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Of the Parish of Hanover when married Anne Maria Smith
Based on present evidence, it would appear that the Alexander HERON andbrothers Robert HERON (& William) who went to Jamaica were sons of AgnesDALZIEL and William HERON. The evidence is based upon the fact that:
1. There appears to be only one Robert HERON born in Wigtownshire withinthe same time-frame as this Alexander.(abt 1760). This Robert wasdefinitely the son of Agnes DALZIEL and William HERON and therfore it isassumed that this Alexander was his brother and hence also the son ofWilliam HERON and Agnes DALZIEL.
2. Many of the above Robert and Alexander brothers and sisters whosenames are mentioned in Robert's will (q.v.) were also names of childrento Agnes DALZIEL and William HERON (i.e. Jean, William, Robert and Ann).
3. The Alexander HERON that a Robert HERON (uncle?) deeded his propertyand named as the executor of his estate is stated to have been born inStoneykirk, Wigtownshire, Scotland.
4. Although Alexander HERON's baptismal record indicates that he wasbaptised 1 Oct 1761, Stoneykirk and his tombstone states '...Alexr Heron,Esq,... born Scotland, Sept 1756'...., it is possible that AlexanderHERON was born in September 1756 but not baptised until 1761.
5. Alexander HERON named his plantation 'Wigton' probably after his placeof birth, which was probably Wigtonshire or the town of Wigton. My guessis that Alexander HERON was born in the town of Wigton, Wigownshire andhis family moved to Stoneykirk where he and the rest of his siblings weresubsequently baptised and their baptisms recorded. Who Alexander'sgrandparents were is uncertain, but I would begin by examining the birthand marriage records of the parish of Wigton and Mochrum.

It would also appear that there were other HERON connections to the WestIndies prior to Alexander & Robert. Some of these HERONs may or may nothave been related to Agnes DALZIEL and her husband William HERON. Belowfind other HERON-related information concerning the West Indies:

THE WEST INDIES CONNECTION
1662: male HERON son was born to Patrick HERON Sr. of Kirrouchtrie andeventually sent to sea and married well in Liverpool. Out of that porthe commanded a large ship. At last the young man settled in Bermuda.Wishing to revisit his native land, he sailed home with his only child;but when a few leagues from the shore, the boat sank and the onlysurvivor was a young negro boy.(Source: McKerlie) It is believed that thebastard son's mother name was McHARG, the ship that the bastard soncommanded was a slaver and the negro boy survivor of the shipwreck wasthe bastard son's son!

1688 Patrick HERON Sr., Laird of Kirrouchtrie and Bargaly Estatesreceived the title "Heron of Heron" under James II.(Source: BevPhillips). It may be that this HERON family was influential in arrangingland grants for relatives in the West Indies. Patrick HERON Sr. ofKirrouchtrie's brother, Andrew had a son Patrick HERON who became aCaptain of a ship.

1696/97 March 23: A Mr. HERON, was Secretary to the African Co. inLondon, England. (The African Company was a slave trading company). It isnot certain who this HERON was but further investigation about thisperson may assist in determining the HERON-West Indian connection.

1706 abt: When he was 16 years of age, Patrick HERON Jr. went to Londonwith his brother, William, to learn commercial pursuits. Was enticed byhis brother (William) in a frolic, while in London, to join a'Guineaman' (a slave ship) and went two voyages to the west coast ofAfrica. There should be some record of this voyage somewhere. Whenstationed at Portsmouth, Hampshire, he married clandestinely, thedaughter of a male REID, merchant and shipowner there. A reconciliationtook place. (The marriage was probably annulled). His father thenpurchased a lieutenancy for him in Lord Mark KERR's regiment. Later onbecame an officer in Brigadier Munden's Regiment.(Source: M'Kerlie).Patrick HERON Jr. married Ann VINING. 1710: After his marriage to AnnVINING, Patrick HERON Jr. settled at Vicar's Hill, about a mile north ofLymington, England. It was there that all his known children were born;the last in 1726.
1706 William HERON (Patrick HERON Jr.'s brother) probably continued withthe slave trade.

1720 abt: Margaret HERON, Patrick HERON Sr.'s sister married a JamesLIDDERDALE whose son Thomas LIDDERDALE (b. 1690) went to the West Indiesand 'made a fortune'. It is believed that Thomas LIDDERDALE had agrandson William LIDDERDALE who married Elizabeth WRIGHT; they had a sonJames LIDDERDALE who was baptized Oct 8, 1767, Kirkcudbrightshire,Scotland and died Nov 9, 1783 at Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean.

