Administration of Fanny Bynes otherwise Couché, 1862

Principal Probate Registry

ON the Twenty first day of March 1862 Letters of Administration of all and singular the personal Estate and Effects of Fanny Bynes otherwise Couché late of Winslow in the County of Buckingham who died the seventh day of May 1854, at Winslow aforesaid a Spinster a Bastard and intestate were granted at the Principal Registry of  Her Majesty’s Court of Probate to Henry Revell Reynolds of the Treasury Chambers Whitehall in the County of Middlesex Esquire the Solicitor for the affairs of Her Majesty’s Treasury and his successors in the said office for the use of Her Majesty he the said  Henry Revell Reynolds having been first sworn duly to administer.
By Motion & Decree
Effects under £450.

Notes

The death of Fanny Couché aged 17 was registered at Winslow in 1854, and she was buried there on 13 May. She was probably in Winslow as a pupil at the Misses Todd's school at Brook Hall. Presumably the bulk of her property went to her sister according to their father's will, and the £450 represented her personal effects which no-one could inherit because of her illegitimacy.

TNA, PROB 11/2165/103: Will of Edward Couche esquire, Deputy Commissary General, of Budleigh Salterton, Devon, made 29 Sep 1848, proved 11 Jan 1853:
... To my dear reputed children now residing with me Fanny Bynes and Laura Bynes commonly called or known by the names of Fanny Couche and Laura Couche the leasehold house I now occupy in Salterton for and during the whole of my interest therein with all the furniture plate stables carriages horses cows and every article of my domestic establishment ... but on no account whatever is the house or furniture to be sold ... until they shall both have attained the age of 25 years ... [if one dies before the age of 21, the whole to the survivor] and ... £8,000 stock in the 3¼p.cents ... [if one dies before the age of 21, the whole to the survivor] ... the interest only to be received and applied to their education and support during their minority ... [they are to remain in sole occupation of the house] ... And I hereby nominate & appoint Mr Henry Bignell of Exeter and Elizabeth his wife the reputed mother of the said Fanny & Laura ... to be guardians ... during their minority ... [Fanny and Laura also receive a quarter share of the residue of the estate each]

The 1851 Census shows Edward Couch[e] living in East Salterton with his daughters Fanny aged 14 and Laura aged 11, a governess and two servants. He was a naval officer on half pay. He died on 4 Dec 1852 aged 80. Laura Bynes married George Cosmo Morgan at St Peter, Eaton Square, Pimlico, in 1859.