Conyngham Papers Transcription of a letter sent from Bifrons - dated 5 September 185 John Henry Benbow Esq Solicitor Lincoln’s Inn London. Letter folded, addressed, stamped and sealed Dear Sir, The Marchioness has verbally agreed to purchase from the Wesleyan Trustees in the Canterbury District, a house, garden and methodist chapel at Bridge for £270, provided you approve the title. The Vendors decline incurring the expense of furnishing abstracts having already sacrificed upwards of £100 in the original costs, £50 for the land and £320 in buildings - but do not hesitate to place the Deeds in your hands having my acknowledgement for them - which Deeds will be forwarded to you per the night mail. Mr Bundock, the acting Trustee at Canterbury, observed ‘we are satisfied the title is a good one - notwithstanding the Younger Simmonds have not affixed their signature - adding ‘Duplock’ lent Stephen Simmonds £100 (per county bank) or rendered himself answerable for that amount afterwards and sold the plot of land for £50 only. consequently the sons had no interest in the property - this was in 1824 - just 30 years since - See Indeminity Bond - The father of S Simmons died intestate consequently the sons were equally entitled, and had there been a surplus - under our law of gavelkind John the Elder son did sign as you will observe and the estate passed by feoffment, I think two of his brothers died. I know and I believe he has a Brother living nr Romney — or this one by the bye may be John - it strikes me that it might be unadvisable to say anything to either on the subject - it is so far back - I recollect the ‘.7 of land when it was a garden abutting to the Dover Road. I remember ? Stephen Simmonds and I.Garner, the 2 latter were tenants on their estate and I know several of the Wesleyen Trustees. It occurs to me that you will require a fresh list of the existing trustees. I am told by Bundock that no sale is valid unless the consent of the president be had — this was obtained 2 years since when the idea of selling the estate was first thought about - owing I think to the Rev Mr Stevenson, - drawing the Wesleyans to the parish church - a sect called ‘Ranters’ now have the chapel at £4 per annum and they disturb the whole neighbourhood. The house lets for £10. Her Ladyship intends turning the Chapel into a Lecture Room or a Village Literary Institution, on payment of a shilling a year for the improvements of the rising generation. You will find there has been an Involvment in the Courts of Chancery. W Bundock begs to have an answer by the 10th inst. A Deposit was asked for but I declined giving any, and it was not persued. I am told the Wesleyans possess a Millions Worth of property in this Country and their estate is paying them 5 per cent on the £270. Therefore they are quite indifferent about the matter. Much more was asked for the Title Estate last year. I am dear sir, Yours truly, R Pilcher. Kent County Council East Kent Archives Centre Whitfield Dover CT16 3EH Conyngham Papers 1819 Conveyance Land went to Simmonds (already deceased) 1824 F eoffment from Simmonds - to methodist chapel to Joseph Duplock Determines what will take place there [Interesting for social history of methodism] Methodist Chapel Indenture of Feoffment 10 June 1824 Land purchased lying next to land belonging to Mr Barham, Canterbury Dover Road side, (in pencil - now in the name of Conyngham) Mrs Nash on SE side, William Nash deceased W side 97’, late in the tenure and occupation of Sarah Nash widow, then Stephen Simmonds, since deceased at the sum of £50. Feoffment 10 June 1824 under deed polls bearing the date...1784 under the hand and seal of the late Reverend John Wesley deceased and enrolled in the High Court of Chancery and no others so have the use and benefit of the said chapel for the purpose of preaching and expounding God’s Holy Word and for the performing of all other acts of Religious Worship therein without any ? denial or interruption whatsoever Provided Nevertheless that the person or persons so to be appointed as aforesaid shall and do preach no other Doctrine than those which are contained in certain Notes upon the New Testament and the first four Volumes of Sermons published by the said John Wesley deceased and It is hereby further agreed and declared that all such sums of money as shall be collected and received for or on account of the said Trust Premises and all other rents and profits thereof shall be paid and applied on discharging the Debts Taxes and other necessary expenses of the said chapel and premises and towards the support of the preachers for the time being stationed by the 3rd Converence in the circuit in which the said chapel may be comprised. M. Connor 9) ‘ _;_A L V % L5 A f«€~-wfif’ f¥%;.