Offas Mead
St Kitts in Piercefield / part 1
Nathaniel’s father William Wells emigrated from a rich Cardiff family to St. Kitts, where he was a successful slave trader and a wealthy plantation owner.In 1802 Nathaniel inherited his father’s property and in 1834, after the abolition of slavery, received compensation money from the British Governments for owning slaves.
Wealth generated on plantations in the Caribbean supported infrastructure in Britain and lavish lifestyle of the gentry. Plantation owners owned property on the isles but often lived in Britain and managed their estate from afar – Absentee owners.