The Hampshire Family Historian | Vol.49 No.3 | December 2022

Member’s article

time. Walter’s Will, dated 4 January 1855 (he died on 13 February), made one of his younger sons James Marshall, who was a baker in Rochester, the executor and sole beneficiary. This Will was presented to the Admiralty on 28 February 1855, when James claimed a sum of £2-18-8 for arrears of his father’s pension – six months before Henry arrived in Winchester. Whether James and Henry were in contact with each other about these proceedings can only be guessed – presumably, due to the terms of Walter’s Will, James should also have been the sole heir of his mother’s estate. What were the legal implications of Henry’s (as it turned out false) claim that his father had died intestate? The final outcome may never be known. Peter Chandler (Member #12894) chandgnats@aol.com

Sources (in chronological order) Will of James Dance of Portsea. 1827, Prerogative Court of Canterbury, proved at London in 1830 (6 January). Will of Daniel Dance of Copnor. 1837, proved at Portsea in 1846. Will of William Dance of Portsea. 1845, proved at Portsea in same year. Will of Walter Marshall, superannuated shipwright of Chatham. 1855 (4 January); application to Admiralty for arrears of pension (28 February), National Archives. Administration of Henry Dance of Portsea. 1855 (10 May) (this and the two following carried out at the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Winchester). Administration of Walter and Elizabeth Marshall of Chatham. 1855 (20 August). Administration of James Henry Dance of Madras. 1857.

This epitaph is reputed to have been seen in Portsea somewhere but the paper did not know where and was asking if any reader knew more about it. Here lies Jemmy Little, a carpenter industrious, A very good natur’d man, but somewhat blusterous; When that his little wife his authority withstood, He took a little stick, and bang’d her as he wou’d. His wife now left alone her loss does so deplore, She wishes Jemmy back to bang her a little more: For now he’s dead and gone this fault appears so small, A little thing wou’d make her think it was no fault at all. Source :-Hampshire Telegraph 7 June 1873 and Roy M. Portsea Epitaph

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