).)