1846 - Death of a Solicitors Daughter

Even today we might think of solicitors as cruel, heartless people who follow the law to the letter with no concern or empathy for their legal actions.

Reading through solictor George W. Millard's of Axbridge Unique Ledger gives us a fascinating albeit sad glimpse into his personal life.  In a letter written on 3rd March 1846 to Mrs Pratt he expresses his daughters desire to bequeath a workbox to Susan, Mrs Pratts daughter.

Stella Millard died in March 1846 and according to her death entry she was 10 years old.  She is listed in the 1841 census as 11 years old living with her father George, a solicitor, and her mother Emma. There is an obvious discrepancy regarding her year of birth.  Either way, she was quite young at the time of her death and clearly much loved by her father.

Letter written by George Millard to Mrs Pratt concerning the death of his daughter - dated 3rd March 1846

He Writes;

My dear Mrs Pratt

It is with the most painful duty to inform

you that my dear, dear very dear Child has quitted

this scene of mortality, and is gone to that place -

where she will suffer no more pain, and where

all tears will be wiped from her eyes, and she

will be forever at rest in the Glorious presence

of her Glorious Redeemer – The clearest evidence

of this was manifested on Sunday Last in

the afternoon. She then spoke of your dear child

as one whom she much wished to see – She

breathed her last yesterday morning about –

½ past 8 – Oh' my dear Mrs Pratt this is an

affliction indeed I hope we shall be supported -

The dear child expressed a desire that dear Susan

should have her workbox as a token of her love
I cannot dwell on the subject - How shall
the sweet childs box be conveyed to you.

Mrs Millard desires her kindest remembrance

to you all and I am

Mrs Pratt                                                            My dear Mrs Pratt

     Post Office                                                        Sincerely your friend

        Tiverton                                                              Geo. Millard

            Devon                                                    Axbridge 3^rd  March 1846

It seemed strange to find a personal letter written in a solicitors ledger but then the underlined wording highlighting certain words gave it away.  In Wills and bequests it is common for solicitors to underline names and words to highlight the context of such documents, namely to point out what and who is important in said documents.

It seems George, even in his grief,  wanted to make certain that his daughters bequest of a workbox to Susan Pratt was well and truely documented and hopefully delivered.

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