Army payment

[collin]

Hello, my ancestor died at sea in 1850 on the return journey from India. He died intestate but I found his entry in the Perogative Court of Canterbury where his estate ( army pay?) was distributed, £48 to his widow and £96 to his four children. Does anyone know if the children's money would be held in trust or would the mother get her hands on it?
Thanks

[jim1]

The usual route was that money would be held in trust until the child reached 21.
Depending on the terms of the will the trustee may be a family member or a trusted friend.
As he died intestate & therefore didn't name anyone the trustee will be their mother if so granted by the Court.
She would have access to the money for investment purposes etc.

[collin]

Thank you for that, the children weren't named, it just says that the money was paid out in March 1851, I guess she would use it to raise them

[jim1]

Although the money was paid out in March doesn't mean the children received it unless they were over 21.
It would have gone into trust. Legally she couldn't use the money to raise them as it wasn't hers.

[collin]

Thank you for that, so gt great grandma probably had a bit of money when she came of age

[jim1]

Although not much today back then it would have amounted to several hundred at todays rate.

[collin]

I guess £24 would be worth having in 1864
 Thanks