Stephen Sumpter

  Notes:

Grave in Sumpter 'cluster' in St Peters, Irthlingborough;
Stephen Sumpter. Son of Thomas Freeman xxxxxx Sumpter. Died June 20th 1856, aged 63 years

1841 Census; Living, as head, aged 45, in the High St., Irthlingborough with widowed mother and a Maria MONEY and Mary Goddard - both are 20 and look like servants. Occupation; Publican. This Maria Elizabeth Money (dau of Solomon) is mentioned in his will - "resides with me". Solomon being late of Chelsea and Money being his mother's mdn name.

1847; There is a letter to the Lord High Chancellor singing the praises of a Rev Michael Augustus Gathercole and approving of "his conduct in the arduous struggle in which he is engaged against the enemies of the church by John Hinds"
signed by LOTS of people inc;
W Wright, Farmer, Irthlingborough
W.P. Wright, Gent, Irthlingborough ; WHO is this ?
John Holbrook, Gent, Ithlingborough
Stephen Sumpter, Farmer, Irthlingborough

Northampton Mercury; Sat 2 Oct 1847; Wellingborough Petty Sessions; Mr Stephen Sumpter charged three lads of Irthlingborough with robbing an orchard, but on account of an important witness being absent the matter was deferred.
The next bit is nothing to do with us, but is quite funny and reads; " Funny Legs. William Partridge of Rushden paid 8s 4d on account of a freak which his legs played him by carrying him from one public-house to another, and then refusing to carry him home"

"History, gazetteer, and directory of Northamptonshire; comprising a general survey of the county" 1849; Stephen Sumpter is listed at Irtlingborough, at 'The Bull'.

1851 Census; Indexed as 'Stphen Sampler' ! ; Living, unmarried aged 57, as head in Irthlingborough with cousin Maria Money and servant xxxxx Line. PoB is Irthlingborough. Occupation; Innkeeper and Farmer employing 2 labourers. Cousin gives occupation as 'Head Keeper' so presumably she ran the pub?

Will dated 23 May 1856, occupation given is Victualler. This gives death date, probate granted 16 May 1857. Value for tax purposes - under £600. John Pirkins Wright was executor of his will which also mentions George & Julia Rands, William Wright, John Jenkins Wright, The Holbrooks, Money (his mothers surname), Rowe (his aunts Sarah's husbands name) and various other people who don't (yet) appear to be relatives with surnames; Wallis, Freestone, Clarke, Steptoe, Izzard, Scroxton, Hurlston and Rooksby. Basically;
1.John Wallis and John Freestone were the executors.
2.Richard Money (son of Solomon Money late of 1 James St, Marlborough Rd, Chelsea) recd £100.
3.Maria Eliza Money (dau of same Solomon) recd £500, she resided with Sumpter
4.Mary Ann Money (later Clarke, wife of Thomas Robert) (dau of same Solomon) recd £200.
5.Wm Money of Dunstable recd £100.
6.Children of late Susannah Steptoe (dau of his late Uncle John Sumpter) recd £50 to be divided between them
7.Children of late Jane Izzard (late Westway (another dau of John Sumpter) recd £50 to be divided between them.
8.Children of late George Freeman Scroxton (of Irthlingborough) recd £50 to be divided amongst them.
9.Susannah, wife of Wm Hurlston, of 3 Millman St., Bedford Row, London (formerly Susannah Scroxton, spinster) £50
10.Children of late Sarah Rowe of Irthlingborough £50 to be divided between them. This is his cousin, nee Sumpter.
11.Emma Rooksby, dau of Hannah Rooksby late of Irthlingborough, £50.
..... so thus far that is £1,200 - but estate valued at under £600 ! However looking at another document this could just be the value of the "goods, chattels and credits".
12.It then appears that any excess (fat chance!) was to go to "my friend Wm Wright" during his life and then to....
13."The four children of the said Wm Wright namely John Pirkins Wright, Sarah Ann now the wife of Thomas Holbrook, Mary Elizabeth now the wife of John Holbrook and Julia now the wife of George Rands.
14.Codicil that "old and faithful servant Issac Baker" should receive £19 and 16s.
14.Wm Wright is described in the will as "tenant for life".
15.John Freestone died before Sumpter.
16.John Wallis (and also Wm Wright although he not named as an executor!) seemed to have handed over the admin of the will to John P Wright, although possibly this was just the "Goods, chattels and credits".
17.John P Wright and George Rands and Wm Wright then seem to have paid £1500 pounds to the Bishop of Peterborough!?!? And passed over admin to John P Wright.
In short, very complicated (12 pages in total) and I don't really understand what is happening ! However there could well have been an excess for the Wright's as I think the £600 just refers to personal chattels; ie not land or securities.

Northampton Mercury; Sat 19th July 1856; To be sold by auction at the Bull Inn, Irthlingborough on Tuesday 31st July 1856. By order of the Trustees for Sale under the will of the late Mr.Stephen Sumpter, deceased).
Lot 1; All of that old-established Messuage or Inn known by the name or sign of 'The Bull' with the extensive outbuildings, yard, walled garden, and other appurtenances thereunto belonging, most eligibly situated in the centre of the village of Irthlingborough and lately for many years in the tenure or occupation of the late Mr.Stephen Sumpter. And also all that substantial messuage or tenement adjoining thereto, with the outbuildings and apputenances thereunto belonging, now in the occupation of Miss Fillingham. N.B. the above premises from their extent and the great number of useful and substantial buildings thereon, are well adapted for a large wholesale trade, or any business or manufacture requiring room.
Lot 2; All that valuable Garden, Orchard and close of pasture land called 'The Home Close' containing altogether 1a 1r 5p (more or less) lying at the back of and nearly contiguous to Lot 1, and lately also in the occupation of the said Stephen Sumpter.
Lot 3; All that close of old enclosed arable land, in Irthlingborough aforesaid, commonly called 'Rye Close' and containing about 1a 3e 0p (more or less) lying at a short distance eastward from Lot 2, and abutting on the Road to Little Addington , lately also in the occupation of the said Stephen Sumpter.
Lot 4; All that close of excellent turnip land in Irthlingborough aforesaid commonly called 'Rowe's Close' containing about 1a 2r 34p (more or less) lying on the west side of the road leading from Irthlingborough to Little Addington, lately also in the occupation of the said Stephen Sumpter. And also all that valuable close of pasture land adjoining the last mentioned close of the West, and containing about 5 1/2 acres (more or less), , lately also in the occupation of the said Stephen Sumpter.
Lot 5; All those two closes of valuable turnip land in Irthlingborough aforesaid, lying also on the west side of the road leading from Irthlingborough to Little Addlington, and adjoining lot 4 to the north, containing together about 15 acres (more or less), , lately also in the occupation of the said Stephen Sumpter.
Lot 6; All that valuable close of meadow land in Irthlingborough lying in a place called 'March Meadow' and containing about 7 acres (more or less), , lately also in the occupation of the said Stephen Sumpter.
N.B. Lots 1, 3 and 6 are freehold, and lots 2, 4 and 5 are copyhold - but the copyholds being 'fine certain' are equal in value to freehold.
To view the premises ; apply to Mr J Freestone, Irthlingborough and for further particulars to him; to the Auctioneers, Wellingborough; to Messrs Murphy and Sharman, Solicitors, Wellingborough; or to Mr.Rands, Solicitor, Newlands, Northampton.

Google books there is reference to a "Stephen Sumpter, Farmer, Irthlingborough" in Testimonies to the Value and usefullness to the Church, and the Constitution of the Country.