Have to wonder about the paragraph:
"I desire that my executors will immediately after my death make my favourite
little slave, Nancy, daughter of my slave, Patience, free, and that she be put
under the care of some discreet woman to learn to sew, and that my executors
will pay her £20 per annum for five years for clothing for her."
The description of Nancy as "favourite little slave" - to our modern ear, it
sounds negative and in poor taste (to say the least) but is it possible Mr.
Sproule used it as a term of endearment?
And does the word "free" mean that she would no longer be a slave after his
death?
He asks that Nancy be in the care of a "discreet" woman. If discretion is key,
is it possible Nancy's identity was a family secret? ie: maybe Mr. Sproule's
daughter? Or was the word used in a different context at that time and place in
history?
Any ideas on that?
Jacquelyn
On Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 01:01:15 PM EDT, James McKane via
CoTyroneList <[email protected]> wrote:
The Will of Andrew Sproule of Annotto Bay, Jamaica 1801
Thanks again to Len Swindley for another great addition to CTI!
Jim McKane
Kitchener, [email protected]=================================
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