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When my daughter and I went to the Probate Office a couple of weeks ago we bought the will of an extended family member because we knew he was wealthy.
Robert Heath married the sister of my great-great-grandmother. His wife was Jane (nee Jeffcoat) and my 2xgt grandmother was Eliza Jeffcoat. The two families were very close and the censuses show nephews and nieces often with their aunts and uncles. Eliza died at Robert Heath's home in 1900.
Robert Heath was a Hatter - his father's premises is still visible at the rear of Marks and Spencer's Pantheon Branch - the lettering is still visible. Robert branched out into the hotel trade too.
In 1903 Robert left £199,511 1s 10d nett.
He also left property around London:
386 Clapham Road Wandsworth
24 and 25 St Georges Place Hyde Park Corner (Alexandra Hotel Company)
Craven House Northumberland Avenue
Nos 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 Garrick Street
40 Pall Mall
41 Pall Mall
51 and 53 Victoria Street
All these properties were freehold, and they were left around his family!
My great-grandmother was a beneficiary of a share of the residue of the estate co-equally with other legatees. He shared out his money quite widely. However, I doubt it was a great deal by the time everything else had been paid out - he was very generous to his immediate family.
My daughter has had a day off today and I have been re-reading the will as she went to the Brompton Cemetry where a fair number of this family and other members were buried. She said the graves were beautiful, and how well maintained they are. I'm waiting for her to e-mail me through the photos - apparently the graves are stunning.
I'm glad we bought this will - Robert was not a direct ancestor, but we thought it would make interesting reading. It names so many family members and also identified a few extra husbands and wives and also an illegitimate child. A good £5 worth!
Robert Heath married the sister of my great-great-grandmother. His wife was Jane (nee Jeffcoat) and my 2xgt grandmother was Eliza Jeffcoat. The two families were very close and the censuses show nephews and nieces often with their aunts and uncles. Eliza died at Robert Heath's home in 1900.
Robert Heath was a Hatter - his father's premises is still visible at the rear of Marks and Spencer's Pantheon Branch - the lettering is still visible. Robert branched out into the hotel trade too.
In 1903 Robert left £199,511 1s 10d nett.
He also left property around London:
386 Clapham Road Wandsworth
24 and 25 St Georges Place Hyde Park Corner (Alexandra Hotel Company)
Craven House Northumberland Avenue
Nos 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 Garrick Street
40 Pall Mall
41 Pall Mall
51 and 53 Victoria Street
All these properties were freehold, and they were left around his family!
My great-grandmother was a beneficiary of a share of the residue of the estate co-equally with other legatees. He shared out his money quite widely. However, I doubt it was a great deal by the time everything else had been paid out - he was very generous to his immediate family.
My daughter has had a day off today and I have been re-reading the will as she went to the Brompton Cemetry where a fair number of this family and other members were buried. She said the graves were beautiful, and how well maintained they are. I'm waiting for her to e-mail me through the photos - apparently the graves are stunning.
I'm glad we bought this will - Robert was not a direct ancestor, but we thought it would make interesting reading. It names so many family members and also identified a few extra husbands and wives and also an illegitimate child. A good £5 worth!
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