Legal Eagles

This is the Supreme Court in London. It is virtually impossible to get a photograph without traffic in the week, unless it is surrounded by the Media. This photograph was taken in 2018. I am using it to introduce the ancestors who were members of the legal profession.


James Speid Benson

1873 - 1963

I have to start with James who is my 2nd great uncle. He was born at 29 Thistle Street in Aberdeen, Scotland to William Henry Benson and Isabella Speid. His middle brother William was my great grandfather who died while working as a tea planter in India. His younger brother John Speid died in Central Africa.

The 1891 Scotland Census lists his occupation as solicitor's general clerk. He is still living with his parents and brothers at 67 Abergeldie Road in Aberdeen. The Aberdeen Electoral Register for 1900 - 1901 lists him at 542 Holburn Street practicing as a solicitor and by the 1901 Scotland Census he has been joined at this address by his parents. By 1905-1906 he has moved out, though not far away to 568 Holburn Street. 

The Aberdeen Electoral Register for 1914-1915 now has him living at Woodburn, Bieldside. From Internet searched I also discovered that he served as a Private in 1st Volunteer Battalion Gordon Highlanders (previously City of Aberdeen Volunteer Regiment) in November 1914. He received a commission in October 1916, and served in the Aberdeen Home service between 1914 and 1919.

Some time before 1918 James must have married Blanche Jane Montgomery Falconer; I thought I had found the record, but it appears not. James and Blanche had 2 daughters. The Aberdeen Electoral Register for 1920 lists both James and Mrs Blanche J M Benson living at 112 Hammerfield Avenue in Aberdeen. 

I have not found an exact place of birth for James' 1st daughter, Mary Isabel Falconer Benson, but I know that Kathleen Elizabeth Benson was born at 34 Richmondhill Place, where the family lived until 1930, when they moved to number 32 and were still there in 1955. By the time the family moved to 34 Richmondhill Place, James' was now practicing out of 8 Union Terrace. 

Blanche dies in November 1959 while visiting her sister Kathleen in Lancashire. By this time James and Blanche had moved to Edinburgh, where James died 3 years later.

There is much more to write about James, in particular the part he played in dealing with my great grandfather's estate after his death. I will cover this elsewhere, and also his activities with the Freemasons.


Daniel Disney

1616 - 1661

Daniel is my 12th great uncle. He was born in Norton Disney, Lincolnshire to William Disney and Bridget Molyneux. Daniel had 5 brothers and 3 sisters.

I came across the reference to him being a Barrister at Law from Internet searches. In 1639 Daniel married Eleanor Beaumont and the couple had at least 3 sons.

Daniel must have practiced in the area; he at least stayed their with his family as Norton Disney is also the place of his death.


Antony Buller

1780 - 1866

Antony is no direct ancestor of mine, but his interesting career warrants his inclusion in this section. Antony was born in Cornwall, England to John Buller and Anne Lemon. I will be saying much more about his family, as they were all politically minded.

Antony studied at Westminster School and Lincoln's Inn in London. On 04 February 1805 he married his cousin Isabella Jane Lemon and the couple went on to have a large family of 3 sons and 7 daughters. 4 of his daughters and 1 of his sons were born in Middlesex; another son was born in Cornwall; 2 more daughters and his remaining son were born in India.

The story is that Antony was offered the appointment of Puisne Judge in the Madras Presidency, but instead he accepted the post of Puisne Judge in Bengal the following year when he received his knighthood. Some general information about the High Court in Calcutta can be found at: http://ilscalcutta.org/about.php  Antony's brother Charles was also out in India, working as a civil servant and had married his wife Barbara Isabella Kirkpatrick in August 1805.

Antony left India in 1827 and I presume that he had sent Isabella and the family ahead, because Isabella died in 1824. Antony had bought and had rebuilt the estate of Pound in Devon. He lived here for the remainder of his life at times with members of his extended family. Brief information about Pound House can be found at: https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101105488-pound-house-buckland-monachorum#.XaYjY-jYrIV

Antony was not idle on his return to England, but that is for another post. 


William Charles Buller

1812 - 1875

William is 1 of the sons of Antony and Isabella. He was born in Middlesex, England and followed his father into the legal professional, qualifying and practicing as a barrister. I have not found records of marriage and on is death he left his effects to his brother Antony.


