| Description | Correspondence and papers relating to Edward Linley Sambourne's legal and financial affairs.
nos 1-8 Personal legal papers
nos 9-25 Papers re property
nos 26-67 Barr Estate
nos 68-73 Banking
nos 74-79 Papers re shares and investments
nos 80-180 Bills and receipts
Nos 26-67 relate to the income Linley derived from what became known as the Barr Estate. Thomas Barr, bricklayer, made his will on 24 February 1823, in which he divided his property between his seven children - Thomas, Joseph, John, Henry, William, Mary and James. Thomas jnr died soon afterwards and his share was subsequently divided between his five children. Gradually, some of the other beneficiaries (William, Olive and Margaret daughters of Thomas jnr) sold their shares to James Barr, who then assigned them to Robert Willis, solicitor and husband of Mary Barr. Additionally, Charlotte Barr (another daughter of Thomas jnr) bequeathed her share to James in 1841. Under the terms of James Barr's will, made on 13 August 1857, his property was to be held in trust for his wife Jane Ann (nee Sambourne) during her lifetime, after which the income from the trust was to be paid to his sister Mary Willis for her lifetime before being divided between his nephew Robert Willis jnr and niece Marianne Pullinger (nee Willis).
Meanwhile, Sarah Linley had made her will on 9 February 1866, in which she bequeathed the residue of her estate to her niece Jane Ann Barr for her lifetime, then to her great nephew, Edward Linley Sambourne, absolutely. Within this estate were certain securities and properties that Sarah had placed into the management of Robert Willis snr in August 1857. However, when Robert Willis died in 1868, he left everything to his wife Mary.
In 1870, two Bills of Complaint were filed in Chancery. The first, brought by Jane Ann Barr against Mary Willis and Robert Willis jnr, requested that new trustees be appointed to administer James Barr's will. The second, brought against Mary Willis by Jane Ann Barr and Edward Linley Sambourne, asked that an account might be taken of what was owing to them from the estate of the late Robert Willis, ie the securities and properties placed in his hands by Sarah Linley. Additionally, this second Bill requested that the estate of Robert Willis snr be charged with wilful neglect and default in regard to these securities and properties.
A compromise was eventually agreed at a hearing on 10 March 1871. James Barr's estate was defined as being made up of six messuages in Dear's Place, Canning Town, six houses in Springfield Villas held under three indentures of lease (26 Sept 1859) and by such leases demised to Robert Willis for 99 years from 25 December 1858 at £6 per annum rent, 1/7th share of James Barr (under his father's will of 1824), 1/7th share of William Barr, sold by him to James on 9 November 1845 and assigned to Robert Willis snr, 1/5th part of 1/7th share of Charlotte Barr, bequeathed to James and assigned to Robert Willis 9 Nov 1845, 1/5th part of 1/7th share of Olive Barr, sold by her to James and assigned to Robert Willis. Similarly, Sarah Linley's securities received in trust by Robert Willis snr in August 1857 were stated, including a mortgage dated 20 Jan 1859 between (1) Rev Joseph Hopkins and (2) William Richards and Rowland Tilton, an indenture dated 31 Dec 1859 between (1) Thomas Fry and (2) Robert Willis snr, whereby certain freehold hereditaments were assured to Robert Willis and designed to assure payments of £990 and £210.
Under the terms of the compromise, Edward Linley Sambourne and James William Wilson were appointed trustees to James Barr's will, while Robert Willis jnr agreed to retire as a trustee. An Order of Chancery dated 19 December 1870 appointed Edward Linley Sambourne receiver of the outstanding personal estate of James Barr and the rents and profits of the six houses in Springfield Villas (including the one lived in by Mary Willis). All the income that derived from these was to be paid to Jane Ann Barr. It was further agreed that the sum of £140, being the cash balance of James Barr's estate, was to be paid to Jane Ann Barr. The six leasehold houses in Dear's Place, Canning Town, were to be assigned by Robert Willis jnr to Jane Ann Barr and Edward Linley Sambourne for their own use for the residue term of 86 years. The six leasehold houses in Springfield Villas were to be assigned by Mary Willis to Edward Linley Sambourne and James William Wilson as trustees of James Barr's will, for the residue term of the 99 years. The undivided shares of James Barr and Charlotte Barr were to be assigned by Robert Willis to Edward Linley Sambourne and James William Wilson while the remaining 1/7th share and the two 1/5th shares were to be assigned by Mary Willis to Edward Linley Sambourne and James William Wilson. Sambourne and Wilson were to declare trusts of the said properties to be assigned to them for the said Jane Ann Barr during her lifetime. After her decease, they were to be divided between Marianne Pullinger and Edward Linley Sambourne. Finally, those securities and properties which had belonged to Sarah Linley were to be transferred by Mary Willis and Robert Willis jnr to Jane Ann Barr and Edward Linley Sambourne as trustees of the will of Sarah Linley. A Policy of Assurance on the life of Jane Ann Barr was to be transferred to Edward Linley Sambourne.
Jane Ann Barr died in 1874 and the residue of her estate passed to Edward Linley Sambourne. Following his marriage in 1874, Linley assigned to John Dyer Blake, solicitor, and John Torrington Chapple all the parts and shares to which he was entitled or possessed in the residuary estate and effects of Thomas Barr, represented by five messauges and shops in St George's Place, Knightsbridge, held by Henry Barr under lease from the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. Shortly afterwards, on 8 February 1875, a Deed of Partition was drawn up between Linley and Marianne Pullinger relating to the remainder of the estate.
On 3 February 1882, J W Wilson gave up his trusteeship and was replaced six days later, on 9 February, by J P Pullinger. A year later, on 16 April 1883, Robert James Willis was appointed a trustee in place of J P Pullinger. |