Maria Louisa Roulson (aka Old Ma Lechmere)

[Gary Barnett]

Dusty,

Has Thomas Cross's collar number been established?

Gary

[Dusty Miller]

The only time I've seen it mentioned was in your newspaper clipping, maybe Monty could verify our particular Cross.

[Gary Barnett]

The only time I've seen it mentioned was in your newspaper clipping, maybe Monty could verify our particular Cross.

Here's a report of a sailor being robbed in Frederick Street in 1862. The constable involved is named Cross and his number is 5(?)H. As I mentioned below, Frederick Street was one of the most notorious in Tiger Bay and it lay between Thomas Street, where the Crosses lived, and Cable Street.

From The Morning Chronicle 23rd Jan., 1862:

[Gary Barnett]

The two incidents involving PC Cross, one in Well Street and one in Frederick Street, occurred in 'our' TC's back yard. If he patrolled that area, he probably had to deal with drunken prostitutes on a regular basis. Obviously, there was prostitution all over the East End, but in the 1860s there was a concentration of brothels in that particular area that specialised in relieving sailors of their money (and clothes).

[Gary Barnett]

The executor of Thomas Roulson's will was the Reverend Archer Clive, Edward Bolton's son. He died in 1878. Until then it seems he would have been in control of Ma's purse strings.



From The Bucks Advertiser 5th October, 1878

[Gary Barnett]

I've been trying to transcribe Thomas Roulson's 1848 will but some of it has defeated me. There are a number of words that I can't make out (in brackets). Some of the lines that don't reach the right hand margin are filled with a character that looks like w.

It's on Ancestry. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Roulson of Whitfield in the county of Hereford yeoman I give and bequeath all my moneys in the funds in the Hereford Savings Bank and all other my Property Estate and Effects of what value or description soever unto my trustee hereinafter named in trust to pay the dividends interest and annual produce thereof unto my wife Charlotte for and during the term of her natural life And from and after her decease then in trust to pay out equal third part or share of the dividends interest and produce of the said trust stock funds and securities to such person or persons in such manner as each of my three daughters shall notwithstanding her (7) by any writing or writings from time to time but not in the way of anticipation direct or appoint (9) for want or in default of such appointment then in trust to pay out equal third part or share of the said interest dividends or product unto cash of my said daughters for her own sole and separate use free from the debts contracts control or engagements of her husband And I do hereby donate and direct that the receipt or receipts of cash of my said daughters alone shall be sufficient to discharge for the third part or share of the said dividends interest and annual produce so directed to be paid to her And from and after the decease of each of my said daughters the trust to pay and transfer one equal third part or share of the said trust stocks funds and securities unto and amongst the (17) heirs or children of each of my said daughters so dying in equal shares and proportions if more than one and if but then to such one child only And I do hereby declare and direct that in the event of the death of any or other of my said daughters without leaving any heirs or children her or them receiving the share or shares of my said daughter or daughters so dying shall go and belong to her or their next of kin in such manner in all respects as if she or they had died unmarried And I do hereby request the Reverend Archer Clive of Whitfield aforesaid to act as the trustee of this my will it shall be lawful for him by any writing to appoint some person in his stead And I declare that in case the said Archer Clive shall refuse or decline to act as such trustee And I hereby declare and direct that in case the said Archer Clive shall die or shall desire to be discharged from acting as such trustee it shall be lawful for the said Archer Clive his executors administrators and so from time to time for the continuing trustee of this my (28) will to appoint by any writing under his hand a new trustee for all the (29) purposes of this my will then remaining unperformed And I direct the trustee of this my will for the time being to reimburse himself all expenses which he shall incur in the execution thereof And I declare that my said trustee shall not be answerable or accountable for any for any (sic) loss which may happen to the said trust stocks funds or securities unless the same shall happen through his wilful default And I request the trustee for the time being of this my will to continue my (33) in the trust stocks funds or securities they are now placed in or to sell out or dispose of the same and invest the produce in any other investment or real (40) (41) from time to time at his discretion And I give and devise all legal (42) estates which now are or may be (43) vested in me as a trustee or mortgage under the (44) of this my will his heirs and assigns subject to such equities as are or may be affecting the same And I appoint the Reverend Arthur Clive to be executor of this my will hereby revoking all (45) wills by me made in witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my hand this 15th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty seven - the mark of X Thomas Roulson - signed and published by the said testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto

Peter Brown Witness
Thomas Roby* Witness

PROVED at London 28th Febr 1848 before the judge by the oath of the Revd Archer Clive, Clerk the sole executor to whom admin was granted (47) having been first by commission only to administer.

* The Clives' gardener.

[Gary Barnett]

I have found two possible older sisters for Maria, Harriet and Charlotte*, born in Marylebone in 1814/5, which ties in with the three-way split among the daughters in the will.

Archer Clive was also born in Marylebone, so Thomas may well have been working for the family at the time.

*In both cases mother Charlotte, father Thomas, occupation servant.

[Gary Barnett]

I have found two possible older sisters for Maria, Harriet and Charlotte, born in Marylebone in 1814/5, which ties in with the three-way split among the daughters in the will.

Archer Clive was also born in Marylebone, so Thomas may well have been working for the family at the time.

Maria's sister, Harriet, married a Northamptonshire plush weaver named William Blencowe and settled in Oxfordshire. She had at least 4 daughters: Harriet, Louisa, Charlotte and Isabella, so that third of Thomas's legacy did not reach CAL.

I think Charlotte may have married in 1843 in the St George Hanover Square registration district, but I haven't yet identified her husband.

[Gary Barnett]

I don't know how large Thomas's estate was but he inherited £200 shortly before he died and his Mrs died shortly after, before the will was proved, so it presumably all went to his daughters. The Clives seem to have been generous employers and Thomas had worked for them for 35 years, so perhaps he had squirrelled quite a bit more away. All the talk of stocks, funds and securities (unless it was a standard wording) suggests something more than a few quid in a 'bacca tin.

So perhaps Ma was in a financially 'controlling' position over Charles and perhaps he was not the hard-working family man who saved enough out of his Pickfords wages to open a small shop that he may have appeared to be. The family's 'v decent' appearance may have been made possible by the injection of a certain amount of Clive money.

[Robert Linford]

There were four Moore births with mother Roulson after 1843 :


Emily 1844 Colchester Union
Mary 1846 Hereford and Dore
Jane 1853 and Thomas 1856 both Wembley

[Gary Barnett]

There were four Moore births with mother Roulson after 1843 :


Emily 1844 Colchester Union
Mary 1846 Hereford and Dore
Jane 1853 and Thomas 1856 both Wembley

Thanks, Rob, I saw Moore on the index. The Hereford and Dore registration looks good.

[Robert Linford]

CORRECTION : when I saw 'Weobley' I assumed it was a typo. In fact Weobley is in Herefordshire.

[Gary Barnett]

CORRECTION : when I saw 'Weobley' I assumed it was a typo. In fact Weobley is in Herefordshire.

Yes, Charlotte is there in 1851 with her daughters but no husband. She is the head but describes herself as married and a butler's wife.

[Robert Linford]

She's still there in 1861.

[Gary Barnett]

She's still there in 1861.

Not a bad little gaff - beats Pinchin Street at least:



The Court, Monnington on Wye.