George Edward Doney (c.1757-1809):
St Mary’s Parish Church, Church St, Watford WD18 0EG
George Edward Doney was born in the Gambia and transported as a slave to Virginia, where he probably worked on a tobacco or sugar plantation. By the age of eight, in around 1765, he came to Watford as a servant to William Capell, the 4th Earl of Essex at Cassiobury House, where he remained for 44 years until his death in 1809.
It’s not clear why he was brought to Cassiobury House. He may have been fashionable exotic, or he could have been intended as a playmate for the 5th Earl, George Capell-Coningsby, who was about the same age as George. The family had no known links with the slave trade. Indeed, the 5th Earl of Essex and his wife were among the sponsors of Olaudah Equiano’s autobiography
J M W Turner was a visitor to Cassiobury House, and an unfinished painting from c.1809, entitled ‘Harvest Home’, almost certainly portrays George. The figure is in the left foreground of the painting in and unusually prominent place, thought to indicate his rank within the household.
Inscription:
IN MEMORY OF GEORGE E.D DONEY,
A Native of Virginia,
(who for 44 Years discharged
the duties of a faithful honest
servant
to the EARLS OF ESSEX)
he died 3rd September, 1809.
Poor Edward blest the pirate Bark which bore
His captive Infancy from Gambia’s shore
To where in willing servitude he won
Those blest rewards for every duty done
Kindness and praise the wages of the Heart.
None else to HIM could joy or pride impart
And gave him, born a Pagan and a Slave
A FREEMANS Charter and a CHRISTIANS grave.
His memorial received a Grade 2 listing by Historic England in 2008.
