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Peter Alexander Espeut
Peter Espeut was born in 1816, a son of William Francois Espeut who had settled in Jamaica in 1798. An Espeut family member wrote: "P.A. Espeut thought nothing of entertaining an entire regiment of soldiers. He put up the officers in his house and accommodated the men in his enormous outbuildings. Next to the Governor he was the most influential man on the Island. His wife lead [sic] society in Kingston. A home with the score of indoor servants and more outdoor than there was work for, two other residences, Mount Espeut and Dover Castle, and everything carried out with a lavishness that was really wicked waste, resulted in the properties being mortgaged up to the hilt". |
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I still have no idea yet when the house at Retreat Pen was built; seems likely it was some time during the period when William Mattocks owned the property.
Daily Gleaner, June 23 1868
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DEATH OF THE HON. P. A. ESPEUT
We deeply regret in having to announce the death of the Hon. P. A. Espeut, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon last at his residence at “Retreat”, in St. Andrew’s. Mr Espeut was in the prime of life, and, up to the period of his last illness, would have been pronounced by anyone who saw him to have been in the bloom of health. But it was proved that his appearance was deceptious, as an incurable malady had already made serious inroad upon his constitution. He suddenly became ill, and, when circumstances permitted, he left the county on a trip to the Windward Islands, in the hope of recruiting his strength so as to be able to undergo further medical treatment. His hopes were not realized; his strength gave way the more, and he returned here in the Atrato, on the 14th inst., only in time to end his life in his own home, and among his family and friends. His remains were interred yesterday evening, attended to their last resting-place by a large number of gentlemen by whom he was deservedly respected.
The Hon. Mr. Espeut has been long connected with this island, holding property both in St. Andrew and St. Thomas, having a fine Sugar estate in the latter parish. He was for many years Official Assignee for the County of Middlesex, and recently, on a vacancy occurring, was appointed Assignee for Cornwall, in conjunction, in anticipation, it was reported, of some changes contemplated by the government which were to place him in a higher and more responsible position. Under the old regime, he was for several years connected with political life, commencing with the representation of Kingston in the House of Assembly, as colleague of the Hon. Mr. Jordon and the late Mr. March. After holding his seat for some time a general election came round, and he and Mr. March had to make way for Charles Levy, Esq., and the Hon. Dr. Bowerbank. He was then elected for St. John, for which parish he sat until the abolition of the Assembly.
He had also been an Alderman of Kingston, and held commissions of the Peace for several parishes, and soon after the late disturbance, he was appointed Custos of St. Thomas in the room of the late lamented Baron Ketelhodt. He was a gentleman of intelligence, was esteemed by all who knew him, and his death will be generally regretted. As a mark of respect for his memory, the flags of the Commercial Exchange, the R. M. Company and the Museum of the Royal Society of Arts were kept at half-mast all yesterday.
Daily Gleaner, June 13, 1868
We deeply regret in having to announce the death of the Hon. P. A. Espeut, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon last at his residence at “Retreat”, in St. Andrew’s. Mr Espeut was in the prime of life, and, up to the period of his last illness, would have been pronounced by anyone who saw him to have been in the bloom of health. But it was proved that his appearance was deceptious, as an incurable malady had already made serious inroad upon his constitution. He suddenly became ill, and, when circumstances permitted, he left the county on a trip to the Windward Islands, in the hope of recruiting his strength so as to be able to undergo further medical treatment. His hopes were not realized; his strength gave way the more, and he returned here in the Atrato, on the 14th inst., only in time to end his life in his own home, and among his family and friends. His remains were interred yesterday evening, attended to their last resting-place by a large number of gentlemen by whom he was deservedly respected.
The Hon. Mr. Espeut has been long connected with this island, holding property both in St. Andrew and St. Thomas, having a fine Sugar estate in the latter parish. He was for many years Official Assignee for the County of Middlesex, and recently, on a vacancy occurring, was appointed Assignee for Cornwall, in conjunction, in anticipation, it was reported, of some changes contemplated by the government which were to place him in a higher and more responsible position. Under the old regime, he was for several years connected with political life, commencing with the representation of Kingston in the House of Assembly, as colleague of the Hon. Mr. Jordon and the late Mr. March. After holding his seat for some time a general election came round, and he and Mr. March had to make way for Charles Levy, Esq., and the Hon. Dr. Bowerbank. He was then elected for St. John, for which parish he sat until the abolition of the Assembly.
He had also been an Alderman of Kingston, and held commissions of the Peace for several parishes, and soon after the late disturbance, he was appointed Custos of St. Thomas in the room of the late lamented Baron Ketelhodt. He was a gentleman of intelligence, was esteemed by all who knew him, and his death will be generally regretted. As a mark of respect for his memory, the flags of the Commercial Exchange, the R. M. Company and the Museum of the Royal Society of Arts were kept at half-mast all yesterday.
Daily Gleaner, June 13, 1868
"When Peter Alexander Espeut died there was chaos in the family affairs. Due to his extravagant hospitality and having no sense of thrift he left no means.... almost everything had to be sold and no care was taken of much apart from family belongs." (family record)
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Daily Gleaner, July 7 1868
Probate Granted: 17 Jun 1868, Jamaica. When Peter's estate was wound up, it was found that he was more or less insolvent and there were, therefore, no assets left for Marianne [his 2nd wife] to inherit.
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Retreat Pen, however, was already at this period establishing its reputation as a race-horse breeding pen. |
Daily Gleaner, April 15, 1873
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Daily Gleaner, September 11 1873
Daily Gleaner, July 11 1878
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Daily Gleaner, October 16 1873
Daily Gleaner, July 7 1879
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Daily Gleaner, February 16, 1876
Daily Gleaner, October 9, 1879
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Daily Gleaner, November 29 1879
During the years after Peter Espeut's death, his heirs had increasingly attempted to get Retreat Pen off their hands, but apparently with little success.
Since George Solomon and his sons are listed in the Kingston Directory in 1878 as living at Retreat Pen it would appear that he acquired the property around the time of the advertisements above.
Since George Solomon and his sons are listed in the Kingston Directory in 1878 as living at Retreat Pen it would appear that he acquired the property around the time of the advertisements above.
