Edward Jones _ Architect

[Jo Harding]

Hello Gary,

Just to say that I wondered if you intended emigrating here as your "to do list" is going to take you some time to complete.

Plenty of scope for people who can build Great Walls.   

Jo.

[Jo Harding]

Just a thought but could there be a connection with John N Fox and the barracks, or militia connections in Wrexham?

There is a description of the militia in Wrexham on the link below: 

http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/pdfs/museum/wrexham_walk_e.pdf

This is in the parargraph headed, "County Buildings". There were (and are) also the Hightown Barracks.

Could J.N Fox have been given a post there as a Paymaster? He appears to have been no longer on active service by the look of it.

Jo

[nzenigma]

Bore da folks, 

I have just added the Wrexham walk to the list Jo 
 
Wilcoxon has been translating the will of J N Fox and doing associated research  …..deserves a big round of applause and or drinks!
I'll leave Wilcoxon  to comment on the findings. Except to say,  unlike the Jones and Browne wills this one does not appear to be a sick/death bed testament.

Re the Wrexham walk:
 Jo, a quiet word with the author would not go astray : "Grosvenor Road was originally a ropewalk where the cordswainers made their ropes". 

Hwyl, Gary

[Jo Harding]

Bore Da Gary,

I can see you are taking this very seriously now.

I wondered if the Will of J.N. Fox was one that was made in connection to his military service. That could be why it isn't dated. I think that all who served in the militiary regiments etc were required to make a Will.

The regiment he served in, named in the Will, The Second West India Regiment, was formed in 1795, so the Will must be dated after that.

I am waiting for Wilcoxon's report eagerly.

Jo

[wilcoxon]

Details from National Archives.

Where would a will be proved?
In the period leading up to 1858 the country was divided into two provinces - York and Canterbury. These provinces were split into a number of dioceses (each with at least two bishops), which were in turn divided into several archdeaconries, which were then split into rural deaneries.

The Prerogative Courts of Canterbury covered the south of England and Wales.
The Prerogative Courts of York covered York, Durham, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Cumberland, Lancashire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire and the Isle of Man.

There were three main factors determining in which court a will would be proved:
Where the person died
The value of the goods
How these goods were distributed geographically

If the property was... ...
Within one archdeaconry = The will was proved in theArchdeacon's court
In more than one archdeaconry but all in the same diocese  The will was proved = Bishop's court (Consistory/Commissary court)
In more than one diocese   =  Will proved Archbishop's prerogative court
If the goods were valued at more than £5 (or £10 within London), in more than one diocese =  Will proved  Archbishop's prerogative court

Of course, there were exceptions to these general rules:
If a will bequeathed goods to the value of £5 (£10 in London) which were dispersed in the north of England, and the south of England or Wales then the will was proved in both Archbishops' courts - first York, then Canterbury
If a property-owner in England or Wales died overseas, such as sailors or soldiers, then their will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury regardless of where their property was held

 So  which applied to JNF, and what about Elizabeth Fox, did she remarry .

[Jo Harding]

Hello Wilcoxon,

I have tried to send you the Transcription of the Will again just now. I hope you receive it this time.

The two appendices to the Will state that it was proved in London. The first occasion was on 23 August 1823, "before the Judge". The second time it states it was proved, again in London, was on 8 December 1824. This time it was before "the worshipful John Danberry" and the reason was that Elizabeth Fox died. She was the first named executrix and it was necessary to transfer powers to Edward Jones as second named executor. You will see it refers to, " Edward Jones the survivng Exor". This means that Elizabeth died sometime in the period 23 August 1823 to 8 December 1824. It was probably around mid 1824 I would have thought.

There would have been a Court of Probate in London. I did think this was the principal court for Probate in England and Wales but am not an expert.

Question is, did Elizabeth Fox leave a Will?

Jo.

[wilcoxon]

Thanks to Jo, we now have a pretty clear transcription of the will.

John states he is `of Wrexham`  and we have an address for Edward Jones.

