I have some very exciting news to share.

The Palin Portraits that were allegedly painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds are now available for sale.

These portraits are thought to be of Thomas Palin (1714-1800) and his wife Elizabeth Smythe (1715-1787).  Thomas Palin was born and died in Aldford, Cheshire. 

 

Below is an appraisal that was done August 2, 2024.

 

Serious enquiries only and I will give the sellers information at that time.

Richard Palin Sheriff of Chester 1831/1832

Quite some time ago I had posted an article about a William Palin’s letter to the editor regarding Grosvenor Bridge.

 I have just found another letter to the editor regarding the same thing but with much more “Palin” information in it.  This letter was printed in the Chester Chronicle July 24, 1937

 

In the first letter he states that he is the grandson of Lt William Palin that led the procession across the newly opened Grosvenor Bridge.    In the letter above he gives his address of 53 Hoole Lane.  The letter was printed in the 1937 paper and we can find in the 1939 registry that William is still at the same address.

 53 Hoole Lane, Chester, Chester C.B., Cheshire

William A        Palin    10 Oct 1874    Male    Civil Cook Royal Air Force    Married

Sarah E            Palin    14 Oct 1877    Female   Newsagent    Married          

The record for this person is officially closed.

 

William Anthony Palin’s ancestry is shown below.

 

In the above letter he writes “They were entertained by the Mayor and Sheriff (my great uncle John Palin - not Richard Palin as stated in the last pageant as Richard did not belong to the city).  John Palin kept a grocery shop by the "Chronicle" office.  Richard was a partner in the Dee Mills.”

William Anthony Palin was great right in stating that his great uncle John had a shop and his great uncle Richard was partner in Dee Mills.   He was not right though in stating the Sherriff at the time was John and not Richard.  Everything that I can find lists Richard as the Sherriff of Chester in 1831/1832.

 British History web site  and see as well the Sheriff of Chester site.

 Even though Richard Palin 1802-1880 was involved with Dee Mill he was indeed living in Chester until at least 1841.  In the 1841 census he was living in the St Mary’s on the Hill division. 

 We also find a mention about Richard being the sheriff that was found in the Reades of Blackhill published in 1908

 

There are also numerous newspaper clipping that name the sheriff of Chester as Richard Palin.

 A real fun newspaper article was found in the Liverpool Mercury October 28, 1831

 

Finally I do want to mention the PS that was in the original letter lectured (pictured above)  which states “PS - I have a pair of silver spurs, silver feathers from a busby, a plan of proposed bridge done by my uncle, three hand pointed jugs with Wm. Palin, Highfield House, Curzon Park 1849, also photographs, paintings etc.

If anyone has the above mentioned items – PLEASE, PLEASE take a picture and share it with me!

 

If you want to see William Anthony Palin the tree you can find him here.

 

If you want to see the Richard Palin that was sheriff of Chester in 1831/1832 click here.

 

 

 

 

Shrewsbury Cake Palins

 I first blogged about these Palins quite some time ago, back in 2016, and love when I can find more proof of what I believed to be true.   I have just transcribed the will of Frances Palin nee Hill.  In the will she mentions the bakehouse on Castle Street that is currently occupied by William Upton.    She also mentions something else of interest - will you catch it?  Below is the transcription.

I Frances Palin of Saint John’s Hill Shrewsbury in the County of Salop widow do hereby revoke all former wills and codicils by me at any times heretofore made and declare this to be my last will and testament.  I desire to be buried at the parish church of Acton Scott in the said County of Salop but no unnecessary expense to be incurred thereby I direct that all my funeral expenses and all my just debts (amongst which is one of eighteen pounds to Doctor Darwin of Shrewsbury) shall be fully paid and satisfied in the first place out of my personal estate not herein after specifically bequeathing and in case the same shall not be sufficient for that purpose.  Thereby charge the said debts upon my real property here after devised. 

I give to Mrs. Elizabeth Home widow the sum of 10 pounds. 

I give to her son Thomas Home nineteen pounds no not in shillings.

I give to my only sister Mrs. Webster ten pounds and all my wearable apparel.

I give to my good and faithful servant Jane Wilson if living with me at my decease the sum of ten pounds with decent mourning.

I give to the Reverend William John James of Shrewsbury the five pictures in the drawing room in the house where I now reside and I direct that all the said legacies shall be paid within six months after my decease out of my personal estate if sufficient if not then out of my real estate.

