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From: "Edward Crawford" <>
Subject: Re: Slave registers
Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2000 06:54:39 +0100


This might be relevant but might not. It is from the Acts of Assembly that I
copied and is on a number of sites now.

"CO/139/47 (774) Frances Bowen Baker of the Parish of Westmoreland, a free
mustee woman and Robert Bowen Baker, John Wedderburn Baker, Francis Bowen
Baker, William Baker, George Bridges Rodney Baker, Jane Baker and Frances
Baker the several children of the said Frances Bowen Baker to all rights and
privileges under certain restrictions 10.12.1790"

Edward Crawford
-----Original Message-----
From: euroleader <>
To: <>
Date: 04 September 2000 23:21
Subject: Re: Slave registers


>Many thanks - the responses have been most helpful.
>
>The person is question, Robert, the mulatto son of James Wedderburn of
>Inveresk and his housekeeper Rosanna, became a radical preacher and
>abolitionist on his return to England, an acquaintance of Wilberforce, his
>works are still in print today. In his published works I found the
>following:
>
>"... I have been free from birth, and I thank my God that through a long
>life of hardship and adversity, I have ever been free both in mind and
body:
>and have always raised my voice on behalf of my enslaved countrymen! My
>mother had, previously to my birth, borne two other sons to James
Wedderburn
>Esq. of Inveresk, Slave-Dealer, one of whom, a mill-wright, works now upon
>the family estate in Jamaica, and has done his whole life-time; and so far
>was my father from doubting me to be his son, that he recorded my freedom,
>and that of my brother James, the mill-wright, himself, in the Government
>Secretary's Office; where it may be seen to this day................"
>
>Robert therefore claims that his own father James registered the birth.
>Bearing in mind that he was born free, the son of a plantation owner, would
>the entry have nonetheless still been on a separate slave register? The
>reference to the Government Secretary's Office - is this just wishful
>thinking on Robert's part?
>
>For those who are interested, there is much more on Robert's contribution
to
>the ending of the slave trade at the website below.
>
>Thanks again
>Peter
>http://perso.wanadoo.fr/euroleader/wedderburn
>
>
>
>

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