Robert Jordan, slave owner
The discovery of slave owners in Teignmouth led me to research more about Robert Jordan and his 141 slaves in Jamaica.
Robert Jordan was baptised on the 5th of July 1761 at West Teignmouth, St. James Church. His father was Rufus Jordan and his mother was Tomazin.
Robert Jordan was descended from a family of tradesmen (coachbuilders and the like) who settled in East Teignmouth in the seventeenth century.
Robert was the second son of five children. He was an able and clever man but his motive appears to be making money and the translation of his family to the upper ranks of Teignmouth society.
On the 6th of January 1788, Robert married Nancy Stooke at West Teignmouth, St. James Church.
His father, Rufus, had bought property in West Teignmouth and a map circa 1760 is shown as owning a cellar on Rat Island.
The cellars were in reality fish stores used for storing Newfoundland cod.
In 1808, Robert Jordan went into partnership with Messrs Langmead and Holland to set up the Teignmouth Bank.
Robert became a churchwarden at St James’ Church and clerk to the committee. He was not only the power behind the building of the new gallery but also involved in the rebuilding of the church around 1819.
Teignmouth was at this time a lawless place. Robert speaks in his letters of robberies and break-ins, and of course smuggling and wrecking.
To cope with the crime wave a gibbet was set up on the top of the hill between Shaldon and Stokeinteignhead. There was also a gibbet in Bishopsteignton. Some lawbreakers were caught and hanged, others were not.
Many a dubious fortune was made in Teignmouth.
Robert Jordan died in the 4th quarter of 1837 and was buried at St James’ on the 14th of November 1837.
