33.d. Sir Sidney Medows His Will, his heirs The beginning of learning what became of his fortunes

From an old Irish saying and this sure applies to my next series of posts and a great deal of research:


Is maith an scéalaí an aimsir."

"Time is a great storyteller."


"This is one to bear in mind as you dig deeper into your family ancestry! Over time, many stories and myths have come to surround (and enliven) what were once facts of the day."


As Jemima and he had no children he left his estate to his nephew Evelyn Medows.

Evelyn Medows had spent a fortune on bringing the case of bigamy against Elizabeth Chudleigh, on behalf of his mother Frances.

With no children as natural heirs, Sir Sidney, who must have been a rather kindly man, left his fortune to Evelyn Medows, the eldest son of his brother, but with conditions.

He died in London at his home in Charles Street Grosvenor Square, aged 92.



The Will of Sir Sidney Meadows

From the Gentleman's Magazine Volume 72

P 1060.

Sir Sydney Medows will was made November 29 1789.

By it he leaves to his eldest nephew, Evelyn, all his real estates for life, but with thee restrictions.

The executors are to receive all the rents, until his debts are paid; and his allowance from them is to be entirely at their discretion, execpt that it cannot exceed 1000l a year, during the life of his brother Pierrepoint.

Afterwards, as an annuity of 600l a year, now paid to him by Pierrepoint, will fail, the executors may increase the allowance to 1600l a year.  They may also raise the same of 1000l to be applied to the payment of debts, taking security from Mr Evelyn Medows for the re-payment of that sum out of his share of 10000l which upon the death of Lady Frances, will be divided among her children..

After the death of Sir Evelyn the estates are to go to his sons, in their turn for life; or if none of them then to Major General Sir William Medows and his sons in their turn; or if non of them then to Mr Edward Medows and his sons, in their turn.

After then, first the second, third and other sons, in their turn of Charles Pierrepoint Medows; and then the remainder is to the right heirs.

But this is a special condition; that, if the possessor of these estates ever becomes entitled to the Kingston estates, the former are to go immediately to the next heir, for the property of Sir Sydney is never to merge in that of the late duchy of Kingston.

Any of these tenants for life may charge the estates with jointures to the amount of 500l a year for the lives of wives.  All money arising by the sale of timber and other means, and all the personal property of Sir Sydney, except what is given in legacies are to be expended in the purchase of estates, which will follow the dispositions of those here willed

Sir Sydney leave to the excutors, the *Earl of Berkeley, Colonel Boscawen and Elbro Woodcock esq 200 l each; not as he says as a reward for their trouble but as a mark of his esteem.

Annunities of 20l each are left to Mrs Bulstrode and to Miss Caroline Scroggs, for life.  Mrs Barron, his houskeeper has the sum of 400l in addition to 20l a year settled upon her at the request of Sir Sydney's wife.

Some servants have 50l each some have a year's wages.  The use of the mansion in Wiltshire, if it should not have been convenient to Mr Evelyn Medows to come to England, was left to Sir William Medows and then to Edward Medows during his absence.

*Earl Berkley was Frederick Augustus Berkley

 In 1766 Berkeley was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, High Steward of Gloucester, Constable of St Briavels and Warden of the Forest of Dean. He served as a colonel in the army in 1779 and 1794 Elbro Woodcock was a London lawyer.



Sir Sidney is buried in Upper Chute his home land near Andover, in St. Nicholas Church, as is Evelyn Medows.

In nave, basalt floor slab to Sir Sidney Medows, Knight Marshall of England, died 1792. Gothic aedicule, white marble on grey, to Lady Augusta Wellesley of Conholt Park, died 1893.

In organ chamber:

Three wall tablets:
a) Plain white marble on grey, to Sydney Scroggs and wife, died 1845.
b) Oval cushioned tablet on greysquare. Italic inscription to Edward Scroggs, died 1784, and wife.
c) White marble within grey slate frame. To Evelyn Medows, died 1824.

In Kensington there is a beautiful church of St Mary.  Within the church are memorials to members of the Medows family.

Sir Sidney Medows.

"Philip, son of Philip Meadows, Esq. buried March 9, 1698; Sidney, son of S^r Philip Meadows, and the Lady Dorothy his "wife , baptized Sep. 1, 1701.

" Sir Philip was son of another Sir Philip, of whom some account has been already given
 Sidney, who succeeded his father in the office of Knight-marshal, died on the 15^th of November 1792, having completed his 91st year

He retained, even to the last year of his life, a wonderful share of strength and activity, which he displayed in a very remarkable degree in the managing of his horses, an art in which he had always excelled.

Sir Philip Medows, his father, died at Kensington in December 1757, aged 87, and was there buried. "Elizabeth, daughter of S^r Philip Medows, baptized Dec. 22, 1702, buried Dec. 25, 1704;
another Elizabeth , baptized Jan. 14, 1705;
the wife of S^r Philip Medows (Dorothy Boscawen), buried April 4, 1748;
M^rs Katherine Medows, Sep. 14, 1712; M^rs Caroline, Ap. 30, 1736;
the Hon. M^rs Mary Medows ) , Ap. 5, 1743;
Jemima Lady Medows , Nov. 6, 1759." Sir Sidney was buried at Andover, where he died.

Leaving no issue, he bequeathed the bulk of his fortune to his nephew Evelyn Medows, Esq. elder brother of Charles Pierrepont, Esq. and Sir William Medows, K. B.

Kensington

The parish church, dedicated to St. Mary, is situated near the road side. It is a brick structure, consisting of a chancel, nave, and two aisles, separated by wooden pillars, with Corinthian capitals. At the west end is a low embattled tower of brick, with a wooden turret. The body of the old church was pulled down, and rebuilt about the year 1694, the tower being left standing

In a window of the north aisle is the following coat, Sable a crescent Or and a chief Ermine. On the west wall is the monument of George Mackenzie (fn. 83) , Esq. 1766; on the north wall those of Edward Boscawen, Esq. (fn. 84) , 1685; his wife Jael, daughter of Sir Francis Godolphin, and sister of the Lord Treasurer, 1730 (they had issue, Henry Viscount Falmouth, Anne, wife of John Evelyn, Esq. and Dorothy, wife of Sir Philip Medows, Knight-marshal);