Martha Scott (née Evanson)

Slave-owner on Antigua, dying of Eastbourne c. 1790. She was the widow of Alexander Scott, a partner in the Antigua merchant firm of Ledwell & Scott who died in 1787, and the daughter of Ann Evanson (formerly Knight).

1. Will of Martha Scott of Antigua proved 06/10/1790. In the will, made August 11 1790 'in case I should never live to return from Scotland where I think of going next Thursday', she bequeathed 'all my negroes left me by Mr Scott' to Harriet Evanson apart from John, whom she freed, and Fannie, Sukey, Piro, Aurilla (Nancy's child), Mary and her two children George and Ann and Betty, whom she left to her niece Harriet Ann Evanson [possibly the same woman]. She manumitted Nancy also. 'What other slaves I may recover from D. Bay estate being my right from my mother's deed of settlement I bequeath to my niece.' She left the £340 she was owed by the estate of Ledwell and Scott to Mrs Catherine Evanson, widow of her brother [shown by Oliver as Nathaniel Evanson]. [The attestation of the will showed her as 'late of the island of Antigua but at Eastbourne.']

Vere Langford Oliver, History of Antigua Vol. I p. 245.

1. PROB 11/1197/26