The Alexanders, Hamertons and Goulds of Yorkshire

Lewis Alexander

1774 - 1857

Lewis is my 5th cousin 9x removed. He was born in Halifax, Yorkshire to Robert Alexander and Harriet Disney. More information about his father, a medical man, is available in the post

On 15 April 1790 an agreement is struck for him to become a Clerk to William Wilcock of Halifax. Lewis will live and serve William for 5 years. In 1793 Lewis marries Elizabeth Nelson and the couple go on to have 3 sons and 2 daughters. 

Following the death of Elizabeth in 1832, Lewis goes on to marry Jane Moody in 1834 in Waltham Abbey in Essex, but the UK City and County Directory for 1837 shows him back in Halifax practicing from Hopwood Lane. 

The 1851 England Census has the couple living in Burnley in Lancashire, next door to Holden Hamerton who I will mention later. He is also living with his sister in law. Lewis dies in Burnley 6 years later. I have not found a will.


Robert Alexander

1795 - 1843

Robert is the eldest son of Lewis and Elizabeth and my 6th cousin 8x removed. In 1829 he married Matilda Legard, the daughter of a baronet; the couple did not appear to have any children. I have not found many records on Robert, though he should turn up in the 1841 England Census.

From the website I used to investigate the medical Alexanders said that he was a barrister at Lincoln's Inn and one of the founder members of the Halifax Literary & Philosophical Society. Robert also one of the subscribers to John Horner's book Buildings in the Town & Parish of Halifax. 

His will lists his address as being 13 Duke St, Westminster. It is written in a magnificent hand, which makes it difficult to read. I believe Robert left his estate and effects to Matilda's father and he was to pay her allowance. I hope to decipher more in the future.


Edward Nelson Alexander

1797 - 1859

Edward is the 2nd son of Lewis and Elizabeth, born in Halifax. In 1813 Edward entered into his Articles of Clerkship under his father. In 1820 Edward married Harriet Legard, the older sister of Matilda, and the couple had 6 children: 3 boys and 3 girls.

The UK City and County Directory for 1830 lists his address as West House, Halifax working as an attorney. Gervase Alexander is operating out of Grove House, Ward's End as a Doctor of Medicine and Lewis Alexander and Edward Nelson are solicitors based at 31 Hopwood Lane. 

From the website mentioned above, I learned that in 1837 he practiced from 4 Aked Road in Halifax; he briefly practiced with his father and Edward Nelson and was a partner in the firm of Alexander & Hamerton, with Holden Hamerton, the husband of his sister Eliza. Edward was one of a number of attorneys who were commissioned for taking acknowledgements of deeds executed by married women; he was a numismatist and another founder member of the Halifax Literary & Philosophical Society, and the Halifax Agricultural Society. He and his wife were also subscribers to John Horner's book Buildings in the Town & Parish of Halifax, and 1830 Edward had published a manuscript on History of the Manor of Southowram.

By the 1851 England Census Edward is living with his daughter Charlotte Matilda and her husband Thomas Andrew Walker, a clerk. The couple had only been married in 1847.

On his death in 1859 Edward's will does not list any family members as beneficiaries. The only name listed is his executor and banker James Bowman.


Holden Hamerton

1796 - 1861


Holden is the husband of my 6th cousin 8x removed and the husband of Eliza Alexander. He was born to Gilbert Hammerton and Jane Smith in Burnley, Lancashire. Holden had entered into his Articles of Clerkship on 15 January 1814 under James Wiglesworth in Lancashire. 

On 02 September 1826 Holden married Eliza Alexander;  the couple had 4 sons and 1 daughter. 


Thomas Edward Hamerton

1797 - 1875

The brother of Holden above. He was also born in Burnley, Lancashire. Although one year younger than Holden, Thomas entered his Articles of Clerkship, with John Eliott, on 18 September 1813.  Unlike Holden, Thomas' placement was in Yorkshire.  Thomas also got married in 1826, on 09 November, to Ann Heyworth; the couple had 2 daughters and 1 son (who unfortunately died the year he was born, in 1830). Ann had been born in Todmorden, which was on the border of Lancashire and Yorkshire and today is placed firmly in West Yorkshire. 

