Charlotte Taylor, daughter of Hon. Simon Taylor, wife of James Sproule of Mellmount

Some might have read the story on this blog of James Sproule of Mellmount and Jamaica, and a lady called Charlotte Taylor. It was a story that was astounding for me to research – each step of the way bringing a new surprise. But the surprises continued to arrive after I had posted the story.

In October of 2017 I received an email:

“Kate, I read your excellent research on the Sproule family and discover I must be a distant relative of yours.

We have in our family a portrait painting of which I would like to send you a photo; I think you would be interested.”

It was from a gentleman called Michael Ferriss who sent me a photograph of a portrait of a lady who he claimed was Charlotte Taylor. Could it really be her?

Charlotte Taylor was born a slave on the plantation of Golden Grove in Jamaica in 1795.  She was a ‘Quadroon’, which meant that her father was white and her mother was a mixed race slave. Her father lived there with her on the Golden Grove plantation, and he was a gentleman called the Honourable Simon Taylor. He was said to be the richest man in the whole of the British Commonwealth at that time. Charlotte Taylor was his slave daughter by his ‘housekeeper’.

Later in the story we find that Charlotte Taylor has 7 children with James Sproule, each of them baptised in Jamaica. With each is recorded that the father is James Sproule and the mother is Charlotte Taylor, quadroon. They weren’t married, as it was not possible marry in Jamaica at that time.

The white men, mostly English or Scottish, in Jamaica at that time often lived openly with slave 'housekeepers', and they had children by them. Some sent these children to England or Scotland to be educated, but what was really unusual about this was that James Sproule brought Charlotte Taylor and his 7 children all back to live in Ireland. They lived in a grand house called Mellmount on the outskirts of Strabane. Charlotte was introduced as his wife, now at last called Charlotte Sproule. She lived as an affluent lady there until her death in 1849. This is very rare, and indeed the story has brought much interest from academics who study the history of these times, and study the culture of slavery.

So here, now, was a portrait. Could it really be Charlotte Taylor?

Jane Fisher Holland and Mike Ferriss had sent me two photographs of the portrait. The name of the painter, they told me, was on the portrait. He was called Richard Hooke. Richard Hooke (1820-1908) was born in County Down and he was a respected portrait painter of his day. He was an exhibitor in the Royal Irish Acadamy for many years.

Charlotte Taylor 1795-1845,
Portrait by Richard Hooke, (1820–1908)

The portrait had been kept in their family all this time. It was definitely my Charlotte Taylor! This was so amazing for me to look this wonderful lady in the eyes for the first time. I had lived with her and her story for the best part of a year, and here she was. And here were her descendants, they were my cousins and they were descendants of a lady I had much admired for so long. I am so grateful they got in touch – thank you Jane Fisher Holland and Mike Ferriss.

References:

All references relating to James Sproule, Charlotte Taylor and the Hon. Simon Taylor can be found in the story in this blog. It is in several posts and begins here - The Beginning of the BIG Story

James Sproule is was born in Tullymoan, County Tyrone, Ireland.  For more on his family history -  The Tullymoan Sproules, 

Information on Richard Hooke, Artist - Library Ireland - Richard Hooke Art UK - Richard Hooke