P_10433_2273 – John Aird
John Aird (d. 1775), shown as ‘J. Heird’, owner with unnamed others of a slaving voyage from London by the Betsey to the Sierra Leone estuary and Barbados in 1772, with ‘Aird’ as one of the captains. A ship of the same name had made a similar voyage with Robert Aird as captain in 1770. John Aird was shown in London as connected with trade in West Africa in 1765 and as late merchant of London in 1783. Hancock in Citizens of the World shows John Aird as an ‘accountant’ who was made commander of Bance Island in 1758, was apparently back in London in 1761 and later became a competitor in the slave-trade.
Title: /
First name: John
Middle name: /
Last name: Aird
Aliases: J Heird
Primary cohort: London
Sex: Male
Religion: /
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Political Affiliation: /
Relations
No information
Political Offices Held
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Bankruptcies
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Geographic experiences
Africa
Commander of Bance Island c. 1758.
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: Don't know
Sources: London Gazette 26 February 1765Issue:10500Page:4 shows John Aird of Allen's Court Leadenhall Street in connection with the estate of John Langston late of Sierra Leone ; 28 January 1783Issue:12410Page:4 advertisement for heirs at law of John Aird merchant placed by William Gregson of Liverpool. PROB 11/1006/298 will of John Aird of Fortrose formerly of London. Hancock, Citizens of the World pp. 190-2 shows John Aird as an accountant, made commander of Bance Island in 1758, apparently back in London 1761 (p. 196) and as a competitor p. 220.
Other Individuals
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Organisations
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Crossings (1)
77067 - Betsey (1772 - 1773)
Role: Owner
Birth
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Location: /
Death
Date: 1775
Location: /
Burial
Date: /
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Christening: /
Knighthood: /
Baronetcy: /
Peerage: /
Residencies
Fortrose, County of Ross, Scotland
Occupation: /
Schools
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Universities
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Inns of Court
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Military training
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Imperial positions
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Apprenticeships
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Livery company affiliations
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Other business activities
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Was slave trading profitable: Don't know
Will
Value of Total Personalty: /
Value of Known Legacies (where material to total estate): /
Occupation: Merchant
Town/City: /
Courts: PCC
Will of John Aird late of London merchant but now a resident of burgh of Fortrose in the county of Ross made 26/02/1775. His 'prospects in life' he said 'have not at present such extensive views (however, but small at the best) as they had for some time past not though any default of my own nor to the common accidents of trade but to a cause all my friends are acquainted with', and he accordingly ordered his executors to sell his household goods other than those needed by his wife, to collect in debts due to him from abroad, and to place the amount at interest to support his wife Rebecca Mackenzie alias Aird, youngest daughter of John Mackenzie of Belmaduthy and their children [if any], with consent to his executors to spend capital if the interest did not amount to £50 p.a. which he had previously intended to provide her through an annuity on the land of Kenneth Earl of Seaforth, now in possession of Duncan Davidson [presumably he had assigned this annuity]. He made with some ceremony his daughters as well as sons his residuary legatees; and his wife, and Henry Davidson of Tulloch and Duncan Davidson his executors.
Legacies
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No information