July 2006

Will of George Africanus of Nottingham, 1833

Reference: PR/NW George Africanus, Nottingham, will proved 1835

George Africanus was born in Sierra Leone, in western Africa. He was given 'as a present' to the Molyneux family of Wolverhampton but, on gaining his freedom, moved to Nottingham.

In 1788 he married a local girl called Esther Shaw at St Peter's church in Nottingham. They had six children, but only one, his daughter Hannah, survived him.

George practised several trades in Nottingham. In about 1815 he had set up his own business, running a 'servants' register office', which placed servants with employers in Nottingham. By the early 1820s he also worked as a brass founder. He lived in Chandlers Lane, and owned a number of properties in Nottingham: as a freeholder, he was entitled to vote in parliamentary elections.

George died in 1834 and was buried at St Mary's church in Nottingham on 25 May. His will was made in 1833, and was proved at the Archdeaconry Court in 1835. In the will he bequests his property to his wife Esther but, in the event of her death or re-marriage, they were to go to his daughter Hannah. The will also tells us that Hannah, who had married Samuel Cropper in 1822, was now estranged from her husband. Details of George's property in Chandlers Lane and Bluchers Yard are also given.

You can see George Africanus' will in more detail here . The will is three pages long. A transcript of the will is available here .

Find out more about wills here.

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