I give and devise all that my messuage or dwelling House with the ground yards bakehouse and all the premises there unto belonging situate in Castle Street in Shrewsbury afore said now occupied by William Upton (subject to a certain mortgage debt of Four Hundred and forty pounds due to General Phillips of the Abbey Forgate Shrewsbury with whom the little deed now remains as a security) and also al the rest and reside of my real and personal estate and

End of page one

Effects whatsoever unto my good friend John Bickerton Oare of Willey in the County of Salop his heirs executors administrators and assigns according to the nature thereof respectively upon the trusts hereinafter the declared  (that is to say) in trust as to the reside of my person estate for my niece Elizabeth James wife of William James for her own sole separate and absolute use and benefit and not to be subject or liable in any manner to the debts contracts or interference of her present or future husband and her receipts alone to be sufficient discharges for the same.  And as to the said messuage premises and real estate in trust out of the rents and profits thereof to pay unto my nephew Thomas Evans son of my said  sister Webster the clear annual sum of eight pounds by equal quarterly payments from the time of my decease for and during the natural life of said Thomas Evans but I direct that in the case the said Thomas Evans shall assign or charge or otherwise dispose of the same annuity or attempt so to do before it shall from time to time become due as a foresaid the same shall immediately therein from cease and become void and be no longer payable and I direct that his receipts alone shall be from time to time sufficient discharges for the same so long as the same is payable as afore said.  And subject thereto and to the said mortgage for Four Hundred and forty pounds upon trust of such person or persons and for such estates and interests and in such manner and form as the said Elizabeth James shall be at any time or times hereafter notwithstanding coverture by any deed or deeds with or without power of revocation and new appointment to be by her sealed and delivered in the presence of and attested by two or more credible witness or by her last will and testament in writing to be by her signed and published in the presence of three or more credible witnesses direct limit appoint and in default of and until any such direction limitation or appointment.   In trust to pay the rent issues profits and produce thereof from time to time as and when the same shall become due and payable into the proper hands of the said Elizabeth James during her natural life for her sole separate and exclusive use.

End of page two

And benefit during her life without being in any manner subject or liable to the debt contracts or interference of her present or any future husband and her receipts alone to be sufficient discharges for the same and subject to the trusts aforesaid.  In trust for the said Elizabeth James her heirs and assigns forever free and clear of and from all estate or interest of curtesy or otherwise of her present or any future husband and to appoint the said John Bickerton Oare sole Executor and trustee of this my will and bequeath to him the sum of ten pounds as some slight remuneration for any trouble he may have therein and that he shall not be accountable for any accidental loss of any of the said trust property and shall be at liberty to reimburse himself  there out all costs and expenses in carrying the trusts thereof into execution in witness where if I have hereunto see my hand and seal this sixth day of July 1830 the year of our Lord.  One thousand eight hundred and thirty.

 

 

I Frances Palin do hereby publish and declare this sole a codicil in my will above written – Whereas I have in my said will devise all that my freehold messuage in Castle Street and all the rest and residue of my real estate subject and chargeable as therein mentioned in trust for such person or persons and for such person or persons and for such estates and interests as my heir Elizabeth James shall in name therein mentioned direct limit or appoint and until such appointment in trust to pay the rents and profits thereof to my said niece for her life and subject thereto in trust for my said niece her heirs and assigns forever.  Now I do hereby absolutely revoke so much of the said devise as relates lot the said power of appointment given to my said niece Elizabeth James over the said

End of Page three

Messuage and real estate and also the devise thereof in trust for my said niece and heirs and assigns forever and I do confirm the bequest of the rents and profits thereof to her for her life in manner aforesaid and subject thereto.  I do devise and declare that the said John Bickerton Oare and his heirs shall stand possessed thereof in trust for all and every the child and children of my said niece Elizabeth James who shall live to attain the age of 21 years respectively and the rents and the profits thereto be applied by the said John Bickerton Oare towards their main attendance during their minorities in case my said niece shall die during any such minorities and in case none of the child or children of my said niece shall live to attain their age of 21 years then I give and devise  the said freehold messuage and real estate unto and for the sole and separate use and benefit of my said niece Elizabeth James and her heirs and assigns forever free from all interest and control whatsoever  of her present or any future and in all other respects I confirm my said will.

In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this day of 1830. 

Did you catch the other small piece of interest?   Who her family Doctor was?  That is right - her family doctor is Charles Darwin's father!    

Runcorn Hawker's Home

Very seldom do I come across a newspaper article that does not paint a Palin cousin in a favourable light.     I have a hard time accepting things at face value and constantly wonder, “What is the story, behind the story?”

Here is an article found in the Northwich Guardian on May 21, 1912.

Alleged Attempt to Poison A Farmer Near Middlewich

We all know that life was different for our ancestors back in their day.  They did not have the conveniences we have at our disposal today.   Many things would have made their lives easier like electric lights, washing machines, electric stoves, fridges, and farm equipment.  These would have been a dream come true for many.   But would these things really have made them happier?   There seems to be a few today that purposely go to live off the grid.

If had to pick out the one of the most important differences between now and then,  I think it is not what they didn't have, it is what many of our ancestors had to endure that we do not.  Servitude.

I found a rather disturbing twisted court case that involved a young girl back in 1877.   This newspaper article was found in the Northwich Guardian October 24, 1877.

Grosvenor Bridge History

Every once in a while I come across some thing that is priceless.  This was found in the Cheshire Observer October 23, 1937.