1944 and 1960 conveyance.

• Conveyance bundle includes purchases in 1944 and 1960 and a plan of the property, land and its location.
  • Dated 28^th August 1944:
  • Mrs BA Hodson and Miss MJ Hodson
  • to
  • Mrs Kathleen Copley (scored through in pencil)
  • Mrs Day (in pencil)
  • Conveyance
  • of
  • two freehold messuages and
  • premises situate at Hickling
  • in the County of Nottingham.
• Involved parties (see also 1934 conveyance):
  • Bertha Annie Hodson* the wife of William Hodson of number 13 Glapthorn Road Oundle in the County of Northampton (housekeeper)
  • Mary Jane Hodson* of Hickling in the County of Nottingham spinster
  • * vendors
  • Kathleen Copley the wife of Richard Copley of The Laurels Hickling (saddler and harness maker) – purchaser.
• Purchase price: £200
• “All those two messuages or cottages and hereditaments (formerly one messuage or tenement) with the garden and orchard and appurtenances thereto adjoining and belonging situate at Hickling aforesaid and now in the occupation of the Mary Jane Hodson and F Fisher (the latter being formerly in the occupation of GF Shelton) to hold unto the purchaser in fee simple.”
• The vendors agree to provide (if asked) copies of the will and probate of Mary Ann Hodson (probate dated 2^nd July 1915) and letters of administration of the estate of Charles Hodson dec’d dated 14^th November 1933.
• Mary Jane Hodson’s signature is witnessed by D. Simpson of Hickling (Butcher).

Also:

• Dated 26^th August 1960.
  • Mrs CEE Day
  • to
  • Mrs E Duck-Seaton
  • Conveyance
  • of
  • two cottages known as “The
  • Retreat” and “Holly Cottage”
  • Main Road Hickling in the
  • County of Nottingham
• Involved parties:
  • *Catherine Ettie Ellen Day of 14 George Road West Bridgford in the County of Nottingham (vendor)
  • Emma Duck-Seaton of 211 Arkwright Street in the City of Nottingham the wife of Edwin Seaton (purchaser)
• Purchase price £900.
• “All those two messuages or cottages and hereditaments with the garden and orchard and appurtenances thereto adjoining and belonging situate at Hickling in the County of Nottingham and known as “The Retreat” and “Holly Cottage” Main Road Hickling …”
• Note: *Catherine Ettie Ellen Day (vendor) previously Kathleen Copley.

1944 abstract of title

• 1944: Abstract of the Title of Mrs Bertha Annie Hodson and Miss Mary Jane Hodson to two cottages and premises situate at Hickling in the County of Nottingham (Latham New & Smith Melton Mowbray).
• The abstract is typed with some handwritten additions – see scans of the original documents for full transcript.
• Memo added covering the conveyance of 1934 following the death of Charles Hodson and transferring ownership to Bertha Annie Hodson and Mary Jane Hodson.
• 10^th October 1904: Mary Ann Hodson’s Will appointed her husband, Charles Hodson, her sole executor and beneficiary.
• 17^th July 1914: death of Mary Ann Hodson
• 2^nd July 1915: probate granted – property passes to Charles Hodson
• 23^rd April 1933: death of Charles Hodson (poultry keeper)
• 14^th November 1933: probate granted to Bertha Annie Hodson and Mary Jane Hodson – “lawful sisters of the whole blood and two of the persons entitled to share in the estate”.
• 11^th December 1934: property conveyed to Bertha Annie Hodson and Mary Jane Hodson (Emily Richardson and Harry Hodson release their shares) – see conveyance 1934.
• 1934: property occupied by Mary jane Hodson, Edward Willett and GF Shelton.
• 11^th & 22^nd August 1944: Official land registry searches undertaken (see separate documents for originals).

Correspondence between Kathleen Copley and Mary Jane Hodson (28^th August 1944):

• Kathleen Copley of The Laurels, Hickling, Notts.
• Mary Jane Hodson agrees to pay Kathleen Copley one shilling per annum and in return Mary Jane Hodson is permitted to occupy the cottage for the remainder of her life without further payment.
• Mary Jane Hodson is also permitted to take a supply of fruit and vegetables from the garden and orchard for her own use but Mrs Copley isn’t obliged to grow fruit and vegetables for this purpose.
• This agreement lasts for Mary Jane’s Hodson lifetime or if she is absent from the cottage for more than a calendar month.

