Reference
C2276-2636
Title
Mellish v. Rankin
Date free text
1695-1783
Production date
From: 1695 To: 1783
Scope and Content
Eliza Rankin. who married Samuel Crawley in 1788, was the niece & eventual heiress of Charles Mellish of Ragnall. The estate appears to have been due to come to her (in default of his direct heirs) under a previous marriage settlement. He did not marry, but he formed an association with Mary Taylor (apparently his sister's cook), and had two daughters by her, one of whom used
the name Mary Mellish. He does not appear to have taken any action to revoke the above settlement, but he does seem to have been ambiguous about his will as regards his niece and his natural daughter. In 1780 he wished to leave his estate to neither, but to a cousin Isabel Pitt, who however refused it.
The contestants therefore were the niece and natural daughter. The attorney, Clarke seems to have been open to suspicion. Much correspondence has been preserved. The estate went to Eliza Rankin, who soon afterwards became Mrs. Crawley
Level of description
series