The will of William Henry Burke – 1871

The Illustrated London News Jan 14 1871

The will of William Henry Burke Esq, of Thistle grove, South Kensington, was proved in London on the 3rd ult under £18,000 personalty by Miss Harriett Matilda Burke, his daughter, George William Wood, and Basil William O’Bryen, the joint acting executors.

To Mr Wood, he leaves £100, and to Mr O Bryen, £50. The will is dated May 6 1870, and a codicil June 16 following ,and the testator died July 17 last, at Queenstown, Cork in Ireland.  He bequeaths to his son William Henry Burke, his six Spanish Bonds nominal value stated at £3060, and his Italian Coupons £3010, these bequests are beyond any other provision made for him. The testator confirms the provision and settlement for his two daughters, and daughter in law, the wife of his son William H Burke. He leaves to his daughter Harriett, the sum of £500, which she is to give to such charitable objects as she might think proper, and appoints her residuary legatee of both his real and personal estate.

6 thoughts on “The will of William Henry Burke – 1871

  1. WH Burke’s other daughter, Elizabeth Sarah was my gg g,mother, married to Alfred Edwardes, another worker in marble. Their son Henry Grant Edwardes married Lucy Pursell in 1892. Thank you for your work. I have so enjoyed finding more about Harriet Matilda

    1. Hi Jenny
      Thanks for the comment. I hadn’t got that Purssell connection. They really did keep things very tight in family connections didn’t they. If I’ve got it right that means Basil OB’s nephew married his (basil’s) sister-in-law’s sister. I’d also be fascinated to know anything you have on William H Burke. I’m guessing there is an Irish connection, but I haven’t got it yet.

    2. Henry was my Great Grandfather, his eldest son Eric my grandfather whom I just remember. Eric married Marguerite, known as Chloë Butcher, and had three girls. My aunt has traced the Pursells to Buckinghamshire if I remember correctly

      1. Hallo Cousin. My grandmother was Henry Grant’s younger (by 11 years) sister, Constance Mary. She married Milward Cecil Hayward in California, from the home of another brother, William Robert. I know what happened to two of her brothers and her sister but wondered if you know anything about her brother, Frank. Constance was left a widow in 1916 and all 10 of her surviving grandchildren were at a commemoration of Milward Cecil’s death this year. I think my Dad, Pat or Pip Hayward, talked about your grandfather. Eric, though I’m afraid I don’t remember meeting him. Jenny

  2. Hi Bruce
    Thanks for the reply. If I’ve got it right your Great Great Grandfather, is Alfred Purssell and there is a fair body of posts about him, his children, and brothers and sisters on the blog. Just type in Purssell into the search button.
    Gertrude O’Bryen (nee Purssell) is your Great Grandmother’s sister, ( and a great grandmother on my wife’s side) and there are photos of that generation on the blog.
    Will

  3. Hi there. William Henry Burke is my 3x great grandfather. My 2x great grandfather is his son William Henry Burke (1835 – 1908) married to Mary Anne Keith (1834 – 1911). William Henry and Mary Anne’s eldest son, William Donald Henry Burke (1862 – 1936) is my great grandfather. William Donald Henry Burke came to Manitou, Manitoba, Canada in 1884 and in 1890 he married Emma Florence Edwards (1870 – 1957). William Donald Henry and Emma Florence had twin daughters in 1891, one of them being my grandmother Mary Ann who married William Frederick Garnett. William Donald Henry and Emma Florence are buried in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and Mary Ann and William Frederick are buried in Carman, Manitoba, Canada.

    Marilyn

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