More on Hiding in Tasmania

[Ranolki]

This is a transcript of the Will. It's not entirely accurate as the original makes a few things about the cottages clearer, but the general gist is here.  He made the Will two days before he died in 1892.

This Is the Last Will and Testament

John Whitfield of Wheatbottom in the County of Durham. Farmer made this on the Ninth Day of February One thousand eight hundred and ninety two. I appoint John Henry Wilson, Grocer, and John Robert Hodgson, Butcher, both of Crook in the said County, Executors and Trustees of this my Will. I devise unto my sons, Ralph Herron Whitfield and John William Whitfield, that my Farm, Farm House, Buildings and Land, known as Wheatbottom Farm and all my live stock, implements and household furniture in equal shares as tenants in common, subject however to and chargeable to with the payments of an Annuity of Twenty pounds which I bequeath to my daughter, Christiana I”Anson payable by instalments of Ten pounds every six months. I devise with my wife, Elizabeth, my Seven Cottages called Wheatfield Cottages,and the five Cottages situated at or near the Hollow for her life, provided she continue my widow and from after her disease or remarriage, I devise the same unto my daughter, Christiana I’Anson, her heirs and assigns for her and her separate use absolutely. I devise my son Ralph Herron of the Hollow for his life my Grass field situated at the Hollow behind the Hall(?) alley and after his death I devise the same unto my son, John William Whitfield absolutely. I devise unto my daughter Sarah Wilson the cottage she now occupies and unto my daughter Mary Dodds, the cottage she now occupies and I direct the Garden be equally divided between them. I devise all other  my Real and Personal Estate whatsoever unto my said Trustees Upon trust to sell the same in such manner as they shall think fit and proper, and after the payment of all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses to divide the residue equally between and among my two Sons Ralph Herron Whitfield and John William Whitfield and my daughters Mary Dodds and Sarah Wilson  and Hannah Conway. I revoke all former Wills in witness whereof  I have  herewith set my hand the day and year before written

[PatLac]

Christiana Maydwell's father, John WHITFIELD did leave a will in NSW. Made in 1892. In Young NSW
He bequeathed her an annuity of 20 pounds.
Her name then was I'ANSON.

This thread is lengthy and I admit to not being 100% familiar with all its twists so maybe I am repeating information here.

Sue

Thanks Ranolki!

I should have known... Sue had already mentioned it. I wonder why NSW? By 1906 she was in New Zealand...

[Ranolki]

But there is something wrong with that.  John Whitfield had never been to Australia, his Will was made in 1892  on his deathbed and prepared by a local solicitor back in Durham, England.  William I'Anson Jnr (by then calling himself Ian Christian Maydwell) was the first person to move to Young and that wasn't until after the end of WWl when he got his soldier's settlement. I'm not sure how that info came about!

[PatLac]

Exactly! And we know that she received her annuity in New Zealand - "Bank of New Zealand on Cashel Street confirmed that Mrs. I’Anson had cashed annuity payments under her maiden name,
Whitfield, further suggesting an attempt to conceal her identity"- so what is this NSW connection? And how could she cash her annuity under her maiden name if the annuity was in her married name?

[PatLac]

Regarding Rosetta Ann Simmonds. She's not Rosina.

https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/GHZP-G5M

[Ranolki]

OK, thanks for the Rosetta info anyway!

The only way I can imagine the annuity payment would work would be with the connivance of her family back home.  I know she remained in touch with her half-sister Sarah (there were apparently letters, which I haven't been able to track down but which were spoken about years later) and that the money arose from profits from Wheatbottom Farm, then being run by her older half brother Ralph alone as his younger brother had died not long after their father.  So presumably she just asked them to send the money to her in the name of Whitfield?  The rest of the family had stayed geographically close, the cottage left to Sarah was actually on the farm so they would have been able to have conversations about it.  I can imagine it wouldn't have been done formally via a solicitor once her entitlement was established.  At that time it would have been to her as Christiana I'Anson but as soon as she left William it could have reverted to Whitfield. 

I also know she travelled to Durham for a final family visit after she left William and before she left for NZ so it would have been an ideal opportunity to organise something that way too.

[PatLac]

Thanks, that makes sense. I couldn't find anything on NSW archives regarding John Whitfield. I hope Sue is still viewing this thread, I would like to see that file!

[Ranolki]

I looked for a copy of the original Will for you to see but it seems it was just talked about in an email conversation and the transcription corrected rather than the original being shown.  I'll ask one of my fellow Christiana chasers if she has a copy of it, plus the probate.  The difference between the transcription and the original was apparently only some extra commas thrown in regarding the various cottages - I don't think there was anything major otherwise.  But if there is going to be a question about it being proved in Young I suppose it needs to be looked at!

[PatLac]

That would be much appreciated 


More evidence that Christiana was at the Sea Lake Coffee Palace soon after the sale on 28 June 1910 to a Melbourne buyer.

 The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954)  Mon 10 Oct 1910
 Page 3
 Advertising

COOK. kitchen maid kept., liberal wages to sen-
sible girl, fare paid. Mrs. Maydwell, Coffee
Palace. Sea Lake.

 The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954)  Sat 8 Oct 1910
 Page 8
 Advertising


LAUNDRESS, wages £1; must be really good at
collars; fare paid. Mrs. Maydwell, Commer-
cial Coffee Palace, Sea Lake


And I think she certainly owned this shop...

 Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918)  Mon 1 Jun 1914
 Page 1
 Advertising


SHOP to Let, best corner position. Sea
Lake, two large windows, just renovated
and fitted, good cellar, and storeroom if de
sired, suitable any business. Mrs. Maydwell,
Commercial Coffee Palace, Sea Lake.