Notes:

As a Lt. Col., Samuell Forte was a representative to the House of Assembly for St. Johns Parish from the years 1712,1715-1719, 1721 and 1723-27. He was elected in the place of John Rouse Aug. 19, 1712. (F-193, F-748) As well as Lieutenant Colonel he had also been Justice of the Peace of the St. John's Regiment of the Militia.

He was married twice. He and his wife Ann Forte are listed with their children in the 1715 Census Records of St. John's Parish, in Barbados. (F-159) They had two more children, Enoch and Tomazine after this census. The following Barbados Deeds give detail about Samuel Forte Jr., his eldest daughter Elizabeth and his father Samuel Forte, Sr. and mother-in-law, Elizabeth Forte. V. 30, p. 138: Samuel Forte (Sr.) of St. Johns deeds to granddaughter Elizabeth Forte, Daughter of Samuel Forte Jr. of St. Johns Parish, with love and affection, 1 negro woman, Catriante, and 1 negro boy, Johnny. V. 30, pg. 139-140: 28 December 1714, Elizabeth Forte, Sr. gave Elizabeth Forte Jr. 1 negro girl, Martillah and 15 pounds sterling. V. 30, p. 139 a deed made 15 July 1717 between Col. Samuel Forte of St. Johns and Mrs. Elizabeth Forte of same gave Elizabeth 20 pounds sterling and 1 negro girl named Bella. V. 30, p. 138: 6 July 1720, Samuel Forte, Son of the within named Sam. Forte and father of Elizabeth Forte gave d. Elizabeth 1 woman slave, Catherine, Johnny and 1 girl, Jonny. V. 30, p. 140: 13 Aug. 1720, Ralph Weekes, guardian of Enoch Gritton (Under age 21) (because of marriage of Enoch G. & Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Samuel Forte), was pd. 1500 pounds in the parish of St. Phillips. V. 30, p. 179: 9 Sept. 1720, Samuel Forte of St. Johns deeded to Ralph Weekes of St. Phillips 10 acres in St. George bordering land of Col. William Lesly, Benjamin Battign, Richard Sutton DeSouth Carolina. for 200 pounds of Goods paid by Ralph Weeks. V. 30, p. 149: 14 Sept. 1720, Samuel Forte, St. Johns, deeded to William Lesly, St. Johns, 10 acres in St. George bound by Benjamin Batlyn, Mrs. Elis. Burks and said Forte. (F-254)

His sons are in or conspicuously not in the following records: Son Samuel--Left a will probated in 1745. He did not mention a wife or children. He did mention his brother Christopher's children: Samuel, William, Christopher, and Elizabeth and his brother Richard, brother Rich, brother-in-law, Samuel Leslie and nephew James Eastmand. (This means that two of his sisters were married to a Samuel Leslie and an Eastmand.) (F-194c) Son Richard-- No will has been located for him. No sign of children or a wife are in the church records for Barbados. Son Christopher--No will has been located for him. His children are mentioned in his brother Samuel Forte's will as Samuel, (William), Christopher and (Elizabeth). His children and wife are not mentioned in Barbados church records. Son Thomas--No information has been located about this son and his possible offspring. Son Enoch-- Was a Doctor in St. Philips Parish, Barbados. He did not declare any sons in his will. Children were Jane, Elizabeth, Mary Austin, and Rebecca all under age 21, when he died in 1771/2.

Samuel married Ann ESTWICKE before 1703. Ann (daughter of Richard ESTWICK and Joan WALKER) was born before 8 Apr 1680 in St. Johns Parish, , Barbados; died in 1720. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Jane Elizabeth GRETTON. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married Major Enoch GRETTON on 4 Aug 1720 in St. Johns Parish, , Barbados. Major was born in in Of Fowls Bay, St. Phillip Parish, BRB; died after 1729. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Burke's Colonial Gentry and Samuel Forte's descendants chart professionally researched gives his spouses name as Mercy Eastmond. (F-458) Mercy was the daughter of James Eastmond, Esq. She died in 1733. (C-462)

Samuel married Mercy EASTMOND on 10 Feb 1733 in St. Johns Parish, , Barbados. Mercy (daughter of Esq. James EASTMOND) was born in 1704; died in 1733. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Anne died unmarried. (F-604)

Ursula married Esq. Samuel LESLIE on 1 Jan 1733 in St. Johns Parish, , Barbados. Esq. (son of Colonel William LESLIE and Thomasine FORTE) was born in 1709 in , St. Johns Parish, , Barbados; died in 1777. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

This Christopher Forte is the son of Samuel Forte, Jr. as verified in the 1715 Census of St. Johns Parish in Barbados. All of Samuel Jr.'s children had been born by 1715 except for son Enoch. We know 4 of Christopher's children for sure, to be Samuel, William, Christopher and Ann from Christopher's brother, Samuel (III)'s will. (F-458)

