Part 863s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – 1797 William Smith - Grenada Register of Records Document

Good Day,


My search for logical possibilities of the Smith connections is Grenada continues. This is my search and research for my ggg-grandfather James Smith. Today I worked on a document from the Grenada Registers of Records. This record was entered 25 October 1797.

Here are the images of the pages 55 through and including 59. This record was entered 216 years and 6 days ago. The actual date of the document was 13 July 1797, 216 years 3 months and 18 days in the past. The images are downloaded from the microfilm FHL [1563328] and Item 1.

And my transcription -

55

Entered 25th October 1797 –

To all to whom these presents shall come John Tarleton and Daniel
Backhouse of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster and Kingdom of Great
Britain Merchants and Greeting Whereas the said John Tarleton and
Daniel Backhouse lately carried on the Busineſs of a Merchant in Copartnership
with Thomas Tarleton at Liverpool aforesaid under the firm of Tarletons and
Backhouse and in the West Indies and other places under the firm of Thomas
Tarleton and Company and Whilst in Copartnership as aforesaid They employed
William Postlethwaite now of the Island of Grenada as one of their Agents

and

56

And whereas several disputes and differences have arisen
between the said John Tarleton and Daniel Back house and the said
Thomas Tarleton respecting their partnership affairs busineſs and Concerns
And the said William Postlethwaite hath withheld the said partnership Books
and many Errors and improper Charges Appear and have been made in
the Accounts transmitted by the said William Postlethwaite Now know
Ye that the said John Tarleton and Daniel Backhouse for divers good Causes
and Considerations them hereunto moving Have and each of them Hath
made ordained Authorized constituted and appointed and in their and
each of their place and stead put and deputed and by these presents Do and
each of them Doth Make ordain Authorize constitute and appoint and in
their and each of their pace and stead put and depute William Smith of the
Island of Martinique Richard Hooton of the Island of Dominica and John
Ferguſson late of Liverpool aforesaid but now of the Island of Grenada
Merchants their and each of their true and lawful Attorneys and Agents
jointly or severally for them and in their Names as late Partners with the said
Thomas Tarleton or in their own individual Capacities or in such other
manner as occasion may require to Ask demand Sue for Recover and
Received of and from the said William Postlethwaite all such Sum and Sums
of Money as are or shall or may be due owing payable or belonging to them
from the William Postlethwaite for or on any Account whatsoever And
also all Goods Wares and Merchandises belonging to them or either of them
or any Capacity whatsoever which now are or shall be in the Custody poſseſsion
or power of the said William Postlethwaite And all Bills Bonds Mortgages
Specialties Notes books of Account Papers Letters instruments and writings
which now are or hereafter shall be in his Custody poſseſsion or power relating
to or in any wise concerning the said partnership concern which they or either
of them are is or shall or may be entitle to Receive from the said William
Postlethwaite or any other person or persons on his behalf And if occasion
require for them and each of them to commence an Action or Actions at Law
of file any Bill or Bills in Equity or institute any other proceeding in any
Court or Courts for all or any of the purposes aforesaid or for compelling the said
William Postlethwaite and the said Thomas Tarleton or wither of them and
all other neceſsary Parties to come to an account with the said John
Tarleton and Daniel Backhouse of all Matters and things which in

