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For the descendents of Richard Dearie and his son John Russell


Helen Eliza Mercy Webster known as Nell. She was born on 29 March 1851 at 9, Green Terrace, Clerkenwell.

Helen Webster married George Oxer a mercantile clerk.

She died on 24 January 1918 at 86 Beauval Road, East Dulwich in Surrey.

Nell was singled out to have her education paid for by a clause in her grandmother Martha Benford's will.

" On the seventh day of May 1864 the Will of Martha Benford late of No 34 Whiskin Street Clerkenwell in the County of Middlesex Widow deceased, who died on the twenty sixth day of April 1864 at No. 34 Whiskin Street aforesaid was proved in the Principal Registry of Her Majesty’s Court of Probate, by the Oath of Leonard Brook of No. 18 Percy Circus Pentonville in the County of Middlesex Gentleman one of the Executors named in the said Will he having been first sworn duly to administer, power being reserved of granting probate of the said will to Richard Lacey the other Executor named in the said Will. Effects under £100

This is the last Will and Testament of me Martha Benford of No 34 Whiskin Street Clerkenwell Middlesex Widow First I direct the payment of all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid as soon conveniently may be after my decease I give and bequeath unto Richard Sarey? of Hampton Middlesex Gentleman and Leonard Brook of Percy Circus Pentonville Middlesex Gentleman all my personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever upon trust to convert the same into money in such way? or? Manner as they in their absolute discretion may think proper and after payment of my debts funeral and testamentary expenses to expend a sum not exceeding twenty pounds in the maintenance and education of my grandchild Helen Webster and upon further trust to apply the net surplus of my personal estate for the maintenance education advancement or benefit of my other grandchildren in such way and manner as my said executors in their absolute and uncontrolled discretion may think proper and right and I appoint the said Richard and Leonard Brook Executors of this my will hereby revoking all other wills in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty first day of March one thousand eight hundred and sixty four – M. Benford – Signed by the Testatrix Martha Benford as and for her last will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto set our names as witnesses _ Mary Robinson 99 Arlington Street – Edward Mote Sol (icitor) 14 Warwick Court Grays Inn.

Proved at London 7th May 1864 by the oath of Leonard Brooks one of the executors to whom ? ? was granted Power reserved of making the ……is reserved …….other Executor "

In 2010, the relative value of £100 0s 0d from 1864 ranges from £7,670.00 to £154,000.00.

 

Nell Oxer's Will

BE IT KNOWN that Helen Eliza Mercy Oxer of 86 Beauval Road East Dulwich in the County of Surrey Widow died on the 24th day of January 1918 at 86 Beauval Road aforesaid. AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament of the said deceased was proved and registered in the Principal Probate Registry of His Majesty’s High Court of Justice, and that administration of all the estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to George Ernest Oxer of 56 Woodwarde Road East Dulwich aforesaid Commercial Traveller son of Deceased and Walter Charles Fox of 86 Beauval Road aforesaid Accountant the Executors named in the said Will. Dated the 1st day of March 1918 Gross Value of estate … £207 18. 0.

THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me HELEN ELIZA MERCY OXER 86 Beauval Rd E Dulwich in the County of Lambeth I hereby revoke all wills and testamentary instruments heretofore by me made I appoint George Ernest Oxer of 56 Woodwarde Road E Dulwich S E and Walter Charles Fox of 86 Beauval Rd E Dulwich S E to be the EXECUTORS of this my Will I direct my Executors to pay my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses I give and bequeath to my son George Ernest Oxer the sum of £10 To my daughter Kate Gertrude Oxer Fox all my furniture bedding pictures and any other household effects To Flora Gordon Oxer my long gold chain my gold broach and my desk Brownings and Byrons books of poems To Kenneth Gordon Oxer £5 and the watch and chain of his grandfather George Oxer To Leslie Frank Phillip Fox £5 and my watches To my eldest grand daughter my rings or to my daughter Kate Gertrude Fox To my sister Eliza Charlotte Glover my dresses coats and furs To my niece Violet Helen Glover my Tiger broach To my niece Nellie Aucock my pendant and broach to match To Kate Burgess my locket To my son in law Walter Charles Fox £2 and I give devise and bequeath all the rest of my belongings and moneys to be divided equally between my son George Ernest Oxer and my daughter Kate Gertrude Fox To my daughter Kate Gertrude Fox any broaches rings not otherwise disposed of WITNESS my hand this 16 day of February 1914 – HELEN ELIZA MERCY OXER – Signed by the above named Testator as her last Will in the presence of us both being present at the same time who in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses – ELIZA JANE WILDBUR 10 Hanover Park Peckham Teacher – BEATRICE JANE HARRIS 10 Hanover Park Peckham Music Teacher Affidavit of due execution filed On the 1st day of March 1918

