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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Derbyshire => England => Derbyshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Alex Edge on Monday 19 February 18 09:36 GMT (UK)
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About 150 years ago, a branch of my family had fall-out following the death, without a Will, of their father; Thomas Gregory, a large scale, north Derbyshire, farmer. The case got to Chancery Court, there were contemporary newspaper notices and reports charting its progress. My problem is that I can't see what they were arguing about. Is there a web site anywhere that can interpret for me what it was all about?
Alex Edge
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If you provide a link to the online sources (or what documents you have purchased) then someone on here probably has the knowledge
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Is this the case?
https://goo.gl/KZWFUX
https://goo.gl/gAnJAJ
https://goo.gl/h6UyPM
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Case papers are in the National Archives see http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7883817
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Very many thanks to all my respondents; why am I always surprised by the depth of resources members of Rootschat can summon up?
So far, my information has come from Public Notices and a Law Report that had appeared in contemporary editions of the "Derby Mercury," weekly newspaper.
I will absorb the new information you have found for me and, if need be, return for further guidance.
Many thanks Alex Edge
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The National Archives documents won't be online. My researches have sometimes come up with nicely printed copies of the case papers which are easy to transcribe and which sometimes have all sorts of interesting information. However I was defeated by another one -the first page, listing most of the people involved, was a bit bigger than an opened tabloid newspaper, and the whole pile of documents was rolled up in a cylinder which looked like a small army kitbag!
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I’ve got the case papers on order from the National Archive. It appears there was a related case in the previous February, it was Smith v. Gregory. I’d be very grateful for a web address to a report on that case.
Many thanks to everyone for their assistance.
Alex Edge
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I can't see a Law Report on Smith v Gregory but there are many newspaper reports of it in February and March 1868.
But that's about a George Gregory of Whiteholmes near Winster who died in 1867. Not the right one?
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Many thanks to everyone who contributed a response to my enquiry. I seem to have stumbled on a metaphorical iceberg; this affair appears to have rumbled on over some five or six years, and is far more convoluted than I had thought. Seems I have many more miles to go!
Alex Edge
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Completed
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Beardmore v. Gregory and Smith v. Gregory and others - Chancery Court 1865
A little while back member's kindly helped me get a start into this matter. I've now got the documents from the National Archive and worked out - by the Interrogatories and some of the Answers - a sequence of events. The documents I have so far obtained, (Nat.Arch. and Law Reports) are all about the opening series of events. I would now like to know how matters were resolved.
Can member's offer me any advice on where to search for further information on the eventual outcome of the cases.
Many thanks - Alex Edge
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Can member's offer me any advice on where to search for further information on the eventual outcome of the cases.
Assuming the case got as far as a final judgment, the outcome should be recorded in the Entry Book of Decrees and Orders for the year when the case was closed. These books are at TNA in class C 33. They are not online, and they are not indexed online (for this period). But many cases were abandoned (or settled) before they reached the decree stage, so there may be no record of the outcome.
If there was a final decree, and if it was 'enrolled' (not all were), you might find it in the decree rolls in series C 78, some of which are online and calendared at AALT.
http://www.uh.edu/waalt/index.php/Chancery_Final_Decrees
I had a quick look in these calendars for 1865-1868 and found nothing that seemed to relate to your case. But the case may have lasted much longer than that, so it might be worth your looking later, perhaps guided by the last year referenced in the documents that you hold?
Failing anything in these decree rolls, you would have to search the C 33 entry books in person at Kew, or have someone go on your behalf. There are paper indexes on the open shelves in the Map Room. They are basic (surnames only), and it can be a long-drawn-out search. There may be nothing at all, or conversely you may find there are several interim decrees to get through before you reach a final decisive one.
I assume you've read the standard TNA Research Guide ...
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/chancery-equity-suits-after-1558/#2-the-records (see esp. 2.8 and 2.9).
ADDED - Sorry, I forgot to mention the Cause Books in C 32. If you are visiting Kew, these are a useful starting-point for searching for decrees at this sort of period.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C3593
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Bookbox - Thank you for your clear and comprehensive response. Although I read through TNA
information before registering I didn't find the page associated with your link; the information covers much that is relevant to my research. Thanks for everything, it's all very much appreciated. Looks like I will have to reactivate my Senior Railcard and make some journeys to TNA!
Alex Edge
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Completed