 The sugar-producing island of Jamaica was by far the richest colony in all the British Empire even though Thistlewood was only of average wealth in white Jamaican society, especially in comparison to wealthy planters such as Simon Taylor.That said, he was at the time of his death still far wealthier than most British men in other parts of the British Empire.He acquired more wealth in Jamaica than he could have done if he had chosen to remain in Lincolnshire.