William Christopher Schmalling otherwise Smalling

Slave-owner in Jamaica, dying of Bath c. 1786. He was intimately connected with the Foster family of Bedford, and was almost certainly the same man acting as the Attorney for the family in Jamaica 1765-1778.

1. Will of William Christopher Schmalling otherwise William Smalling [formerly of Jamaica but now] of Bath Somerset [made in 1786] was proved 11/01/1787. In the will he left £400 in trust to fund an annuity to his sister Sophia Christiana Schmalling, and £5000 to his wife. He left his estates, identified as Emmaus Pen and Content in St Elizabeth, in trust (one of his trustees was Joseph Foster Barham I), with the income to his wife Elizabeth for life and then to William Smalling Foster, son of Thomas Foster of Fonmon Castle in Glamorganshire, failing whom to John Foster, another son of Thomas Foster.

2. In 1804, a distribution to the daughters of Thomas Foster took place of the proceeds of the sale of 'slave-property' in Jamaica: 'Settlement 17/11/1804. Settlement by John Foster Esq. of the money arising from the sale of the late Mr. William Christopher Smallings, Jamaica estate, upon or for the benefit of the four eldest daughters of Thomas Foster Esq.'

William Smalling filed Crop Accounts for Island estate (St Elizabeth's, Jamaica) in 1765, 1766, 1767, 1769 on behalf of Joseph Foster Barham. In 1765 he is listed as Overseer and after that as Attorney. In 1771, 1772, 1773, 1778 he filed Crop Accounts for Elim estate (St Elizabeth, Jamaica), on behalf of the heirs of Thomas Foster Esq. In 1765, 1766, 1767, 1768, 1769, 1771, 1773, 1774 and 1775 he filed Crop Accounts for Bogue estate (St Elizabeth, Jamaica). From 1765-68 he did so as Attorney on behalf of William Foster Esq. of the County of Bedford. After 1768 he filed the accounts as Executor to the estate of William Foster deceased, on behalf of his heirs.

1. PROB 11/1149/116.

2. Hull History Centre C DDI/2/13 http://catalogue.hullhistorycentre.org.uk/files/c-ddi.pdf [accessed 24/05/2018].