Hi everyone, I have been fascinated to see the recent 'splurge' of activity in relation to the question of plantations in Barbados and their owners. So I wondered if any one could help me with a specific issue. I have an interest in John Brandford Lane (1791 - 1829) who, at the end of his life, is alleged to have been the owner of three plantations in Barbados. My efforts to validate that claim have been almost entirely negative. The only possible positive finding is that *almost* certainly he either owned or had a controlling share in a plantation at Black Rock. So I would be very grateful if anyone on the list could extend my meagre knowledge. many thanks Michael Message

Hello Michael: do you know if one of the plantations he owned was Newton? In "Plantation Slavery in Barbados" Jerome Handler states that: "After John Newton's death until 1794, Newton plantation remained in the hands of owners, usually absentee, who were direct descendants of the original owner, Samuel Newton. In 1794 the plantation was inherited by two brothers, John & Thomas Lane (a barrister and solicitor respectively)... The Lane brothers were cousins to Elizabeth Newton who died in 1794 and who was the last Newton to own the plantation..." Unfortunately I don't know just who this John & Thomas Lane are, (though they could be the sons of Ambrose Lane, his sons Thomas born 1759 & John 1762) and I haven't found any clues as to the link between the Lanes & the Newtons; it is possible they were all back in England. Ernest M. Wiltshire Friends of the Barbados Archives 38 Inglewood Place, Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Y 4C7 -----Original Message----- From: Dr M.A. Message [mailto:mam1@cam.ac.uk] Subject: Ownership of Barbadian Plantations ...I have an interest in John Brandford Lane (1791 - 1829) who, at the end of his life, is alleged to have been the owner of three plantations in Barbados. My efforts to validate that claim have been almost entirely negative. The only possible positive finding is that *almost* certainly he either owned or had a controlling share in a plantation at Black Rock.