Catherine Richardson

BMDB data

     Catharine Richardson was baptized on 24 Jul 1816 Edinburgh St Cuthberts, MLN, SCT; Catharine (sic) to Jean Russell & James Richardson.²
     Catherine Richardson married Adam Peacock on 22 Aug 1839 Edinburgh St Cuthberts, MLN, (there's also an 1836 marriage in Edinburgh for an Adam Peacock, to Euphemia Lyons, who may or may not be this same chap, and if so, may account for the mention of a Helen Turnbull d/o Janet Peacock in Catherine's will, although it does look more likely that Janet is Adam's sister.)^3,4,5,6
     Catherine Peacock died on 15 Nov 1890 Lauriston Tce, Edinburgh, MLN, SCT, at age 74.^7,8,9

Census/Where lived/Occupations

     Catherine Peacock and Adam Peacock appeared on the census of 1841 41 Home St, Edinburgh St Cuthberts, MLN, SCT, and are assumed to be husband and wife. They were enumerated as PEACOCK: Adam, 35 sp dlr; Catherine 20, both b MLN (also Jane ADAMS 15 F S.)⁵
     The census of 1851 showed Catherine with her husband Adam 19 House St, Edinburgh St Cuthberts, MLN, SCT, household enumerated as PEACOCK: Adam, 47 retired spirit dealer b Dalkeith, MLN; wife Catherine 34 b Edin; (I'm working from a transcription here, which recorded the address as House St. I assume that this might actually be Home St, renumbered since 1841. The index to inventories and wills show David as spirit dealer of Hume St. However modern maps show a Home St nr Lauriston Gdns and Pl, which may be significant. Perhaps that was his business premises?)¹⁰
     The census of 1861 showed Catherine with her husband Adam 2 Lauriston Tce, Edinburgh, Dist of St Giles, MLN, SCT, household enumerated as PEACOCK: Adam, 57 house proprietor b Dalkeith, MLN; wife Catherine 44 b Edin.¹¹
     Catherine appeared on the census of 1871 2 Lauriston Tce, Edinburgh St Cuthberts, Dist of St Giles, MLN, SCT, enumerated as Mrs PEACOCK, 54 b St Cuthberts, Edin.¹²
     Catherine appeared on the census of 1881 Edinburgh St Cuthberts, Dist of St Giles, MLN, enumerated as Mrs Cathrin PEACOCK, 64, house propreitor b St Cuthberts.⁷

