Notes.

This will of December 1803 discloses that Charlotte AMIEL, whose:-

Daughter was Christina Amiel spinster

Brother in law was Phillips Amiel

Half brother - or brother in law -was Thomas Gordon Esq of London

PROB11/1502/306/802

In the Name of God the Father Son and holy Ghost Amen. I Charlotte Amiel Widow formerly of London but now residing at Bruxelles in the dept. of the Dyle finding myself ill in Body but sound of Judgement whilst enjoying my full Sense and Reason think it necessary to arrange and settle my temporal Affairs by this my last Will and Testament which I do so here make and ordain in the following manner I give and recommend my soul into the Hands of Almighty God who gave it and my body I return to the Earth desiring that I may be decently buried at [blank] but I expressly require that I may be kept above Ground as long as possible and not buried till visible Marks of Putrefaction appear on my body and declared as such by my attending Physician. And touching such worldly Estate and Property as it has pleased God to bless me with I will and bequeath the whole and every part thereof to my only daughter Christina Amiel without any Exception whatever and Lastly I do make constitute and appoint my Brother in Law Philips Amiel of London Capt in the Sea Service Executor to this my last Will and Testament and likewise Trustee and Guardian to my abovesaid daughter Christina but in Case of his decease or being abroad in foreign Lands I beg of Thomas Gordon Esq of London my half Brother to take it upon himself the above Offices instead of the former beseeching both or either of them as my last dying request to take charge of my daughter and her rights and put in possession of her lawful due and on all occasions to serve her as a second parent And I do hereby disavow revoke and annul all other former Will and Testaments I may have made ratifying and reaffirming this and no other as my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal in Brussells aforesaid this twentieth day of December in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Three – Charlotte Amiel

Signed sealed published and pronounced by the said Charlotte Amiel as her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our Names

Thos Johns sworn   ????      H Johns Articled

On the twentieth Day of September in the Year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and nine Administration (with the Will annexed) of all and singular the Goods and Chattels and Credits of Charlotte Amiel late of the City of Bruxelles in Germany Widow deceased was granted to Christina Amiel Spinster the Daughter and Universal Legatee named in the said Will having been first sworn duly to Administer. Phillip Amiel Esquire the Executor named in the said Will residing at the Island of Barbadoes and Thomas Gordon the substituted Executor named in the said Will having renounced the Execution thereof and conocuted [?]as by Acts of Court appear.

Charlotte outlived him [Henry Strachey] by about another five years. The Letters of Administration granted on 19 May 1829, after her death, are intriguing and tell us more about her family than such documents usually do.

PROB 6/205/f.25

In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

Admon of the goods and chattels and credits of Charlotte Amiel late of Brussels in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, widow, dec'd granted to Walter Selby the Uncle and Curator or Guardian lawfully assigned to Catherine Selby and Carolina Georgiana Selby spinsters, Minors the Children and as such the administrators of the goods of Charlotte Christiana Selby widow dec'd, whilst living one of the natural and lawful children of the said deceased for the use and benefit of the said Minors until one of them shall attain the age of 21 years having been sworn duly to administer. The said Charlotte Christiana Selby together with Thomas Gordon the other natural and lawful child of the said Charlotte Amiel dec'd are the only persons entitled to distribution of her personal estate and effects survived, but are both since dead without taking upon them or either of them the Letters of Administration of the goods of the said Dec'd by Act of the Court Applies.

Version 2.

PROB31/1267/702 

In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. [1829]

In the Goods of Charlotte Amiel widow deceased.

A declaration of the goods chattels and credits of Charlotte Amiel late of Brussels in the Kingdom of the Netherlands widow deceased which have come to the hands possession or knowledge of Walter Selby the Uncle and Curator or Guardian lawfully assigned to Catherine Selby and Caroline Georgina Selby spinsters otherwise the natural lawful and only children of Charlotte Christiana Selby widow deceased (whilst living one of the natural and lawful children of the said deceased and as such Administrator of the goods of the said Christiana Selby for the use and benefit of the said Minors until one of them shall attain the age of 21 years (he being the intended Administrator of the goods of the said Charlotte Amiel for the like use and benefit) made and given on oath of the said Walter Selby

This declarant doth declare that the said deceased as the sister of Ann Turrell [Tirrell?] deceased was at the time of her death was entitled to a third share of the Residue of the Personal Estate and effects and proceedings are now depending in the High Court of Chancery respecting the same and in consequence thereof this declarant is unable to ascertain the precise amounts of such share but he has been informed and believes that the same may amount to the Sum of £600 but will not exceed £800

And the Declarant declares that no further or others Goods, Chattels or Credits of or belonging to the said deceased have come to his hands possession or knowledge but if at any time hereafter should come he will then set forth the same.

[signed] Walter Selby

On the 5 May 1829 the said Walter Selby was duly sworn to the truth thereof

PROB 6/205/f.25.

The inventory of Charlotte's goods &c.,

PROB 31/1267/702, drawn up 5 May 1829 by Walter Selby gives a little more information. A sister [-in-law?] to Charlotte, Ann Turrell or Tyrrell deceased was at the time of her death entitled to a third share of the residue of the Personal estate, '... and proceedings are now depending in ... Chancery'. Charlotte was an only child, and as 'sister' was often used for 'sister-in-law', Ann Turrell was probably the latter.