Land Charges Documents – official searches (1944):

1. Dated 3^rd August 1944
   • “2 messuages or cottages (formerly one) with the garden, orchard and appurtenances thereto adjoining, now in the occupation of Mary Jane Hodson and F Fisher.”
   • Fee paid: 7/6d
   • Prepared for: Messrs Browne Jacobson & Hallam, Solicitors, 44 Friar Lane, Nottingham.
   • Named in the searches:
     • Hodson – Bertha Annie – wife of William Hodson of 13 Clapthorn Rd, Oundle in the County of Northampton.
     • Hodson – Mary Jane – Hickling, in the County of Nottingham, Spinster
     • Hodson – Charles – Hickling in the County of Nottingham
     • Richardson – Emily – 12 Khandalla Place, Beeston Hill, Leeds, Yorkshire, widow.
     • Hodson – Harry – 13 Belton Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire.
2. Dated 17^th August 1944
   • Identical to the search of 3^rd August 1944 except:
   • Emily Richardson isn’t noted as a widow
   • Occupier information not included

Abstract of Title (1960):

• As above (1934 onwards).
• 1960: Abstract of the Title of Mrs AEE Day to property situate at Hickling in the County of Nottingham (RH Truman & Appleby, 22 Park Row, Nottingham).
• 28^th August 1944: conveyance between Bertha Annie Hodson and Mary Jane Hodson (vendors) and Kathleen Copley of The Laurels (purchaser).
  • Purchase price £200.
  • Currently occupied by MJ Hodson and F Fisher.
• 5^th August 1955: original marriage certificate produced – Catherine Ettie Ellen (scored through) Kathleen Copley married George Day on this day at the Methodist Church, Church St. Ruddington in the County of Nottingham.

Kathleen Copley/Day: correspondence of identification:

Letter from RH Truman (solicitor) confirming that he knew Kathleen (Catherine Ettie Ellen) Copley before her marriage to George Day, that he advised on their marriage and made arrangements for it be held in Ruddington. He confirms that he has met them both since the wedding and that Kathleen Copley is now Mrs Day.

Dear Sirs,

I have known Mrs Catherine Ettie Ellen Day for at least ten years and I have acted for her professionally. Mrs Day was formerly Mrs Catherine Ettie Ellen Copley. In or about July 1955, Mrs Copley (as she then was) called to see me and said that she had had a proposal of marriage from an old friend of hers, a Mr George Day and that she felt she would like to accept the proposal, but would like my advice as to the wisdom of the match having regard to the fact that Mr Day was many years older than she was. I had met Mr Day, a charming old gentleman, and thought that these two people would be very happy together and I took the rather heavy responsibility of telling Mrs Copley to accept the offer. A few days later Mrs Copley called to see me with mr day, saying that they wanted a very quiet wedding to take place, if possible, somewhere other than West Bridgford and they asked me if I could possibly make the wedding arrangements. I knew Mr Eastwood, the Minister of the Methodist Church at Ruddington quite well and I accordingly got in touch with him and explained the circumstances, asking if he would be so kind as to perform the wedding ceremony. He, o course, saw Mr Day and Mrs Copley and agreed to arrange for the ceremony to be conducted by him on August 5^th 1955. I was not present at the wedding, but after August 5^th 1955, I saw Mr and Mrs Day on a number of occasions and they thanked me for having made the arrangements with mr eastwood. I have no doubt that the lady I had previously known as Mrs Copley was the person who was married to Mr Day at Ruddington on August 5^th 1955.

Yours sincerely,

RH Truman.

Day/Copley Statutory Declaration (1960):

• Dated 21^st August 1960; Statutory Declaration by Mrs CEE Day (RH Truman & Appleby, Nottingham)
• Declaration by Catherine Ettie Ellen day of 14 George Rd West Bridgford in the County of Nottingham:
  • Commonly known as Kathleen Day.
  • Confirms the conveyance of the property to her (by Bertha Annie Hodson and Mary Jane Hodson) in her then name of Kathleen Copley.
  • Confirms her subsequent marriage to George Day in 1955 (certificate enclosed).
  • Confirms that Catherine Ettie Ellen (Kathleen) Copley and Catherine Ettie Ellen Day are one and the same person.
  • Declares that she has the right to sell said property to Mrs Emma Duck-Seaton.
  • “… ‘the Retreat’ and ‘Holly Cottage’ and now in the occupation of the said Mrs Emma Duck-Seaton.”
• Wedding Certificate Copley/Day:
  • George Day – age 82 years – widower – wheelwright & joiner (retired) – 10, Clifford Street, Nottingham – father, William Day (deceased, sawyer)
  • Catherine Ettie Ellen Copley – age 67 years – widow – 14, George Road, west Bridgford – father John Henry Smith (deceased, businessman).
  • (confirms weeding details above)
  • Handwritten notes added for certification:
• Wedding Certificate – certified copy also attached

