Dame Catherine DAVIS-BOVEY [3061]

  General Notes:

Catherine Bovey
Birth Date2 Jul 1732
Baptism Date19 Jul 1732
Baptism PlaceLongstowe,Cambridge,England
FatherThomas Davies Bovey
MotherKatherine
FHL Film Number942.59 L2 K29CH

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

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.

  Other Records

1. Dame Catherine Alston nee Davis - Bovey: Will, 24 Aug 1774, Odell BDF.
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, £100 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 £1000 to John.
Proved PCC 25 June 1778.


Will Dame Catherine Davies Alston
24 August 1774.
I Dame Catherine Davies Alston widow and relict of Sir Thomas Alston late of Odell in the county of Bedford Baronet deceased being of sound and disposing mind, memory, and understanding do make my last Will and testament in manner following, that is to say, after all my just debts and funeral expenses are fully paid and satisfied,
I give devise, and bequeath unto John Wasse of Stafford Green in the county of Stafford Esquire and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life one annuity or yearly sum of one hundred pounds a year clear of all deductions whatsoever for land tax or otherwise to be issuing and payable out of my estates in Cambridgeshire by half yearly payments, the first payment thereof to begin and be made at the end of six calendar months next after my decease and I hereby give him and them such remedies, powers, and authorities for the recovery of the same from time to time in case of nonpayment thereof as landlords have on tenants by distress or entry into all or any part of the said estates as occasion may require till payment thereof with all arrears and costs and from and after his decease
I give, devise, and bequeath unto my son Charles of the age of four years or thereabouts and my daughter Hannah of the age of eleven years or thereabouts both now living with me a like sum of one hundred pounds a year clear of all deductions whatsoever for land tax or otherwise to be issuing and payable out of my said estates in Cambridgeshire by half yearly payments the first payment thereof to begin and be made at the end of six calendar months next after the decease of the said John Wasse to hold to them and the heirs of their respective bodies lawfully begotten or to be begotten to take as tenants in common and not as joint tenants but in case either of them shall happen to die without issue then my mind and Will is that the share of such one so dying shall go to the survivor and the heirs of his or her body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and I
hereby give them and each of them such remedies, powers, and authority for the recovery thereof in case
of nonpayment as I have hereinbefore given to the said John Wasse
Also I do hereby give, devise, and bequeath unto William Ing of Lichfield in the county of Stafford Esquire, the Reverend Benjamin Warren of Burbrook in the county of Northampton clerk, and to the Reverend Mr. Burrows of Rugby in the county of Warwick, their heirs and assigns all my manors, messuages, lands, tenements, advowsons, and hereditaments with all the privileges, advantages, and appurtenances in the county of Bedford and Cambridge subject to the payment of the said yearly sums as aforesaid out of my said estates in the county of Cambridge to have and to hold to them, their heirs, and assigns in trust and to and for the several uses herein after particularly mentioned that is to say in trust and to and for the use and behoof of
my son John of the age of fourteen years or thereabouts now also living with me and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and in default of such issue then in trust and to and for the use of my said son Charles and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and in default of such issue then in trust and to and for the use of my said daughter Hannah and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and in default of such issue then in trust and to and for the use of the said John Wasse and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life and from and after his decease then in trust and to and for the use of my daughter Frances of the age of eighteen years or thereabouts now living at Stamford in the county of Lincoln and my daughter Catherine of the age of seventeen years or thereabouts now living at Rotherhithe near London and the heirs of their several bodies lawfully begotten or to be begotten to take as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and in case either of them shall die without issue then in trust that the share of her so dying to go and belong to the survivor and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and in default of such issue of either of my same two daughters then in trust and to and for the use of the said John Wasse, his heirs and assigns forever and whereas I have by indentures of lease and release bearing date respectively the sixteenth and seventeenth days of this instant August given and conveyed unto the said John Wasse a messuage or tenement in Long Acre in the county of Middlesex to hold and to the use of the said John Wasse, his heirs and assigns forever now I do hereby confirm such gift and conveyance also I give and bequeath unto the said William Ing, Benjamin Warren, and Mr. Burrows the sum of twenty five guineas apiece to buy each of them a ring and as some recompense for the trouble which they may have in the execution of this my Will also I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Hannah my gold watch with the etui gold seal set with diamonds and all trinkets and other things thereto belonging also I give and bequeath unto my said son Charles my Mocoa¹ snuff box [?] set in gold also all the rest and residue of my diamonds and jewels I give and bequeath unto my said son John also all the rest and residue of my real and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever I give, devise, and bequeath unto my said son Charles and daughter Hannah, their heirs, executors, and administrators equally to be divided between them share and share alike to take as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and in case either die before twenty one without issue my Will is the share of such dying shall go to the survivor, his or her heirs, executors or administrators and I do hereby appoint the said William Ing, Benjamin Warren, and Mr. Burrows executors of this my Will and guardians of my said several children till their respective ages of twenty one years and I hereby declare that either of them shall not be answerable for the others nor for the acts, deeds, or receipts of the others or other of them but each for his own several and respective acts, deeds, and receipts only and declare this to be my last Will and testament in witness whereof I have this my last Will and testament contained in four sheets of paper set my hand at the foot of each of the first three sheets thereof and my hand and seal at the foot of the last sheet thereof this twenty fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy four.
Catherine Davies Alston S.S.
Signed, sealed, published, and delivered by the above and before named testatrix as and for her last Will and testament in the presence of us who in her presence and in the presence of each other and at her request have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
Pt. Davies of Duke Street Marylebone,
Wm. Inskipp of Old Warden Bedfordshire,
Margaret Beaumont of South Audley Street London.