This is the last Will and Testament of me John Nesbitt Fox of Wrexham in the County of Denbigh Esquire paymaster in His Majesty’s Second West India Regiment I direct that all my just debts funeral expenses and the costs and charges of proving and executing the Trusts of this my Will are first duly paid and satisfied I give and bequeath unto my dear Wife Elizabeth Ffox and Edward Jones of 21-20 Providence Row Ffinsbury Square County of London all my household furniture tools money and plate and all my property of every description.

signed sealed published and declared by the Testator John Nesbitt Ffox as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us Tho Geo Fynmore Solr Craven St Strand 

It`s still unclear ( to me )) if they did have any children,  he says `may have by my said wife `

to pay and apply the interest dividends and annual procure thereof towards the maintenance education and advancement in life of all and every the child or children which I may have by my said Wife and upon further Trust when and so soon as the said child or children shall attain their respective ages of twenty one years to transfer and pay the said stocks funds and securities unto my said children in equal proportions and if there be but one child then the whole to be paid and transferred to him or her

And again - if there be but one child.

if there be but one child then the whole to be paid and transferred to him or her provided also that in case my wife shall at any time after my decease marry again then I revoke the appointment of her as Trustee for my child or children

 Apart from leaving money etc to his father  who he names as John Nesbitt Fox in the main body of the will, he leaves money to various friends and their family in Ireland.
 Some of Elizabeths family also  get a share.

I also give and bequeath unto Sarah Jones spinster the daughter of my brother in law John Jones the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful British money and as to all the rest residue and remainder of my estate and what efforts of nature and fund source I give and bequeath the same unto the said Edward Jones his Exors Adminors and assigns to and for his own absolute use and benefit

There is a side note on the will.
 “ In the above will I have called my father John Nesbitt Fox instead of John Newcomen Fox”

 This could well be John Nesbitts parents, if so then JNF would have been   at the most 32 when he died 
Source : Henry Farrar`s index of Irish Marriages   from Walkers Hiberniain Magazine. 1771 to 1812
FOX. John Newcomen  =  Nesbitt Mary , both of the City of Dublin, May 1791

Nesbitts, Fox and Newcomen families were really quite wealthy.
http://www.landedestates.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/search.jsp?q=ballintober

The earliest mention of JNF in the Army is 1815, when he would have been 24 at the most.
London Gazette.18 April 1815
100 th Regiment of foot Ensign John N Fox to be Lieutenant vice Fortune deceased. Dated 13 April 1815.

The solicitors, a little added interest.
William Fynmore, of 43, Craven Street, Strand, solicitor, articled to Mr. George Stubbs, of 3, Suffolk Street, Strand, whose partner he
subsequently became, afterwards Mr. Fynmore carried on business alone, and removed to Craven Street. A few years later he took Mr. Thomas Clarke into partnership, and in due course his son, Thomas George Fynmore ; was vestry clerk of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, in which parish he resided " nearly 60 years ; " retired from that office in 1828 ; held a commission in the Prince of Wales' Middlesex Volunteers, Lieut. 8 September, 1803, and was present with his regiment at the funeral of Lord Nelson in 1806 ; died at St. Mary Abbot's Terrace, Kensington, 28 August, 1832, aged 75, and was buried at St. Mary Abbot's. Will dated 21 July, and proved 11 September, 1832.

[wilcoxon]

We know JNF was dead by now, but does this article give a clue that he died in a war.

War Office, December 26, 1823 .
The Morning Post (London, England), Sunday, December 29, 1823;

[wilcoxon]

National Archives.
2nd West India Regiment   
Start date 1798 End date 1888
Validation (source) L&I vol 53; Fredk; Army Lists; internet; NCA Rules

See also Myers's Regiment of Foot   
24 Apr 1795, Sir William Myers's Regiment of Foot in the West Indies formed with Black soldiers, British officers and non-commissioned officers, and an establishment of ten companies and one troop of dragoons (the latter possibly never formed). In 1798, the regiment was reorganised and renumbered as the 2nd West India Regiment, and absorbed the St Vincent Black Rangers.

Remit and functions In 1798, Sir William Myers's Regiment of Foot in the West Indies was formally numbered as the 2nd West India Regiment.
1798-1888: 2nd West India Regiment.
On 11 May 1888, united with 1st West India Regiment to form 2nd Bn, The West India Regiment.