The death duty register for Benjamin Croot (IR 26/1765, see below) shows the value of his estate sworn under £4000, to be divided (after a few small bequests) between his six children, all named in the register. In November 1847, a year after his death, each received £564 6s. 9d, equating to over £33,000 in today's values (via TNA currency converter).
This considerable inheritance probably explains how Charles Hawkins (Benjamin's son-in-law) was able to set himself up in business as a wine cooper by 1851. The Hawkins family had little money. Charles was formerly a porter, and his change of occupation had previously been puzzling.
So this has been a useful exercise in showing how different types of record -- census, newspapers, wills and death duties -- can complement each other in fleshing out the bare bones of family history.
This considerable inheritance probably explains how Charles Hawkins (Benjamin's son-in-law) was able to set himself up in business as a wine cooper by 1851. The Hawkins family had little money. Charles was formerly a porter, and his change of occupation had previously been puzzling.
So this has been a useful exercise in showing how different types of record -- census, newspapers, wills and death duties -- can complement each other in fleshing out the bare bones of family history.
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