Another side of the Linley Family and Balliceaux History

by G Marlon Mills

There are a few takeaways from the letter published in the Searchlight Newspaper (Jan. 24, 2025, pg.9) captioned “About Balliceaux and the Lindley Family”, by Jemma and Anthony Linley. First and foremost, that the Linley family was not involved or responsible in any way for the genocide which took place on Balliceaux in 1797. Secondly, that they are the primary beneficiaries of the estate of their great grandfather, Thomas Franklyn Linley (TFL), whose estate they have authority over by way of a Grant of Probate. Thirdly, as Executors of the estate, they are entitled to handle the estate as they see fit, which is to sell it and get the best price in return; and fourthly, that they expect to receive a price for the sale of the property that is close to the market value from whoever acquires it. At present Balliceaux is listed for sale on several real estate websites for US$30 million, and the Government of St. Vincent have said they intend acquire it.

The Estate of Thomas Franklyn Linley (Probate 87 of 1994) Thomas Franklyn Linley became proprietor of the islands of Balliceaux and Battawaya in 1899 (Liber W, Vol, 5, Pg. 40), which he purchased from his father Richard Phillip Linley (1825 – 1910). The senior Linley was a Master Mariner who served the island throughout his career. The Linleys were also land owners, and owned at least one estate on the leeward side of the island that was later acquired by the colonial government to facilitate allotments for distribution to former slaves. TFL himself was a Mariner and may have served as Harbour Master for a period of time during the course of his life. He died on Balliceaux on or about August 28th, 1922. Whatever the circumstances of his death, no record of this can be found in the public records, and his estate remained unsettled for just over seven decades following his death.

Although the Will of Thomas Franklyn Linley doesn’t specifically mention the islands of Balliceaux and Battawaya, it is very precise as to how his real property should be distributed. The beneficiaries listed are his wife Florence and four children, Arthur Chesterfield, Richard Franklyn, William Allan and Amy Muriel. The Will states “in the event of anyone or more of the said four children dying before the death or re-marriage of my said wife Florence, then his or her share or their shares respectively shall be divided equally amongst his or her or their respective lawful issue”.
The beneficiaries listed by Joseph Linley on TFL’s estate file are: Florence Linley (life interest), and Arthur Chesterfield, William Allan, and Amy Muriel, each as having one third interest.

The ‘Lawful Issue’

It is unclear why Thomas Franklyn Linley’s estate was not probated in the many decades following his death. Public records show that his son Richard Franklyn died in 1925 (St. Vincent), his wife Florence in 1936 (St. Vincent), William Allan in 1943 (St. Vincent), Arthur Chesterfield in 1944 (New York), and Amy Muriel in 1966 (New York). Whatever the circumstances, probating the Will may have proved to be challenging given the extenuating circumstances around his death and the ‘lawful issue’ clause stated in his Will, as none of the known children of any of the listed beneficiaries of Thomas Franklyn Linley were legitimate.

Letters of Administration for the estate of William Allan Linley (No. 159/1993), filed by Arthur Linley, lists William’s ‘lawful’ wife Mary Payne as the executor of his estate, and that she along with his thirteen children are the beneficiaries to his estate, namely, Albert, Wilmot, Frank, Ermine, Stephanie, Arthur, Leonard, Joseph, Alma, and Adeline, William, Alfred and George. His Estate is listed as comprised of the “Islands of Battiwa and Baliceau” among the assets to be distributed.

Among the supporting documents presented to legitimize the probation and distribution of William’s estate are: (i) a stamped document signed by one Bernadine J. Gumbs as Dep.

Registrar General, dated 11th March, 1993, certifying the existence of an undated document intended to certify that an ‘original’ Will by William Allan Linley exists. This document, purportedly signed by one Ernest D. Gillizeau and one George H. Smith, purports the existence of an ‘original’ Will signed by the deceased William A. Linley, and which purportedly names his wife, Mary Payne, as the executor of his estate; (ii) a registered Marriage Certificate between William Allan Linley and Mary Payne (identified as No. 24177, 1939, Pg.15) which, according to the document, took place at the Catholic Church, Ryland Hill (sic) on June 11th, 1939. However, a review of Catholic Church Records (1933 to 1944) failed to produce any evidence that a marriage between the parties ever took place; (iii) a Birth Certificate for Arthur Linley (b. 1929) certifying the re-registration of his birth under the Legitimacy Ordinance No. 5 of 1930 dated April 20th, 1955, and authenticated by O. S. Barrow Dep. Registrar General and Mary Linley; and (iv) a birth certificate for Joseph Linley (b. 1936) re-registered under the Legitimacy Ordinance No. 5 of 1930 also dated April 20th, 1955 and authenticated by the same individuals as in the case of Arthur. (Note that both re-registrations of the birth certificates of Arthur and Joseph took place 19 years and 12 years respectively, after their father’s death; and apart from the Registry certificate, which authenticates the existence of an undated certificate of authenticity by Gillezeau and Smith intended to prove that an original Will signed by William actually existed, is dated 50 years after his death. Further, the certificate of authenticity signed by the Registrar does not bear the actual signatures of Gellezeau and Smith.)

