Hi
I am a local historian looking into the history behind the Bentham millions. Can anyone give me further details as I have come to a standstill in my research.
From what I can gather so far, Katherine Bradshaw was the daughter of Roger Bradshaw Snr (3rd Baronet of Haigh) and sister of Roger Bradshaw Jnr (4th Baronet of Haigh). The latter died childless and left a will saying the estate should go to his sister Katherine, who had apparently married a John or James Bentham. The estate actually went to the neice Elizabeth Edwin, who later became mother-in-law to Alexander Lindsay, the 6th Earl of Balcarres.
It’s the dates that do not add up to me though. If I have the above correct, then Katherine Bradshaw should have been born around 1690-1740. I cannot find either a John or James Bentham who would be around the same age.
The only possibility I can find is a John Bentham, born 1801, who marries a Catherine Bradshaw and goes on to have a daughter Mary Ann Bentham. This John would have been at lest 60 years older than the Katherine Bradshaw referred to previously though.
Can anyone shed any light on this please.
Many thanks
Zoe
