the Sollas family in Jamaica
The Sollas, or Solas, (both forms are used regularly) Market was apparently so called from some time around 1800, but I cannot find any confirmation earlier than the 1830s, nor any explanation of the name. I had assumed it was named after a member of the Sollas family, who perhaps owned the property at some stage - but no confirmation! Given the influence of the Scots in Jamaica the name Sollas could have come from a village in the island of North Uist, in Scotland. Can anyone help out on this point?
So far the earliest Sollas I can identify is David Mendes Sollas whose two sons, Abraham and Moses were born in 1810 and 1812, but I have nothing about where he came from, or what his background was - again any help would be most gratefully received. It seems that he died July 10, 1838.
Other early members of the Sollas family whose deaths are mentioned in Jamaican Sephardic records, as shown on-line at JamaicanFamilySearch -
Sollas, Jacob Gideon 27/11/1815
Sollas, Moses Mendes 19/4/1816
Sollas, Aaron Mendes 14/6/1818 (murdered, supposed to have been by 2 slaves. A reward of $300 was offered)
Sollas, Elias M. 29/12/1819
Sollas, Haim David Mendes 8/11/1823
Sollas, Simha widow of Gideon 26/12/1836
Other early members of the Sollas family whose deaths are mentioned in Jamaican Sephardic records, as shown on-line at JamaicanFamilySearch -
Sollas, Jacob Gideon 27/11/1815
Sollas, Moses Mendes 19/4/1816
Sollas, Aaron Mendes 14/6/1818 (murdered, supposed to have been by 2 slaves. A reward of $300 was offered)
Sollas, Elias M. 29/12/1819
Sollas, Haim David Mendes 8/11/1823
Sollas, Simha widow of Gideon 26/12/1836