Record

D8760 - Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth - 1714-1994
- F - Family records of the extended Franklin family and the Gell family of Hopton Hall - 1714-1994
  - FEG - Records of Eleanor Isabella Gell nee Franklin, daughter of Sir John and Eleanor Franklin and wife of Reverend John Philip Gell - 1828-[early 20th cent]
    - 1 - Correspondence of Eleanor Isabella Gell nee Franklin - 1828-1859
      - 27 - Letters from Henry Sellwood to his niece Eleanor Isabella Franklin, later Gell - 1849-1855

Browse this collection	This entry describes an individual archive record or file. Click here to browse the full catalogue for this collection
Archive Reference / Library Class No.	D8760/F/FEG/1/27/1
Former Reference	D3311/122/1-2
Title	Letter from Henry Sellwood to his niece Eleanor Isabella Franklin, relating to the extent of the powers left by Eleanor's father to Lady Franklin and the authority she has to dispose of any of his property; with envelope
Date	20 May 1849
Description	2 sheets with envelope, with postmarks for Farnham 20 May 1849, and 21 May 1849 (no place)
Extent	3 pieces
Level	Item
Repository	Derbyshire Record Office
Full Catalogue List	Click here to view a full list for this collection
Sender	Henry Sellwood
Sender Location	Hale
Recipient	Eleanor Isabella Franklin
Recipient Location	John Griffin's, Esquire, 21 Bedford Place, Russell Square, London
Archive Creator	Eleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860)
Archive Creator	Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
Format	Document
Copies	A digital copy of this item can be viewed on the public computers at the record office.
Term	Franklin Expedition (1845)
Transcript or Index	Hale 20th May 1849 My dear Niece I cannot give anything like a satisfactory answer to any of the questions you put to me until I know the extent of the power which your Father left with Lady Franklin. Mr Bedford the Architect was joint Trustee with myself in the Settlement made on the marriage of your Father & Mother and I fancy either a brother or some connexion of his was employed by your Father as his Solicitor. It appears to me that the first thing for you to do is to ascertain who prepared the power of Attorney left by your Father with Lady Franklin and to obtain a copy of it. You will then know what authority she has to dispose of any part of his property & will be enabled to judge how far any interference on your part could be effectual. I need scarcely say how essential it must be for you to avoid an open rupture with Lady Franklin if possible. It strikes me that if circumstances will allow it your marriage is most desirable as it would give Mr Gell authority to act in all that concerns your property. The property which was your Mother’s must come to you on your Father’s death altho’ possibly no part of the annual income arising from it can be claimed by you until his death. The question occurs here. What does the power left with Lady F. say regarding the disposal of this income. Mr Coverdale may probably be employed by Lady Franklin. He is (I consider) an honourable man and also a cautious one and he would not advance money without being well satisfied that Lady Franklin had full power to dispose of your Father’s property in his absence. The stock which has been transferred into the name of Willingham F. is in trust to secure the £3000 reward I presume and he will scarcely require cautioning against letting Lady F. have any part of the proceeds towards the outfit of the Abram [a whaler Lady Franklin hired for the Franklin search expeditions]. I will only add that I shall be most happy to render you every assistance in my power either by advice or action in your trying circumstances. Emily [Lady Tennyson - in pencil underneath] sends her love. Believe me Yours affectionately Hen. Sellwood P.S. Your Mother’s Marriage Settlement is probably in the hands of Mr Bedford her Trustee and he would no doubt allow you to see it. Until I have seen the Settlement I cannot say what power we have altho’ there is no doubt but we jointly with yourself could settle the property (subject to your Father’s life interest) in any way that might be thought proper on your marriage. Envelope: Miss Franklin John Griffins Esq.re 21 Bedford Place Russel Square London Postmarked "Farnham MY 20 1849", another postmark reverse "21MY21 1849" (In pencil on reverse) Letter from H Sellwood re Lady Franklin powers before the marriage of her stepdaughter

Add to My Items

Florence Nightingale

Tweets by DRO

George M. Woodward (1767-1809), cartoonist

Florence Nightingale

National Coal Board

Sir John Franklin (1786-1847), naval officer and arctic explorer

Collection Highlights

Record

Useful Links

See more Collection highlights