Times of the Islands Winter 2023/24

astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
This French map shows the Caicos Islands as they were represented circa 1780. Middle Caicos was previously known as Grand Caicos and
included what was later called East Caicos.
First to own land at Breezy Point
John Ingham and his brother Thomas Jr. each received
land grants for tracts of land at Breezy Point on East
Caicos Island from the Governor of the Bahamas Charles
Cameron Esquire. These land grants were certified on
April 24, 1807.
John’s land grant described his land as:
“a tract containing four hundred eighty acres of
vacant land situated at the Eastern Point of Grand
Caicos Island called Greasy Point bounded northwardly
by white or sandy sand beaches, eastwardly
and westwardly by vacant land and has such shape
and marks as are represented in the above plat.”
Thomas Ingham Jr.’s land grant described his property
as:
“a tract containing eight hundred and eighty eight
acres of land situated on the East or Grand Caicos
bordering northwardly by the land of John Ingham
and on all other sides by vacant land and hath such
shape and marks as the above plat represents.”
The two Ingham land plats are shown on page 79.
Note that in the early 19th century, East Caicos was considered
part of Middle Caicos, which was then known
as Grand Caicos. Why the Bahamian Government official
who prepared the Ingham land grant documents
referred to Breezy Point as “Greasy Point” is bewildering.
Nonetheless, it’s obvious what was intended.
John and Thomas raised cattle on their Breezy Point
holdings as well as other livestock. It is doubtful that
either of them lived on East Caicos, however slaves owned
by them must have done so. For example, the Slave
Return of 1822 lists 13 slaves by name that belonged to
Thomas Ingham Jr.
John Ingham’s descendants and will
John was never officially married. Nevertheless, he had
two children by a slave woman named Eve. According to
baptismal records, their son Robert was born in 1806 and
their daughter Rose in 1808. John Ingham’s will states
that Eve belonged to John McIntosh Esquire.
John Ingham’s will, dated August 13, 1818, begins:
“now residing in Grand Key [Grand Turk] one of the
Turks Islands Bahamas, being sick and weak in body,
but of sound mind and memory do make this my last
Will and Testament in manner following . . .”
His will goes on to list George Gibbs, Capt. Thomas
Lea Smith, and John McIntosh as his executors. His will
further states that:
“I will and bequeath all my property real and personal
of whatever description consisting of lands, negroes,
live stock and other articles that my Executors George
Gibbs, Captain Thomas L. Smith and John McIntosh
78 www.timespub.tc