any

57

any wise relate to the said Partnership under the said firm of Tarletons
and Backhouse or Thomas Tarleton and Company or the Agency of the said
William Postlethwaite in any wise or for the purpose of getting a Receiver
appointed by the proper Court or Courts for the collecting Receiving and Recovering
the Estate and Effects belonging to the said Partnership in the West India Islands
or in any other parts beyond the Seas And for further to adjust Liquidate and
settle all accounts now open and depending between them the said John
Tarleton and Daniel Backhouse in any Capacity whatsoever and the said
Thomas Tarleton and William Postlethwaite or either of them And on Receipt
of any Sum or Sums of Money Mortgages Bonds Specialties Bills Notes Goods
Wares Merchandises or Effects by Virtue hereof for them and each or either of
them to give good sufficient and effectual discharges for what they shall so
Receive And to appear to and defend any Action or Suit that may be commenced
and prosecuted against them or either of them in the West India Islands or other
parts beyond Seas respecting any of the Matters aforesaid And Generally
they do hereby Authorize and impower the said William Smith Richard Hooten
and John Ferguſson and every of them jointly or severally to do all such lawful
Acts Deeds Matters and things for accomplishing all or any of the purposes
aforesaid and for settling all Accounts with the said William Postlethwaite and
with the said Thomas Tarleton or either of them or any other person or persons for
or in any wise relating to the said Partnership concern carried on under the
several firms aforesaid as fully and effectually as they the said John Tarleton
and Daniel Backhouse or either of them could do in their own proper persons
respectively And one or more Attorney or Attorneys under them the said William
Smith Richard Hooton and John Ferguſson or any of them for all or any of
the purposes aforesaid to substitute and appoint and such substitute or
Substitutes to revoke and others to appoint as often as has the said William
Smith Richard Hooton and John Ferguſson or any of them shall deem it
neceſsary or expedient to be done they the said John Tarleton and Daniel
Backhouse and each of them hereby Ratifying and allowing all and whatsoever
the said William Smith Richard Hooton and John Ferguſson or their
lawful Substitute or Substitutes shall legally do or cause to be done by
virtue of these presents And they do and each of them doth hereby Ratify
and Confirm all and every the powers and Authorities heretofore given by
them to the said William Smith Richard Hooton and John Ferguſson as
fully as if the Contents thereof were here repeated In Witneſs whereof

the

58

the said John Tarleton and Daniel Backhouse have hereto set their
Hands and Seals the thirteenth day of July in the Year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and Ninety seven.

John Tarleton (LS)

Danl. Backhouse (LS)

Sealed and delivered being first duly }
stamped in presence of…………. }

Mark Stephenson // Chas. Johnston

This is the paper writing referred to by the Affidavit of Mark Stephenson
Sworn before me this 22nd day of July 1797.

Geo. Dunbar Mayor

Mark Stephenson of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster Gentleman
Maketh Oath and saith that he was present and did see John Tarleton and
Daniel Backhouse of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster Merchants
severally duly Sign Seal and as his Act and Deed deliver the paper writing
hereunto Annexed purporting to be a power of Attorney from the said John
Tarleton and Daniel Backhouse to William Smith of the Island of
Martinique Richard Hooton of the Island of Dominica and John Ferguſson
late of Liverpool aforesaid but now of the Island of Grenada Merchants for
the purposes therein mentioned And that the Names John Tarleton and
Dan; Backhouse thereto subscribed as the parties executing the same And the
Names Mark Stephenson and Chas Johnston as the Witneſses attesting the
Execution thereof respectively are of the proper hands writing of the said John
Tarleton and Daniel Backhouse and of Charles Johnston of Liverpool
aforesaid Gentleman and this Deponent respectively.

Mark Stephenson

Sworn at Liverpool aforesaid this Twenty second }
day of July one thousand seven hundred and }
ninety seven Before }

Geo. Dunbar Mayor

To all to whom these Presents shall come I George Dunbar Esquire
Mayor of the Borough and Town of Liverpool in the County Palatine of Lancaster
and Kingdom of Great Britain Do hereby Certify that on the Day of the
Date hereof personally came and appeared before me Mark Stephenson of
Liverpool aforesaid Gentleman the Deponent named in the Affidavit on the
other side hereof being a Person well known and worthy of good Credit and by
solemn Oath which the said Deponent then took before me upon the Holy
Evangelists of Almighty God He did solemnly and sincerely declare testify and
depose to be true the several Matters and Things mentioned and contained in
the said Affidavit

In

59

(LS)
In Faith and Testimony whereof I the said
Mayor have caused the Seal of Mayoralty of the said Borough
and Town to be hereunto put and affixed and the power of
Attorney mentioned and referred to in the said Affidavit to be
hereunto annexed Dated at Liverpool the Twenty second
Day of July in the thirty seventh Year of the Reign of our
Sovereign Lord George the Third over Great Britain and so
forth King And in the Year of our Lord 1797 –

By Order of the Mayor

R Stathame

Dep Town Clerk

As I am not a legal expert I would not venture to try to decipher the legal implications of this record.  From my primitive observation this 1797 document appears to be concerning some issues between the Tarletons and Backhouse with and against one William Postlethwaite. Interesting as the history may be, I am more interested in possible indications regarding William Smith.

