Gale Morant Slave Trade Papers: York Estate - Accounts 1791

Gale and Morant family papers relating to Jamaican slave plantations. The Gale and the Morant families came to Jamaica separately in the 17th century soon after the island was seized in 1655. Major John Gale (1637-1689) was buried there, as was John Morant who died in 1683. Various marriages linked their families, as they both acquired plantations, large estates, and great wealth. In 1754, John Morant owned 4631 acres in Clarendon and 3582 acres in Vere. Five members of the Gale family owned more than 6000 acres of the island. The Jamaican estates were handed down to subsequent generations of the family.See online Archive Catalogue available at the University of Exeter website