Help with estate value

[Lensgirl]

Hi

I have a bit of a query on the estate value of someone, and I cant figure out if this sounds like a reasonable sum or not. George Jennings died in 1883 and his estate was valued at £141 which is the equivalent of around £12k today. My issue, is that George was a carman for most of his adult life from what I can tell, so where has all this estate come from? Also, in 1881 there is someone listed with him as a servant. Again, I cant see where that would come from unless she is just a visitor or something.

I have attached both the probate record and the 1881 census, does this look about right?

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1904/images/31874_222769-00115?pId=4960515

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/7572/images/LNDRG11_66_69-0328?pId=13363614

Many thanks

[cbcarolyn]

I have similar problem with my Grace Hendy Lugg, she was a cook at one time, and I have the will of the householders and can't see her mentioned in there, but feel her money must have come from someones death! she never owned a property, or even lived in one, always someone else.

did he work for someone as a carman? maybe a bequeath as a good employee, did he have a family?

Looks like the right record, no expert on administration, I don't think it will tell you much more if you spend £1.50, the next of kin presumably will be named.

[Lensgirl]

Yep its super frustrating. There is no other George Jennings from Fulham born during the same time period that is still alive. There was one who was born into a wealthy family, so other researchers have allocated that family to him, however that George Jennings died in 1822 and I have a will that shows that is definitely the child from that family.

This George seems to have the following occupations:
1841 - Bone collector
1844 - Costermonger
1851 - General dealer
1861 - cattle dealer
1871 - carman
1881 - carman - living at the address as listed in the administration

I am trying to find out who the parents are of this George, because the only baptism is of the "rich" George

[Elizabeth Herts]

Perhaps he had benefitted from an inheritance himself?

[Janet in Yorkshire]

His may have always worked for himself, lived frugally and his estate could have included the value of his horse and cart..
Live-in domestic help was very cheap - his "servant" may well have been an elderly neighbour or friend who moved in and cooked and cleaned for bed and board.
At that time there were no state pensions or benefits and a lot of people tried to ensure that they had "a bit put by" for their old age. If we're comparing with today, then if you have NO source of income and no-one to provide for you, £12K won't last all that long once you've paid your rent, and for heating, a modicum of lighting, food and other necessary expenses.