The Family of Elizabeth Ellen Chadwick-Henderson: Wills

James Chadwick

17 January 1881, Administration of the Personal Estate of James Chadwick, late of The Lodge, Croston in the County of Lancaster, Traveller in the Book Trade, who died on 21 December 1880 at Highfield House, Bretherton in the said county was granted at Lancaster to Elizabeth Ellen Chadwick of The Lodge, Croston, widow, the relict. Personal Estate under £200.

Elizabeth Ellen Chadwick-Henderson

Elizabeth Ellen Henderson, of 77 Hawkshead Street, Southport, Lancashire (wife of James Maddock Henderson) died 5 February 1925 at the Nursing Home, Queen's Road, Southport. Probate Liverpool 22 June to George Shaw, solicitor's clerk and Charles Eastwood, solicitor. Effects £2976 9s 4d.

Elizabeth's Will was very long and very complicated but did provide some interesting and useful information.

Before she married her first husband James Chadwick they drew up an "Indenture of Settlement" between herself, her fiancé, William Hayes, and Roger Rigbye to pay her debts as of the date of the marriage, then a lifetime annuity. James and Elizabeth were married on 24 December 1878.

James Chadwick, of The Lodge, Croston, died less than two years later at his father's home, Highfield House in Bretherton. Administration of his estate was granted on 17 January 1881.

Less than a year after her husband's death, on 23 November 1881, Elizabeth married James Maddock Henderson.

Over several years, Elizabeth took cash advances from her trust fund through deed polls, and listed one of these advances as a debt in her Will.

In her Will Elizabeth left legacies to her sisters Jane Ashcroft, Margaret Moon, and Catherine McNulty, as well as her nieces and nephews. (Unfortunately none are mentioned by name.)

James Maddock Henderson

I am almost certain that James Henderson outlived Elizabeth but I do not know when or where he died and have not found any record of a Will or Administration for his estate.

NOTES:
1:	I will need to re-read Elizabeth's Will as I was sure that she mentioned her sister Jane Ashcroft but my records show that Jane died several years before Elizabeth.
2:	The above information is taken from a copy of the Will held at the Lancashire Archives in Preston.