Genealogy Chat

I've recenly discovered, via a Probate list, dated 1896, that my Great Grandfather, William Henry Croft, was the recipient of a large sum of money, valued today at £316,000. It was from his stepfather ,John Lockett. Looking at John's death certificate, dated Dec 2nd1895, he died in the Workhouse, at Western Rd, Birmingham. No family were present. His occupation is listed as 'General Hawker'. a Market stall or wheelbarrow street seller I guess. Given the huge sum of money he left, and the fact that he was always listed in the Census , for 40 years, as a Publican, i assumed he had in fact--OWNED his pub, and at retirement (probably when his wife, Jane Watkins--,and mother of my Great grandfather, died) in 1891.--sold the pub and thereby explains the large sum of money. SO---why/ How, would he end up alone, in the workhouse? It's a bit complicated,but I hope it comes accross clear. I'd be most grateful for suggestions. Arfermo.

Workhouses were often also hospitals

As Erica says, all workhouses had an infirmary which was not only for the people who were living in the workhouse but also for the general public as a hospital. People were often born in the workhouse or died there.

Kath. x

As said, the workhouse infirmary was the only place for ordinary people to go for help, even well into the 20th century.

Unfortunately, the address was the workhouse.

At some point, the street address was used instead of the full name of the workhouse.

The workhouse infirmary in many towns later became the hospital for the town, or one of the hospitals, with the same buildings being used .............. I had two visits, one in the late 1950s and one around 1966 to the Oldham and District General Hospital in Oldham. The wards were huge, ca 40 or more people, and yes it had been the old Workhouse and Infirmary.

The "workhouse" had been renamed Boundary Park Hospital in the late 1920s. Then it was renamed Oldham and District General Hospital in 1955. It is now called the Royal Oldham Hospital, with a lot of newer buildings or so I understand!

There was a Hospital extension built on to the Workhouse in 1889.
So i am guessing he would have been in that building

Thanks everyone for the info, but theres a bit more to the mystery. To emphasize the point. On his wifes death certificate,1881, John is listed as a Labourer, and his DAUGHTER, Eliza Lockett, was present. Why wasn't she at her father's side at his, death, and why wasn't she a recipient of his large will.? although she might have died. Where did all that money come from, if he was labouring, and a street Trader in his latter years? Well off people would have a Doctor calling on them surely? I haven't been able to trace his daughter's birth or death--A bit more of the old Percy-verance I think. Arfermo.

The man's condition could have required surgery - or other treatment which couldn't be given at home!

A person can leave his or her wealth to whomsoever he/she chooses - and as you haven't found Eliza's birth, perhaps she wasn't actually his daughter.- or they were estranged

I've been digging - just for the benefit of helpers

Jane Watkins m. Henry Croft
28th December 1835
St Marys, Handsworth, Stafford, England
Saint Mary's

Marriages Jun 1839 (>99%)
BEASLEY John Aston 16 274
CROFT Jane Aston 16 274

Marriages Mar 1850 (>99%)
Beasley Jane Aston 16 260
Lockett John Aston 16 260

You've got the wrong death cert, and have therefore made wrong assumptions.

This is the probate entry:

LOCKETT, John, of Middleton Place, Aston Lane, Witton, Aston juxta Birmingham, gentleman, died 28 March 1896. Probate Birmingham 12 May to William Henry Croft ,musical instrument maker. Effects: £2357 12s 7d.

https://tinyurl.com/t4c9bja

So -
1. Probate was granted to William - which doesn't necessarily mean that he inherited anything. Have you seen the actual Will?

2. John is a "gentleman" and has a home address - he's not a hawker.

3. He died 28 March 1896 - not 2 Dec 1895.



This will be your John's death:

Deaths Mar 1896 (>99%)
Lockett John 75 W. Bromwich 6b 490

Have you found Eliza on censuses?

You say she was 'Daughter' on his WIFE's death cert - so there is nothing to suggest she was John's daughter .

What was her address?

Perhaps (almost certainly) the cert you've got is for a different Jane Lockett. One who actually had a daughter.....................

Checking on Ancestry, I see your tree, Philip, and there's NO mention of ELIZA

1871

Name: Jane Lockett
Age: 50
Estimated birth year: 1821
Relation: Wife
Gender: Female
Where born: Birmingham Warwickshire England
Civil Parish: Aston
Town: Deritend
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England
Registration district: Aston
Sub-registration district: Deritend
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Household schedule number: 247
Piece: 3134
Folio: 30
Page Number: 53
Household Members:
Name Age
John Lockett 50
Jane Lockett 50
William Henry Croff 31
Selina Danks 17
Joseph Larkin 29
Emma Crolet 21

1861

Name: Jane Lockett
Age: 40
Estimated birth year: 1821
Relation: Wife
Spouse's name: John Lockert
Gender: Female
Where born: Wolverhampton
Civil Parish: Aston
Town: Birmingham
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England
Street address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
View image
Registration district: Aston
Sub-registration district: Deritend
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 73
Piece: 2169
Folio: 11
Page Number: 17
Household Members:
Name Age
John Lockert 40
Jane Lockett 40
William Lockett 23
Betsey Pearce 22

1851

Name: Jane Lockett
Age: 33
Estimated birth year: abt 1818
Relation: Wife
Spouse's name: John Lockett
Gender: Female
Where born: Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England
Civil Parish: Birmingham St George
Ecclesiastical parish: St Stephen
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England
Registration district: Birmingham
Sub-registration district: St George
ED, institution, or vessel: 41
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 29
Piece: 2058
Folio: 1063
Page Number: 45
Household Members:
Name Age
John Lockett 30
Jane Lockett 33
Rebecca Phipps 19

