Edition of Heir Hunters broadcast on BBC2 1.12.2011

Chris and I were watching a TV programme (a repeat, of course!) Heir Hunters on BBC2 on 1 December 2011, when we were surprised by the inclusion of a recent addition to the estate of Frederick West of Ruthin Castle (father of Frederick Richard West who married Theresa Whitby).

In the Find the Lady! Project, I proved that Mary Murray, the lady who kept the Calling Book, met Mrs West (presumably Theresa West) on 30 June 1883 and at Efford Cottage, Everton in 1886.

Also in the Calling Book are entries for a call received from and made circa 1892 on a "Peacocke", presumably Georgiana.

No mention was made in the programme about:

Frederick’s son, Frederick Richard West, nor
Newlands Manor, nor
Milford on Sea

The Heir Hunters traced 9 beneficiaries of the sale proceeds of land donated by Frederick West over 160 years ago.

The beneficiaries were 4 or 5 generations after Frederick West – the programme said the estate spanned 6 generations.

Summary of Content

The content of the programme may be summarised:

Frederick West

MP and landowner
Owner of Ruthin Castle
Donated some of the land for a church school in 1844
Under the School Sites Act of 1841, the land was to be returned to the family if and when the school was closed
(as it was in 2008 and was to be demolished and the land sold).
Had daughter – Charlotte Louisa West

Not in programme

Charlotte’s mother was Charlotte Mitchell

Frederick had a son Frederick Richard West by his second wife Maria Myddelton.

 

Charlotte Louisa West

Parents – Frederick West (& Charlotte Mitchell)
Sole beneficiary of Frederick’s estate
Charlotte did not marry
Her own estate was in favour of:
- her nephew William Cornwallis West
- her niece Georgina West
- Her niece Florence West
The 2 nieces died without having children

Not in programme

Her estate was in favour of the children of her step-brother Frederick Richard West

Frederick Richard West (not in programme)

Parents – Frederick West & Maria Myddelton
Married (1) Lady Georgiana Stanhope
(2) Theresa John Cornwallis Whitby
(Parents Captain John Whitby and Mary Anna Theresa Symmonds who lived at Newlands Manor, Milford)

According to programme, Frederick & Theresa had 3 children
- William
- Georgina
- Florence

My research was that there was an elder brother who died and another sister Theresa.

William Cornwallis West

Parents – Frederick Richard West & Theresa Whitby (not in programme)
Frederick West was his grandfather
Sole beneficiary of the estate of Charlotte Louisa West
Married Mary Fitzpatrick in 1872 and set up home at Ruthin Castle
Had 3 children
- Constance
- George
- Mary Theresa (Daisy)

Georgina West

Parents – Frederick Richard West & Theresa Whitby (not in progamme)
Frederick West was her Grandfather
Did not have children
Died before 2008

Not in Programme

Married Warren Peacocke late in life

Florence West

Parents – Frederick Richard West & Theresa Whitby (not in programme)
Frederick West was her grandfather
Did not marry
Died before 2008

Theresa West (not in programme)

Parents – Frederick Richard West & Theresa Whitby
Frederick West was her grandfather
Did not marry
Died before 2008

Constance Cornwallis West, Duchess of Westminster

Parents – William Cornwallis West & Mary Fitzpatrick
Married the Duke of Westminster
Frederick West was her grandfather
Her mother Mary Cornwallis West left her a property in Cannes
She died in 1970 and left her estate to her companion Norah Gillespie
Wrote a letter 4.7.1928 when living at Malwood, Lyndhurst seeking a companion

Not in Programme

The Duchess’ married name was Grosvenor
After divorce she married W/Cdr Fitzpatrick Lewes

Norah Gillespie

Companion of Constance, Duchess of Westminster
Died 1992
Left half of her estate to godson Peter Sykes
Peter was one of the beneficiaries who was not a blood relation of Frederick West

George Cornwallis West

Parents - William Cornwallis West & Mary Fitzpatrick
Frederick West was his Great Grandfather
Spent the family fortune
Created a scandal when he married Jenny Churchill in 1895 making Winston Churchill his stepson;
Jenny Churchill was much older than George
Was written out of Mary Cornwallis West’s will

Mary Theresa (Daisy) Cornwallis West

Parents - William Cornwallis West & Mary Fitzpatrick
Frederick West was her Great Grandfather
Married the Prince of Pless
Died 1943 – the Heir Hunters could not trace a will and looked for blood relations instead
Had 3 sons
- Hansel known as Henry
- Alexander
- Bolko

