P_10433_1910 – Solomon Gompertz
D.O.B:
D.O.D: 1791
Owner with unnamed others of two slaving voyages from London, one by the Rebecca to Saint Louis and Antigua in 1763 and the second by the Speedwell to Senegambia and Antigua in 1765, and one from Antigua to Saint Louis and back by the Rebecca in 1764 (which appears to have been a continuation of the first voyage). Although given as ‘Gumperk’ in TASTDB, the connection of Solomon Gompertz and Meyer Heyman with the leasing of a ship to the British army in Senegal/Senegambia in 1766 indicates this was probably Solomon Gompertz, merchant of London, in partnership in Gompertz & Heyman until 1773. The nature of their business has not been determined: secondary sources suggest they were diamond merchants, but this might be confusion with Solomon Barent Gompertz (d. 1808). In the will of Solomon Gompertz proved in 1791, he provided for two ‘mulatto’ boys, named Simon Gompertz and David Gompertz, almost certainly his natural sons.
Title:
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First name:
Solomon
Middle name:
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Last name:
Gompertz
Aliases:
Gumperk
Primary cohort:
London
Sex:
Male
Religion:
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Social background:
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Primary outcome:
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Political Affiliation:
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Political Offices Held
No Information
Bankruptcies
No Information
Geographic experiences
No Information
Internal migrant:
Don't know
Foreign born:
Don't know
Supplier to slave trade voyages:
Don't know
Creditor to slave trade voyages:
Don't know
Philanthropy:
Don't know
Plantation owner:
Yes
Purchaser in 1771 of an annuity on an estate and enslaved people on St Vincent
Sources:
Messrs Gompertz and Heyman, London merchants, hired a brig to the British army in Senegal/Senegambia 1766 T 1/478/161-168. The partners were id'd as Solomon Gompertz and Meyer Heyman in 1773, LG 17 August 1773Issue:11380Page:2.
For the attribution of Gompertz & Heyman as diamond merchants, see e.g, Charles Royster, The Fabulous History of the Dismal Swamp Company, Ch. III.
Gregory O'Malley, Final Passages: The Intercolonial Slave Trade of British America, 1619-1807, p. 216.
Gentleman's Magazine Sept. 1839 p. 321. July 29 [1839] Aged 81 [Death of] Elizabeth, Widow of Solomon Gompertz of Jamaica. This death occurred almost 50 years after the death of Solomon Gompertz merchant of London, and it is not clear whether it refers to his wife or to a member of the following generation.
PROB 11/1204/243.
Deed Book 1785, British Library, EAP688/1/1/1, https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP688-1-1-1 pp. 371-389. The deed of 1785 deals with the efforts of the trustees Harry and Isaac Thompson to better secure the annuities by increasing their control of the estate.
Other Individuals
No information
Organisations
No information
Crossings (2)
Birth
Date:
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Location:
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Death
Date:
1791
Location:
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Burial
Date:
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Location:
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Memorial details:
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Christening:
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Knighthood:
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Baronetcy:
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Peerage:
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Residencies
No information
Occupation:
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Universities
No Information
Inns of Court
No Information
Military training
No Information
Imperial positions
No Information
Apprenticeships
No Information
Livery company affiliations
No Information
Other business activities
No Information
Was slave trading profitable:
Don't know
Will
Value of Total Personalty:
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Value of Known Legacies (where material to total estate):
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Occupation:
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Town/City:
City of London (Middlesex)
Courts:
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In the will of Solomon Gompertz gentleman of St Botolph Aldgate made 06/04/1791 with notes to his executors of the same date, proved 20/05/1791, he provided for two 'mulatto boys' named by him from infancy as Simon Gompertz and David Gompertz, leaving them annuities of £30 p.a. and £20 p.a. payable unless they were away from England for 10 years or more. He also left a silver watch and £5 cash to a 'black servant', William James.
Legacies
No information