1730 abt: an Alexander HERON (b. 1707) (Patrick HERON Sr.'s grandson)joined the Dutch army as a cadet, and served for two years in Flanders.He returned, and his father got him a lieutenancy in an independentregiment in Bermuda. He married a brother officer's widow with twochildren. The name is not given. No issue. (McKerlie)

1733: the "Heron & Dolphin" a Bermudian registered vessel, owners A.HERON, W. MITCHELL , S. JUDKINS & B. WRIGHT brought one slavefrom Antigua/Bermuda into the port of New York. (bernhardt 1999, p281)

THE JAMAICAN CONNECTION
1494 3 May Columbus discovered Jamaica

1655 10 May British Capture Jamaica from Spanish

1662 Oct Population 3,653 Whites, 552 Negros, total 4,205

1664 June 4: Sir Thomas Modyford came from Barbados with 700 planters andtheir slaves to introduce a plantation economy.

1664: There was a transaction somewhere in Jamaica between a Samuel HERONand Thomas MATTHEWS. (Source: Richard Mitchell). This Samuel HERON mayhave been already living in Jamaica and purchased slaves that werebrought to Jamaica because if Samuel HERON had come from Barbados as oneof the imported planters, he probably would have brought his own slaveswith him. In 1784 a Samuel HERON, a planter from Kingston, Jamaica sold a'lot' in Port Royal, Kingston to William GRAHAM (a free quadroonfisherman). Samuel may be related to other HERONs of Port Royal,Kingston.

1673 Year Population 7,768 Whites, 9504 Negros, total 17,272

1741: A Francis HERON married Catherine VERGES (widow) in Kingston. Hewas a baker in the Parish of Kingston. In 1744 a Francis HERON (male) wasburied in Kingston. On Feb 6, 1745 a Francis HERON's will was probated.His wife Catherine was the executor.

1764 Year Population 166,454 (146,454 Slaves)

1766: A Thomas HERON, a shopkeeper from Kingston, began a series of seventransactions between 1766 and 1782. 1766: Bought a 'lot' in Kingston.1767: purchased 64 acres in St. Andrew Parish. Also may have been theuncle of Alexander and Robert HERON. In 1853 a Thomas HERON, CustomsOfficer died. He may have also been related to the above Thomas.

1774: An Ann HERON, a 24 year old mulatto was born in 1774 but baptisedin Port Royal in 1798.

1775 Year Population 12,737 Whites, 4,093 Free Coloured, 192,787 Slaves

1778: A Sarah HERON was baptised in Port Royal, Jamaica. She was thedaughter of Joseph & Mary HERON. (Believed to be the first recorded birthof a HERON in Jamaica.) 1783: A Mary HERON purchased a slave. These mightbe tha same Marys.

1778: inventory of personal goods regarding the estate of John HERRON,shopkeeper in Kingston. He may have been the brother, uncle or father ofThomas HERON also a shopkeeper from Kingston.(John must have died abt1778). It is interesting to note the spelling of this John HERRON's lastname as it may provide a clue to his origin, if born in Scotland

1784: A Robert HERON, a planter in Trelawney purchased 9 slaves fromRebecca MITCHELL. At his death, he was referred to as a shopkeeper
1792: a Robert HERON from Trelawny married Mary HUGHES from Hanover in1792. Believed to be the same Robert.
1796: A Robert HERON and wife bought 18 acres called 'Retirement' inHanover, Jamaica.
1797: Robert HERON deeded 'Retirement' to Alexander HERON on proviso thathe provide for Robert's wife (Mary?) and children and Robert's sistersAnn & Mary in London in the event of Robert's death. The Alexander HERONthat Robert HERON deeded 'Retirement' to was stated to have been born inStoneykirk. Robert is stated to have died in 1799. If so, cannot bebrother to the Alexander above because that Robert's will was dated 1809!Therefore it is most likely that this Robert HERON was Alexander's uncle!
1799 Oct 17: A Robert HERON buried at Hanover, Jamaica

1785: a William HERON, a bookeeper in the Parish of St. Dorothy's born.Died in 1820, aged 20 (See below)

1785 Year Population 30,000 Whites,10,000 Free coloured, 250,000 Slaves

1792-1821: an Andrew HERON was part of 19 separate transactions inJamaica.
1796: an Andrew HERON, 2nd Lt., Surrey Militia, stationed in Kingstonwith 18 years of service.
1802-1808: a Captain HERON of the 5th Battalion Blacks owned 'Hut Pen' inSt. Andrew Parish, Jamaica.
1809 October 7: a Mrs. HERON was buried in St. Andrew's Parish on herhusband's property. Believed to be the wife of the above Andrew HERON. On1822 Dec 14: an Andrew HERON died in Kingston, Jamaica and was buried inthe Clachans of Penninghame cemetery. According to his tombstone, he wasresident in Jamaica for 37 years and died aged 57 years old.
1826: 'Hut Pen', St. Andrews passed to a Thomas HERON from Andrew HERON
1828 Sep 7: Elizabeth HERON born to Thomas HERON and Jane PALMER at St.Andrew, Surry, Jamaica
1831 Mar 9: Ann HERON born to Thomas HERON and Jane PALMER at St. Andrew,Surry, Jamaica
1853: A Thomas HERON, customs officer died. Believed to be the aboveThomas.

1795: death recorded of a W. HERON in Port Royal. In 1796 death recordedof Christopher HERON in Port Royal.
Christopher HERON and W. HERON were probably related because they wereboth from Port Royal.

