Henry Ashmeade

Slave-owner in Jamaica, of Bath when he made his will in 1820.

Baptised at St Michael, Gloucester, 15/12/1771. His parents were William and Mary Ashmeade. Henry Ashmeade arrived in Jamaica by 1796. He was ensign in St Ann Militia from 11 April 1796; still Ensign in 1802. He married Susannah Ewbank, daughter of William Ewbank, St Ann Jamaica.

Henry Ashmeade was owner of Albion estate, St Ann from 1812. He registered 93 enslaved people in 1817 in St Ann as owner. John Higginbottom registered 90 enslaved people in 1820 as Ashmeade’s attorney. The same group of enslaved people were registered after 1820 by Susan[nah] Ashmeade or her attorney, numbering 72 in 1832. He was an Assistant Judge in St Ann from 1808.

Henry Ashmeade of Henry Street, Bath, was buried at St James's, Bath, 07/03/1821 aged 49. Will of Henry Ashmeade [late of St Anns Jamaica but now] of Bath proved 10/04/1821. He left his real and personal and mixed estate in Jamaica and England to his wife Susanna subject to annuities of £50 p.a. each to his sister Mary Ward of Bath and brother Wm. Ashmeade of Paragon, Blackheath, Kent.

We are grateful to David Barker for assistance in compiling this entry.

Gloucestershire, England, C of E Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813; Jamaica Almanacs and Slave Registers, St Ann 1817 to 1832; Findmypast.co.uk, Somerset Burial Index [database online]; PROB 11/1641/338.