The letter
transcribed below is in fine condition and the handwriting easily read. The
internet carries information which supplies most of the missing detail. John
Scrogie was a first-generation settler and slave owner in Jamaica living at “Scrogiehall”
either in or close to the parish of St Ann’s. At a later date (1792) he was
recorded as the owner of 30 enslaved people. He is writing by regular Packet
mail to John Plomer, a well-known figure in Northamptonshire, living at Welton
Place near Daventry; I can’t establish his relationship with the writer. In
very measured terms, he writes about the elopement of his daughter [ who is not
named] with George Amos, the son of Mary Jacobi by her first marriage – she has
now been twice-widowed; later, in 1792, she is recorded as owner of 49 enslaved
people. She lives in St Ann’s parish. The young couple who have married are now
in England; nothing clarifies whether they married in Jamaica or in England.
George Amos’s
mother intended that he should marry his cousin Miss Catherine Wordie who would
indeed have been a good match: she is recorded as dying still single in 1837
and has having been owner of 114 slaves on the Schwalenberg Estate. In contrast,
the girl who George Amos has run away with had only ten negroes to her name, according
to her father’s letter.
It seems
that George Amos did return to Jamaica: in the 1837 Militia list for St Ann’s
parish, John Scrogie is listed as Lieutenant and George Amos as an Ensign. But
whether he came with John Scrogie’s daughter, I cannot establish though it
seems the most likely outcome: intriguingly a Mary Ann Amos claimed in the 1830s
for one slave on St Kitts and is
conceivably the same person as the Mary Ann Scrogie who claimed for seven in
Jamaica. George Amos is not recorded as making any claim and was presumably
dead by then.
Scrogiehall
Jamaica 11th September 1782
To John
Plomer Esqr, Welton near Daventry Northamptonshire
[sent] per
packet.
Sir
Your favour
of 23d May came to my hand only the 6th Instant having been left at
a post office, to which I seldom have an opportunity and is owing to Mr Amos constantly
putting St. Ann’s on the address.
I most
sincerely feel for his & my Daughters distress, but must own it is what I
expected, nor was it in my power to prevent it, having done as much as possibly
I could before their departure from this island.
Mr Amos has
every reason to believe he was of age [twenty one] April last [1782], as his now wife & I
were invited by his mother [ Mrs Jacobi] the 10th Apr 1781 to drink
his health on being twenty years old; and till
they found him fixed in his resolution of marrying my Daughter, to whom
they could have no just objection, but that it prevented his union with his
Cousin Miss Wordie it never was doubted, but he would be of age April last
[1782]. Mr Macauley [a local clergyman presumably] has been dead these ten
years, & the present Incumbent told me he had a Letter from Mrs Jacobi his
Mother wanting to know if any Register of Births was kept in the parish.
I wave
taking notice of his Mother & Aunts behaviour, before & since his
marriage, it is too well known here, and looked on in the light it deserves. I
have wrote him [George Amos] thrice since his departure, & in each letter
pressed him to use every means to be in friendship with his Mother, as there is
no evident way, how he can maintain himself & family on returning to this
country, without her reconciliation and assistance.
I was bred to
no particular employment, but my anxiety to support my Family & love of
being independent of my Relations, made me try every means rather than be idle.
Necessity
drove me to take up house soon after my arrival in this Island, with my
children mostly young & uneducated, nor have I yet cleared off the debts
contracted then. With a negroe girl I gave my Daughter & her issue, and
others bought with a legacy left her by my uncle, she has now ten negroes young
& old which is all she can expect till my death and it would much grieve me
to think they must sell them without it put them in an evident way of getting a
good livelihood.
Your
observation of Mr Amos incapacity of putting his hand to any employment is too
true, but also his not being desirous to do any thing to maintain himself and
Family much grieves me, & what I dreaded.
I have
distantly given him hints on that subject in all my Letters, and as the strain
of your Letter breathes benevolence and Friendship, will take the liberty to
request your talking or writing to him on that subject in such a way as he may
seriously lay it to heart. He is young and healthy, & I know his wife is
virtuous and sensible.
Capt King’s
behaviour is truly generous; and if any post in the Navy or any other way could
be procured for him in Eng[lan]d I see evident destruction of his coming to
this country without his Mother’s reconciliation and he ought not in any event
to come until he is of age.
I am Sir
Your most
obed & hble Servant
J Scrogie
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