Thomas Hinde
Photograph courtesy of Lancaster Museums
This is the Mayoral portrait of Thomas Hinde. He provides a direct link between the Point and the Lancaster Slave Trade. He was slaver captain and investor throughout the busiest years of the transatlantic trade - from 1750 until the late 1770’s – ending largely due to the outbreak of the American war of Independence. Although there were further voyages after 1781 the trade quickly wound down and the residue transferred to Liverpool - as did Thomas Hinde. Over the slavery period it is estimated there were some 122 voyages from Lancaster transporting around 30,000 slaves. At one time Lancaster was the fourth busiest slave port in Britain
Hinde was the first ship’s master to make repeated slave journeys, the first, in 1748 of four voyages as captain of the ‘Jolly Batchelor’. After his fifth voyage, he stayed ashore to become the leading investor in Lancaster sending more ships to Africa than any other merchant. In 1758 the slaver boat ‘Cato’ was financed by Hinde and others, one of whom was William Watson a brother of the Rev. James Watson writer of the Epitaph on The Grave. He also had interests in the ’Duke of Cumberland’, the ‘Lancaster’ and the ‘Prince George’
During the Seven Years war with France (1756 to 1763) Hinde and fellow owners used their slaver boats as privateers against French Shipping. The ‘Lancaster’ was authorised and is recorded as having 12 carriage guns. The Gunner was a Lieutenant John Spence.
Hinde was born in Caton in 1720, he became a Freeman of Lancaster in 1748 which allowed him privileges in trade. In 1755 he was elected one of the Port cCmmissioners and was twice Mayor of Lancaster in 1769 and 1778. He died in Lancaster February 1798
Thomas Hinde and his family have several links with The Point.
Most importantly, in 1735 Hinde with brother James inherited an estate at Sunderland Point and - with three sisters - became beneficiaries the income from the estate which had belonged to a relative, Richard Hinde. Saving this income and with funds from other sources provided the capital to enter the Slave Trade.
Today, we are interested in locating where this estate may have been on the Point. The evidence is becoming clearer.
Some years after his death this advertisement appeared in the Lancaster Gazette September 1811. Thomas Hinde is named.
Newspaper extract courtesy of the Lancaster Guardian
This is Thomas Hinde’s son Thomas who has in turn inherited from his father and Uncle James.
But where?
Here is a map of the Point in 1844.
Map curtesy of the National Library of Scotland
At 40 acres it’s modest and typical of the time. The advert says 6 acres of the marsh on the sea side are included - suggesting it is on the West side of the Point.
So, we know it was up for sale in 1811 – who bought it?
Delving into detail, the Overton parish tax records (Sunderland being part of the parish) – which records the amount of tax due on property – tells us the estate becomes registered to a John Higgin in 1812. We know from a later date John Higgin owned Sunderland Brows farm.
Going back and looking carefully at the advert of 1811, we notice that a Moses Alston is named as the current farmer. Checking the tax records, we find that Moses Alston was the tenant farmer from 1801 to 1824. Later documents confirm Alston as a tenant of John Higgin, and the tax documents also as a tenant of the Hinde’s.
Digging a little deeper - the tenant farmer in 1800 was a Richard Gardner - who we know from other research he appears in the parish records with his wife Margaret as from Sunderland Brows when recording the baptism of their 6 children. So, it seems clear.
The Will of Thomas Hinde provided no help, his own house in Dalton Square Lancaster he bequeaths to his wife Ann. All other property goes to his eldest son Thomas. We do see his signature and seal.
Reproduced with permission from Lancashire Archives, Lancashire County Council. WRW/A/R117a/35
There are more links to the Hinde family, from 1829 until her death in 1852, Anne Hinde, the eldest daughter of Thomas owned and stayed, probably for just the summer months at Hall End House (see on the map – now number 22). Her main residence was in Dalton Square, Lancaster.
In the early 19th century, with the growing popularity of SP amongst the well to do as a health resort, visitor lists are published in newspapers. Here we find that between 1814 and 1829, the sons of Thomas Hinde - Thomas, William and Samuel and families are all visitors and possibly rented a house and stayed with sister Anne.
We wish to express our gratitude to Elizabeth Hampson who allowed us access to her research papers and provided invaluable assistance in new research. Also, to Melinda Elder who provided guidance on Richard Hinde’s Will.