James Baillie

James Baillie (1737 – 7 September 1793) was a Scottish slave owner, merchant, and Member of Parliament for Horsham between 1792 and 1793. Life Baillie was the second son of Hugh Baillie, of Dochfour, south of Inverness, by his wife Emilia, daughter of Alexander Fraser, 11th of Relig, Reelig or Rulick, Kirkhill, Inverness. James Baillie's younger brother was Evan Baillie, of Dochfour, of Parliament, the West Indies and Bristol. Baillie arrived in St. Christopher's (Saint Kitts) in 1755, and soon bought the Hermitage plantation in Grenada, undertook around 20 years of work, and in 1775 (?) returned to Great Britain and London. In 1772 James Baillie wrote: "[through] 1755–71 I was employed in the line of planting and commerce in the islands of St Christopher and Grenada [and Demerary]... and [in 1772] our house sold Negroes here to the amount of £120,000 sterling..." At the time of the 1833 compensation claims Baillie's heirs were awarded c. £73,700 compensation for their c. 1,821 slaves in Grenada, Guyana and St. Lucia.<ref>Some of the Northbrook Plantation sale particulars, June 1794, from ESSEQUEBO EN DEMERARISCHE COURANT (No. 31. ), ZONDAG Den 1 Juny 1794: By Order of the Trustees of James Baillie, Esq. deceased. To be Sold at Public Auction, at Mr. Stroud's Tavern, St. George's, Grenada, on Tuesday the first of July next, between the hours of Ten and Twelve in the Forenoon. That valuable Cotton Plantation on the East Sea Coast of Demerary, Called NORTH BROOK, Consisting of 500 Acres of Land, whereof 250 are planted with Prime Cotton Trees, 66 Acres in Plantains, and 28 Acres more empouldered, together with 147 Negroes, amongst which are several valuable Tradesmen: the whole forming a complete Gang, fully equal to the Cultivation of the whole of the Land, without any additional Strength. The Buildings are built of the very best Materials, mostly Country Wood, and in complete Repair. The Fertility of the Soil, and the Healthiness of the Situation are well known, and may be ascertained by Enquiry of Gentlemen acquainted with that Colony."</ref>