Christopher married Thomasin LESLIE after 1732. Thomasin (daughter of Colonel William LESLIE and Thomasine FORTE) was born in 1711 in , St. Johns Parish, , Barbados; died in 1759. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Esq. James EASTMOND. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Enoch and Elizabeth had one son who died in 1785. They also had at least three daughters, Jane, Rebecca and Mary Austin and possibly an Elizabeth. (F-462, 604)

Enoch married Elizabeth BAILEY on 2 Feb 1743 in , St. Phillip Parish, , Barbados. Elizabeth (daughter of Esq. Joseph BAILEY) died in 1785. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Samuel was a Colonel of the militia and member of the House of Assembly for St. Thomas Parish. Although having two wives, he died without issue. He is buried in the family vault in St. Thomas Church. (F-458,462)

Colonel married Elizabeth LESLIE in 1763. Elizabeth (daughter of Hon. Henry LESLIE and Margaret UNKNOWN) was born in 1736; died in 1772. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth SAUNDERS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The origins of this family in England might be Clifton, Bristol, Gloucester, England. I theorize this because Christopher's great-grandson, Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel and Arabella Millard, returned to live in Clifton along with multiple siblings. It was known as Clifstone in the Doomsday Book which needs checked for Forte ancestors. The surname has been suggested to have been Fortesque or Fortibus previous to their departure to Barbados for political necessities.

Christopher, (b.1712) did have a son named Christopher. This Christopher's birthday or christening have not been able to be located. He was the 3rd son of Christopher. (F-194, F-205) Notice that the names Christopher and Samuel are in all 7 generations in Barbados if this line is the correct one. In fact, it supports the truth of this lineage.

Both Christopher and Elizabeth died in a hurricane in Barbados in 1780. At least 79 persons died in that hurricane. However, he is not amongst the listing of burials in that year. (F-604)

An article in the Advocate Magazine dated Jan. 21, 1979 in Barbados implies that the Forte family was one related branch that was in Barbados from early times. It mentions several plantation houses that the Forte Family owned. The Forte Family owned Haynes Hill Plantation, St. John's Parish in 1700 on which a tomb still exists inscribed "Within this wall are interred the remains of Samuel Forte 1711 and his wife Ursula 1700 and many members of the Forte family." (When Jim and I visited the Haynes Hill House in 1990, we saw the tomb, and learned that the house now standing had been built in 1831 after the original house the Forte's had lived in was destroyed in a hurricane.) The "Fort" family is listed as possessing land in the area of Haynes Hill House on maps in 1729 and 1794. The Forte family (A Mr. T. or J. Forte) purchased the Bennett mansion about 1831 (possibly due to the hurricane??) in St. Thomas Parish.

This early Forte family was also highly involved in the government. Lt. Col. Samuel Forte was a representative in St. John's Parish House of Assembly from 1715-1719, 1721 and 1723-1727. (This is probably Samuel Forte Jr., son of the original Samuel Forte, Sr. who is buried on Haynes Hill). From 1787 to 1803, Dr. Samuel Forte of St. Thomas represented St. Thomas in the House of Assembly. His brother Nathaniel represented it from 1831 to 1836, as Speaker of the Assembly. Two William Forte's represented it between those times. (F-193)

Christopher married Elizabeth WEEKES on 27 Oct 1764 in , St. Phillip Parish, , Barbados. Elizabeth (daughter of President Ralph WEEKES) was born about 1744; died in 1780. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

There are many Fortes living in Demerara, South Africa that descend from this William Forte. He apparently emigrated to South Africa during his life time. (F-461)

Family/Spouse: Margaret LESLIE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She might have married a Stink.

Family/Spouse: Unknown ESTWICK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Esq. William NURSE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Please note that in this particular family, the christening dates occur in groupings and are not likely to coincide with the children's birth dates. One christening occurs 9 days before the christening of his son Christopher. Thomas Forte, a negro slave, property of Doctor Samuel Forte, was christened 21 June 1789 in St. Thomas Parish. (F-221) Samuel Forte's title was Esquire of Fortevilla, Barbados.

Doctor Samuel Forte is listed as having served as a representative in the House of Assembly for St. Thomas from the years 1787 till 1803. His brothers are listed as younger brother Nathaniel who was Speaker of the House of Assembly sometime in the early 1830's, and Christopher Forte, Esq. who died in 1830 in St. James Parish. It is interesting to note that Emancipation of the slaves took place in Barbados in 1833 while Nathaniel was speaker of the house. (F-189)

In Barbados deed records show Samuel Forte, Doctor, deeded 38 acres bounded by lands of Mrs. Chick, Matthew Johnson Seale, Galniel Reeves of St Thomas to Christopher Forte, Doctor and Surgeon. (F-255) Vol. 263, p. 413. A video tape of this deed is in the custody of Linda Coate Dudick.

