Charles Simpson Esq – Home to England

Return to life in England

There are no references to Charles Simpson living in New South Wales or the colony after 1854 except in 1857 in reference to road works that had occurred on 7 March 1853 ‘To C Simpson, warden, Newcastle, for repairs to Ironbark Bridge, £50’ ¹

The final records in New South Wales was Charles Simpson Esq. are the finalising of the Indenture with Toule and the Morse brother in 1869. The last record is his Probate record in 1899, the paperwork remains in the NSW State Archives records.

The Indenture contract between Charles Simpson and Edmund Bull dated 9 June 1854 notes: ‘Charles Simpson formerly of Waratah near Newcastle in the Colony of New South Wales but now of Sydney in the said Colony Esquire’ ² The following advertisement indicates he is living in Newcastle with his position as an agent at the Bank of New South Wales.

Charles Simpson and his family return to England

An interesting reference in this advertisement for the sale of the Iron House, is to the name of the ship now due in about November 1854, the ‘Ellenborough’.

Charles Simpson Esq., his wife Eliza Harriett Simpson and stepdaughter Gertrude Darby returned to England on the ship the ‘Ellenborough’ which left Sydney Harbour on 27 January 1855 and arrived in London on 12 May, 1855. Their three names are recorded as passengers in the newspaper report of the ship leaving Sydney. ‘The following is a list of her passengers : – … Mr and Mrs Simpson and servant … Miss Darby’ ⁴

The arrival of the ship the ‘Ellenborough’ was recorded in newspapers of the time that it left Sydney on 27 January 1855, and arrived in London 12 May, 1855. It included the news that it carried 1,00oz gold worth £6000.⁵

The 1861 Census England records that Charles Simpson with his wife Eliza and stepdaughter Gertrude had returned to York in England, living at Westwood Cottage, 9 Willow Grove Road, Beverley, St George. Charles was working as a Magistrate.⁶

He is recorded in Census records until 1891, first at Beverley, then East Stonehouse (Plymouth) and finally Chilworth. He was working as a Magistrate and Justice of he Peace but also of note is ‘landowner’ and ‘living on his own means’.⁷

The registration shown below indicates he died 7 Dec 1899, registered on the 8 Dec 1899 with A Sword of 8 Park Road, Southampton being present at his death and the informant. Charles was 83 years of age ‘Of Independent Means’ and the cause was ‘Senile Decay’ certified by a Dr Thomas.⁹ In Charles Simpson’s Will he thanks his Executors and Trustees for their help in drafting a better last Will and Codicil which indicates that he was perhaps having some difficulties given he had been a JP and Magistrate in his working life.

Charles Simspon’s wife Eliza Harriet Simpson (previously Darby) nee Browne died on 25 January 1902 at Chilworth Court, Romsey Road, Chilworth, she was 93 years of age. Like Charles her cause of death was senile decay which at the time seems to be a broad term for old age with some sort of mental decline but her cause was also described as ‘asthenia’ which is generalised physical weakness. The informant who was present at her death was ‘L Ramshaw … Chilworth Court’.

PROBATE – Charles Simpson – NSW & England records

The NSW Probate records contain two documents both signed by the Power of Attorney Charles Palmer relating to stocks and dividends consisting of a combined value of £17489 10s assets on the schedule.

A further document fro the transfer of GWR railway stock on 9 April 1900 to Charles Simspon’s Estate which were valued at £67821 19s 4d.

Copy of Will of Charles Simpson Esq late of Chilworth Court, Chilworth, Southampton England

‘I give to my step daughter Gertrude Darby the whole of my leasehold property in the Parish of Chilworth near Romsey in the County of Southampton and all my furniture plate and plated articles and household goods and all my shattels of every kind both in the said house and premises at Chilworth and in the Stables Coachhouse and other buildings held therewith.

I also give to my said step-daughter all cash in my house at the date of my death and the balance of cash in the London Joint Stock Bank.

I give to Maria Darby cousin to the said Gertrude and now living with me the sum of two thousand pounds.

I give to each of my servants living with me at the time of my death who shall at that time have been in my service five years or more the sum of Fifty pounds.

I give to each of my Executors and Trustees hereinafter appointed the sum of Two thousand pounds each for their trouble in proving my Will and acting in the trustee thereof

and I give devise and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my estate and effects real and personal wheresoever and whatsoever unto my Trustees on trust …

and out of the income dividends and annual produce thereof to pay to my said Step-daughter Gertrude Darby the sum of eight hundred pounds per annum during her life by equal half yearly instalments …

And subject thereto to pay the residue of my said income dividends and annual produce unto and equally between my nephews Francis Charles Simpson of Maypool near Dartmouth and the said Digby Charles Legard during the life of Gertrude Darby.

