JOHN SUTTON of GREAT MEOLSE

John Sutton of Great Meolse was the first born child of John and Elizabeth of Moreton later of Reeds Farm. His christening being recorded in the Parish records of St Oswalds Church, Bidston as taking place on 27 August 1809.

On the 25 July 1836 John along with his sister Margaret were witnesses to the marriage of John Potter and Emma Clark at St Nicholas' Church, Liverpool. Emma was left a widow following the death of John Potter (1852) and she subsequently married Joseph Sutton, John Sutton's younger brother.

John married Mary Croft at the Holy Trinity Church, Hoylake on 28 December 1840. Mary the daughter of Simon and Ellen Croft was christened on 31 March 1797 at West Kirby. Simon died in 1836 aged 70 years followed by his wife in 1849.

There is some circumstantial evidence that John worked on the construction of the Leasowe embankment in his early days before returning to farming. This transition back to farming would have been a natural process, having been brought up and worked on his father's farm.

The ceremony was witnessed by Michael Croft and Ellen Goodwin and both John and Mary signed their names in the Register.

Mary was about 40 years of age when she married John some 10 years younger. Given John's background he would appear to be an idea candidate to take over the management of the Clunie. It is difficult to say who would benefit the most, Mary finding someone to marry her at a later age or John who had a ready made business.

The 1830's Tithe Records indicate that Ellen Croft owned 8 acres of land and farmed an additional 45 acres including the massive 18 acre site known as "Taylor's Field,"owned by William Tristram Keightley.

The 1851 census for was taken on the night of 30 March 1851 and the John is recorded as the enumerator for his area. On this rare occasion I can state with a what my 2x Great Grandfather was doing that evening.

Mary who died on the 2nd May, 1869 in Great Meols and was buried on the 5th May 1869 in St Oswalds Parish Church, Bidston.

John later met Eliza Forrest (nee Craine) a widow born on 27 June 1832 on the Isle of Man (IOM). The 1841 census records Eliza living with her family on Kings Street, Douglas. 10 years later, now aged 17, Eliza is living with her widowed mother on the IOM and is profession is given as a 'Bonnet Maker.' By 1861 Eliza had married John Forrest and the couple had 2 children, John Allen (b1855) and Agnes (1859) both in Liverpool. John, a Scot by origin a Consulting Engineer born in 1827.

By 1871 Eliza and John were married.

John died on the 22 August 1888 in Hoylake, Wirral and was buried on the 25 August 1888 in St Oswald Parish Church, Bidston. Eliza remained at 5 Sea View and is resident in 1901 with her domestic servant Harriet Leak Reid of Chester.

Before we leave Great Meolse, we think we ought to refer to some of the rulers of 50 years ago. Amongst these the principals were, John Sutton, Nathaniel Dawson Price and Daniel Croft. These three men at this period were the influential leaders of the place. The most prominent undoubtedly was John Sutton.

John was considered the "King of Meolse" and in all cases of difficulty or doubt "John" was the one to whom the farmers looked too for advice, whilst he was ably supported by the others mentioned. John Sutton was tall, massive in build, and was the possessor of a good deal of intellectual ability. He was the parson's right hand at the Parish Church for he filled the office of Churchwarden on several occasions, and was most regular and attentive to his duties.

As Waywarden of his township he interested himself in the highways or public roads, seeing that they secured their proper share of repair from the Highway Board, and at meetings of this body, held at Hooton monthly, John was never conspicuous by his absence. On the contrary he was always present and his colleagues held him in esteem and valued his opinion on matters appertaining to the Board's work. For many years he served the office of Guardian of the Poor.

Here again his abilities came into recognition as in the case of the Highway Board, so was his attendance at the Board of Guardians, held at Clatterbridge. The poor had always a good friend in John Sutton! Another office he occupied was the Overseer of the Poor, and as there was no assistant overseer, the work fell to the Senior Overseer, and as that required clerical skill, this generally fell to his lot. Another important duty he discharged was that of representative on the Wallasey Embankment Commissioners, the overlooking of the Leasowe embankment being his special care. In his younger days "John" assisted in the construction of the Embankment and on completion took to farming, being one of the most successful farmers of the township, occupying the farm now the residence of Mr. John Price. [Clunie 1881 census]

He eventually retired and lived quietly in Hoylake for many years, respected and humoured by all who knew him. His only son, Mr. W.C. Sutton resides still in Great Meolse and follows in the lines of his father by giving his services to public work.

