Since my previous post, new information has come to light that complicates the life story of Charlotte Rayner. I recently paid a visit to the Hampshire Record Office in Winchester to take a look at the last wills and testaments of our various bookworkers. It was a revealing read. Not only were books, machinery, personal items, and real estate listed, but nominated executors and trustees were often fellow members of the trade.
Upon death and once the will was proved, the document also provided gross and net values of the estate. A standout figure is George Phillips, printer, bookseller and stationer, who left £10,000. Our friend James Tucker was not far behind with an estate under £5,000. The versatile engraver and printer Henry Rose left a gross value of estate £8,920.15.0 and net value of personal estate £1,781.7.3 1/2. George Cawte, stationer, tobacconist and son of our bookbinder George, left £1,497.3.8 and £820.3.2 respectively. At the other end of the scale, printer and bookbinder William Budden left £194.0.0; Benjamin Home, printer of Above Bar, was assessed at under £20. In contemporary figures, Phillips' heirs would be £625,000 better off; Home's relations would have £1,250.00. Charlotte's husband, Charles Woodhouse Rayner, left an estate valued under £2,000 but there is an interesting catch. Here's a partial transcription of his will: This is the last Will and Testament of me Charles Woodhouse Rayner of the Town and County of the Town of Southampton Bookseller and Newspaper Agent made whilst in good health and of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding. I direct that all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses and the costs and charges of proving and executing this my Will shall be fully paid and satisfied by my Executrix hereinafter named as soon as conveniently may be after my decease And subject thereto I give devise and bequeath All and singular my real and personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever which I shall be possessed of interested in or entitled to at the time of my decease unto my dear Wife or reputed Wife Charlotte Rayner …. 'Reputed' wife??? Read on. And whereas doubts have arisen whether Samuel Charles Horsfield a former husband of my said wife was or was not living at the time of my marriage with her Therefore if it should be the fact that the said Samuel Charles Horsfield was living at that time and that my marriage with my said wife was on that account invalid Then I give devise and bequeath All and singular my real and personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever which I shall be possessed of interested in or entitled to at the time of my decease unto her my said wife or reputed wife by her then name of Charlotte Horsfield to her own use and benefit absolutely. Charlotte a bigamist??? Whatever the backstory, the forward-looking Charles was insistent that her portion remain totally under her control: any previous or future husband would be unable, by law, to access any of her funds for his own "debts control or engagement." And too right: Charlotte inherited the equivalent of £125,000 in today's money. No wonder she proclaimed herself 'sole proprietress' of the Southampton Observer business on Bridge Street. And with such a complicated marital history, it is no wonder she didn't marry her foreman, George Buxey, as was usual in the trade. Granted, he was already married... References Registered copy will of Charles Woodhouse Rayner, 1871. Hampshire Record Office 5M62/11 page 742. M254. Currency Converter 1270-2017, National Archives. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency-converter/#
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AuthorSydney Shep, Reader in Book History & The Printer, Wai-te-ata Press, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ ArchivesCategories |