The reference to William Smith in this document is somewhat thought provoking. It refers to "William Smith of the Island of Martinique". This caught my eye. It is a thought and purely a thought that as family lore may have indicated that ggg-grandmother Mary Ann (née Doret) Smith may have been from Martinique there may have been some prior Smith/Doret connections before the Grenada origins. Historically, Britain controlled the island almost continuously from 1794-1815, when it was traded back to France at the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars.

My search continues...

Enjoy,

Jim

Click here to continue reading...

Part 862s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – 1795 Mr. Smith - Attestation, Grenada

Good day,

I continue in the search and research for clues to the origins of my ggg-grandfather James Smith.

My next record and document that I transcribe has only the mention of a "Mr. Smith" in the body of the attestation signed to by John Tarleton.  The date of the letter is 16 April 1795 and all-things-being-equal it could be related to as an extension of business and to the previous Power of Attorney assigned by John Tarleton et al to William Smith.  I do not have any immediate source that the "Mr. Smith" mentioned in this letter is the same "William Smith" of the 1794 Power of Attorney but there is a possible and logical coincidence. (See Part 861s.)

The source of this record is of the Grenada Register of Records and copied as an image to the microfilm FHL [1563328] and Item 2, Page 35.

35

Entered 30th September 1797 –

London 16 April 1795

Wm. Postlethwaite Esq
Sir,
I have just time before the departure of this Mail to
acknowlege the receipt of you Letter of the 11th of February and in answer to which
I by leave to inform you that in conformity to my promise and guarantee to you
of Mr. Smith I shall duly accept the Bills you advise to have drawn on me for the
amount of the Mary’s Slaves as well as the Bills in favor of the Captain, Mates of
the Account Sales are undoubtedly very pleasing & satisfactory tho’ I wish the BIlls
had been at a longer sight.

I remain

Sir

Your mo hum sert.

John Tarleton

(Superscribed)
William Postlethwaite Esq.
Grenada
Grenada – Before the Honorable Thomas Bridgwater Esquire Chief
Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for said Island established
Personally appeared John Dawson of Liverpool in the Kingdom of Great
Britain Merchant at present in the Town of Saint George on this Island, who being
duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God maketh Oath and saith that he
knows and is well acquainted with John Tarleton of Liverpool aforesaid Merchant
and also with his manner and Character of Hand writing and Subscription having
often seen him write and subscribe his Name, and having viewed and carefully
perused the Letter written on the other side of this Paper purporting to be a Letter
from the aforesaid John Tarleton to William Posthelwaite of the said Island of
Grenada Merchant and dated “London 16th April 1795 and subscribed “John
Tarleton” he saith that he verily and in his Conscience believes the whole of the said
Letter and also the Subscription to the same is of the proper hand writing &
Subscription of the aforesaid John Tarleton

John Dawson

Sworn to before me this }
30th Sept. 1797
Thomas Bridgwater

Is this William Smith? I do not know but all I can do at this point is continue my search and research.

Enjoy,

Jim

Click here to continue reading...

Part 861s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – 1794 William Smith - Power of Attorney, Grenada

Good Day,

Well I am back. I have returned from a four month respite. I am ready to restart my search and research of my own and associated genealogy.

And I decided that it was time to resume my search for the origins of my ggg-grandfather James Smith. The earliest documentation that I have been able to uncover takes me back in time to 27 December 1802 (see Part 129s)

Previously in an effort of uncovering information and data about my ggg-grandfather James Smith I was working on the transcribing of possible documents and contracts on file with the Grenada Archives. A good portion of these documents have been microfilmed by the Family History Library and are available for use. The collection which is authored by the Supreme Court of Grenada is cataloged under the title of Registers of Records, 1764-1931.

My search and research goal is to find as many records that include the surname Smith for a period of time from about 1790 through 1850. I did begin this project a time back and I have recorded as many Smiths that I have located from the documents from the microfilms. You can see the tally and reference under the Matrices heading at the top of any page on A Genealogy Hunt.

I have returned and begun my search and research with the microfilm FHS [1563328] Registers of records 1797-1817 (v. G2-R2).

