William West - a Napoleonic Hero :

[Iain...]

Absolutely amazing…  The BBC should get you all together, you/they would make a fortune. 

Nice weather here in Belgium so my wife has me doing spring cleaning.  However, tomorrow I’ll start an Ancestry family tree for William, using all your information.  It’s the least I can do for the poor bloke.  I’ve already done that with others at Waterloo and it’s a good way to latch on to descendants. 
My favourite is Matthew Clay.  He was with William in the Hougoumont farm and his descendent has since become an historian-friend…, Christine Dabbs. 
http://www.blidworthhistoricalsociety.co.uk/about-us_3

All very exciting.  Thanks everyone.
Stay safe…, Iain. 

[bearkat]

In 1874 the family were admitted to Southwark Workhouse 

Fanny, Ernest, Sidney, Lewis & Margaret Ellen

[UKgirl]

That's a bit of a surprise.

With his sister Mary Charlotte dying young, you would imagine that Lewis Henry would have inherited the entire capital of 180 pounds when he became 21 (around 1858?), just before he got married to Fanny.

Did he splurge the lot? Or did he never get any of it?

He seems to have died in 1880, the same year that his mother died.
So, perhaps Fanny had a chance to inherit something in 1880?

Hopefully.....

[bearkat]

Fanny seems to have been widowed and mentally ill.  There seem to be multiple admissions and discharges (if they are all the same person).  In later census she is living with Sidney and living off her own means.

[UKgirl]

A bit of a brain teaser (and perhaps a way of keeping money within the family?)

meanwhile back in Somerset:

1881
Fanny West aged 40 (Lewis Henry’s widow) is visiting (?) her brother Frank Ratcliffe aged 30.
(definitely siblings, not cousins, as GRO shows shared mother’s maiden name of Marsh)

Frank is running a Draper's business.

Also present:
Frank’s wife: Mary Ann E Ratcliffe aged 30.
[1879 Frank Ratcliffe married Mary Ann E Truscott in Marylebone]

Also present:
Elizabeth WEST (mother-in-law) widow aged 60 (born 1821)
Who is Elizabeth West? Is she Mary Ann E Truscott’s mother and hence Frank’s mother-in-law?

Marriage:
1867 Dec qtr BRIDGE R.D.
Elizabeth Truscott married John West

Who is John West? Could this be William’s younger brother?
BRIDGE R. D. suggests that it may be so.

According to Reply #18 with the link to the will details, John West, youngest son of Thomas West, was born in 1801.

1871 shows John West born 1807 in Ickham, aged 64, living in Kent with Elizabeth.
1861 John West born 1803
1851 John West born 1803
John was a Grocer

*****

So, let’s see how it panned out….
1860 Dec qtr Eastry
Lewis Henry West married Fanny Ratcliffe

1867 Dec qtr Bridge
John West (possible brother of William, therefore uncle of Lewis Henry) married Elizabeth Truscott

1879 Sep qtr Marylebone
Fanny’s younger brother (Frank Ratcliffe) married (Mary Ann E Truscott), daughter of husband Lewis Henry West’s uncle John West’s wife (Elizabeth Truscott).

You can imagine Fanny eagerly introducing brother Frank to Mary Ann E Truscott.

Did that marriage enable some of Thomas West’s money to filter down via John West to Frank Ratcliffe?

Always good to keep it in the family! Especially if Fanny & co. could also benefit.

UKgirl

P.S. All information freely available from free searches on Familysearch and Free BMD.

[Iain...]

Oooof...  My eyes are crossing.  Not to mention the grey cells. 
I've already started an Ancestry skeleton tree for William.  Due to the exceptional Belgian weather and subsequent gardening..., I'll add all this precious info later. 

This evening, with all this money being talked about, I'll research William's father to see where he got it from.  As you all know, the Brigade of Guards Officers are either Royals, high-to-do or influencially rich. (buying Commisions)  This makes me wonder if the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards Medical Officer could have been influenced by William's father.  And as a result, advised to move to Bath.