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.

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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

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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

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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

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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