Balliceaux Development Limited

Upon receiving the Grant of Probate in the Estate of TFL, Joseph Linley on the 24th, October, 1994 entered into an Agreement with a Company registered by him on the same date, as ‘Balliceaux Development Limited’ (BDL). The intention of the Agreement between him and BDL was to expedite the sale of the islands of Balliceaux and Battawaya – the real property listed in the estate of TFL (Balliceaux Development Limited, No 73/1994). The agreement also sought the issuance of 49,920 ordinary shares with the entitlement of the purchaser to possess the islands.

On May 9th, 2008, a notice appeared in the News Newspaper by the Physical Planning and Development Board inviting public comments to an application by BDL to construct a new residential/commercial building on Balliceaux. At the time, the islands had been listed for sale for some years with international real estate agents. The development involved plans for a grandiose tourism complex with a pier linking the islands, from which Maldives’ style accommodation facilities would be attached (Richard Hywel Evans).
Joseph Linley at the time is alleged to have received an offer for the islands from a foreign entity, and his intention was to convey ownership by way of the company, BDL, which he controlled in his personal capacity along with his brother Arthur T. Linley. Sources claim he had received a deposit in sum US$250,000.00 towards the purchase of BDL on that occasion. That plan was soon thwarted by a swift wave of public outrage, and objection by other Linley family members.

The Mills Connection

Thomas Franklyn Linley, is also my great grandfather. His DNA is imprinted in every cell in my body, and those of my siblings. From all accounts, a romantic relationship had blossomed between Richard Franklyn Linley, TFL’s son, and my grandmother, Alice Georgina Mills. She was the granddaughter of a Carib woman by the name of Charlotte Glossop, who was originally from Georgetown but had family connections in Sandy Bay. Charlotte owned a house on part of Lot 53, located in Lower Middle Street in the Bottom Town area, which she purchased in 1877. The Linley family home was located nearby, on the opposite side of the street on the corner of the same block – across from the North River. At the time, Franklyn, who was employed by the colonial government, was assigned to the Cotton Ginnery at Frenches, opposite the home of Georgina Aurilla Spence, where my grandmother, Alice Georgina, spent a lot of her time.

The two lovers had made plans to be married, to the point where a date was set and notices were put up in the church. But it was not to be. Just before the wedding date, Franklyn cancelled all the arrangements for some unknown reason and took off to Trinidad. By this time, Alice Georgina was already bearing a child. My father, George Volmar Mills, was born on 12th September, 1918.
With not many prospects for a single unmarried mother in these circumstances, Georgina or Nene as we knew her, travelled to America, where she worked for several years as a seamstress in ‘sweat shops’ to support her child. Meanwhile, George was left in the care of his maternal grandmother, Ellen Mills, Charlotte’s daughter. After Nene’s departure, and according to George’s account, Richard Franklyn Linley contributed to his upkeep and played a fatherly role in his life. That was very short lived however, because Franklyn died rather unexpectedly in 1925 from a heart condition. After losing his father, George was turned away from visiting the Linley family home because, according to my recollection of his words, he was told “father dead, family done”.
The element of ‘not belonging’ and ‘exclusion’ became a recurring theme in conversations with other Linley family members I came into contact after my father’s passing – most of them offspring of my great uncle, William Allan Linley.

The Issues of Balliceaux and Battawaya

While it is fair expectation that the beneficiaries of Thomas Franklyn Linley should receive compensation for the sale of the islands, the issues around Balliceaux and Battawaya are far bigger than the Linley family. The history involving the exiled Garifuna in 1797, is one of the worst cases of land theft, and genocide ever carried out by the British Empire on enslaved and indigenous peoples, and places Balliceaux in a special category that must be treated with the utmost sensitivity in moving forward. Given the historical, cultural and spiritual significance of the site, the voices of the descendants of these people must be heard, and they should play a pivotal role in any future development on Balliceaux.
The other aspect of Balliceaux and Battawaya that is equally as important, that no one is talking about, is the pristine nature of the natural environment that exists there.

Balliceaux and Battawaya is a hotbed of renewable natural resources, and both islands, collectively, are an environmental institution in their own right. The seabird colonies that exist on Battawaya represent one of the largest populations in the region (Lowery et al, Seabird Breeding Atlas of the Lesser Antilles, 2010), and the reefs and other marine life are invaluable life sustaining natural resources that must be conserved for the benefit of all Vincentians, now and in the future.

However the current situation plays out, any future development of Balliceaux and Battawaya must be handled very delicately, and there must be meaningful dialogue between the parties with vested interest in these islands, the Government, and those concerned with the implementation of the necessary protections to preserve the history, and the integrity of the ecological resources that exists there, before any decisions are taken regarding the future of these islands.