Probate on Druitt's will

[Allison Smith]

Hi Allison,
Sadly, Chris Scott died a few years back. He was an excellent researcher and is very much missed. His source was not a newspaper but the probate records. You can find them on Ancestry. As far as I am aware, there are descendants of Montague Druitt alive today. You mention a footnote, what are you writing?

I feel a little embarrassed to mention my story in amongst these hallowed walls of serious research . . . I am writing (or trying to) an historical fiction of Jack the Ripper (among other serial killers) where Montague is a vampire. Trying to be as historically accurate as I can with Montie while, obviously, taking some liberties with him, as well.

I don't know if any of you are vampire junkies (like me), but Montague is the protagonist and Vlad Tepes is his mentor-turned-enemy. The story spans about 150 years and is, essentially, Montague's version of a temper tantrum over Patricia Cornwell's belief that Walter Sickert was Jack, not himself.

I am aiming to be as historically accurate as I can be with at least Montague's childhood and his family. Obviously, given that he's a vampire, his suicide was his way of faking his death to move on to another place since he had stopped aging, etc. But all the events leading up to that I would like to keep as historically accurate as I can.

I'm hesitant to send an email to a group of LAWYERS and go "I'm writing a book about your ancestor in which he's a vampire, and confesses he was indeed Jack the Ripper . . . could you tell me what his hair and eye colour were, please?" I might find myself litigated right out of my novel idea!

Sad to hear of Chris's passsing - it seems he was a human library!

[Allison Smith]

Hi Allison,

I believe that Montie's siblings Georgiana, Edward, Arthur and Edith all have living descendants. William died unmarried and Ethel married in her mid-forties, so no descendants from either of them.

I believe Edith's daughter, Gwendolen, was interviewed by Farson in the early 1970s and the information she could give him was recorded in his book Jack the Ripper (1972).

Other Druitt descendants from William Druitt's brothers Robert and James were interviewed at the time Montie's identity was made public but, once again, they were able to offer very little insight on why he became a Ripper suspect.

Hope that helps!

It really does, actually. I just my copy of Farson's book from Amazon! Thanks!

[Allison Smith]

Hi Allison

There is a firm of solicitors called "Druitts" still practicing today in Bournemouth, whom if memory serves me correctly are descended from William Druitts practice.

https://www.druitts.co.uk/about-us/

Rgds
John

HOLY MOLY!!!! Thank you!!!!!!

[John Savage]

Hi Allison

There is a firm of solicitors called "Druitts" still practicing today in Bournemouth, whom if memory serves me correctly are descended from William Druitts practice.

https://www.druitts.co.uk/about-us/

Rgds
John

[Joanna]

Hi Allison,

I believe that Montie's siblings Georgiana, Edward, Arthur and Edith all have living descendants. William died unmarried and Ethel married in her mid-forties, so no descendants from either of them.

I believe Edith's daughter, Gwendolen, was interviewed by Farson in the early 1970s and the information she could give him was recorded in his book Jack the Ripper (1972).

Other Druitt descendants from William Druitt's brothers Robert and James were interviewed at the time Montie's identity was made public but, once again, they were able to offer very little insight on why he became a Ripper suspect.

Hope that helps!

[Paul]

Chris, could you tell me which newspaper this was taken from, publication date, etc, in case I want to use it as a footnote, please?

Also, do we know if any of Montie's ancestors are alive today?

Hi Allison,
Sadly, Chris Scott died a few years back. He was an excellent researcher and is very much missed. His source was not a newspaper but the probate records. You can find them on Ancestry. As far as I am aware, there are descendants of Montague Druitt alive today. You mention a footnote, what are you writing?

[Allison Smith]

And this gives the value of the estate of MJD's mother:

Chris, could you tell me which newspaper this was taken from, publication date, etc, in case I want to use it as a footnote, please?

Also, do we know if any of Montie's ancestors are alive today?

[Cris Malone]

Thank you John.
That makes sense.

[John Savage]

Hi Chris,

The date of Druit's death will probably never be known exactly, but I prefer the 3rd of December as it is stated in the National Probate Calendars because this is an official court document. I believe it probable that the date would have come from the death certificate which would have been written after the inquest.

As you may know, none of Doctor Diplock's inquest papers have survived and the newspaper reports are somewhat vague, so last seen alive on 3rd of December most likely comes from the evidence heard at the inquest.

Surprisingly Monty did not leave a will and died intestate, which is why letters of administration were granted, more curious is the fact that his brother waites until their mother died before eventually clearing up Monty's affairs.

Rgds
John

[Howard Brown]

Thanks Nemo...thats appreciated.

So its safe to say the guy could pay the rent...thats a lotta popcorn.

[Paul Kearney A.K.A. NEMO]

£20,000 in 1891 would have the same purchasing power as £1,600,000 today

($2,500,000 US)

[Howard Brown]

Dear Chris:

I set out to try and determine what £ 20,000 would be in modern British money...and in Yankee dollar...but for some reason I had trouble.
If anyone can deduce what the currency figures in Chris's posts represent,please do so.

Very nice finds,Senor...as always.

[Cris Malone]

Thank you Chris, for those records.
Last seen on December 3rd ? Wonder how they gathered that?
Of course his tombstone reads December 4, so it may have just been an assumption that he was seen on the day before... or the December 4th death date, as many presume, was an assumption as well... or was it really accurate because he was seen on December 3rd?
Food for thought.

[Chris Scott]

And this gives the value of the estate of MJD's mother:

[Chris Scott]

Here is the probate of his brother William in 1909 - just under £20000
What would that be worth today?