~z.w:a:t.:T“f’§~f L ,_v &-_;~_-,, 3- " srwu A j % . I‘ -0 ”a£..f€Vk-%#m»;~mafi,‘3’°;1;Lr1.{4.Lf~iAr%:fiL_ On the end fold of the letter W H Otterway Sol Staplehurst is an only son. This purchase is desired in order to do away with a nuisance. PS I had a copy of Wm Ottoway’s will being(?) amongst the Documents. I conclude you have been better satisfied. I recollect his estate was sold in Lots. Separate sheet of Paper 1. William Ottoways property was sold in lots by his sons. Hence no original deeds. They, no doubt, went with the main lot. House adjoining the garden plot for which Stephen Simmonds paid £100. Mr Duplock had a Lien upon it - passed to him by feoffment by SS’s eldest son - John Simmonds. S Simmonds d. insolvent and intestate. 2. Mr Duplok sold to Wesleyan Trustees and the said garden plot for £50. 3. No attendance at late years at Wesleyan Chapel - hence their desire to sell. President gave his consent at a Conference at Sheffield in 1851. See document herewith No 4 and the Description ‘Wesleyan Methodist Chapel and the House’. 4. See Bond of Indemnity from Joseph Duplok to Trustees. See no 3. The younger brothers were to have signed on attaining the age of 15. Have not done so. How is this? Duplock engaged to see to it. He is no more. And there was nothing for the children to share - worse than that. Separate sheet of Paper Copy of President’s consent for ‘the Sale of the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel and House situate and being in Bridge in the County of Kent’. Signed John Scott, 16 August 1852. Separate sheet of Paper Declaration by Jonathan Bundock as the acting trustee of the chapel that no claim on behalf of any person has been made on the property since 10 June 1824 when he and others had become the trustees. At the time of the conveyance to the Marshioness no person or persons whomsoever other than the trustees had any right to title. Hand written list of Trustees of the Chapel Daniel Gouger, miller, Margate; Thomas Finch Cozens, Builder, Canterbury; Jonathan Bundock, ironmonger, Canterbury; Thomas Grant, builder, Canterbury; Francis Hewson, Barber, Wickhambreaux; Thomas Bird, Brushmaker, Canterbury; Edmund Castle, gardener, Canterbury; William Frederick Crippen, grocer from Camden Town; Thomas Harnett Gifford, Cordwainer, Canterbury; Henry Allsworth, Baker, Canterbury; John Smith, Carpenter, Canterbury; Edward Small, Plumber, Canterbury. List of names March 1881. Their claim ‘has been made to the property by the Simmonds since first purchased. ‘The trustees have no means of ascertaining what sons of the late Stephen Simmonds are now living’. Small hand-written note Tenant’s name Wood — Cordwainter House or tenement with shoemaker’s shop, garden and appurtenances together with a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. M.Connor Wesleyan Chapel and the Marchioness of Conyngham (continued) Further Deeds 5 January 1819 Conveyance by feoffment of a piece of ground inBridge Street near Canterbury County of Kent The Trustees and Executors under the will of Mr William Ottoway, deceased to Mr Stephen Simmonds 21 September 1854 - Deed of Conveyance of the chapel, messuage and premises at Bridge in the county of Kent. Mr David Gouger and others to The Most Honourable Elizabeth, Dowager Marshioness of Conyngham l0 June 1824 Feoffment of a piece of ground in Bridge near Canterbury in the County of Kent Messrs Simmonds by the Direction of Mr Joseph Duplok to Trustees for the Settlement by the Direction of Mr Joseph Duplok to Trustees for the Settlement of a Methodist chapel Enrolled in Court of chancery 8 July 1824 10 June 1824 Bond of Indemnity Mr Joseph Duplock to Trustees for the Settlement of a Methodist Chapel