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Hi, glad I came across this chat.

I'm researching free coloured and black people in St. Vincent during the slave era and came across a will written by Judith Slater in May 1808 - https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP1013-1-5-2#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=165&xywh=-2098%2C-1%2C7195%2C4500

In it she names Thomas Fairbairn, William Alexander and Walter Coningham, as trustees for her children John Pope (who she freed in 1790), Eliza Cobham and Thomas Craig.

Walter Coningham (d. 1830) was an enslaver and owner of Colonarie Vale estate which he had jointly purchased with the other named trustee, William Alexander (d. 1814)

The fathers of her children were:
John Pope, merchant, deceased in 1788, father of John & Nancy Pope
Elijah Cobham, merchant who left St. Vincent and was  residing in Dominica in 1788, father of Eliza/Elisha Cobham
Stephen Craig, merchant, deceased, father of Thomas Craig

She also desired to free her 3 grandchildren:
1. Nancy Fairbairn (not sure of her parentage)
2. Thomas Fairbairn (parents were Thomas Fairbairn and Nancy Pope (she's not mentioned in the will - perhaps Nancy had died still holding enslaved status?) - young Thomas was baptized in St. George's Anglican in 1799;
3. Janet Burrage (Eliza's daughter) - [Eliza died on January 14, 1827 according to the St. George Anglican Cathedral records. Her “mastiff” daughter was Jennette/Janet/Jeannette Burrage/Burridge.]

My questions:

1. I don't understand how her grandchildren were enslaved unless of course Judith was only able to free John and not her other children.

2. Are any of your Fairbairns connected to this Thomas Fairbairn who she named as one of her trustees and why did she choose him? Who was he to her (perhaps the father of two of her grandchildren Nancy and Thomas?) Of course you must know that many interracial relationships produced children outside of marriage.

This will is a little confusing as I try to figure out how people are connected and why.

Don't mean to add any more complexities to your search.

Thanks,
Cheryl

Hi, I've got three scenarios here:

I found a Jessie Choppin living in Renfrew, Ontario in 1962. Would this be the one with maiden name Thomson?
I have a Jessie Choppin on my family tree who had two daughters, Caroline Elizabeth (1857-1923) and Eleanor Kay (b. April 14 1860), all of St. Vincent. Not sure if Choppin was Jessie's maiden name or married name. But the name Jessie sure was popular back then. Would it have been short for Jessica?
I'm trying to determine if/how the Jessie in Renfrew (and Pembroke earlier on) is related to Gerald Hampden Choppin. When he and his young family emigrated to the U.S. in 1949, their last known relative was noted as Jessie Choppin of Pembroke, ON. She was the aunt of Gerald. Not sure if this is the same Jessie you're researching, but if it is, can you please let me know.

Thanks,
Cheryl