Methodist Chapel no 1

FACTS KNOWN TO DATE (2021) researched by Joan West

A certain amount is known about this first Methodist Chapel, but its precise site is still not known.

It was registered as a Methodist Chapel in Lacey Green by John Carter Dell in 1837.

John Carter Dell died in 1840. In his will he left the chapel to his wife.

WILL

John made his will on 11^th September 1840.  He died 27^th September, 16 days later, aged 44 at the new house he had built (later called ‘Gracefield’).   He made John Gibbons trustee and guardian of his children with his wife Elizabeth and Samuel Gibbons as executors.   Probate proved under £100.

“I give my soul into the hands of Almighty God.”

“I give to Bett, my wife, all my household goods and any money remaining from my aunt Mary Harmon’s will, given her my grandmother.”

“I give Bett all the freehold cottages, stable, yard, pond, garden & appurtenances, now in my own occupation in Lacey Green.”   (Later called ‘Gracefield’)

“I give to Bett my freehold Meeting House, erected by me for a place of divine worship of the Primitive Methodists, situate and being at Lacey Green in the parish of Princes Risborough, with 9 feet of freehold land adjoining each side of the Meeting House, for her own use, to sell or let or to keep in her own possession.”

“I also give to my wife the rents, issues and profits from the whole of the residue of my real and personal estates, save for the legacies hereinafter named for her life, or until her second marriage.”

LEGACIES

1.      I devise unto my daughters Mary & Ann my field adjoining the meeting house containing 1 acre of freehold land with the cottage or building thereon standing as tenants in common and not as joint tenants.

2.      I bequeath to my son Thomas the sum of £2 -2s- 0d (2 guineas) from the rents and profits when he attains the age of 21 years.   And if any remains of the £50 given by my late grandmother after the decease of my wife.

3.      I bequeath unto my daughter Sarah the sum of £1 -1s-0d (1 guinea) from the rents and profits when she attains the age of 21 years.

4.      I bequeath unto my daughter Rebecca the sum of £1 -1s -0d (1 guinea) from the rents and profits when she attains the age of 21 years.

5.      I devise unto my son William the cottage, garden and orchard containing 2 roods and 28 poles at Lacey Green, the cottage now leased to Henry Janes and the orchard leased to Joseph Floyd adjoining the premises (later known as Green Hedges) of Joseph Floyd on the east and John Redrup on the west.

6.      I devise unto my youngest daughter Rosehannah the cottage and garden now in the occupation of Abel Woodbridge at Princes Risborough.

LASTLY

John declared how things should be arranged should any legatee die, both with or without issue

DEATH

John Carter Dell died on 27^th September 1840, 16 days after making his will.   He was aged 44, living in the house he had built (it was later enlarged and known as ‘Gracefield’)

JOHN’S WIDOW

By 1851, 11 years after John’s death, John’s widow Bett is recorded in the census as living in Wendover as housekeeper to sons Thomas and Charles.   She died in February 1851 and is buried in Lacey Green.   No will has been found.

Amenity Name	Methodist Chapel
Current Status (Active/Inactive)	Inactive
Founded Date	1837
Closure Date	?