Chippenham <1>
5h Sept 1837
Dear Sir,
When I was at Lacock to day, I heard the melancholy intelligence from Richmond – & it has occurr’d to me, that it may be proper to mention to you, a Circumstance connected with poor Admiral Feilding’s <2> Will – in order to prevent increased trouble or expence to his family –
A short time before he went abroad the last time, I made an exact Copy of his former Will, in consequence of his having mislaid a duplicate – & he afterwards published the Will which I had written, in the presence of myself & two other Witnesses – The Will wch I copied, was (I think) dated some years before – I therefore presume that the Will written by me – would be the one to be proved – & I have mentioned it now – fearing that the other, might, by accident, be first found & considered as the only one
I believe that Mr F sent one Will to Mr Stillwell <3> in London, & put the other in a Green Leather Box, which was kept at Chippenham during the time he was on the Continent, & afterwards returned to him at Lacock – I recollect your name mentioned as one of the Executors, & therefore have thought it right to inform you of these Particulars – without loss of time –
I hope that Lady Elisabeth & your Sisters <4>, are as well as you could Expect, under their present Affliction –
I remain Dear Sir Yr obliged Servt
W. H. Awdry
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
31 Sackville Street
Piccadilly
London
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
3. Of Stilwell & Company.
4. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother and her daughters Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister and Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.