John Constable

London West India merchant, awardee of the compensation for the enslaved people on several estates in Dominic and St Vincent. Son of John Charles Constable (q.v.) and brother of Charles Quayle Constable.

1. Baptised St Andrew Holborn 10/12/1801. Educated at Charterhouse. Marriage of John Constable Esq., to Margaret, second daughter of John Saunders Esq., of Downes House Eling Southampton in 1826.

2. 'John Constable' is shown as having a counting-house at Brabant Court in the City of London in 1833; in 1851 he was shown at 17 Westbourne Terrace aged 49 'gentleman.'

3. John Constable of 2 Brabant Court was an investor in the British American Land Company in 1835. He had one vote so had bought between 5 and 15 shares at £50 each.

4. Will of John Constable of 50 Sussex Square Brighton who died 19/8/1866 proved 6/10/1866 by Marmaduke Constable the son, effects under £7000.

T71/881 Dominica claim nos. 78 (Blenheim), 132 (Hampstead), 138 (Woodford Hill), 153 (Moore Park, St Andrew), 283 (Hope Estate), 437 (Copt Hall) and 438 (Copt Hall); T71/892 St Vincent claim nos. 305, 635 (Grove Estate) and 645 (Spring Estate).

1. Ancestry.com, London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [database online]; William Douglas Parish List of Carthusians 1800-1870 which gives him as 'John Jolly Constable'; Gentleman's Magazine Vol. 96 Part 2 (1826) p. 556. John Constable wrote to the Commissioners from Downes House, T71/1609 letter from John Constable of Downes House, Eling, Southampton [Hampshire] with countersignature of John Charles Constable ['I have perused the above contents and agree the same'], to have claims Dominica nos. 132, 138 4[?] and 50[?] placed in 'the first class of claim' [i.e.the uncontested claims].

2. London Gazette 19115 31/12/1833 p. 2398; 1851 census online. 

3. List of the proprietors of the British American Land Company: incorporated and established by Charter and Act of Parliament, 1834 (London, n.d.) p. 5 (via Archive.org) p. 7.

4. National Probate Calendar 1866. The John Constable baptised in 1801 and who died in 1866 is identifed as the son of John Charles Constable in the detailed and well-referenced life story appearing under 'Constable of Oak House Battersea' on www.ancestry.com.

We are grateful to Hugh Constable for his help with this entry.