I'm finishing my week long profusion of Priscilla posts with an absolute cracker. There's a complicated family tree, a Will and a portrait!
Anne Priscilla Goddard was born in Swindon, the daughter of Ambrose Goddard and his wife Sarah and was baptised in Holy Rood Church on September 9, 1783.
Ambrose Goddard was a politician representing Wiltshire from 1772-1806. Described as having 'diffident habits and the state of his nerves precluded him from public speaking' by 1796 Ambrose himself felt that he was too old to continue in public office. However, he was persuaded to remain until by 1804 he was seldom able to attend parliament and retired two years later.
Perhaps it was through his political career that Ambrose met Tory MP Sir Thomas Buckler Lethbridge. Lethbridge, who was described as an outspoken and somewhat unpredictable politician, represented Somerset from 1806-1812 and again from 1820-1830.
Anne Priscilla married Thomas Buckler Lethbridge on May 14, 1803 at St George's Church, Hanover Square. Ambrose gave his consent to the marriage as Anne Priscilla had not yet come of age.
The Lethbridge family home was at Sandhill Park near Taunton in the parish of Bishops Lydeard and built in 1720 by John Periam. The family had other properties though, including a home in Alverstoke, Hampshire and a house on the Royal Crescent, Bath.
The Goddard/Lethbridge family ties were to become even closer (and stranger) when in 1818 Ambrose Goddard jnr married Jessy Dorothea Lethbridge, the daughter of Thomas Buckler Lethbridge's first marriage.
So, Anne Priscilla became her brother's step mother in law and step-grandmother to his children. All very confusing - and they each had a son, one named Ambrose Lethbridge Goddard and the other Ambrose Goddard Lethbridge.
Anne Priscilla and Thomas had four daughters (including Anna Maria Priscilla about whom more later) and two sons.
Thomas died aged 72 on October 17, 1849 at the family home and was buried in the churchyard at Bishops Lydeard on October 25.
And at last we get to hear Anne Priscilla's voice in the Will she wrote dated January 3, 1857 just three weeks before she died.
Anne Priscilla's will is mainly about personal items. 'To my son Ambrose Goddard Lethbridge all my plate not hereinbefore specifically bequeathed and also two carved oak tables and any of my books which he may choose or select within six months after my decease.' She gives to her granddaughter Anna Maria Astley 'my small silver embossed tea pot' and to her grandson Charles Lethbridge she gives 'my gold Musical Snuff Box.' Other grandchildren receive a cash endowment and she leaves small sums of money to her servants.
Then at the end she makes a bequest that made me shout whoop whoop and punch the air.
At a time when married women, even those with a social status such as Anne Priscilla's daughters enjoyed, had no autonomy, no control over their lives, even their bodies and especially over their finances*, Anne Priscilla makes a bold statement.
She brings her Will to a conclusion with the following bequest:-
I give and bequeath all my moneys and securities for money goods chattels and personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever not hereinbefore specifically bequeathed (subject to the payment of all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses and the aforesaid legacies) unto and equally between my three daughters Anna Maria Priscilla the wife of General Sir Richard Goddard Hare Clarges K.C.B. Emma Dorothea the wife of Sir Francis Dugdale Astley Baronet and Frances Margaret the wife of The Reverend Chancellor [Charles] Thurlow the same to be for their own respective sole and separate use benefit and disposal free from the controul [sic] and engagements of their respective husbands and I appoint my said three daughters Residuary Legatees and Executrixes of this my Will witness my hand this third day of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven Anna Priscilla Lethbridge.
Anne died on January 25, 1857 at the Abbey House, Glastonbury and was buried on January 30 at St John the Baptist, Glastonbury.
Anne Priscilla Goddard was born in Swindon, the daughter of Ambrose Goddard and his wife Sarah and was baptised in Holy Rood Church on September 9, 1783.
Ambrose Goddard was a politician representing Wiltshire from 1772-1806. Described as having 'diffident habits and the state of his nerves precluded him from public speaking' by 1796 Ambrose himself felt that he was too old to continue in public office. However, he was persuaded to remain until by 1804 he was seldom able to attend parliament and retired two years later.
Perhaps it was through his political career that Ambrose met Tory MP Sir Thomas Buckler Lethbridge. Lethbridge, who was described as an outspoken and somewhat unpredictable politician, represented Somerset from 1806-1812 and again from 1820-1830.
Anne Priscilla married Thomas Buckler Lethbridge on May 14, 1803 at St George's Church, Hanover Square. Ambrose gave his consent to the marriage as Anne Priscilla had not yet come of age.
The Lethbridge family home was at Sandhill Park near Taunton in the parish of Bishops Lydeard and built in 1720 by John Periam. The family had other properties though, including a home in Alverstoke, Hampshire and a house on the Royal Crescent, Bath.
The Goddard/Lethbridge family ties were to become even closer (and stranger) when in 1818 Ambrose Goddard jnr married Jessy Dorothea Lethbridge, the daughter of Thomas Buckler Lethbridge's first marriage.
So, Anne Priscilla became her brother's step mother in law and step-grandmother to his children. All very confusing - and they each had a son, one named Ambrose Lethbridge Goddard and the other Ambrose Goddard Lethbridge.
Anne Priscilla and Thomas had four daughters (including Anna Maria Priscilla about whom more later) and two sons.
Thomas died aged 72 on October 17, 1849 at the family home and was buried in the churchyard at Bishops Lydeard on October 25.
And at last we get to hear Anne Priscilla's voice in the Will she wrote dated January 3, 1857 just three weeks before she died.
Anne Priscilla's will is mainly about personal items. 'To my son Ambrose Goddard Lethbridge all my plate not hereinbefore specifically bequeathed and also two carved oak tables and any of my books which he may choose or select within six months after my decease.' She gives to her granddaughter Anna Maria Astley 'my small silver embossed tea pot' and to her grandson Charles Lethbridge she gives 'my gold Musical Snuff Box.' Other grandchildren receive a cash endowment and she leaves small sums of money to her servants.
Then at the end she makes a bequest that made me shout whoop whoop and punch the air.
At a time when married women, even those with a social status such as Anne Priscilla's daughters enjoyed, had no autonomy, no control over their lives, even their bodies and especially over their finances*, Anne Priscilla makes a bold statement.
She brings her Will to a conclusion with the following bequest:-
I give and bequeath all my moneys and securities for money goods chattels and personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever not hereinbefore specifically bequeathed (subject to the payment of all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses and the aforesaid legacies) unto and equally between my three daughters Anna Maria Priscilla the wife of General Sir Richard Goddard Hare Clarges K.C.B. Emma Dorothea the wife of Sir Francis Dugdale Astley Baronet and Frances Margaret the wife of The Reverend Chancellor [Charles] Thurlow the same to be for their own respective sole and separate use benefit and disposal free from the controul [sic] and engagements of their respective husbands and I appoint my said three daughters Residuary Legatees and Executrixes of this my Will witness my hand this third day of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven Anna Priscilla Lethbridge.
Anne died on January 25, 1857 at the Abbey House, Glastonbury and was buried on January 30 at St John the Baptist, Glastonbury.
Anne Priscilla Goddard
The Married Women's Property Act that allowed married women to own and control property in their own right was not passed until 1882.
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