Dorothea Christina Thomas facts for kids

Dorothea Christina Thomas (born June 26, 1796 – died August 5, 1846) was a free woman of color from Grenada. Her relationship with Major John Gordon led to an important legal case in Scotland. This case helped define how a marriage could be recognized by "habit and repute" in Scotland. This means a couple was considered married if they lived together and were seen as married by others. Her story also shows that free women of color had many types of stable relationships, not just informal ones.

Early Life and Education

Dorothea Christina Thomas was born in St. George's, Grenada, on June 26, 1796. Her mother, Dorothy Kirwan, was a former slave who bought her freedom. Dorothy ran a hotel and was a successful businesswoman. Dorothea's father, Joseph Thomas, was a trader who moved goods between different islands. Dorothea was the youngest of her mother's eleven children.

Around 1799, after her father passed away, Dorothea and her mother moved to Bridgetown, Barbados. Because there was a lot of business competition there, they moved again in 1807 to Georgetown, in a Dutch colony called Demerara. During this time, Britain started to take control of Demerara from the Dutch.

In 1810, Dorothea, her older brother Henry, and many cousins went to Britain for school. The boys went to Dollar Academy near Glasgow. The girls, including Dorothea, attended the Kensington House Academy in London. Dorothea learned art, music, bookkeeping, sewing, and writing. After three years, she returned to the Caribbean. She lived with her older sister, Ann, and Ann's husband, John Gloster Garraway, in Grenada. There, she met John's brother, Robert Garraway. In 1813, Dorothea agreed to marry Robert, even though her mother warned her against it.

Relationships and Family

Robert Garraway wrote a marriage contract saying he would marry Dorothea when she turned 21. This was because her mother likely wouldn't agree to the marriage while Dorothea was still young. Even though many women in her family had "common-law marriages" (where couples live together as if married without a formal ceremony), Dorothea wanted a legally binding marriage.

In the British West Indies, there were no laws against mixed-race marriages. Also, laws about marriage were different from those in England. It was common for couples to live together before a formal wedding.

Dorothea's relationship with Robert Garraway did not work out. She left him and moved back to Barbados. Their daughter, Ann Garraway, was baptized there in 1816. Dorothea then went back to Demerara and made up with her mother. Her mother helped care for Ann. In 1817, her mother tried to arrange a new marriage for Dorothea with a freedman in Tobago, offering a large sum of money as a dowry.

By 1819, Dorothea was in a relationship with Captain John Gordon, a Scottish soldier. They exchanged rings in a private ceremony in March. Under Dutch law, which was still used in Demerara, this was enough for a valid marriage. Dorothea took the name Gordon, and they lived as husband and wife. Dorothea managed their home and John's paperwork.

In 1821, John became a major and was called back to Scotland. Dorothea and their son, Huntly George Gordon, joined him in Glasgow. Huntly was born on August 2, 1821. The family moved to Chester and then to Dublin, Ireland. John had promised to leave the military, but the money he got from selling his position was not enough to support his family.

The couple returned to Glasgow. Dorothea's mother joined them in 1823. John tried to get a large dowry from Dorothea's mother, but she refused. She offered a smaller amount, which angered John.

Dorothea was caught between John and her mother. John wanted her to get more money from her mother. He even threatened to leave her and said their marriage wasn't legal in England. Her mother offered to support Dorothea and Huntly if Dorothea left John. John then promised to make their marriage official if Dorothea stayed. They moved to Edinburgh and continued to live as husband and wife.

The Legal Case

In 1826, John wrote to Dorothea, saying he had met a wealthy widow and planned to marry her. He claimed that he and Dorothea were never properly married. He offered to educate their son and pay for Dorothea to return to Demerara. He also asked her to sign a paper saying they were never legally married and that their son was not legitimate.

Dorothea didn't know much about Scottish marriage laws. She talked to a lawyer who told her that if she could prove they were married by "habit and repute," she could challenge John. This meant showing that they had lived together and were widely known as husband and wife. She filed a case to prove her marriage and her son's legitimacy.

The case went through different courts and lasted several years. Letters between Dorothea and John were used as evidence. These letters showed John's affection for Dorothea and their son. Many people, like their landlords and servants, said they believed Dorothea and John were married. However, John's friends and family said they thought he was single.

On July 8, 1829, the court ruled in John's favor. This decision became an important rule in Scottish marriage law. The court said that a marriage by "habit and repute" could only be proven if the couple's friends, relatives, and families also believed they were married. Since Dorothea had no family or close friends in Scotland to testify for her, her witnesses were not enough.

After losing the case, Dorothea was offered a settlement. She had to leave her son with John and return to the Caribbean. She later married a merchant in Demerara. When her mother passed away in 1846, Dorothea's share of the inheritance went directly to her children, Ann and Huntly. Huntly later became a high-ranking doctor in the British Army. Ann married Roger Sweeney in Barbados in 1847.

Her Legacy

Dorothea Christina Thomas's story helps us understand how marriage and family laws worked in the British colonies. It shows that free women of color had many different kinds of stable relationships that were like proper marriages. Her life proves that these women were not just informal partners but often had long-lasting and committed relationships.