Author Topic: Follow the money 3  (Read 101 times)

Michael Caswell

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Follow the money 3
« on: December 20, 2019, 07:14:23 pm »
FOLLOW THE MONEY 3

It’s 1763 in Yatesbury and William (Spackman) Casswell, at the age of  21, marries Ann Washbourn, a 24 year old, daughter of John Washbourn and Anne Merrimouth.

His tomb is by the front door of the church in Yatesbury, along with a Washbourn tomb. Inscribed here is William’ date of birth, confirming the same date as the baptism record of William Spackman in the burial records. The tomb was cleaned by Michael Caswell c 1995. William's illegitimate birth was intentionally hidden in the church records. It was put at the bottom of a page, out of sequence, so was recorded as required by law, yet almost impossible to trace in practice. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

He’s wealthy, incredibly wealthy, having inherited his grand father’ WIlliam’s fortune, which was passed to his father Robert.

This caused a rift in the family between  Robert’s siblings, Christian Pope, William (Mary Young), Susannah Viveash, Mary Pottow.

Wm (Spackman) Casswell was the illegitimate son of Robert Caswell and Elizabeth Spackman. No one knows exactly when his name was flipped from Spackman (on his birth registration) to Caswell, but it was quite common to flip the names after an inheritance.

William (Spackman) Casswell and Ann Washbourn have two children in their short lives.
Mary Casswell born. ?    and Robert christened 29 Apr 1764 in Yatesbury.

Robert never married and as his mother was the sole beneficiary of the Casswell estates, she leaves everything to son Robert after securing her daughters future.

The Will of Ann (Washbourn) CASSWELL

Copy from the Public Record Office, London.  PROB 11/1003

Ann Casswell of Yatesbury in the County of Wilts being of sound mind memory
and understanding to make my last will in manner following,that is to say,
********  I have given bond to my brother Thomas Washborn and George Brown
for the payment of three hundred pounds to my daughter Mary Caswell otherwise
Washborn at her age and manner herein ****** and it is my directions to make
further provisions for her also hereforth.
I give unto my brother Thomas Washborn and George Brown two hundred pounds more in trust that they do apply both interest and principal Foy***  sure in like in as much as **here forth
in the*oudafows* as by having interest thereto will more fully appear all
the residue of my effects *** to my son Robert Caswell but my will is that
if my son should happen to die in his minority and before my daughter then
I give the whole of my effects to my daughter aforesaid and my will further
is that if both my said children should happen to die before their respective
ages of eighteen years ***leaving no ***lawf**  ****that these my effects
*** be equally divided between such of my brothers and sisters as shall be
living and I nominate and designate my brother Thomas Washborn and George
Brown my executors in trust in witness hereof, I have herunto set my hand
and seal to this my last will and testament the seventeenth day of April
one thousand seven hundred and sixty one.

Ann Casswell



Robert’s will states -

To John Washbourne of Yatesbury, William Brown of Broad Hinton and Thomas
Chandler of Yeytesbury my freehold manor and reported ****,messuages , farm,
lands, etc in Rodbourne Cheney, Wilts to hold etc for the use for life of my niece Ann the wife of Francis Stephen Long of Boreham. Upon trust and after her decease to the use of Robert Caswell Long second son of my said niece. To trustees further 6000 pounds interest of which for the use of Susannah, wife of George John Bannister of Warminster, banker, another niece and aftds for her second son.residue for children of two nieces.

The actual will can be read here!

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5111/40611_310354-00134?pid=750707&backurl=https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DNiV6776%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26indiv%3D1%26dbid%3D5111%26gsln%3Dcaswell%26gsfn_x%3D1%26gsln_x%3D1%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26uidh%3Dmfw%26redir%3Dfalse%26gss%3Dangs-d%26pcat%3D36%26fh%3D22%26h%3D750707%26recoff%3D%26fsk%3DMDsxOTsyMA-61--61-%26bsk%3D%26pgoff%3D%26ml_rpos%3D23%26queryId%3D35fc141bbb75f0eada502c7816109943&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=35fc141bbb75f0eada502c7816109943&usePUB=true&_phsrc=NiV6776&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.217282518.1777351004.1592501290-826492234.1566769744


In memory of this gift the sisters erect this memorial in the Yatesbury church.





The nieces mentioned here are the daughters of John Washbourn  and Susannah Walters of Yatesbury.

But! We must remember John Washbourn’s will, where he makes Thomas Washbourn and Robert Casswell trustees of 600 pounds for his two daughters Ann and Susannah. It look like Robert did a good job of that and added his own inheritance to it, making the total of six thousand pound to these two ladies. It is no wonder the Longs are farming over 3600 acres of downs.

Ann (Walters) Washbourn born 28 Feb 1780  marries Francis Stephen Long (2nd) and moves to Boreham Farm Warminster.

Ann is the main benefactor of the Casswell fortune, and this first becomes evident by the 1851 census for Bulford, where her grandson, who marries Elizabeth Sophia Coates, names their second child, Mary Caswell Long, born 6 Apr 1850

The census states ‘Farming 1600 acres, employing 57 laborers, nurses, cooks and more.”


Obviously, this is a massive operation, and on some really good sheep rearing land.
 So far, it has not been possible to see the outcome of this venture. More research needed.

Ann (Walters) Washbourn and 2nd Francis Stephen Long had a son Robert Caswell Long, and they live in West Overton. From the 1851 census we see he is farming some 2000 acres of prime Wiltshire Downs and employing 80 men. There seems to be no issue here nor a marriage, so we have to wonder what happened to this fortune.

Susannah Washbourn, daughter of John and Susanna Walters, marries George John Bannister and they live in Warminster.. George is a wealthy banker there. They have six children and their fourth son is named John Caswell Bannister.

Richard Washbourn born 25 Sep 1776 in Yatesbury to John and Susanna Walters Washbourn, was according to the 1851 census for Caterham, Surrey, showing Richard as a farmer, 74 years old, 2 house servants, Wm Poutin 35 and Elizabeth Batter. Richard was born in Yatesbury. He was farming 85 acres, with 17 servants.

The Washbourns of Yatesbury descendants, namely William Everley Washbourn (b. 1819,
         in England); emigrated to New Zealand 1852.
Their activities are recorded on this site.

https://rogerw4.wixsite.com/washbourn/descendancy

In view of the family’s massive involvement in sheep rearing in Wiltshire, one can only surmise they realized the enormous potential of applying their expertise in this new country.  New Zealand Lamb was a favorite for over a hundred years in England.

« Last Edit: January 24, 2021, 04:31:16 pm by Michael Caswell »

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