| Reference Number | DSCAM/5/3/6 |
| Title | Will etc., estate duty papers and accounts re Edward Cresswell, deceased |
| Description | DSCAM/5/3/6/1: Copy of the will (dated 28 Dec. 1846) and codicils (dated 13 Nov. 1847) of Edward Cresswell, late of Harborne but now of Dudley, carrying on business as a coal and iron master at Tipton Ironworks in partnership with his sons, Edward Lowe Cresswell and Josiah Cresswell; private debts to be settled out of share in partnership by two sons; executors, John Neve of Wolverhampton, Edward Lowe Creswell (son) and William Haden of Dudley (son-in-law), and last two to be guardians of his 3 youngest children; £100 to Mrs Sarah Ladbury, servant and £10 for mourning, and mourning clothes to other servants; all books and plate to son Charles Neve Cresswell; confirms provision in marriage settlement with first wife, whereby daughter Harriet Haden is entitled on his death to 5 messuages etc. in Bilston; also devises to her two copyhold messuages in Bilston, Manor of Stow Heath; 4 copyhold messuages in Coseley Row, Bilston, Manor of Stow Heath to daughter Alice Lowe Davies, plus a freehold dwellinghouse at Catchers Corner, parish of Sedgley, a pew in St Leonard's Church, Bilston, a freehold dwellinghouse etc. in Brierley Hill, and 3 freehold dwellinghouses in Quarry Bank etc.; his five-sixths of 3 closes of land called the Lunts at Bilston to his 3 youngest children, Charles Neve Cresswell, Sarah Neve Cresswell and Alfred Neve Cresswell;; all his ironworks and collieries in Sedgley, Wednesbury and Darlaston, and messuages and buildings at Eve Hill, Dudley and Hurst Street, Birmingham to his partners as tenants in common, charged with £3000 to Harriet Haden, £3000 to Alice Lowe Davies and £9000 to 3 youngest children (this last at the age of 21 and with 5% interest meanwhile) as specified; residue of freehold and leasehold estate to all children as tenants in common; furniture, securities etc. upon trust for sale, paying £1500 to granddaughter Mary Caroline Lowe at age 21, the income from £300 to his sister Minerva Griffiths of Bilston for life, thence dividing the capital between he children, and the balance of the proceeds equally to his 2 named daughters and 3 youngest children; all provision for 3 youngest children is with benefit of survivorship.
1st codicil settling what had been given absolutely to Mrs Davies, upon trust for her for life, thence to her husband for life, thence to their issue, with remainder to the testator's other children as tenants in common, and giving her power of appointment over £1000 of the £3000 charged on the partnership premises.
2nd codicil bequeathing a few paintings etc. |
| DSCAM/5/3/6/2: Case for the opinion of counsel (Mar. 1848), and opinion of Mr Swanston, concerning the term's of Cresswell's will and likely litigation through his overcharging his share of the partnership with £15000, considerably more than it is worth; gives account of the business, misfortunes at Moxley Colliery, ups and downs of trade, acquisitions and large liabilities, details of accounts, possible renunciation of executorships and of gifts etc. |
| DSCAM/5/3/6/3-4: Deed poll appointment (15 Apr. 1848) by Alice Lowe Davies, wife of John Davies now attached to the Cavalry Depot at Maidstone, Kent, of £1000, part of the sum of £3000 bequeathed to her by the will of her late father, Edward Cresswell, in favour of Edward Lowe Cresswell and Josiah Cresswell in equal shares; recites that the value of his share of the partnership is £7683, that the surviving partners have declined the bequest of his partnership interest because of the burdens charged upon it, the general desire of all to avoid litigation and proposal that Mrs Davies and Harriet Haden each forego £1000 of the £3000 bequeathed them by exercising the power of appointment under the will in the manner specified. And instructions to counsel to settle this and a release from Mr and Mrs Haden. |
| DSCAM/5/3/6/5: Release (28 Feb. 1852) of Edward Lowe Cresswell as acting trustee and executor of Edward Cresswell, by the residuary legatees (William Haden of Dudley, Worcs., ironmaster and Harriet his wife, John Davies and Alice Lowe his wife, Charles Neve Cresswell of the Inner Temple, London, Sarah Neve Cresswell of Dudley, spinster, and Alfred Neve Cresswell of Wolverhampton, Staffs., land surveyor ). |
| DSCAM/5/3/6/6: Appointment (31 Dec. 1857) by Edward Lowe Cresswell of Dudley, Worcs., ironmaster of William Haden of Dudley, ironmaster as a new trustee of the real and personal estate devised and bequeathed by Edward Cresswell to his duaghter, Alice Lowe Davis of Teddington, Warwickshire, widow, and conveyance and assignment of real and personal estate and covenant to surrender copyholds; recites will and deed poll #3, that £2000 remains due to her for her legacy and £762 for the balance of the sale of property, which money has been retained by the partnership, and other realisations etc. in progress. |
| DSCAM/5/3/6/7-9: Related correspondence, 1848. |
| DSCAM/5/3/6/10-14: Inventory and valuation of the personal estate of Edward Creswell, 12 Dec. 1847; account of sale of furniture at Privy House, 3-4 May 1848, with Thomas Danks's account for the sale with the executors of Edward Cresswell; Residuary accounts and file of Legacy Receipts. |
| DSCAM/5/3/6/15: File of bills and receipts re Cresswell deceased, 1847-48. |
| DSCAM/5/3/6/16: Bundle of bills and receipts re Cresswell deceased, 1847-49. |
| Date | 1847-1857 |
| Format | Manuscript |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| Extent | 50 items |
| Level | Item |