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William James Dunsford
Baptised 3 July 1818 in Swindon, Wiltshire the son of William Besly Dunsford and Elizabeth Lyde. He is known to have had an affair in 1844/45 with Agatha Clark (formerly Ariel) the wife of Edward Clark a solicitor with whom she had 6 children although there is speculation that the last one at least was not her husband's child. Edward and Agatha were divorced in 1845.
William James Dunsford had married Matilda Amelia Slater Crowdy in June 1844. He was declared bankrupt in 1846, having been taken to court by Edward Clarke in a case for damages following the divorce and ordered to pay £5,000. This sum in 1845 would equate to approx. £500,000 today. The case of Clark v Dunsford was fully reported in several newspapers including the front page of the Weekly Chronicle published on Saturday 6 December 1845. According to the newspaper report of the court case, Dunsford rented an apartment in Bath, under the pseudonym Mr Lyde, where he regularly met Agatha Ariel. Lyde is now known to have been his mother's maiden name, although this was not reported at the time.
Following the court case William James Dunsford and his wife Matilda moved to London where he set up in partnership with Edward John Ranken as Mining Agents. This partnership was dissolved in favour of Dunsford in July 1864, just four months before he died in November 1864, supposedly having committed suicide. His will, presumably in favour of his wife Matilda, appears to have been contested in a case of Dunsford v Dunsford. Payments out of the Court of Chancery re "Dunsford's Estate, Dunsford v Dunsford" are recorded in supplements to the London Gazette for 1896 and 1923 as well as on dates in between.
The following transcriptions made by me from original documents may give some additional background information.
The Will of Myles Ariel (died 1840)
"This is the last will and testament of me Myles Ariel of the city and county of Bristol. West India Broker. I hereby direct all my debts funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid by my executors hereinafter named and hereby confirm the settlement made on my marriage with my present wife Lucretia Ariel. I hereby give and bequeath to my said dear wife all my wines, spirits, liquors and all my table and bed linen and all my wearing apparel which shall be in and about any dwelling house in Berkeley Square in the city and county of Bristol at the time of my decease or in and about any house which at the time of my death shall be my usual or permanent place of abode for her own absolute use and benefit. I hereby give and bequeath unto Robert Leonard Dry Salter and Edward Jarrett Ransford Hat Manufacturer both of the city and county of Bristol their executors admons assignees all my household goods furniture plates china watches trinkets printed books pictures and other utensils and effects (save and except the goods and chattels herein before given to my said wife) upon trust that the said Robert Leonard and Edward Jarrett Ransford and the survivor of them his executors admons and assignees shall permit and suffer my said wife to use possess and enjoy the same during the term of her natural life And I direct that within two calendar months after my decease my said trustees or the survivor of them his executors admons or assignees shall cause an inventory to be made of all the goods and chattels therein before given to them my said trustees upon trust as aforesaid and that my said wife shall sign such inventory accompanied with an undertaking for the delivery of the goods and chattels comprised therein by her executors or advisors upon or immediately after her decease to my said trustees or the survivor of them his executors admons or assignees and that my said wife shall deliver the said inventory and undertaking signed by her to my said trustees or the survivor of them his executors admons or assignees who shall sign a copy of such inventory and shall deliver the same so signed to my said wife And I hereby declare that the said last mentioned goods and chattels shall immediately after the decease of my said wife fall into and become part of my Residuary personal estate".
The Will of Elizabeth Ariel (formerly Naylor) first wife of Myles Ariel died 1837
"This is the last will and testament or testamentary writing of me Elizabeth the wife of Myles Ariel of the city of Bristol Broker made and published pursuant to the power and authority or several powers and authorities contained in the indenture or deed of Settlement made and executed on or previous to my intermarriage with my said husband the said Myles Ariel . . . In Witness whereof I the said Testatrix Elizabeth Ariel have to this my last will and Testament contained in three sides of three sheets of paper to the first two thereof set my hand and to this third and last my hand and seal this nineteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three. - Elizabeth Ariel - (seal) Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Testatrix Elizabeth Ariel as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in her presence at her request and in the presence of each other of us have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses. Samuel Goodhand Sol. Bristol - Wm Edward Collingwood - Thomas Clark Clerks in Messrs Stephens and Goodhand, Sol. Bristol".
The Will of Elizabeth Naylor (formerly Eyre) wife of George Naylor died 1829
"This is the last Will and Testament of me Elizabeth Naylor of the City of Bristol, Widow. I hereby revoke all former and other Wills testaments and Codicils by me heretofore made and direct payments of my just debts funeral expenses and the charges of proving this my Will. I give and bequeath the sum of forty pounds to be paid out of my personal estate to the London Missionary Society. Also I give and bequeath to my servant Ann Virgo the sum of nineteen pounds and nineteen shillings to and for her own proper use and benefit. I give and devise unto and to the use of my daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Myles Ariel of the said City of Bristol, Broker, all that my messuage situated at Wakefield in the County of York. And also all those my several Closes and Parts or Parcels of land situate at Cleckheaton in the said County of York together with the respective appurtenaures to the said messuage and land belonging to hold unto and to the use of her my daughter for and during the term of her natural life and from and after her decease I give and devise the same respectively unto and to the use of all and every the son, sons, daughter and daughters of her my said daughter begotten and to be begotten who shall live to attain his or her or their age or ages of twenty one years or be married under that age and to the respective heirs and assigns of such son and sons, daughter and daughters of her my said daughter who shall live to attain such his her or their age or ages of twenty one years or being a daughter or daughters be married under that age as [????] tenants in common, And in case there shall be only one such son or daughter who shall live to attain such his or her age of twenty one years or being a daughter be married under that age then I give and devise the same hereditaments and promises unto and to the use of such only son or daughter his or her heirs and assigns for ever".
Further transcriptions are underway and will be added shortly.
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