Sir James Esdaile

London banker, co-owner of Rose Hall estate on Jamaica.

1. In 1789 the London grocers Davison & Newman bought a 4/18 share in Rose Hall; 'the other owners were Sir James Esdaile [1714-93] and the Lee family, each of whom held a 7/18 share.' Davison left his share to Abram Newman, who left it to his daughters, from whom William Thwaytes, the surviving partner bought it in 1811. In Mr Thwaytes' time, Richard Lee was the London agent of the estate, 'taking over the sugar shipments' [from Davison & Newman?] and rendering half-yearly accounts. After Mr Thwaytes' death in 1834, his share passed to his heir-at-law, his nephew Wm Thwaytes, and so out of the hands of the firm, because Thwaytes's will (under which he left his freehold property including Rose Hall to his widow) was not attested, so his widow received only a third-share as dower in her lifetime.

1. Owen Rutter, At the Three Sugar Loaves and Crown. A brief history of the firm of Messrs. Davison, Newman & Company now incorporated with the West India Produce Association Limited (London, Davison, Newman & Co., 1938), pp. 26-8, 34.