Wills/bequests

     Jean, Catherine, Thomas, Margaret and James were beneficiaries in the 31 Oct 1865 will of their father James Richardson of Hays Court, Main Pt, Edinburgh, MLN, SCT, equal shares between Catherine Richardson or Peacock wife of David Peacock residing at Lauriston Terrace Edinburgh, Thomas Richardson Smith and Cartwright Spittal Street Edinburgh, Margaret Richardson or Scott wife of David Scott Lothian Street Edinburgh and James Richardson presently residing at Dunedin New Zealand or elsewhere abroad.¹
     Catherine Peacock are all mentioned in the Inventory of James Richardson on 23 May 1868 Sheriff Court, Edinburgh, MLN, SCT, Thomas "as Smith and Cartwright Fountainbridge Edinburgh one of the Executors dative and next of Kin of the deceased", Catherine as Mrs Catherine Richardson or Peacock Lauriston Terrace Edinburgh widow of Adam Peacock, Jean as "Jean Richardson residing at Fountainbridge Edinburgh, all "about to enter upon the possession & management of his personal or moveable Estate as Executors dative and next of kin."⁴
     Catherine Peacock of Edinburgh, MLN, SCT, wrote a will on 26 Sep 1888 (the document contains a wealth of information on who was related to whom, a summary of which is included below. Catherine signed as Peacock, and when it was registered in 1890, her brother Thomas signed an affidavit that it was her will.)⁸
     The will of Catherine Peacock was registered Sheriff Ct, Edinburgh, MLN, SCT, on 21 Nov 1890 showing that Catherine was living at Lauriston Terrace, Edinburgh, "widow of the late Adam Peacock spirit dealer Home Street there" (it definitely has an o and reads like Home to me), she appointed the following executors/trustees: her "brother Thomas Richardson sometime Smith & now residing at Lauriston Terrace Edinburgh and my sisters Mrs Margaret Richardson or Scott residing in Lothian Street Edinburgh widow of the late David Scott Baker there and Miss Jane Richardson residing with the said Thomas Richardson at Lauriston Terrace aforesaid". The rest of the will gave "my said two sisters Margaret Richardson or Scott and Jane Richardson equally between them" ... "the whole household furniture and other effects" ..."to my said sister Margaret Richardson or Scott" ..."the liferent use and enjoyment of my dwelling house in Lauriston Terrace presently occupied by me" ... and to pay during "all the days of her life" ... the proceeds on £125 being an "annuity of Seven pounds ten shillings per annum" ... from her "Debenture certificate number two hundred and forty nine of the Edinburgh and District Water Trust" ... if Margaret had predeceased her, then to "Catherine Scott the youngest daughter of the said Margaret Richardson or Scott" (but only during her life, and after her death it was to be sold and the proceeds divided) ... " among Jane Scott and Margaret Scott also daughters of the said Margaret Richardson or Scott for their issue and the issue of the said Catherine Scott equally per stirpes not per capite" and if "the said Margaret Richardson or Scott" had predeceased Catherine, then they were to divide the money from the debenture equally between the said Catherine Scott, Jane Scott and Margaret Scott "or their respective issue" In addition "at the first term of Whitsunday or Martinmas that shall happen three months after my death" legacies were to paid to "my sister the said Jane Richardson" £1000, "to my brother the said Thomas Richardson" £300 "and to my brother James Richardson presently in Australia" £300. Sister Margaret Richardson or Scott also received "the interest or annual proceeds thereof" on £405, which capital on her death was to be divided "among the children of the said Margaret Richardson or Scott in the following sums ... "To Adam Scott £10 To David Scott £10 to James Scott £50 To George Scott £50 To Andrew Scott £20 To Jane Scott £75 To Robert Scott £20 To Margaret Scott £75 To Thomas Scott £20 To Catherine Scott £75" (if they had died, then divided amongst their children if any, or the surviving siblings if not) Also £10 to "Mrs Helen Turnbull or Pendrigh One Abram St Hulme Manchester daughter of Janet Peacock or Turnbull" and "to the children of my brother the said James Richardson" ... Jane Richardson or Woonton £90 to Robert Richardson £50 Catherine Richardson £50 to Andrew Richardson £20 to James Richardson £20 to Thomas Richardson £20 to William Richardson £20 and to Margaret Richardson £90 (with usual division to their children if they had died, or if no issue, equally among the other remaining siblings) ... "the whole rest residue and remainder of my said means and estate both heritable and moveable" went to "my said sisters Margaret Richardson or Scott and Jane Richardson equally share and share alike and the survivor of them whom I hereby constitute and appoint my residuary legatees and legatee" "Declaring that the whole provisions hereby conferred on the said Margaret Richardson or Scott and Catherine Scott are purely and strictly alimentary (sic) and shall not be assignable or renounceable by them or either of them or attachable by the diligence of their creditors" ... "And I consent to the registration hereof for preservation In Witness Whereof these presents" ... "are subscribed by me at Edinburgh on the twenty sixth day of September Eighteen hundred and eighty eight before these witnesses the said George Finlay Thomson and Martin McCall Junior also Clerk to the said McCall and Andrews (signed) Catherine Peacock. G Finlay Thomson Witness. Martin McCall Jr Witness"

She then changed her mind about the one off payment of £300 to her brother James and turned it into a quarterly payment of £7/10/- until the principal and interest from the investment of the £300 were exhausted. If he died before it was used up, then the balance was to be divided equally "among Jane Richardson or Woonton Catherine Richardson and Margaret Richardson children of my said brother James Richardson or to the survivors or survivor of them at my brothers death in case he shall survive me only".

Extracted from the Register of Deeds etc in the Books of Council and Session on this and the seventeen preceeding pages by me Assistant Keeper of said Register (signed) George D Balfour
Edinburgh 11th December 1890 Referred to in the affidavit signed by me of this date (signed) Thos Richardson Chris Douglas JP.⁶
     An Inventory of the estate of Catherine Richardson was taken on 11 Dec 1890 Edinburgh, MLN, SCT, and filed on the 12th. In her will Catherine had left bequests totalling £2375 (at a rough tally, some were only life interests rather than bequests). Her inventory shows her personal estate as totalling £2089/8/6 so I guess someone missed out somewhere along the line. It was made up of assorted deposits, mortgages, cash, household goods and "rents of Heritage belonging to deceased situated in Cousins Close, Edinburgh", her brother Thomas signed on behalf of the executors, himself, and sisters Margaret and Jane. At this date Thomas and Jane were both living in Lauriston Terrace and Margaret in Lothian Street.¹³

All the other info

     Catherine outlived her husband Adam Peacock who died on 17 Nov 1866.¹⁴