Title
42-44 George Street. Release
(i) Alexander Litchfield, Saint Albans, Herts, draper
(ii) John Waller, Luton, merchant
(iii) Samuel Spencer, Luton, grocer
(iv) Stephen Williams, Bedford Row, Middx, gent.
reciting will of William Hay, late of Luton, gentleman, deceased, dated 30 September 1799, by which he devised all real and personal estates to wife Rebecca Hay, for life, and after her decease to granddaughters, Harriot Gutteridge, wife of James Gutteridge, and Ann Hay, as tenants in common, subject to payment of annuity of £20 to Sarah Brown, now since deceased. Said wife and granddaughters appointed executrixes. He died on 19 November 1802. Will proved (PCC) by Harriet Gutteridge and Ann Hay on 23 March 1803.
Rebecca Hay died in October 1808
Harriet Gutteridge died in June 1819 leaving her husband, James Gutteridge, and Ann Hay, surviving her
reciting will of James Gutteridge dated 17 September 1825 by which he devised to (ii) and Susanna Thompson, on trust for sale, all his moiety of certain property (as later mentioned). Codicil made 12 June 1830 which did not affect devise of said real estate. He died 11 July 1831.
Ann Hay died on 21 April 1831 intestate leaving Alexander Hay Litchfield, her second cousin and heir at law of herself, and Harriet Gutteridge.
In 1834 Alexander Hay Litchfield agreed to sell his moiety in said premises (subject to charge to Lord of the Manor), to (iii) for £500 and a deposit of £25 was paid by (iii)
Alexander Hay Litchfield died on 25 February 1837 intestate leaving (i) his only son and heir at law, and without having completed the contract.
By Order of High Court of Chancery made on 19 December 1836 in a cause in which Martha Thompson was plaintiff and John Waller and Susanna Thompson and others were defendants, it was ordered to be referred to one of Masters of said Court to consider whether it would be for benefit of estate of James Gutteridge that any unsold freehold estates should be offered for sale and on what conditions. Was ordered that same should be sold with approbation of said Master, to best purchaser. Money to be paid into Bank with privity of Accountant General.
Susanna Thompson died on 4 May 1838 leaving (ii) her co-trustee her surviving said moiety was offered for sale and (iii) agreed to purchase it for £420
Sir George Rose, Master to whom cause was referred, by Report of 6 August 1841, certified that he found testator died possessed of moiety of 13 cottages at Luton but marketable title could not be made. Certified that he was of opinion that it would be for the benefit of all that said moiety should be sold to (iii).
By Order of said Court made on 10 August 1841, said Report was confirmed.
On 14 August 1841 (iii) paid £420 into the Bank of England to the credit of the said cause
(i) has agreed for absolute sale to (iii) of all his right in entirety of said cottages for £450 inclusive of said £25 paid by (iii) to Alexander Hay Litchfield.
Now in consideration of £25 paid by (iii) to Alexander Hay Litchfield and of further £425 to (i) paid by (iii) and in consideration of £420 paid by (iii) into Bank of England (i) and (ii) release to (iii)
- house in George Street, Luton, late in occupation of Mr Wingrove, cooper, and house adjoining late in occupation of Mr Sturmer, tailor
- cottage adjoining in occupation of James Shire
- 6 other cottages adjoining in occupation of different tenants
- 4 cottages nearly adjoining where wool warehouse formerly stood which are better distinguished as follows:
- piece of land on NE side of George Street otherwise High Street, Luton (24 1/2p)
- 2 messuages on SW part thereof fronting towards said street formerly in occupation of Mr Wingrove, cooper, and Mr Sturmer, tailor, and now of Samuel Wright, fruiterer, and George Stevens, shoemaker
- 7 tenements on SE part adjoining said 2 messuages at rear, and fronting towards land in occupation of James Shire, James Lamb, John Fanshaw, William Cain, William Lamb, William Breden and widow Gutteridge
- 4 tenements erected on NE part and fronting towards said piece of land on site where wool warehouse formerly stood, in occupation of William Wade, William Sharpe, Thomas Sharpe and George Calvin to hold to (iii), or (iv) as trustee of (iii)
sig of (i), (ii) and (iii)
endorsed receipt
wits M Eskaile Winter, solicitor, Bedford Row