Hi All,
For those of us with an interest in the William Brumwell & Elizabeth Gordon connection, I have now obtained copies of Williams Will as certified 8-4-1816, following his death Dec 1815 and the subsequent Perogative Court Decision of 22-12-1848. (Jon I know you previously advised me of your having the 1848 Decision but don't know if you had the 1816 Will).
The 1816 Will was very enlightening as to family members (confirmed my thoughts as to William born 1813 & John born 1815 both being their sons, as some Family Tree's claim John as being the Son of William C Brumwell & Elizabeth Teesdale who married 1815)and also that he was keen to ensure all children were provided for and treated equally.
My interpretation of the Will is that 'Natural Daughter' means of his issue but illegitimate, 'Daughter/Son' mean of his issue in marriage and 'Daughter in law' means not of his issue but a pre existing daughter of his wife's before their marriage. One of the children I knew nothing about previously and clearly was by an association after he separated from his 1st wife Susanna Wilkinson about 1793 and before he met our Elizabeth Gordon around 1804 and subsequently married 1810.
To his Daughter Isabella Buckoll (from his 1st marr. She married Richard Buckoll a Captain in the Sussex Militia, 2-1-1809) he bequeathed only 5 pounds as he states "for whom I have done a great deal in my life time, both before and after her marriage". To my Natural Daughter (this is the unknown one) Harriott Brumwell, alias Carter, daughter of Harriott Carter of Kingsworthy Hampshire an Annuity of 20 pounds and my Natural Daughters Elizabeth Gordon Brumwell,Jane Brumwell & Anne Brumwell each an Annuity of 20 pounds, to my Daughter Catherine Brumwell and my Son William Brumwell each an Annuity of 20 pounds.To my Daughter in law Mary Gordon the sum of 20 pounds.(Mary was born abt 1802/1803 in Aberdeen as confirmed in the 1851 Census when she was living with Elizabeth Brumwell both being widows and Mary's surname being Henry).
This Will was written after William's birth in 1813 but before 1815 as John was not included. However in 1815 a Codicil was added to give his Son an Annuity of 20 pounds also and also the same other rights as his brother William and Sisters. Additionally as the Annuities were only set up to age 21 we can say the Harriet Brumwell was not yet of that age and therefore ties in with a birth between 1793 and 1804.
The house at the head of Westgate St, two doors above his Dwelling House, together with furniture. silverware,household linen, woolens and implements were left to his wife Elizabeth for her use during her natural life together with an Annuity of 50 pounds. On her death these were to pass to the children equally.
Unfortunately on William's death Dec 1815 his financial position had changed quite dramatically and he appears to have left outstanding Debts in excess of 400 pounds, this being the amount claimed by his business partner William Dobson of the firm Brumwell & Dobson Druggists. This amount was disputed as Dodson accepted a payment of 50 pounds in settlementand the case went to administration. William owned a share in an Eswich Copperas Works but these were worthless at the time due to the collapse in the Market. Also seems that the lease Agreement on the Works was 40 years from 1806 so the Works could not be wound-up and realised until the expiry of the lease in 1846 at the earliest. However at the final administration in 1848 the Brumwell Estate was valued at some 1200 pounds and after deductions for debts etc about 600 pounds was payable. as Elizabeth Gordon Stephenson was a Widow with 7 children the other beneficiaries agreed to forego their rights and all was paid to her.Only Anne was unable to sign a waiver as apparently she had gone to Germany many years earlier and had not been heard off again.
Jon do you know anything further on the Carter connection?
