Dame Catherine DAVIS-BOVEY [3061]

  General Notes:

Records of the King's Remembrancer E134 Exchequer MISC 2583
Depositions taken by Commission:
Thomas Alston, Elizabeth, his wife, Justinian Alston, and others. v. Thomas Richard Till: Concerning Dame Catherine Davies Alston, deceased, late wife of Sir Thomas Alston, deceased, and the paternity of two of her children, known as Fanny Clarke and Kitty Clarke, supposed to be the children of Henry Sims alias Clarke.: Southampton Covering dates 51 Geo. III 28 Nov. 1810 Availability: Open Document, held by The National Archives, Kew

Will of Dame Catherine Davies Alston, widow, relict of Sir Thomas Alston, late of Odell, co. Bedford, baronet.
Dated 4th August, 1774.
First Codicil dated 7 April, 1778;
Second Codicil dated 2 May, 1778.
in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Testatrix is called "of Stafford" in the index.
Proved 25th June, 1778,
Testatrix gives to John Wasse, of Stafford, L100 a year out of her estates, the same sum to her son Charles, aged 4 years,
and to her daughter Hannah, aged 11 years. All property in Bedford and Cambridge in trust, to son John, aged 14, daughter Ffrances aged 18, and daughter Catherine, aged 17. Gold watch and seal to Hannah, snuff-box to Charles, diamonds and rest of jewels to John. Residue to be divided equally between Charles and Hannah.
CODICIL, April 7th, 1778, leaves L1000 to John.
Proved PCC 25 June 1778.
Her sons assumed her husbands title after its extinction. She died in her 81st year.

Long Stow Camb.-Sir Ralph Bovey who resided at Houghton d. 1679 left this estate to the Revd. Mr. Danes who took the name of Bovey. Lady Alston left this manor to her son John.

  Research Notes:

SIR,
By the request of Mr Alston I inform you that we have sent to Lincoln as you requested but have received no answer . . . . . When Mr Alston was in Town he mention'd the business respecting the Odell Estate to a friend who he
suppos'd might get information the which he has not received and if correct I think will do away the necessity of searching for the will of Sr John Alston which is as follows, viz.-
Sir Rowland Alston liv'd at Odell Castle 10 miles from Bedford but has been dead about 20 years ; he was
married but had no children by his wife & the Title in now extinct ; his Lady left him upwards of 50 years ago and
cohabited with a Mr Wass by whom she had two children who both took the name of Wass ; the first was born 18 or
20 months after she lived with Wass! they were considered his children and inherited his property and after his Death
the elder son Convey'd the property in that character. Sr. Rowland was still living and kept a woman by whom he
had a son who took his name and call'd himself his son and at his death got into possession of his property which was
about L6,000 p ann. after the death of Sr Rowland John Wass the elder son by Lady Alston call'd himself John
Alston and took the Title of Sr John and fil'd a Bill in Chancery for the recovery of the Estate, so that Thomas
Alston was not at rest so long as Sr John liv'd . . . . . does not know there was any entail upon the estate but can by enquiry.
Sr John Alston as he call'd himself died about 2 years since in poverty.
Sr Thomas Alston I suppose must mean the person at present in possession of the Estate.
Mr Alston join with me in best respects
Your obedt Serv
JNO HEAD
P.S. I hope you will excuse our freedom , When you have a fair copy of the pedigree we should be oblige to you
to inform Mr Alston as it may be of service before we make a fee the serch
The corrections are as in the origional.
Letter undated. Paper stained. Watermark, L. TOWLL, 1808.
Alstoniana Pg 295.

Catherine married Sir Thomas ALSTON 5th Bt. [3060] [MRIN: 1032], son of Sir Rowland ALSTON 4th Bt. [3041] and Lady Elizabeth RAYNES [3058], on 30 Aug 1750. (Sir Thomas ALSTON 5th Bt. [3060] was born on 23 Mar 1723/24, christened on 22 Apr 1724 in St James Westminster London, died on 18 Jul 1774 and was buried on 26 Jul 1774 in Odell BDF.)

Catherine next had a relationship with John WASSE of Stafford [4168] [MRIN: 1441], son of WASSE [18750] and Unknown. (John WASSE of Stafford [4168] died before 11 Apr 1807.)