Thomas Dell snr & Ann Dell

BROTHER

Thomas Dell, born in 1736, was the brother of Joshua Dell born in 1751.   They were both born in the parish of Princes Risborough.    They were Baptists, so records are more difficult to trace.   There is a big age discrepancy, so there may have been other siblings.   Both of their marriages were registered at Princes Risborough Church.   Their parents are as yet unknown.   Both of these brothers were to have a big impact on Lacey Green.

THOMAS AND ANN DELL    by Dennis Claydon and Joan West

Thomas Dell, snr. 1736 – 1811, married in 1764 with Ann Jacobs, 1743 – 1827.   They were both born in the parish of Princes Risborough, Ann in the town itself.

CHILDREN

They had two children.  Mary and Thomas

1.      Mary Dell, born 1767, married in 1787, James Harman of Saunderton.   They only had one child, Mary, who died at one month old.  Because of this other members of the Dell family were to benefit in their wills.

2.      Thomas Dell jnr. born 1765 married in 1798, Mary Carter born 1772

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1772.   BEQUEATHED to JOHN ANDERSON of Speen, Blacksmith on the death of Edward Anderson.

2 cottages at Lacey Green, occupied by Josiah Ward, afterwards by Hannah West and subsequently by Peter Goodchild.

LEASE TO THOMAS DELL

January 19^th 1775.   Lease to Thomas Dell snr. of Lacey Green, shopkeeper, from John Anderson of Downley, blacksmith, for 5 shillings.

SCHEDULE

Two cottages, also arable and meadow land of 2 acres, known as ‘Anderson’s Meadow’, at Up Green (or Roundabouts).   The tenants being John Lacey and John Bowler.

PURCHASE BY THOMAS DELL

January 20^th. 1775.    Thomas Dell snr. Purchased four acres of land and two cottages at ‘Up Green’ or ‘Roundabouts’ in Lacey Green, from John Anderson of Downley.

1.      Thomas set up shop as a baker, grocer and chandler.

2.      He built two additional cottages attached to the first.

Ed.  The cottages later became known as Vine Cottage, the area Roundlands, the Village Hall site and Idle Corner.

LACEY GREEN FARM

In 1796  He purchased Lacey Green Farm comprising four cottages, two barns, stable, cart house, and five fields, in all twenty-eight acres known as Pettifers and Newells.

Ed. This farm was beyond the modern sports field with Slad Lane on the north and east of it.   The buildings have all disappeared.

STOCKEN FARM

Thomas and Ann rented Stocken Farm from the Lord of the Manor from 1797.   They moved from Vine Cottage to live there.    His grandson John Carter Dell moved to the shop.

SPEEN FARM

Thomas Also purchased Speen Farm   (The date of purchase is not yet known)

1811.  DEATH of THOMAS DELL Snr.

Thomas Dell snr. died in 1811 leaving his wife Ann the land and cottages at Up Green plus Lacey Green Farm, Speen Farm, and the tenancy of Stocken Farm.   Ann lived until 1827, another 16 years.

NEW LANDLORD

In 1813 Lord George Henry Cavendish purchased Stocken Farm from the Lord of the Manor, so becoming Ann Dell’s new landlord.

1823 THE ENCLOSURES OF THE MANOR OF PRINCES RISBOROUGH.

The new landlord, Cavendish, was working to get the Enclosures of Princes Risborough passed by parliament.   It was a requirement that all the farmers supported the campaign.   At first Ann at Stocken Farm and her son Thomas at Speen Farm, refused, but later changed their mind.   Did they have an inducement?   We will never know!

PREMISES PASSED ON

Ann passed Speen Farm, Lacey Green Farm and all the properties at Up Green to their son Thomas before she died.

STOCKEN FARM

She still rented Stocken Farm.   She willed the tenancy of the farm to her grandson James Dell provided he did not inherit from his father’s estates.   To make sure to avoid death tax, she sold all the live and dead stock to James.

ANN DELL’S WILL

Ann died in 1827.   She had updated her will not long before she died.   It was essentially unchanged, except for the fact that she had sold her farming stock to grandson James before making the last will and testament.   Therefore she now had little to leave.

1.      To daughter Mary Harman, wife of James Harman of Saunderton, two freehold properties in Princes Risborough, tenanted by John Gilmer and Soloman Hughes, yearly tenants, for her natural life and after her decease to the children of my son Thomas and Mary his wife, share and share alike.   (These had probably been inherited from her parents, William and Hannah Jacobs)

2.      To daughter Mary Harmon, £500, now on mortgage on an estate of  W. Wheeler of High Wycombe, brewer, and interest thereon, for her natural life and after her decease the sum of £500 to the children of my son Thomas and his wife Mary, share and share alike.

3.      To daughter Mary Harmon, one half of whatever sum may remain after my debts and funeral expenses have been paid from my stock, goods and chattels.   The other half to my grandson, James Dell, provided he does not inherit his father’s estates.   After Mary’s decease any remaining of her half to go to James.

ACCOUNT OF THE PERSONAL ESTATE OF ANN DELL

Ann Dell Died 19^th February, 1827.  Executors, James Dell and John Carter Dell

1.      Cash in house……………………………………     £9

2.      Sale of household goods  and furniture   £8 – 5 – 6

3.      Interest on mortgage outstanding …….    £506

4.      BALANCE OF CASH……………………………………………………£523 – 5s – 6d

PAYMENTS out of MONEY RECEIVED

1.      Probate administration costs…………………£25

2.      Funeral costs………………………………………….£30

3.      Debts……………………………………………………..£1

4.      TOTAL EXPENCES……………………………………………………….£56 – 0 - 0                

BALANCE OF CASH …………………………………………………………………………………………………£467 – 5 – 6d

Value of annuities given by the will, remaining

A charge on the residue...…………………………………..£109 - 13 – 3d

BALANCE PAID TO LEGATEES OR NEXT OF KIN………………………………………………………..£357 – 12 – 3d