This Will was proved at London with two codicils the twenty fifth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight before the right worshipful Sir George Hay Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of William Inge Esquire by mistake in the second Will called Ing and Stanley Burroughs by mistake in the second Will called Burrows two of the executors named in the Will to whom administration was granted
of all and singular the goods, chattels, and credits of the deceased having been first sworn by common duly to administer power reserved of making the like grant to the Reverend Benjamin Warren clerk the other executor named in the said Will when he shall apply for the same.

A codicil to be taken as part of the last Will and testament of me Dame Catherine Davies Alston I give
and bequeath unto my son John the sum of one thousand pounds as witness my hand and seal the seventh day of April one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight.
Catherine Davies Alston S.S.
Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the above named Dame Catherine Davies Alston in the
presence of us Pr. Davies, Jn. Bennett

Whereas I Dame Catherine Davies Alston have by my last Will and testament in writing bearing date the fourth day of August 1774 and by me duly executed and attested given and bequeathed unto John Wasse of Stafford Green in the county of Stafford Esquire and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life one annuity or yearly sum of one hundred pounds clear of all deductions and payable as therein is mentioned as by the same Will may more fully appear now I the said Dame Catherine Davies Alston do by this second codicil to my said Will not only confirm the said request to the said John Wasse but do also give and bequeath to him and his assigns one other annuity or yearly sum of one hundred pounds clear of all deductions whatsoever to be issuing and payable out of my messuages, land, tenements, and hereditaments in the county of Cambridge by equal half yearly payments to be made at Michaelmas and Lady Day the first payment thereof to begin and be made at such of the said days as shall first and next happen after my decease with such powers of distress and remedies for enforcing the payment thereof as are usual in cases of rent in arrears and unpaid and whereas I have by a codicil to my said Will dated the 7th day of April 1778 given and bequeathed to my son John the sum of one thousand pounds now I do hereby direct that my said son John shall when in the possession and enjoyment of my said real estates in Cambridgeshire
pay the said legacy of one thousand pounds unto my son Charles and my daughter Hannah, their executors, administrators, and assigns in equal shares and proportions within twelve months after he shall be in possession or in the receipt of the rents and profits of my said real estates and I do hereby direct that this shall be annexed to and be taken as a second codicil to and part of my said Will, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the second day of May in the year of our Lord 1778
Catherine Davies Alston S.S.
Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said Dame Catherine Davies Alston as and for a further
codicil to her last Will and testament in the presence of us who attested the same at her request and as well in the presence of her as of each other the word "others" being first interlined.
Joseph Dickinson clerk,
A. Campbell, M.D.
W. Keen attorney at Stafford.

1. Mocoa The one instance I found of this was set with gold; I believe it is an exotic wood, but could be moss agate which was known at the time as Mocha stone having been brought, like coffee, from Mocha on the Red Sea.
<https://sarahs-history-place.blogspot.com/2011/10/snuffboxes-and-materials-that-made-them.html?fbclid=IwAR0sHEwRxzmwF6gogMoKeVJ4N3A930FK8-dED6qACywGxbatNcukkWTSLKs>

Transcribed and translated by C. L. O'Sullivan 23.08.2022

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, baptised 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 Esq [4168] [MRIN: 1441], son of WASSE [18750] and Unknown. (John WASSE of Stafford Esq [4168] died before 11 Apr 1807.)