Jane Beasley
in the 1841 England Census
Name: Jane Beasley
Age: 25
Estimated birth year: abt 1816
Gender: Female
Civil Parish: Aston
Hundred: Birmingham
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England
Street address:
Occupation:
View image
Registration district: Aston
Sub-registration district: Duddeston and Nechells
Neighbors:
Piece: 1149
Book: 10
Folio: 10
Page Number: 13
Household Members:
Name Age
John Beasley 25 - tailor
Jane Beasley 25
Selina Beasley 15
William Croft 5

Jane was still alive at the time of the 1881 census:

John Lockett
in the 1881 England Census
Name: John Lockett
Age: 60
Estimated birth year: abt 1821
Relationship to Head: Head
Spouse: Jane Lockett
Gender: Male
Where born: Birmm, Warwickshire, England
Civil Parish: Handsworth
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England
Street address: 269 Aston Lane
Marital status: Married
Education:
Employment status:
View image
Occupation: Retired Publican
Registration district: West Bromwich
ED, institution, or vessel: 22
Neighbors:
Piece: 2836
Folio: 38
Page Number: 24
Household Members:
Name Age
John Lockett 60
Jane Lockett 60
Benjamin Thornton 14


I think this is her death:

Jane Lockett
in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915
Name: Jane Lockett
Estimated birth year: abt 1816
Registration Year: 1890
Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun
Age at Death: 74
Registration district: Aston
Inferred County: Warwickshire
Volume: 6d
Page: 236


Philip -
your opening post says Jane died 1891, and later you talk about her death cert 1881. Neither of those dates is correct.

Looking at the image of the 1891 census - it's been mistranscribed on Ancestry

John is living alone, at 269 Aston Lane.

Angelina Willoughby is in the next-door household (271 Aston Lane).

Thanks AG - I've deleted my superfluous info

Should have checked the image but was distracted by the postie!

Name: William H. Croft
Age: 43
Estimated birth year: abt 1838
Relationship to Head: Head
Spouse: Elizabeth Croft
Gender: Male
Where born: Birm, Warwickshire, England
Civil Parish: Birmingham
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England
Street address: 16 12 Summer Lane
Marital status: Married
Education:
Employment status:
View image
Occupation: Violin Maker &C
Registration district: Birmingham
Sub registration district: St George
ED, institution, or vessel: 16
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2993
Folio: 68
Page Number: 9
Household Members:
Name Age
William H. Croft 43
Elizabeth Croft 34
Jane Croft 5
W.Henry Croft 4
John T. Croft 3


Name: William Henry Croft
Death Date: 19 May 1909
Death Place: Warwickshire, England
Probate Date: 2 Jul 1909
Probate Registry: Birmingham, England

Admin to William Henry Croft, toolmaker Effects £850



Name: William Henry Croft
Age: 0
Birth Date: 29 Mar 1836
Baptism Date: 8 Jun 1836
Baptism Place: Birmingham, St Philip, Warwickshire, England
Father: Henry Croft
Mother: Jane Croft

Name: Henry Croft
Age: 25
Birth Date: abt 1811
Burial Date: 13 Nov 1836
Burial Place: Aston, St James, Warwickshire, England
Parish as it Appears: Aston, St James

Whoooosh !! Many thanks ArglleGran/ ErikaH etc.etc I have most of what you have written; and not all is on my tree. The Ancestry Tree has been neglected, and will now be looked after by another member, so I'm not that involved but, accuracy is obviously necessary. As for Eliza, I only discovered her last night. I have owned the Death cert for 'John Lockett' for several years, and only recently have been given the Probate List. Which sparked the intrigue. I have Janes death cert ( yes I did goof with the date--I hope thats all it was) but all the BMD certs I have, pointed to, being on the right track. The noted person at the death of Jane, is ''Eliza Lockett, Daughter.'' Often the dates of birth and ages, are rarely consistant ,as you all know, especially with Census. Many people back then, didn't actually know their birth year--or parents names etc etc and guesswork was common. I always worked backwards to find their DOB. The 'New' John Lockett discovery, is the correct one, because my great great Grandfather is named as ''beneficiary' ?although as ArgylleGran has suggested, and I'm not savvy to this--might be acting like a Executive to the will? which is my next target. BUT--what this whole business with the money suggests, is that my Grand Parents, who came from modest backgrounds My grandfather being a Engineer /Tool maker. moved out of Grimy central Brum and spent their lives in North Wales, living in a nice house, nice cars, and always dressed stylishly.And bought my dad a Taxi, so he could start a busiess I have the photographs to prove it. over the decades and census, John Lockett was listed as a 'Brewer,/ Publican, which is why I drew the conclusion, that THAT, was his sourse of wealth, ( owning his PUB ) Many years ago, A senior member of my family , when asked where the Croft money came from, between the Wars, said that the family owned a pub, and either Mitchells & Butler --or--'Ansells Brewery, ' bought their Pub, and other's, so as to demolish them ,and extend their brewing capacity '. JOhn Lockett, having retired (Jane Supposedly decesed ) the huge sum of money came from ??
Well now, I've got a lot of rechecking and updating to do --obviously. I am far from being a regular researcher, but have a burst sometimes . to try and fill gaps. Looks like I'm about to get busy. Many thanks again to all---but keep 'em coming, if you have time, and a mind to.--Arfermo--Phil Croft.

Yes, I imagine that John was the pub or brewery owner.

1896, gentleman,
1891, living on own means.
1881, retired publican
1871 and 1861, licensed victualler
1851, retail brewer

So, is it the 1890 Aston death cert which you have for Jane?
It's not clear from your last post.

You say "Jane supposedly deceased". She definitely died between the 1881 and 1891 census dates, as John is listed as a widower in the 1891 census.



As William was granted probate, on John's death, he would indeed have been executor of the Will.
Where did you find the word "beneficiary"?