Probate of the Will was granted to George Ernest Oxer and Walter Charles Fox the executors.

In 2010, the relative value of £207 18s 0d from 1918 ranges from £7,900.00 to £59,400.00.

Nell's husband George died in 1908.

George Oxer's Will:

" BE IT KNOWN that George Oxer of 135 Chadwick Road Peckham in the County of Surrey died on the 13th day of February 1908 at 135 Chadwick Road aforesaid. AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament of the said deceased was proved and registered in the Principal Probate Registry of His Majesty’s High Court of Justice, and that administration of all the estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to Helen Eliza Mercy Oxer of 135 Chadwick Road aforesaid widow the relict the sole executrix named in the said Will. Dated the 24th day of February 1908 Gross Value of estate … £1709. 4. 0

THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me George Oxer GEORGE of No 135 Chadwick Road Peckham in the county of Surrey Commercial OXER Traveller I give and devise all my estate and effects real and personal of which I may die possessed or be entitled to unto my wife Helen Eliza Mercy Oxer absolutely and I appoint my said wife EXECUTRIX of this my will and I hereby revoke all former wills and codicils Dated this twenty sixth day of August one thousand eight hundred and ninety six GEORGE OXER - Signed by the testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses WILLIAM FORREST 185 Camden Grove North Peckham S E Clerk – WILLIAM OLDERSHAW 154 Coldharbour Lane Camberwell S E Commercial Traveller

On the 24th day of February 1908 Probate of this will was granted to Helen Eliza Mercy Oxer the sole executrix."

In 2010, the relative value of £1,709 4s 0d from 1908 ranges from £139,000.00 to £1,240,000.00.

George and Nell Oxer's very overgrown grave in Camberwell Old Cemetery. Grave reference 3720930. The top carried a cross which has fallen down.
" George Oxer, Died February 13th 1908 aged 57 years. Peace Perfect Peace. Also of Helen Eliza Mercy Oxer, Wife of the above. Died January 24th 1918, aged 66 years. Beloved by All."

Rediscovered and photographed on 7 January 2019 by Claire Grey

Nell's sister Annie's grave is in Ladywell & Brockley cemetery. "Family Grave of Arthur Mark Stutter. Death Do Us Part. Death Do Us Join. In Loving Memory of Annie Martha wife of the above, Died July 29th 1903, aged 48 years. Also of the above Arthur Mark Stutter who died 1st Sept. 1910 aged 55. No more to part. And of his son Arthur James Stutter who died 16th May 1946 aged 70 years and his wife Laura who died 31st January 1949 aged 68 years."
Left: Clara Webster died aged 8 in a fire. Report from Lloyds Weekly London News, 4 Dec, 1864.
Grace Webster married Arthur Stutter's brother George Sly Stutter. She died in Kensington in 1907. Eliza Charlotte Webster married Charles Edward Glover. He died in Pimlico in 1897. She may have emigrated to Canada as their children can be found there and it's possible that her brother Arthur Martin Webster emigrated there too as no records have been found of him in the UK. There is a Glover tree on ancestry submitted by Royalsal from Winnipeg, Manitoba, whose DNA matches the descendants of Frances Webster.
The Webster sisters had a first cousin (right) who was an artist and married the painter George Clausen who painted a portrait of her. Her family came from Kings Lynn in Norfolk where her father George was a reporter & newspaper sub editor.
More on Frances Webster and her family here.