1798: Ann HERON (a free woman of colour); aged 24 was baptized in PortRoyal, Jamaica.

1793: First recorded transactions of Alexander HERON, a purchase ofslaves and a land purchase in Hanover.
1798 March 21, St. Elizabeth: Alexander HERON married Anna Maria SMITH ofBossue who was the daughter of a wealthy landowner. Alexander HERON mayhave worked as an overseer for Anna Maria SMITH's father and was aresident of Hanover when he married her.
1798: Jane HERON born. First known legitimate child of Alexander HERONand Anna Maria SMITH. Alexander HERON may have had other illegitimatechildren before this with some of his slaves.
1799: Alexander HERON is listed as the executor of the will of a RobertHERON, shopkeeper of Trelawny. This Robert HERON was interred at'Retirement' in 1799 and Richard Mitchell believes that Alexander HERONmay have lived at 'Retirement' during the early years of his marriage andmay have been an overseer there. It would appear that Robert was a closerelative (uncle?) of Alexander and his brother Robert.
1808: Robert and Alexander HERON make their first purchase in St.Elizabeth.
1809: The last will and testament of Robert HERON, the brother ofAlexander HERON.
1810: Death of Robert HERON, his son Robert and Elizabeth GOUDIE
1810: Alexander HERON is listed as a property owner (Westmoreland,Hanover, Manchester). (His brother William is not). Alexander may havebought land in Manchester with his brother Robert before buying orinheriting Wigton or may have inherited from a relative Robert or Thomas.
1811: a land patent in Wigton granted to Alexander HERON.
1813-1814: Alexander HERON was a Vestryman at Vere, Clarendon, Jamaica.
1815: Alexander HERON is listed as a property owner. (His brother Williamis not).
1815: Birth of Alexander Woodburn HERON
1816 :April 13, 1816, a mortcloth ("10") was purchased for an AgnesDALZIEL of Midhill, Scotland (location unknown)
1818: Alexander HERON was Vestryman, Manchester, Jamaica.
1820: Last property purchase of Alexander HERON, 240 acres from HenryCERFS
1824, November 11: Robert DALLAS, parish rector witnesses AlexanderHERON's will. It would be worthwhile getting a copy of this will.
1825: The death of Alexander HERON. Alexander is stated to have had tenchildren with Anna Maria SMITH of which four survived. These fourchildren were schooled in Scotland. Two married Jamaicans and twomarried Scots. He is also believed to have had one or two children by amistress before his marriage and three black families by three mistressesafter his marriage. This Alexander HERON is buried at Wigton Plantation,Parish of Manchester, Jamaica. His tombstone is supposed to bear hisname with the title 'Bart.' after it.., but it doesn't! It just says'...Alexr Heron, Esq,... born Scotland, Sept 1756'.... (Esquire means'landowner')
Wigton Plantation was inherited by his son 'Captain' Alexander WoodburnHERON, JP (Justice of the Peace means that he was appointed a LayMagistrate for the parish of Manchester).

1798 April 10: A Henry HERON of Falmouth, died at Trelawny

1801: A Francis (male?) HERON born in Kingston, Jamaica.

1802: a land patent in Vere granted to a William HERON (who is believedto be a brother of Alexander HERON). But in 1810, William HERON is notlisted as a property owner and therefore may have sold his property after1802 and before 1810 and returned to Scotland. Another possibility isthat he died before 1810 and his property was sold.

1805: a 20 year old William HERON, a bookeeper in the Parish of St.Dorothy's died.
1805 Aug 19: A William HERON buried at St. John, Jamaica

1806 July: A Robert HERON, Esq, London, Manchester, published "A Letterto William Wilberforce, Esq. M.P. on the Justice and Expediency ofSlavery and the Slave Trade...the best means to improve the Manners andConditions of the Negroes in the West Indies.(London, Jordan & Maxwell,1806). This Robert HERON was Robert HERON (Nov 6, 1764 - April 13,1807)the writer, born in New Galloway, Scotland. It is believed that hespent no time in the West Indies, although a relative may have.

Early 1800's a John HERON fathered two daughters in Trelawney. He alsoowned land in St. James. May have been Alexander's brother.
1823 Mar: Sarah Hull HERON born to John HERON and Mary DALE at St. James,Cornwall, Jamaica
1826 Feb 11: Eliza HERON born to John HERON and Mary DALE at St. James,Cornwall, Jamaica

1823: a John HERON, Master/Commander of the ship "Jamaica" sailed fromGlasgow to New Orleans. On board was another Jay (John?) HERON aged 26,clerk, born Scotland; bound for New Orleans. This 'Jay' was probably theship-master's son.

Note: The source of most of the above information on the 'Herons ofJamaica',although not all of it, is from Richard Mitchell's website. and his book 'A Heron Family Forest Grew inManchester'.

Anna Maria SMITH was Jamaican born of 'English background'; born inBossue to a wealthy plantation owner in the then Parish of St. Elizabeth,Jamaica. (Bossue became part of Manchester parish in 1814). She wassupposed to have had ten children with Captain HERON, of which foursurvived.