Description 🔉
Object:
A pair of late 18th/early 19th century portraits depict Colonel James Henderson and, reputedly, his wife Eliza Piercy Henderson, traditionally described as “The Beauty of Bath.” The works are oil on canvas and measure 75 x 62 cm (29½ x 24½ in).
The male portrait is believed to be a period copy of the original likeness exhibited at the Royal Academy, possibly made for one of Henderson’s other estates. The female portrait is thought to represent Eliza Piercy - and may have been painted after Henderson’s death, as she was approximately forty years his junior.
Biography:
Colonel James Henderson was born circa 1740–1741. According to surviving accounts, he was sent to Jamaica as a boy to live with relatives. He later acquired substantial interests in the island’s sugar economy and became associated with plantation ownership. He is also linked with the development of Port Henderson on the south coast, later used as a port serving Spanish Town.
During wartime, later sources report that Henderson received authority to raise a regiment and equip a vessel named Royal George for service in the Caribbean. By 1790 he had settled at Foswell Bank near Auchterarder. Contemporary records note that he was granted the freedom of Stirling and Dunfermline. To commemorate this honour, a portrait by John Opie was presented to him and later exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1790 (catalogue no. 210). The original has been recorded in a private collection in Suffolk.
Henderson married Eliza Piercy Henderson, reputedly celebrated for her beauty. The couple had three known children: John Piercy Henderson, Eliza Piercy Henderson, and Arabella Hamilton Henderson. Henderson died in 1811 and is recorded as being buried in Auchterarder Cemetery. According to University College London, his estate included several Jamaican plantations and pens. One such property, Goshen Pen, was recorded as holding 144 enslaved people.
Following Henderson’s death, his son John Piercy Henderson inherited family interests connected to the Jamaican estates. These holdings continued through the era of British emancipation in the 1830s, with estate management commonly carried out through attorneys and agents in Jamaica on behalf of absentee proprietors.
Digital Shop Viewer
Seller Details
VISIT SELLERS SHOPTAKE SHOP TOUR
- Business Name: Raven Yard Antiques Shop
- Name: Jan
- Email: Enquiries@raven-antiques.com
- Phone: 07454992481
- Website: https://raven-antiques.com
- Address:
- 21 Watergate, Whitchurch, Shropshire, UK.
- SY131DP
- Interested in Seeing Other Antique Shops Nearby?
- Note:
- Raven Yard Antiques Shop is a family run business located in the picturesque part of Shropshire in the Roman town of Whitchurch. We have a diverse selection of rare and historic goods to choose from. Please browse our online store or else visit our shop to see some of our amazing items.
Legal Note
For antique firearms such as muskets and rifles, this item is offered strictly as a collectors’ piece. It is sold as a historic firearm for display or study purposes only, and not as a modern, live-firing weapon. Export, import, and ownership regulations vary by country; buyers are responsible for ensuring compliance with their local laws and confirming that they are not prohibited from ownership. In accordance with UK guidelines, the seller is required to verify the buyer’s identification and age prior to completion of the sale.
Newest Items.
SEE MORE
Product ID: 3622
WW1 Officers Private Purchase Adjustable..., For Sale
Buy It Now: £150.00
Product ID: 3621
WW2 Officers Bedroll, For Sale
Buy It Now: £125.00
Product ID: 3620
British 1903 Pattern Leather Bandolier, For Sale
Buy It Now: £125.00
Product ID: 3619
Named 1908 Pattern Web Infantry Equipmen..., For Sale
Buy It Now: £695.00
Product ID: 3618
Brodie Helmet, Steel, Mark I, Post 1917, For Sale
Buy It Now: £225.00
Product ID: 3617
Victorian Swivel Chair, For Sale
Buy It Now: £150.00
Product ID: 3616
A Solid Brass Eight Branch Ceiling Chand..., For Sale
Buy It Now: £200.00
Product ID: 3615
Exclusive XXL One Piece Of Cow Skin Rug, For Sale
Buy It Now: £200.00