The first document and record in which I discovered a Smith was entered 31st August 1797. This record appears to be a Power of Attorney in which Thomas Tarleton and Daniel Backhouse, both of Liverpool, England, appoint William Smith, a Merchant of Grenada in their stead. The actual signing and witnessing date of the Power of Attorney is 12 March 1794 and the recording date is 13 June 1794.

The following are the images of the record.

This is my attempt to transcribe.

2 

Entered 31st August 1797 

Know all Men by these Presents that We Thomas Tarleton of
Liverpool in the County of Lancaster and Kingdom of Great Britain
Esquire John Tarleton of Liverpool aforesaid Esquire and Daniel Backhouse
of Liverpool aforesaid Merchant carrying on the Busineſs of Merchants
in Copartnership in Liverpool aforesaid under the name and firm of
Tarletons and Backhouse for divers good Causes and Considerations as
thereunto moving Have made ordained Constituted and appointed
nd by these presents Do make ordain Constitute and appoint William
Smith of the Island of Grenada Merchant our Factor and Agent to manage
and transact all our Affairs and concerns in the said Island and in the Isles
near thereto called the Grenadines and in Demerary Dominica and Saint
Vincents Guadeloupe Martinica and Saint Lucia and their respective
Dependancies and such other places near thereto where the management of our
Busineſs may Neceſsarily lead him and to Sell barter and dispose of such
Goods Wares and Merchandices as shall be consigned to him by us And also all
Good Wares and Merchandices now belonging to us under the Firm of Tarletons
and Backhouse or under the firm of Thomas Tarleton and Company or John
Tarleton and Company or Daniel Backhouse and Company which are or may
be within the said Islands and Places or any of them according to such Orders
and directions as we shall from time to time give concerning the same And
for want or in default thereof in such manner as he the said William Smith
in his sound discretion shall think best and most conducive to our Interest
And also to collect and receive all the Debts and Effects of what nature
soever the same may be due and owing to us either under the firm of Tarletons
and Backhouse Thomas Tarleton and Company John Tarleton and Company
or Daniel Backhouse and Company or to the late concern of Thomas Tarleton

John

3

John Tarleton Daniel Backhouse and Clayton Tarleton (which last
mentioned concerns now belong to us) and the Produce and Proceeds of the said Goods
and Merchandices Debts and Effects to Ship and Consign to us under the firm of
Tarletons and Backhouse or to Sell and dispose of the same and remit the Proceeds
as we shall direct and on default of such directions as he in his sound discretion shall
think most conducive to our Interest And also to Set let and manage the Houses
Warehouse Buildings Lands and Estates belonging to us jointly (but not the separate Estates
of the said Thomas Tarleton either in Grenada or Dominica these not being comprehended
under the Power hereby given) in the said Islands and places according to the Orders
and directions he man from time to time receive and in default thereof as he shall
think best and for the most Money that can be got for the same and to Contract for the
Sale and disposal of such House Warehouses Buildings Lands as well as
of a certain Estate called Anandale situate in Demerary lately Purchased from William
Johnstone Esquire with the Negroes Cattle and Utensils upon or belonging thereto at
such price and prices and under such restrictions and Limitations and subject to such
directions as we shall from time to time give him in this behalf and for the most Money
that can be got for the same and after such Sale to grant Release and Convey the same
respectively with the Appurtenances unto and to the use of the Purchaser or Purchasers
thereof and his or their Heirs Executors Administrators and Aſsigns according to the nature
and quality of the same And to enter into Covenants for the Estate Titles Poſseſsion and
further Aſsurance of the Premises by and against us and every or any of us or any Person
claiming under us and if need be to commence and prosecute with effect to Judgment
and Deorre any Action or Suit at Law or in Equity for recovering and receiving any of the
Debts due payable or belonging to us under the Firm of Thomas Tarleton and Company
or of John Tarleton and Company or under the firm of Daniel Backhouse and Company
or to the late concern of Thomas Tarleton John Tarleton Daniel Backhouse and
Clayton Tarleton and to every or any of them and to take all other legal or equitable
means and expedients in that behalf as to him shall seem proper And upon recovery
and Receipt thereof or upon recovery or receipt of any other the Estate and property
which as our Factor or Agent he may recover and receive to give good and effectual
Releases and discharges for the same and to bring any Ejectment or Ejectments for Recovering
Poſseſsion of any of our Estates and Property or of any Estate Mortgaged to us or any of us and
to receive the Rents and profits thereof or to let and manage the same for out benefit and to
make any Distreſs or Distreſses or to sue out and prosecute any Replevin or Replevins
that may be neceſsary for our Interest And for all or any of the purposes last
mentioned an Attorney or Attornies under him to Nominate and at pleasure to revoke and
to Substitute others and to represent our Persons as well in Court as thereout and to Submit to
References any dispute or difference between us and any Person or Persons whomsoever
And generally to manage for us and in our behalf as fully and effectually to all
Intents and purposes as we or any of us could do were we or was any of us present all
which lawful Acts we do hereby allow and agree to Ratify and Confirm Provided
always and it is hereby declared that nothing in these presents contained is meant or

