I have obtained a copy of the will to a Henry Sherwin dated July 19th 1708, Jamaica mentioned in previous answer to see if its contents suggested it was the author of the tables. Sherwin was known to have planned a trip to Jamaica on a packet boat at the end of November 1705. Since last answer, to date one family of Sherwin has been found recorded at the time from familysearch.org but no mention of a native Henry Sherwin.
Some key points below, parts of the handwriting were hard to interpret and/or text went into ledger gutter. [ ...?...] = undecipherable word or loss in gutter.
will transcribed into ledger, i.e. handwriting comparison to Sherwin's letters not possible
lived in the parish of Kingston
'That everyone of our principals and correspondents in England be first remitted [...?...] [a]ccording to their orders as if I also [...?...]'
residue of estate to 'Beloved Brother [gap] Sherwin of Staples Inn London attorney at Law, and my very good friend Thomas Smith [...?...] in Artillery Row of Buttolph bishopgate in London' ..... 'to pay all my debts in England and the residue to be disposed of, according [...?...] Will I made in London November 1705, remaining in the hands of my said brother'.
Notes on will, comments welcomed:
- This Sherwin in Jamaica has well establised links with London, England, i.e. a brother and other contacts - suggesting not native to Jamaica?
- The will left with brother in London November 1705 would fit in well with Sherwin deciding to make a will immediately before his planned potentially hazardous trip to Jamaica at the end of that month.
- Is the London will still in existence, if so, a possible lead. Attempts at online searches have not been fruitful to date.
- Attempts to find packet boat passenger lists at the time to confirm he went to Jamaica unsuccessful to date.
- Is the London will evidence that this may be the Henry Sherwin who compiled the tables, but no firm contents of the Jamaican will to support this.
- My thanks to local Jamaican researcher Ann Marie Lazarus who obtained a facsimile of the will and who provided information on its transcription into a ledger. I don't currently have permission to put the will into the public domain but can email a copy to anyone interested for personal use.