Notes, Conveyance and Land Charges Document (1960)

Land Charge:

• Application for an official search: 23^rd August 1960
• Messrs Richards & Flewitt solicitors Castle Place Nottingham
• “The Retreat” and “Holly Cottage” Main Road Hickling
• Search identifies:
  • Hodson – Charles – Hickling Notts – Poultry keeper
  • Hodson – Bertha Annie – Glapthorn Road, Oundle, northants – married woman
  • Hodson – Mary Jane – Hickling Notts – spinster
  • Copley – Kathleen – Hickling Notts – married woman
  • Copley – Catherine Ettie Ellen – Hickling Notts – married woman
  • Day – Catherine Ettie Ellen – 14 George Road, West Bridgford, Notts – widow

Notes:

• Kathleen Copley: listed in the 1939 Register at The Laurels in Hickling:
  • Richard Copley (b.29^th August 1865, saddler & cheese factor)
  • Kathleen Copley (b. 5^th August 1888, unpaid domestic duties) – additional notes (1) o/w Catherine Ettie Ellen (2) Day
  • Dorothy Goldrick (b. 10^th July 1932, scholar (evacuee?)) amended Dorothy Mary Ludlow.
  • Edna Tranter (b. 5^th July 1932, scholar (evacuee?))
• Census records imply that Kathleen was Richard Copley’s second wife (marrying Ann (nee Button Shelton of Cropwell Bishop d.1935 and buried in Hickling churchyard) in 1888 and 5 children); however, this needs verifying.
• Richard Copley married Catherine EE Smith in 1937.
• Richard Copley appears to have died in 1853 and, by age, is a contemporary of Kathleen’s second husband, George Day.
• (Unverified: A Catherine Smith is baptised in Willoughby-on-the-Wolds; parents Israel (travelling tinker) and Margaret Smith – no other local records match Kathleen Copley’s details)

Supplemental Abstract of Title; Mrs S Duck-Seaton (1962):

• 1962 Supplemental Abstract of the Title of Mrs S Duck-Seaton to two cottages known as “The Retreat” and “Holly Cottage” Main Road Hickling in the County of Nottingham (Richards & Flewitt, Nottingham).
• 21^st Aug 1960: confirmation of Kathleen Copley’s marriage to George Day
• Confirmation of the properties, as above – Mrs E Duck-Seaton occupier* and purchaser.
• Confirmation of the land registry search, above.
• Emma Duck-Seaton of 211 Arkwright Street in the City of Nottingham the wife of Edwin Seaton.
• Purchase price: £900.
• 17^th December 1962: Emma Duck-Seaton contracted to sell to Ronald Frank Hales of 9, Grazingfield Wilford in the City of Nottingham – purchase price £1,250.
• The Wadkin archives show the old cottages are still standing in 1965 but derelict in appearance (Mrs Wadkin notes that the properties were sold in 1966 and the cottages pulled down).
• (Wadkin Archive): November 1965, approximately ¾ acre freehold building land with planning consent for 1 dwelling. Two derelict cottages. £1,350.)

Notes:

• Emma Duck-Seaton was born 27^th September 1891 and died 8^th June 1985 (probate 9^th Dec 1985).
• In the 1939 Register she is listed at 99 Wilford Crescent East, Nottingham:
  • Arthur J Duck (b. 28^th Sept 1889, married, licenced victualler but not in occupation)
  • Emma Duck Seaton (b. 1891, married, hardware dealer)
  • Albert A Duck (b. 21^st Jan 1915, single, hardware dealer)
  • Plus one additional closed record in the household
• Arthur J Duck died in 1953.
• At the time of the 1962 conveyance, Emma Duck-Seaton is recorded as an ‘occupier’ of the property in Hickling.
• No further links have been found between Emma Duck-Seaton and Hickling – needs verifying.

There are no further documents available.