Vanderhorst and Duncombe families

Vanderhorst and Duncombe families

Land in par. Llandewy Velfrey, co. Pembs.

Land in Clifton, Bristol

Slaves and estates in America and the West Indies

Official documents relating to Elias

Vanderhorst's appointment as U.S.Consul at Bristol

Personal papers and letters of the Vanderhorst and Duncombe families

• <famname>Vanderhorst family of Bristol and South Carolina, USA</famname>
• <famname>Duncombe family of Antigua, West Indies</famname>

Originally deposited in Bristol City Art Gallery by Miss E.I.M. Duncombe and subsequently transferred to Bristol Record Office

Accession number: 5097

8032

The Vanderhorst family was established in South Carolina towards the end of the seventeenth century by Elias' grandfather, a subaltern officer from Rotterdam who followed William of Orange to England in 1688 before emigrating to Charleston where his son was born. Elias' mother Mary was also born in South Carolina where her family settled after leaving Paris for religious reasons. Elias was born on 28 August 1738 and inherited a considerable fortune when his father died during his infancy. Brothers William and Arnoldus, whose son became Governor of South Carolina, and a sister Elizabeth whose grandson was Washington Allston the artist, are mentioned in this collection.

In 1759 and 1760 Elias served in the wars against the Cherokees and then became a merchant. He married Mary Raven Cooper(or Cowper) in 1763. An unfortunate business venture led to the loss of his money and dependence on his mother-in-law's income.

Health and financial problems probably prompted Elias' emigration in 1774 with his family and mother-in-law to Bristol, where once again he became a merchant. On 3 October 1787 Elias became a burgess of Bristol, but he does not appear to have exercised his right to vote.

Ten children were born to Elias and his wife but only six survived infancy:

Eliza Cooper Vanderhorst

Mary Cooper Vanderhorst, married John Duncombe Taylor of Antigua Harriett Cooper Vanderhorst, married Henry Thomas Shewen of Swansea Thomas Cooper Vanderhorst, married Hannah Beale, niece of Mrs.Bull Anne Catherine Vanderhorst, married John Rees of Carmarthen Carolina Mary Vanderhorst, probably died between 1796 and 1815.

On 4 May 1792 George Washington as President and Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State signed the appointment of Elias Vanderhorst as U.S. consul for the Port of Bristol and its environs. For notes on Elias' despatches, see Information Box XIX/78

Elias declined reappointment as consul in 1816 and died in May 1816.

Many of her father's papers went to Eliza Vanderhorst who died unmarried in 1814. She left most of her possessions to Cordelia Duncombe Taylor, her niece. Cordelia married Alexander Moffat of Antigua who then took the name Duncombe. Thomas Cooper Vanderhorst also died without children and some of his papers passed to Cordelia.