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Topic: Can I research an inheritance dispute? (Read 466 times)
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JustinL
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I recently received an interesting document from a German archive.
In December 1819, an ancestor of mine (from East London) had sought and obtained formal certification of the authenticity of a number of extracts from the parish records of the town of Immenhausen (in northern Hessen).
This ancestor needed the information to prove his ancestry (in an English court) in support of his claim to a significant inheritance. In his request he states that his great-grandfather, who was born in 1724 in Immenhausen, had come to London in about 1750, but was himself the great-grandson of an Englishman who had emigrated to Germany. That emigrant would have left England in the mid-seventeenth century!
I have good reasons for speculating that the inheritance was in some way connected with the HARDRES family of Hardres Hall in Kent.
Any ideas?
Justin
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Arranroots
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~ Grand Aunt Jenny ~
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Hi Justin
It sounds as though there is a good chance this case would have been reported in the papers - there's a free trial to Gale newspapers operating at the moment, so you might be lucky!
http://access.gale.com/gdctrial/index.html?err=2
Kind regards, Arranroots 
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Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SOM: BIRD, BURT aka BROWN HEF: BAUGH, LATHAM, CARTER, PRITCHARD GLS: WEBB, WORKMAN, LATHAM, MALPUS WIL: WEBB, SALTER RAD: PRITCHARD, WILLIAMS GLA: RYAN, KEARNEY, JONES, HARRY MON: WEBB, MORGAN, WILLIAMS, JONES, BIRD SCOTLAND: HASTINGS, CAMERON, KELSO, BUCHANAN, BETHUNE/ BEATON IRELAND: RYAN (WATERFORD), KEARNEY (DUBLIN), BOYLE(DUNDALK) |
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MarieC
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In Queensland, Oz
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Hi Justin! 
It may just possibly have become a Chancery case - in which case, the papers will be at the National Archives. I had one with a disputed will that was there, but this involved creditors with unpaid debts - a little different, I know!
There may just have been a public notice in the London Gazette - there is a website gazettes-online, don't have the precise address at present - Google and you will find it, and you can search by any surname which may be relevant!
Sounds complex and interesting - good luck!
MarieC
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Martins in London and Wales, Lockwoods in Yorkshire, Hartleys in London, Lichfield and Brighton, Hubands and Smiths in Ireland, Bentleys in London and Yorkshire, Denhams in Somerset, Scoles in London, Meyers in London, Cooks in Northumberland
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JustinL
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Thanks for the advice.
I was just about to go check Gale, London Gazette and TNA, but thought I would have a quick look for any responses here first.
I'll keep you posted.
Justin
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Galium
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.natio
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You can sometimes use Google books to find law case reports.
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MarieC
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I keep forgetting about Google books! Thanks for the reminder, Galium.
Look forward to seeing what you are able to find, Justin!
MarieC
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Martins in London and Wales, Lockwoods in Yorkshire, Hartleys in London, Lichfield and Brighton, Hubands and Smiths in Ireland, Bentleys in London and Yorkshire, Denhams in Somerset, Scoles in London, Meyers in London, Cooks in Northumberland
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JustinL
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Well, I've had a good trawl through all the usual websites and NOT found anything.
Hardres Court and estate (near Canterbury) were eventually split between the sisters and nephews of the childless widow of the last Baronet, Sir William Hardres, when she died in 1783. There arte numerous earlier wills on the NA site.
My ancestor was Charles James Courtney Hardess. The image below was written by his cousin in 1837.
CJCH's uncle noted that the former 'went on a journey to the continent [Aug 21, 1819], returned about February 1820, but did no good'.
This will be a fascinating mystery to solve...
Justin
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MarieC
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Bad luck, Justin! I guess your trawl has included the a2a site. They are determined to be elusive - just a case of persevering, I suppose!
MarieC
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Martins in London and Wales, Lockwoods in Yorkshire, Hartleys in London, Lichfield and Brighton, Hubands and Smiths in Ireland, Bentleys in London and Yorkshire, Denhams in Somerset, Scoles in London, Meyers in London, Cooks in Northumberland
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JustinL
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Hello Carole,
Sorry that I didn't reply sooner.
From google.books and the Gale site, I have a fairly clear picture of the Hardres ancestry, and what happened to the estate after Sir William's death in 1764. There's nothing that points to any subsequent probate disputes.
The claim about the Dukes of Kent must surely have been wishful thinking. Like you, I could not establish a specific lineage.
However, the Earls of Thanet were of a single family. Tantalisingly, the NA has a file from the early 18th century entitles 'Earl Thanet v. Hardess'. I should probably dig into pocket and investigate.
Justin
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