And from and after the decease of the said Gertrude Darby Upon trust to pay and divide the whole of the capital of my said residuary estate unto and equally between my nephews the said Francis Charles Simpson and Digby Charles Legard as tenants in common.’ DATED: 26 August 1899

CODICIL: ‘ in addition to all other benefits which my step daughter Gertrude Darby enjoys under my said Will I give devise and bequeath to my said step daughter for her absolute use All that my share of and in the chief rents arising out of property in Miller Street, Manchester which rents I am accustomed to be paid by Mr Monatgue H Hall of 14 Dalton Street Manchester. I give to each of my nieces Mary Ann Cholmley of Hace Newton and Mary Goulton Constable of Walcot the sum of one thousand pounds’ DATED: 5 December 1899

The Probate records for Charles Simpson list his Estate value as £68217 which the CPI inflation calculator estimates a value of £9,340,105.43 in 2022 which in Australian dollars is $16,581,925.20. His stepdaughter Gertrude’s Estate in 1901 was £10340 no small amount.

Unfortunately just nine months later Gertrude Darby daughter of Eliza Harriet Simpson (Darby) nee Browne, stepdaughter of Charles Simpson Esq and the mayor beneficiary of his estate passed away at Chilworth Court on 18 September 1900. Her cause of death was kidney disease ‘Renal Calculus’ certified by Dr D L Thomas. the witness, as with her stepfather the witness present at her death was ‘A Sword Chilworth Court’.

Probate – Francis Charles Simpson

Due the death of Charles Simpson’s step daughter Gertrude Darby the beneficiaries of the estate in Charles Simpson’s Will states : ‘from and after the decease of the said Gertrude Darby Upon trust to pay and divide the whole of the capital of my said residuary estate unto and equally between my nephews the said Francis Charles Simpson and Digby Charles Legard as tenants in common.’

Within the NSW Archives there is an additional Probate record for Francis Charles Simpson on his death date of death 7 February 1923, place of residence, England.¹² A copy of his Will is contained in those records. It states if his wife predeceases him which she did in 1912, that the Estate and matters would be administered by his eldest son Rev Francis Russell Benedict Simpson of Dartmouth, England, clerk in Holy Orders and Samuel Herbert Easterbrook, Solicitor.

In regards to the investments in New South Wales a Power of Attorney was appointed ; George Wigram Dundas Allen of Wigram House 19 Castlereagh Street in the State of New South Wales, Solicitior. As with his uncle Charles simpson’s Estate the inventory shows there were £10,986 15s shares and dividends in public companies other than ‘Shares in any Company, Corporation, or Society carrying on the business of mining, or treatment of minerals, or of pastoral or agricultural production, or timber-getting in New South Wales registered or incorporated outside this State‘. The original amount of these shares and dividends inherited by both Francis Charles Simspon and Digby Charles Legard was £17489 10s. There are no NSW Probate records for Digby Charles Legard indicating that he likely sold his portion of his Uncle Charles Simpson’s original estate.

Burial – St Deny’s Churchyard Cemetery in Chilworth

References

1. _{Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), Monday 2 February 1857, page 3 ROADS AND BRIDGES IN THE COUNTY OF NORTHUMBERLAND.-Friday’s Gazette contains returns to an Order of the Hon. the Legislative Assembly of New South , Wales, dated 6th June, 1850}
2. _{NSW Land Titles Records – INDENTURE 18 December, 1854 – Number 637 Book 35 – between Edmund Bull and Charles Simpson}
3. _{Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate (NSW : 1876 – 1954), Wednesday 1 November 1911 – REPRINT – County Electors for police district if Newcastle in 1855}
4. _{The Express, London Saturday Evening 12th May 1855 British Newspapers}
5. _{Empire (Sydney, NSW: 1850 – 1875), Thursday 25 January 1855, page Arrival of Ellenborough, London}
6. 1861 – CENSUS – Westwood Cottage – 9 Willow Grove rd, Beverley St George – MAGISTRATE Charles & Eliza Simpson
7. _{1881 – CENSUS – 51 Dumford St , East Stonehouse DEVON – Charles & Eliza SIMPSON, Gertrude DARBY – COUNTY MAGISTRATE}
8. _{Yorkshire Gazette, Saturday 16 December 1899 DEATH NOTICE}
9. _{DEATH REGISTER – UK General Register Office – GRO Reference: Year: 1899 Qtr: Dec District: South Stoneham Vol: 02C Page: 66}
10. _{DEATH REGISTER – UK General Register Office – GRO Reference: Year: 1902 Qtr: Mar District: South Stoneham Vol: 02C Page: 55}
11. _{Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001) Tuesday 5 February 1901}
12. _{NSW Archives : Francis Charles Simpson – Date of Death 07/02/1923, Place of residence England NRS-13660-10-106-Series 4_124228}