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The Sinclairs

 

Augustus Constantine Sinclair (1834–1891)

Christened: 31 Dec 1834, Spanish Town, St Catherine, Jamaica. Wikipedia,  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-VN9K-HQ?i=265&lang=en

Career in print & civil service (largely traced through newspaper of the time)

Augustus started his career in print as a reporter of parliamentary debates for the Colonial Standard in 1864, referred to as a parliamentary reporter, Dec 1864. He compiled the House of Assembly debates, speeches and proceedings in 13 volumes between 1860-65 sessions. This covered the period of time that George William Gordon stood up for Jamaica's poor and downtrodden in parliament and his subsequent support for Paul Bogle who led the Morant Bay rebellion (both men are national heroes in Jamaica). For political context of the time - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morant_Bay_rebellion)

  • 1860–65: Parliamentary reporter for the Colonial Standard; compiled the House of Assembly debates, speeches, and proceedings in c.13 volumes covering the 1860–1865 sessions.

  • 1864–65: Elected member of the St Catherine vestry (parish local government).

  • Volunteer & policing roles:

    • 1864: First lieutenant, quartermaster, and secretary, No. 2 Kingston Volunteer Rifles.

    • 1865–66: Assistant to the inspector of volunteers; then Secretary to the Inspector-General of Police; frequently appears as a trial witness in press reports.

    • 1866: Secretary, Island Post Office Commissions.

    • 1868 - 1871: Chief & pay clerk, Constabulary Department.

  • Head of Government Printing Office by 1880. Co-compiler (with Laurence R. Fyfe) of the annual Handbook of Jamaica from its first edition (1881) and related reference works.

Scholarship & public culture

  • Regular contributor to the Victoria Quarterly (1889–1892), with historical essays such as “The Conquest of Jamaica.” Yesterday People+1

  • Widely credited as the originator and prime advocate of the Jamaica International Exhibition (1891)—conceived on the model of London’s 1851 Great Exhibition. Wikipedia+1

Death: 27 Jan 1891 at 106 King Street, Kingston—the opening day of the Exhibition. Wikipedia,  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-95VT-9L5D?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AKP1H-13S&action=view&cc=1538386&lang=en&groupId=


Family

Father: Edward Ebenezer Sinclair. familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRSP-SBD?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AK5MC-37Q&action=view&cc=1538386&lang=en

Marriages (4) & children

  1. Catherine Ann (first wife)
    Children:


  2. Elizabeth Cokely Norris, m. 26 Nov 1873. - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-8XLB-8?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A6ZC2-GVPG&action=view&cc=1827268&lang=en&groupId=M9N2-PG5

  3. Henrietta Valentine James, m. 25 Apr 1878 (St Catherine). - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-VN9K-HQ?i=265&lang=en

  4. Catherine Ann Rosetta Graham, m. 18 May 1886, St Peter’s, Lluidas Vale; - familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRSP-SBD?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AK5MC-37Q&action=view&cc=1538386&lang=en

    5. "married at St. Peter’s Church, Lluidas Vale, on Tuesday the 18th May, 1886, by the Rev. John H. H. Graham (brother of the bride) Augustus Constantine Sinclair, of the Government Printing Establishment, to Catherine Rosetta Graham of Herondale, St. Catherine." Daily Gleaner May 25, 1886

Children with Catherine Rosetta Graham:

(from Colonial_Standard_and_Jamaica__05_December_1879_0002_Clip)


Possible matches for Edward Ebeneser Sinclair - father of Augustus Constatine Sinclair. I believe Augustus was born outside of marriage possibly to an enslaved or free woman of colour.

Edward Ebeneser Sinclair son of Lucy Cooke a free quadroon born july 18, 1808, baptised 24 jan 1814 - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-DZVH-W?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AVHD1-6JZ&action=view&cc=1827268&lang=en&groupId=M9ZN-TQ6


Born: probably 10 Jul 1808; baptised 24 Jan 1814 (mother recorded as Susy/Lucy Cooke). http://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:8J1X-QSN2?lang=en

Burial - 22 May 1843, Spanish Town 34 years 10 months -https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-8X2X-6?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A6NVP-WNC9&action=view&cc=1827268&lang=en&groupId=


Possible Relationship with Charlotte Hamilton:

Child Edward Ebenezer baptised 15 Nov 1829 to mother Charlotte Hamilton. http://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XNN1-D3R?lang=en
Burial 30 Dec 1853, 28 years and 4 months - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-D692-4P?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A68PR-MNLF&action=view&cc=1827268&lang=en&groupId=


Letitia Angelica Sinclair born 2 oct 1832, baptised 5th jan 1834 - father listed as ---- Sinclair a clerk in Spanish Town - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-VN9J-5J?i=260&lang=en

Alfred Theophilus Sinclair born 4th aug 1839, christened 13 Sept 1840  -https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XNVD-5QS?lang=en

Marriage: 27 Nov 1830 to Jane Charlotte Scott. - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68JF-4Y1F?lang=en

Children with Jane Charlotte Scott:
 
Edward Ebeneser born 18 oct 1837, christened 10 May 1840. - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XNJJ-84X?lang=en1
Burial 17 Nov 1841 (child of Edward & Jane). - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6JP6-WF9Q?lang=en

Sophia Aelade Sinclair born 12 feb 1835, christened 10 may 1840. - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XNJJ-84D?lang=en

Sarah Antoinette Sinclair christened born 9th april 1842, 12 Apr 1843. (residence Monk Street) - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XNJ7-4Q2?lang=en


Here is a little contextual knowledge about the state of Edward & Jane's marriage
(from the Morning_Journal_Kingston_21_March_1840_0004_Clip)




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