Thread: Public Trustee

I have recently found the probate records for a relative's second husband. He had died just 6 months after they were married. There are two probate records for him, one six months after his death (which seems unusually long) and then another almost a year after his death (which seems unusual). Both award grants of over 11 thousand pounds to the Public Trustee.

Who is the Public Trustee? Does anyone know why his estate would go to the Public Trustee when he was married? and why might it have been awarded as two separate grants? The only reason that I can dream up is that his wife was somehow implicated in his death ... but there's probably a more mundane reason.

Any insights gratefully received.

The Public Trustee may act as executor when requested to do so, but, may also act as administrator of an estate of a deceased person (with or without a will), or as trustee of a trust whether as original or substitute trustee, usually only as a last resort, and in the interests of vulnerable individuals or persons under disability, or where there are differences between executors, trustees, or beneficiaries.

©Crown copyright 2007. All rights reserved

Hello Karin

Can you post the deceased's name and date of death with that of his wife to see if we can find out anything further.


elsabels

Originally Posted by Elsabels

Hello Karin

Can you post the deceased's name and date of death with that of his wife to see if we can find out anything further.


elsabels

Hi Elsabels

His name was Beckwith Holman Wilson and he died on 27th December 1914 in Surbiton, Surrey. His wife was called Gladys May Browne (nee White).

Karin

Karin

Not subject to copyright as in a National newspaper therefore in the public domain,

london-gazette.co.uk/issues/all=beckwith+Holman+Wilson/start=1

London Gazette

Date: 10 December 1915 Issue number:29398 Page number: 12371

Re BECKWITH HOLMAN WILSON, Deceased.
Pursuant to the Statute 22nd and 23rd Vic., c. 35.

NOTICE is hereby given, that all creditors and

other persons having any claims or demands
against the estate of Beckwith Holman Wilson, late
of Hampden, St. Matthew's-avenue, Surbiton, in the
county of Surrey. Commercial Traveller (who died 011
the 27th day of December, 1914, and whose will was
proved in the Principal Registry of the Probate Division
of His Majesty's High Court of Justice, on the
1st day of December, 1915, -by the Public Trustee, one
of the executors named in the will), are hereby required
to send particulars, in writing, of their claims
or demands to ine, the undersigned, as Solicitor to
the said executor, on or before the iOth day of
January, 1916, after which date the said executor
will proceed to distribute the assets of the said deceased
amongst the parties entitled thereto, having
regard only to the claims and demands of which he
shall then have had notice; and he will not be liable
for the assets of the said deceased, or any part thereof,
so distributed, to any person or persons of whose
claims or demands he shall not then have had notice.
—Dated this 9th day of December, 1915.
J. ,H. PITOHFORTH, 9, Bush-lane, London,

°95 E.G., 'Solicitor for the Executor.

The will can be obtained from : .hmcourts-service.gov.uk and ususally cost £5 sterling

It is unusual for the Public trustee to be an executor, it is likely that Beckwith became incapable of mananging his finances through an illness/accident and as such steps were taken to appoint the Public trustee to act in his best interests,

I am sure the will will reveal a bit more!

I cannot readily trace a will details of a will for his wife Gladys M WILSON, do you have any details about her?

elsabels

Thanks Elsabels - this reveals a little more. Poor Gladys, loosing her husband so quickly. She was widowed in her first marriage after less than four years.

I don't think Gladys died until 1965, but she did have a son than out-lived her. I don't know whether she had a third marriage, but certainly by 1936 she still had the surname Wilson as she is named as a beneficiary in another probate record.

Karin