Hansel/Henry of Pless

Parents – Prince of Pless & Mary Theresa Cornwallis West
Frederick West was his 2 x Great Grandfather
Had died by 2008
The Heir Hunters traced Lady Ashtown his ex wife to whom Hansel left his estate
Lady Ashtown was one of the beneficiaries though not a blood relation

Alexander of Pless

Parents – Prince of Pless & Mary Theresa Cornwallis West
Frederick West was his 2 x Great Grandfather
Appears to have died by 2008 without leaving heirs

Bolko of Pless

Parents – Prince of Pless& Mary Theresa Cornwallis West
Frederick West was his 2 x Great Grandfather
Had died by 2008
Had 3 sons who (or whose children) were beneficiaries of the estate of Frederick West

Not in Programme

Bolko von Hochberg also had one daughter

Entries in Censuses

It is interesting to track the family in the Censuses, when they still had the family fortune:

1841

Bourne, Holdenhurst, Christchurch, Hampshire

Frederick Richd West (42) Magistrate
Theresa Cornwallis West (30)
T L S E West (1 1/2?)

A note has been added to the transcription: Theresa Lucy Sophia Elphinstone West

Bath Hotel, Bourne, Iford, Christchurch, Hampshire

Georgina West (9) Visitor
Florence West (7) Visitor
Cornwallis West (3) Visitor

1851

Culham Court, Wargrave, Berkshire

Hon Fredk West (83) Widower House Holder born London, Middx
Charlotte L West (55) Unmarried born Wargrave, Berks

1851

Newlands, Milford, Hampshire

Frederick R West (52) MP JP Esquire born London
Theresa J C West (46) born Milford, Hants
Georgina West (19) born Hordle, Hants
Florence West (17) born Florence, Tuscany
Theresa West (12) born Hordle, Hants

1861

Ruthin Castle, Denbighshire

Frederick R West Esq (62) Justice of the Peace for County of Denbigh Born London
Theresa J C West (55) wife born Hampshire
Georgiana (?) Th E (29) West born Florence, Italy
Florence West (27) born Florence, Italy
William C West (25) Justice of the Peace for County of Denbigh and Barrister at Law
born Florence, Italy
Theresa L S E West (21) born Hampshire
Charlotte L West (65) Sister born Berkshire

1871

49 Eaton Place, Belgravia

W. Cornwallis West (36) Magistrate, Major (Vol) born Florence Italy
Georgina S E West (38) Sister born Lymington, Hants
Florence West (37) Sister born Florence, Italy

1881

Newlands Manor, Milford

Theresa J C West (75) Widow Lady of the Manor born Milford
Theresa L S E West (50) Unmarried A Lady doing her duty born Arnewood House, Hants

The Villins, Milford

Florence West (47) Unmarried born Florence, State of Tuscany, Italy

West St, Southwick, Hants

Georgiana Peacocke (49) Widow born Hordle, Hants
Maud F Peacocke (25) Step Daughter born Milford
Mary T O West (7) Niece born Ruthin, N Wales
West George F M (6) Nephew born Ruthin, N Wales

The Hermitage, Old Windsor

William Cornwallis West (45) Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire,
Major, Denbigh Rifle Volunteers born Florence, Italy
Mary A V T E Cornwallis West (26) born Ireland
Olivia Fitzpatrick (56) Mother in law born Ireland
Constance Edwina West (4) born Ruthin, Denbighshire

1891

Newlands Manor, Milford

William Cornwallis West MP (56) Member of Parliament born Florence, Italy
Mary Olivia Cornwallis West (36) born Ireland
Mary Theresa Olivia Cornwallis West (17) born Ruthin, Denbighshire, N Wales
George Fredk Middlton Cornwallis West (16) born Ruthin, Denbighshire, N Wales
Constance Edwina Cornwallis West (15) born Ruthin, Denbighshire, N Wales
Georgiana T E Peacocke (59) Sister Widow born Lymington, Hants
Edwina Brooke (38) Sister in Law Widow born Ireland
Mary O H Brooke (7) Niece born Ireland
Jeanette Mary Sackville (17) Cousin born London

The Villins, Everton, Hampshire

Theresa L S E West (51) Single Gentlewoman on own means Born Lymington, Hants

11 Clarence Buildings, Melcombe Regis, Weymouth

Florence West (57) Single Resident Patient born Florence, Italy
- staying with Henry Tizard (67) JP for Weymouth MD General Practioner
and his wife Marion

Colin Bower
1 January 2012

Find the Lady! - Final Report