John Fraser (Kilcoy)

John Fraser of plantation Kilcoy, on the Corentyne Coast of Berbice, died before 1817 [he is referred to as ‘the late John Fraser’ in the Slave Returns]. He had a brother Donald, a sister Margaret, and a brother James. The family were from Newton, near Redcastle in the parish of Killearnan (Black Isle) - close to Kilcoy Castle.

In his will John Fraser left £3055-11s-2d to his trustees so that they could to pay his housekeeper, Leonora Lynch, an annual sum of 1100 guilders [Legacies of British Slave-ownership data: British Guiana claim 269]. Leonora (Norah) Lynch, who was illiterate, owned five slaves in her own name in 1819.

Robert Fraser was attorney for Donald Fraser (above) [T71/1253: Robert Fraser of New Amsterdam, attorney of Donald Fraser]. Robert is elsewhere described as 'formerly a merchant in Inverness' [Dobson, Scots in South America, p42]. He was a grocer and wine merchant there who had become inslolvent in 1832 (Inverness Courier, 11 January 1832: meeting of creditors). For Robert Fraser's family see Ancestry (subscription required)

Duncan Fraser, a son of John’s brother James, was attorney to the heirs to the estate and it was probably the same Duncan Fraser who made the return in 1834 [LBS data]. Duncan was born about 1786 [CO 116 139 f26
1818 Evidence of Duncan Fraser, age 32, born Scotland, of Pl Kilcoy]. 

For details of Duncan Fraser's management of Kilcoy see The secret lives of slaves: Berbice, 1819 to 1827.

Duncan Fraser was a civil magistrate for the Corentyne District from 1826.

Letter
Kilcoy, lst October 1826.

Sir,
IN obedience to the orders contained in your Excellency's Letter, bearing date 12th instant, I have distributed the pamphlets containing the new Slave Code to all the estates and persons owning Slaves in this district, which has been fully explained to the Slaves, either by myself, or the persons in immediate charge of them. As to my observation on the conduct of the Slaves, when explaining the regulations to them, I have to report that they did not seem to evince much satisfaction or disappointment.
I have, &c.
(Signed) D. FRASER,
Civil Magistrate 2d District, East and Corentyne Coast.

Duncan Fraser's only son, William Richardson Fraser, was a benificiary of the will of his godfather William Richardson, of plantations New Forest and Zuidwyck, in 1838 (Titles to Land Commissioners, Berbice, p.881). He died on 17 March 1874 (The Colonist, 25 March 1874).