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The Crofts

Adam Alexander Heron Graham maried Agnes Mary Jane Croft.

Back row George, Isabel, Arthur, Agnes Louise, Harry (Henry) front Adam with Wilmot on knee and Agnes Graham (Croft)

Agnes Mary Jane Croft - born 30 Oct 1860 at Rose Hill, St Thomas in the East, Jamaica, died 1945 at Highgate, Jamaica. (baptism record https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-13842-7298-17?cc=1827268) Her parents were William Ross Croft Jr. and Elizabeth Mary Ann King.

William Ross Croft Jr.- born 21 Aug 1837 at Rose Hill, St Thomas in the East, Jamaica (baptism record https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-14056-46785-96?cc=1827268&wc=12962159). He was the son of William Croft and Mary Donovan Ross Chance. According to family lore William Croft spoke a number of different languages and was a circuit judge for the high court. I know in an early version of the Jamaica Almanac he is listed as an assistant Judge & Magistrate for Portland & St Thomas in the East so he must have been a very well educated and intelligent man.

William Ross Croft

William Croft Snr. - born about 1810, possibly in Barbados. The only clue to his background that I have is a photo of his sister Isabella Mary Croft. As William Croft Jr. only had three children I am making the assumption that the William referred to as her brother is William Croft Snr.

Isabella Mary Croft, sister of William Croft
Helen Croft another relative of William  Croft

He married Mary Donovan Ross Chance "William Croft of this Parish to Mary Donovan Ross Chance of this Parish were married by special licence  this 31st day of May 1832 by me T. R. Mackechnie" (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-13871-82864-41?cc=1827268&wc=6074899) They had three children
1. George Edward William Croft - born 1833 in Manchoneal, Portland, Jamaica (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-14056-43002-28?cc=1827268&wc=12962154)
2. William Ross Croft - born 21 Aug 1837 at Rose Hill, Portland, Surrey, Jamaica (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-14056-46785-96?cc=1827268&wc=12962159)
3. Maria Jane Speed Croft - born 12 Aug 1843 in St Thomas in the Eat, Jamaica, died 1 Oct 1864, St Catherine. She married Rev Ferrar Hughes Sharpe on 16 Nov 1861 at Rural Hill St Thomas. Rev Sharpe was the son of Rev Joseph C Sharpe and Jane Gray and was born in Montego Bay, St James, Jamaica in 1837. They had two children Mary Jane Gray Sharpe and Reginald Ferrar Sharpe.


A bit about Mary Donovan Ross Chance:
Daughter of Edward Chance and Jane Ross. They were married on 9 Feb 1809 in St Thomas in the East, Jamaica (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-13871-81351-17?cc=1827268&wc=12962262). They had five children
1. Mary Donovan Ross Chance - born 25 Dec 1809 in St George, Jamaica. She was baptised on the same day (Jan 16th, 1813) as her brothers William and Beswick (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-14056-40347-62?cc=1827268&wc=6074361)
2. William Edward Chance - born 21 May 1811 in St George, Jamaica. He married Charlotte Maria Caroline Carnaggie on 29 May 1837 in Portland, Jamaica.
3. Isaac Lamb Brooks Chance - born 20 Nov 1814 at Rose Hill, Manchoneal, St Thomas in the East, Jamaica (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-13871-57451-29?cc=1827268&wc=12962269)
4. Beswick Biggs Chance - born 26 Sep 1818 in St George, Jamaica, baptised 18 July 1819 (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-14056-40242-18?cc=1827268&wc=6074361)
5. Robert Gray Chance - born 1819 in St George, Jamaica.

Edward Chance was born circa 1770 in St George, Jamaica and on his wedding registry document is writen "practices in physic & surgery". Family lore adds a rather nasty story that members of this family line had been poisoned by a slave they had punished. She got maggots from a piece of rotten bitter casava, parched them and ground them up, then put them in the family's soup. Everyone died but the baby who is said to have been adopted by a Dr. Chance. As This Dr Chance's family seems to have survived in tact perhaps it was This Dr. Chance who was the adopted baby.

Jane Ross (Dr. Edward Chance's wife) was born on 5 Dec 1776 in St Thomas in the East, Jamaica, died 1840 and buried at church yard in Port Antonio. (baptism record https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-13871-82517-35?cc=1827268&wc=12962262) Her parents were John Trefersis Ross and his wife  Sarah. It's possible that John Ross was the owner Mulatto River estate in St Thomas in the East & Byndloss in St Thomas in the Vale.




Comments

  1. BDI17 August 2021 at 18:31

    My grandfather, recently deceased (2020) was called Beswick Biggs Chance. This cannot be a coincidence I believe this is his lineage however he was a black man (of mixed race parentage to be precise). I’d love it if you had any more information. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown3 February 2022 at 15:18

    Hi I am the grandaughter of your grandfather's brother James chance ...(Dangye) I came across this article years ago and yes it's too coincidental with the exact same name as uncle.

    ReplyDelete

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