Obituary of Joseph Lee (d.1880)

This obituary was printed in the Bucks Herald on 13 March 1880.

We have to record the death on the 6th inst. of the oldest inhabitant of this town, Mr Joseph Lee. Deceased was in his 89th year, and therefore born just about at the time of the French Revolution, and would no doubt well remember the celebrated battle of the Nile, the siege of Acre, and the war with Tippoo Sahib. He had been in business in Winslow as a saddler for many years, and had only retired within the past three or four years.

See 1841 census return (probably 25 Sheep Street)

1871: Census
Sheep Street

Joseph Lee head married 82 Saddler b. Winslow
Elizabeth Lee wife married 76   b. Gt Horwood

Bankruptcy of George Grace Lee (1888)

Buckingham Advertiser, 15 Dec 1888

A Winslow Bankrupt.
BANBURY COUNTY COURT, WEDNESDAY DEC. 12.
Before Mr. Registrar C. Fortescue.

  Re: George Grace Lee, saddler, 1, Market Street, Winslow.  This was the debtor’s first examination.  Mr. T. D. Pettiver, 21, College Hill, Cannon Street, London, solicitor to the debtor, Mr. H. F. Bennett, solicitor, Banbury, representing that gentleman.

  In answer to Mr. Mallam, jun., official receiver, debtor said his father carried on the business of saddler and harness maker for some years, and in 1869 debtor entered into partnership with him.  In 1876 his father [Thomas Lee] retired from business, and left him the assets of the business, but he had no statement of them, the account being made out in a very rough manner.  The affair was insolvent at the time, the balance on the wrong side being about £40.  Debtor borrowed £100 for the purpose of carrying on the business, and there was very little stock; he had the whole of the book debts.  The arrangement was that his father was to live in the house, and debtor was to carry on the business at his own, and he had to keep the house.  His father and mother were still alive and he had kept them since the time his father retired.  He married in 1880, when his father and mother left the house, and he allowed them 10/- per week, and had kept up payments to the present time.  He had a banking account which was overdrawn, but that had been settled.  He had kept no cash-book to show his position.  In 1880 he purchased the business premises for £450, and had two mortgages upon them.  He paid £50. He had no money with his wife.  The furniture and stock were estimated to be worth £155.  The house was insured for £500, and the stock and furniture for £150, but they were not worth as much.  He had never taken stock properly, but had made a rough estimate of his belongings.  He put down what he owed, and what he had to come in at Christmas last, and considered he was solvent at that time, but did not go into his affairs very particularly.  For the last three years his income had been £120, and his household expenses £90 per year.  In 1885 he mortgaged his life policy, but that did not bring to his mind that he was insolvent, and he had money owing to him at that time.  During last year he had had £300 worth of goods, and had been buying all this year and paying ready money as far as he could do so.  Did not put the amounts of the debts he had contracted from March to September in his statement of accounts.  He gave Mr. Pettiver, his solicitor, instructions, and answered his questions as to what to put down.  Some debts were contracted in 1888, but were not named in his statement.  Did not have £35 worth of goods from one firm.

  Mr. Mallam reminded debtor that he had sworn to his statement, and would have to abide by it.
  The Registrar remarked that there was an entry of goods supplied by Crawley and Son from March to September.
  Mr. Bennett said there seemed to have been some misconception on the part of the debtor.
  The Debtor said he gave his solicitor all the accounts, but Crawley and Son’s claim was not contracted between March and September.  The amount of £36/9/4 had not been entered in his statement.  His profits from his business had fallen from £120 to £30 on account of the depression in agriculture.
  After a few more questions had been put, the Official Receiver said the examination had better be adjourned to enable debtor to go carefully through his accounts, and make an amended statement.
  In answer to Mr. Wilks, saddler, North Bar, Banbury, a creditor for £8/9/8, debtor said he considered he had a right to make some provision for his father, who was an old man, and occasionally did a little work for him.
 The examination was adjourned to the January Court.

Notes

In the 1881 Census:

In 1891:

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Copyright 1 May, 2021