Dr. Samuel Forte also left a will that is in the custody of the Archives in Barbados. It is here transcribed. "Barbados: This is the last will and testament of me Samuel Forte of the Parish of Saint Michael in the island above said named this twenty-ninth day of November One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Four. I direct that my just debts and funeral expenses may be fully paid and satisfied. I give and bequeath to my two grand daughters Mary Forte Millard and Caroline Anna Millard (children of my daughter Sarah Millard) all my right title and interest in and to my apprenticed labourers, John, Jack Duke, John Richard, Betty Dick and Rachael together with all my plate household stuff and furniture and all other my property, real and personal to be equally divided between them share and share alike, and in case of the death of either of them, I give the whole to the survivor and her heirs. It is my will and desire that my apprenticed labourer Hannah shall be discharged from her apprenticeship and set free from all kind of servitude. I do hereby nominate and appoint my brother Nathaniel Forte and my son-in-law John Millard Executors of this my Will revoking and making void any and all former will or wills by me at any time here to for made. In testimony whereof I have affixed my hand and seal the day and year above written." (Probated on Feb. 5th 1840) (F-191) (Note that his son Christopher, died shortly before the writing of this will)

Descendants of this Samuel and Jane moved to Cape Colony in South Africa. (F-462) There is a possibility that Samuel married three times, as there are two other marriage records to Samuel's that are unconnected. Samuel Forte to Susanna Carmichaell on Mar. 17, 1791 in St. Thomas Parish and to Elizabeth Williams on July 30, 1822 in St. Michaels Parish. (F-224) This would fit the Samuel's places of residence and dates. The will has no wife listed, so it doesn't discount it.

There is an interesting story that occurred to another young Samuel Forte who was living in Barbados at the time. At an election party, a young soldier, Lieutenant John Cage was, in jest, hit on the back by a Mr. Samuel Forte. A fight followed. Lieutenant Cage was not forgiving and demanded that a duel be held in lieu of an apology. Mr. Forte of "good family and high social position" accepted the duel and shot Cage dead. When the military tried to arrest him, he was taken into hiding by "Aunt Peg" of General William's family at the Welchman Hall plantation. He is said to have escaped the island after receiving "Aunt Peg's" help and lived the rest of his life abroad. This particular story coined the phrase "AS DEAD AS CAGE". (F-162)

Esq. married Jane NEBLETT on 8 Jun 1787 in St. Thomas Parish, , Barbados. Jane (daughter of Esq. Unknown NEBLETT) was born about 1770; died before 1834. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Christopher's will was probated by a Christopher on the 23 day of Mar. 1830. He did not appear to have a wife or children. He divided his estate between a friend: Elizabeth Leslie, wife of John Hart Leslie, their daughter Elizabeth, and his brother, Nathaniel's children: Nathaniel Forte, Caroline Leslie Forte, Anna Christopher Forte, and Amelia Nathan Forte. His witnesses were S. Forte, Jr. and Saml. Forte King. His brother, Nathaniel executed the will. (F-458)

Notes:

Nathaniel was the Speaker of the House of Assembly from 1829-1835, as well as J.P. and Colonel of the Militia. (F-458, 604) There is a story in the genealogical magazines of Barbados that goes like this. At an election party, a young soldier, Lieutenant John Cage was, in jest, hit on the back by a young Mr. Samuel Forte. A fight followed. Lieutenant Cage was not forgiving and demanded that a duel be held in lieu of an apology. Mr. Forte of "good family and high social position" accepted the duel and shot Cage dead. When the military tried to arrest him, he was taken into hiding by "Aunt Peg" of General William's family at the Welchman Hall plantation. He is said to have escaped the island after receiving "Aunt Peg's" help and lived the rest of his life abroad. This particular story coined the phrase "AS DEAD AS CAGE". (F-162)

However, a cousin in New Zeland has it handed down from his great grandfather's genealogy (Claude Forte) that this actually occurred to the above Nathaniel Weekes Forte.... and he obviously still went on to become Speaker of the House. The pistols used in the duel are still in possession of the family in New Zealand. Nigel Forte, gr.grandson of the above Claude does not know where he got the information that the duel happened to Nathaniel instead. It's really still in question. (F-602)

Nathaniel married Jane ADAMSON on 21 Nov 1801. Jane (daughter of Esq. George ADAMSON) died in Feb 1843 in , St. Thomas Parish, , Barbados. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Susan CARMICHAEL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Esq. James Martin KING. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Christian A. GREENIDGE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]