Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Ross, Elizabeth to Cardwell, Edward 6 May 1864, CO 60:20, no. 4232, 360.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (6), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (2).
Ross asks Cardwell to initiate a
searching enquiry into the amount of effectsleft by her deceased son in British Columbia. Blackwood and Elliot minute their debate over whether the Crown Agents have standard practices when dealing with the estate of deceased colonial settlers. Pennell reports that
there was no general practice for referring applications of this kind to the Agents General.
Ross to Cardwell
No 9 Church Street
Inverness
6 May 1864
Inverness
Sir
I have to apologize to you for troubling you in the matter of
this letter but as I can get no reply to my private letters I have no
alternative but to fall back upon you.
The affixed Note which I would thank you to return is cut from
The Inverness Courier of the 14th August 1862 and refers to my
deceased son.
He was at the time of his death in the service of a firm of the
name of Livingston Fargo & Co who as far as I can learn were due him
a considerable sum of money at his death andotherwise
otherwise he must have
left considerable effects.
otherwise he must have
left considerable effects.
In the circumstances I have to request you to take a widowed
mothers feelings into consideration and issue an order on The
Governor of British Columbia to institute a strict and searching
enquiry into the amount of effects left by him and to order him to
take the necessary measures to cause these to be restored to or
remitted to me.
The Right Honble
Edward Cardwell
&c &c
Edward Cardwell
&c &c
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
As the writer represents her belief that a considerable sum of money was owing to her Son at his decease I think she may fairly be told that her proper course is to apply to a legal Agent in the Colony to see after her son's Estate. Cases such as these impose a considerable correspondence on this Office, & do not form a legitimate part of our business.
As the writer represents her belief that a considerable sum of money was owing to her Son at his decease I think she may fairly be told that her proper course is to apply to a legal Agent in the Colony to see after her son's Estate. Cases such as these impose a considerable correspondence on this Office, & do not form a legitimate part of our business.
In case the applicant is not
acquainted with the name of any
legal Agent in the Colony we might mention, tho' without
recommending, that of Mr Crease, the Attorney Genl.
acquainted with the name of any
legal Agent in the Colony we might mention, tho' without
recommending, that of Mr Crease, the Attorney Genl.
ABd
9 May
She thinks two things—1st That he must have died possessed
of considerable effects, and 2nd that his employers must have owed
him money. As to the first point, is there not some general practice
about referring applicants to the Agents for Crown Colonies? I think
I have seen recent instances.
TFE
9 May
A search & enquiries have been made & we cannot find that any
practice, such as you suppose, exists.
ABd
10 May
I mean Intestate Estates: this Woman thinks her relative died
Intestate. Is it really the case that the Crown Agents do not attend
to Intestate Estates in the Colonies or receive information about
them?
TFE
10 May
Mr Elliot
Having ascertained from the several Divisions of the Office that there was no general practice for referring applications of this kind to the Agents General, I wrote to Mr Sargeaunt to ask him whether they attended to Intestate Estates in the Colonies or received information about them, and I annex Mr Sargeaunts note in answer.
Having ascertained from the several Divisions of the Office that there was no general practice for referring applications of this kind to the Agents General, I wrote to Mr Sargeaunt to ask him whether they attended to Intestate Estates in the Colonies or received information about them, and I annex Mr Sargeaunts note in answer.
EBP
12-5/64
Other documents included in the file
We constantly make enquiries of the various Colonial Authorities
about persons and property in the Colonies, if Mrs Ross would fill
up the enclosed form as altered and send it here I will forward it to
the Government of British Columbia with a request for information.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
[Enclosure with above:]
Printed form, "Particulars required to obtain INFORMATION
respecting a COLONIST."
Minutes by CO staff
Tell Mrs Ross that the S. of State has no information on the
subject of her letter, & that he is unable to undertake inquiry into
the affairs of private individuals, but that if she will address
herself to the Agents for Crown Colonies at No (address), they may
possibly be able to give her some assistance in seeking information.
Draft.
TFE
12 May