intended

4

intended to give any Authority over the separate Estate Plantations Negroes
or Property of him the said Thomas Tarleton in the said Islands of Grenada or
Dominica In Witneſs whereof we the said Thomas Tarleton John Tarleton
and Daniel Backhouse have hereunto set our hands and Seals this Twelfth day
of March in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Ninety four.
Sealed and Delivered by the }
above named John Tarleton for }
the said Thomas Tarleton Daniel }
Backhouse and himself in the }
presence of - - - - - - - - - - }

W. Roscoe. D. Turner.

For partners, Thomas Tarleton Daniel
Backhouse and Self

John Tarleton (LS)

Darbyshire Turner of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster and Kingdom
of Great Britain Gentleman maketh Oath that he this Deponent was present and did
see John Tarleton of Liverpool aforesaid Esquire for and on behalf of himself and
his partners Thomas Tarleton and Daniel Backhouse duly Sign Seal and as his Act
and deed deliver the paper writing hereto annexed purporting to be a Letter of Attorney
from the said Thomas Tarleton John Tarleton and Daniel Backhouse to William
Smith of the Island of Grenada Merchant for the Purposes therein mentioned
And this Deponent further saith that the word subscribed to the said Letter of Attorney
opposite to the Seal “For partners Thomas Tarleton Daniel Backhouse and Self” and
the name “John Tarleton” thereto subscribed as the party executing the same are the
proper hand writing of the said John Tarleton and that the names “W. Roscoe” and
D. Turner thereunto set and subscribed as Witneſses to the execution of the said Letter
of Attorney are of the proper hands writing of William Roscoe of Liverpool aforesaid
Gentleman and of him this Deponent respectively.

D. Turner

Sworn at Liverpool aforesaid this twelfth day of }
March in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven }
hundred and Ninety four Before me ___ }

John Sparling DyMayor of Liverpool

To all to whom these presents shall come I John Sparling
Esquire deputy Mayor of the Borough and Corporation of Liverpool aforesaid
do hereby Certify that on the Day of the Date hereof personally came and
appeared before me Darbyshire Turner of Liverpool aforesaid Gentleman being
a person well known and worthy of good Credit and by solemn Oath which he
then took before me upon the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God did solemnly
lepose to be true the several Matters and things contained in the before written
Affidavit.
(LS)

I Faith and Testimony whereof I the said deputy
Mayor have caused the Seal of the Office of Mayoralty of the
said Borough and Corporation to be hereunto put and

affixed

5

affixed this twelfth day of March one thousand seven hundred and
Ninety four.

Witneſs. John Colquitt Town Clerk of Liverpool

Dominica

Recorded in the Secretary’s Office of the said Island in Liber N. this 13th day of
June 1794 and examined --- Griffin Curtis Secretary

And now comes the part of my research that makes the pouring over the documents and reports interesting. Previously I had been studying a Smith family from Logie in Scotland.  There is a logical, but remote possibility that the William Smith, who is a designated a "Merchant" in the above document and record may be one of the William Smiths in the Logie family indicated in my Smiths of Logie, Descendant Chart.  I just throw this out and I will be be following this thread of investigation.  Well here goes.

Enjoy,

Jim

Click here to continue reading...