James Dawkins

James Dawkins (1722, Jamaica – 6 September 1757, Jamaica) was a member a British Member of parliament, antiquarian, Jacobite and sugar planter and slave owner in Jamaica. Early life and education The Dawkins family settled on Jamaica shortly after its seizure from the Spanish in 1655. James was the eldest son born to Henry Dawkins I (1698–1744), who was a wealthy sugar planter and slave owner of Clarendon, Jamaica, and his wife, Elizabeth (1697?–1757), third daughter of Edward Pennant of Clarendon, chief justice of the island and of Elizabeth Moore. His brothers were major slave owner William Dawkins (d. 1753) and Henry Dawkins II. He went to England for his education, attending John Roysse's free school in Abingdon (now Abingdon School) (then headed by the Tory Thomas Woods) and matriculating at St John's College, Oxford on 7 December 1739. His father died in 1744 bequeathing to James 14,300 acres (and making smaller bequests to the two younger sons William and Henry). His plantations included Parnassus Estate, Dawkins Caymanas, Dawkins Salt Pond Pen, Friendship, Leicesterdfields and Old Plantation. James graduated DCL in 1749.