Thomas and the family settled in Stansfield in Yorkshire, where he is listed in the 1841 England Census as an attorney at the bar in, 1851 as a solicitor and in 1861 as an attorney at law. By the 1871 England Census he is listed as retired. The census records also show that Thomas was successful enough to employ a couple of servants in his household at West Lodge. 

On his death Thomas' will does not list any family members, rather several colleagues in the legal profession. Looking at the records we can see that not only had he lost his son at a young age, but he was also pre-deceased by his wife and both daughters.


William Richard Hamerton

1783

William was born in Long Preston, Yorkshire to James Hamerton and Ann Hancock. He had entered his Articles of Clerkship in Long Preston, on 14 August 1801, with Anthony Thorpe. William was James' 2nd son, so he was not the heir. It has been difficult to find records which I am sure relate to William, so I will come back later as hints become available.


In an attempt to understand the background of people it is necessary to check on their father's occupation. So, what I thought would be a quick job has taken on a life of its own. I have found yet more related lawyers, which I guess is no surprise. If you had a wealth and/or your father was in the business then you were likely to go into it, then mix in legal circles and probably marry the daughter of a colleague!

Charles Gould

1833 - 1909

Charles is the husband of oldest daughter of Thomas Edward Hamerton. He was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire to Thomas Gould and Frances Maria Brookfield. Charles was one of 7 children: 4 boys and 3 girls.

Charles and Anne Hamerton had married in 1862 in Todmorden in Yorkshire. The couple had no children and Anne sadly died in 1867. In 1872 Charles married Mary Ellen Utterton in Farnham in Surrey. Mary's father is listed as the Arch Deacon of Surrey and Charles is now listed as a barrister at law.

Charles and Mary had 3 daughters and 4 sons.


William Gould

1838

William is the brother of Charles and was also born in Sheffield. In 1863 William married Martha Ann Vaughan in Wales, but by 1871 he is listed in the England Census, as an attorney and solicitor. 

The couple had 4 sons and 4 daughters.


Thomas Gould

1831 - 1908

Thomas is the oldest of all the Gould brothers, born in Sheffield. The UK City and County Directory for 1862 lists him working in his father's firm at 4 Paradise Square in Sheffield.

By 1869 Thomas has moved to Gravesend in Kent, where he marries Frances Harriet Sharpe, whose father was a military man. The couple had 3 sons and 1 daughter.

Francis Gould

1843 - 1902

Brother of above. Francis enters his Articles of Clerkship on 04 May 1891 under Charles. Francis never marries and is listed as either a boarder or a lodger in the England censuses for 1881, 1891 and 1902, living in London He is listed as a solicitor and barrister at law. On his death he leaves his effects to his brother Thomas.

Thomas Gould

1802 - 1869

Father of Charles and William. Thomas was born in Ardwick Green, Lancashire to Joseph Gould and Ann Wardle; he was an only child. In 1831 he marries Frances Maria Brookfield and the couple go on to establish their legal dynasty. They have 6 boys and 3 girls. The censuses list him as a solicitor from 1841 and on his death he leaves effects totalling £80,000 to his sons.

Ralph Colin Gould

1877 - 1923

Ralph is the son of Thomas and brother of Alexander. He was also born in Sheffield.

The 1901 England Census lists him living in Yorkshire with his father; we next find Ralph in Freemason records for 1906. He is a member of the Royal Prince of Wales Lodge in Penang, listed as a lawyer.

Ralph dies on 12 March 1923 where he is living at 5 Church Street in Malacca. His will tells us that he married (date not known yet), Edith Emily who was living in England.

Arthur William Alexander

1843 - 1895

Arthur is my 7th cousin 7x removed. He was born in Halifax, Yorkshire to William Alexander and Emily Kirby, Arthur is a distant cousin of the Alexanders above and his father William was also mentioned in the post

Arthur never married but had a successful, if short, career. In the 1881 England Census he is living with a cousin and is listed as a solicitor. From the website I used to investigate the medical Alexanders, it said that Arthur was a solicitor and partner in the firm of Craven, Rankin & Alexander. By 1891 he is head of his own household, employing 1 servant. He is listed as the District Registrar of HM High Court of Justice and Registrar of County Court of Justice, Halifax. 

In his will he leaves his effects to his brother Reginald.