Edward Breeze of Kensington

This is more interesting, Anc have the bap of Mary Tunley Meredith 12/7/1846 at Tooting Graveney
d/o of William Thomas Meredith and Sarah - William is a policeman and I know when I was looking for William the grocer I found William the policeman with a daughter Jane. I will try and find it again.

Not that this helps with the relationship to Mary Ann Breeze
 
Here it is 1851 census Tooting Graveney HO107/1579/249/1
William b1810 Knighton - police seargent
Sarah b1811 Essex Brightlingsea (?)
Jane b1840 Watham Green
Mary b 1846 Tooting
 
William Thomas Meredith bap 19-11-1809 in Knighton married Sarah Scarlett in 1836 at St George, Camberwell, Surrey

Sarah Meredith is in the 1841 census as 30, living at Salvadore, Tooting Graveney, Wandsworth, London & Surrey with daughter Jane 1. Her husband William is elsewhere and they are staying in the household of James Fraser

William Meredith is in the 1851 census as 41, Police Sargeant, born Knighton, Radnorshire living at Salvadore, Tooting Graveney, Wandsworth, London & Surrey with wife Sarah, 40, born Essex and children Jane 11, born Waltham Green, Middlesex and Mary 4, born Tooting, Surrey

William Thomas Meredith is in the 1861 census as 51, no occupation, born Knighton, Radnorshire living at Cwm, Knighton with wife Sarah, 49, born Brightlingsea, Essex and daughter Mary 14, born Surrey

William Thomas Meredith probably died Dec 1867 age 57 in Knighton district

William Thomas Meredith and Sarah had two daughters:

Jane Tunley Meredith born Waltham Green, Kensington district, London March 1840 and she goes on to marry Charles Knill 28-04-1863 in Knighton and they have 3 children: Thomas William Knill bap 2-12-1866 in Knighton, Charles Henry Knill born about Dec 1868 and Edith Mary Knill bap 14-02-1875 in Knighton.

Her sister Jane Tunley Meredith bap 12-07-1846 goes on to marry Hiriam Hill on 1-07-1865 and they have 1 son Albert Hill born 1863-1864 in Knighton.

This is all very well but....

In the Hereford Times dated 2-05-1863 is the marriage proclamation, in which it is claimed that the bride Jane Meredith is the daughter of Mr Meredith of Kensington, London and that the bride is the niece of Mary Ann Breeze of Coburg Cottage

Does anyone have any ideas on how Mary Ann Breeze nee Davies is Jane Tunley Meredith's aunt???? I have not been able to find any link so far, other than Jane Tunley Meredith was a Lady's Maid to the widow Mary Ann Breeze in the 1861 census at Coburg cottage.
 
Oh yes, forgot to mention another link which is that Jane Tunley's uncle, Evan Meredith, a Linen Draper was an employee of Edward Breeze and Mary Ann Breeze nee Davies from at least 1829-1841. Evan Meredith was a witness to Edward Breeze's will, signed in 1829 and he is living with them at Coburg House, Kensington in the 1841 census. There seems no suggestion in those 2 records that Evan Meredith is a relative of Edward and Mary Ann Breeze though.
 
I've just obtained the will of Mary Ann Breeze which I think answers my question.

In her will, the widow Mary Ann Breeze gives her property to her cousin Edward Lutwyche Davies, but if he dies first then the property goes to Edward's son Edward Breeze Davies and his heirs.

She also bequeathes an annuity of 50 pounds to her sister Bridget Budgen for her life, paid quarterly

She bequeathes 1000 pounds to Edward Breeze Davies (though payable only after the death of Bridget Budgen).

She bequeathes 1000 pounds to her god-daughter Constance Mary Green.

She bequeathes 250 pounds to her cousin Mrs Jane Woodhatch (not Woodhouse), in a codocil the name is corrected and the amount increased to 500 pounds.

She bequeathes 300 pounds to her cousin Jane Morgan of 46 Tachbrook St, Pimlico.

She bequeathes 200 pounds to Margaret Thomas, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Thomas of Knighton, but then in a codocil she revokes this and gives it to her executors to hold in trust to pay an annuity to Jane Tunley Knill for her sole benefit (independant of her husband), and on Jane's death the principal is to be given equally to Jane's children if they have reached 21 years of age. If Jane has no children the principal is to be given instead to Mary Tunley Meredith of Knighton, who is the sister of Jane Tunley Knill, and Mary Tunley Meredith's heirs.

She bequeathes 1000 pounds to Mr Arthur Chesterton of Kensington

She appoints as her executors her cousin Edward Lutwyche Davies and Mr Arthur Chesterton of Kensington.

The will is dated 22-10-1863 and is witnessed by John Thomas, a Grocer at Knighton and Mary Thomas, a Servant to Mrs Breeze. The will was ammended on 29-11-1864 and signed by Mary Thomas, a Servant to Mrs Breeze, and William Banks, a manufacturer. in Knighton.

The will was proved at Hereford on 14-07-1866 by the oaths of the 2 executors, who state that Mary Ann Breeze died on 24-06-1866 at Knighton

Nowhere in the will are Jane Tunley Meredith or Mary Tunley Meredith stated to be nieces.

So it seems the most likely answer is that the two Meredith girls are not blood related to Mary Ann Breeze and that the newspaper article referred in error to Jane Tunley Meredith being a niece of Mary Ann Breeze. Mary Ann Breeze clearly cares about their welfare however, and this is most likely due to the care Jane Tunley Meredith gave to the widow Mary Ann Breeze when she was serving as her Lady's Maid.

So that's one head scratching problem solved, unless someone can come up with proof that Jane Tunley Meredith actually is a niece!
 
Chimp said:
Thank you very much Lizzie. I have nothing on him really before he became High Sheriff in 1841 so who his family are I have no idea.

I have found Mary Ann, his wife, on the 1861 census living in Knighton with 2 servants.

I think the 1841 census MollyMay found in #2 is them. I can't find Mary ann in the 1851 census.

And who on earth was George James who was buried with them?
Click to expand...

I think George James was the half brother of Mary Ann Breeze nee Davies, explaining why they are buried together.
 
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