Hoylake Free Press 1914

Reproduction of the last Will and Testament of John Sutton of Great Meols

This is the last Will and Testament of me John Sutton of Hoylake in the county of Chester Gentleman I appoint my wife Eliza Sutton guardian of the persons and estate of my children during Widowhood and after her decease or marriage again of my said wife I appoint the trustees or trustee for the time being of my Will guardian or guardians of my children. I give to my wife Eliza all furniture; plate and other articles of a like nature belonging to me in or about my dwelling house number 4 Seaview, Hoylake. And I devise to her all that my said dwelling house 4 Seaview, Hoylake during her widowhood or on her decease or marriage again I devise that the same shall fall into and from illegible of my residuary estate I give devise and bequest all and every my real and personal of every description whether in 2x illegible words remainder or illegible which I am able to dispose of this my Will my trustees herein after named their heirs executors or administrators and assigns according to their respective wishes there upon illegible at such times after my decease as to them shall appear most advantageous for my estate absolutely shall sell dispose of and convert into money all such part of my said real estate or shall not consist of money and collect and get in all such parts[just?] premises or shall consist of money belonging or owing to me at the time of my demise with the full power and authority to postpone or delay so long as they shall see fit the conversion or realisation of any part of my estate real or personal without incurring any liability in respect thereof or to continuance for such time as they or he shall think fit any part or parts of my personal estate in or upon the investments or personal or other securities or upon which the same may be at my decease and to apply the actual income thereof in a manner decided concerning the income from other investments and I declare that my said trustees or trustee for the time being shall stand and be prepared to and entrusted to in the months to come proceeded and be illegible from or by such sole disposition converting into money or collection gin any of my residuary real or personal as aforesaid and also all of the [ready] money of which I shall be profited at the time of my decease after full payment and satisfaction of all such costs changes and expenses of and incidental to the execution of the [wishes] and powers hereby reposed and given unto them respectively upon trust to invest the same as hereinafter mentioned and shall stand [first] thereof and thereof the investment representing the same in first for my two children William Craine Sutton and Annie Brooke Sutton in equal shares and if there shall only be one such child the whole to be held in trust for that on child but I decree that the share of my said son William Craine Sutton shall be retained by my trustees until and be paid to him on him attaining the age of twenty five years provided always and I declare that my trustees shall retain the share of my said daughter of and in the residuary trust funds upon the illegible following that is to say upon trust to pay the income thereof to my said daughter during her life so that if and while she shall be under coverture the same shall be for her sole and separate use and she shall not have power to dispose of the same in the way of anticipation but with the power nevertheless for my same daughter to appoint by Deed or Will that after her decease the whole or any part of such income shall be paid to any husband of her who may survive during his life of ant less period and from and after the decease of such daughter and subject to any appointment which may be made to her husband as aforesaid. In trust for the children of my same daughter or any of them or any of their issue in such issues of more than one and in such manner as she shall by deed or deeds or by her Will appoint. and in default of such appointment and so far as any such appointment shall not extend in first for the children of my same daughter who being a male shall attain the age of twenty one years of being a female shall attain that age or marry in equal shares and if there only be one such child the whole to be in trust for that one child. But so nevertheless that one child who or any of whose issue shall take or share under any such appointment or aforesaid shall take any part of the trust funds remaining un-appointed without bringing the same appointment to him or her or to his or her issue illegible and appointment as aforesaid shall hereby decreed to the contrary. And in case there shall be no child of my same daughter who being who being male shall attain the age of twenty one years or being female shall attain that age or marry upon such trusts and in such manner as my same daughter shall on Deed of Will when not under coverture by Will while under coverture appoint and in default of such appointment and so far as any such appointment shall not extend. In trust for my said son William Craine Sutton absolutely provided always and hereby declared that if any child of mine shall die in my lifetime leaving a child or children who being male shall attain the age of twenty one years or being female shall attain that age or marry and in every such case the last mentioned child or children shall take if more than one equally between them the share to which his, her or their parent would have been entitled in the residuary trust funds if such a parent had survived me and attained the age of twenty one years including any share or shares which would have accrued to such a parent under the trust and provision in that behalf illegible contained. And I declare that my said trustees or trustee for the time being lay out and invest all the arising from any sale from any of my estate or other monies requiring investment in his, her or their name or names in the public stocks of funds of Great Britain or at interest upon mortgage of freehold, copyhold or leasehold 2x illegible words in England or Wales or in the bank or bonds or the Liverpool Dock trustees or any of the body corporate or in the bonds debentures mortgages stocks and shares of any of the Railway Gas or Water Company actually carrying or giving and paying dividends on their ordinary shares with power for my said trustee or trustees to alter, vary dispose of the same into for the stocks funds or securities of the like nature for his, her or their discretion and I further decree that the in the meantime until the share or shares of any legate respectively shall become illegible as payable or transmissible under the trust aforesaid the annual produce and or income of the presumptive or illegible share for such legatee or legatees respectively and in the said trust monies and securities or so much thereof or shall by my said trustees or trustee for the time being be deemed or constituted as requisite or necessary shall be applied by or under the direction and guidance of the guardian or guardians of any such legatee or legatees or if none then discretion of such trustee or trustees for or illegible the maintenance and the illegible for such legatee of legatees respectively illegible in expediency and the residue of such annual produce and income shall from time to time be paid out as interest to accumulate for the benefit of the same legatee or legatees or other person or persons who shall be ultimately entitled under the trust of this my Will to the principle from which such accumulation shall arise but such accumulated fund notwithstanding the investment thereof shall continue and be applicable to the maintenance and education of the child or children for the time being principally entitled there to provided also and I further decree that it shall be lawful for my said trustee or trustees for the time being with the council of the guardian or guardians for the time being of the of any of my said legatee respectively or if there should not be any guardians then of the proper authority of my said trustee or trustees to advance and apply any part or parts of the presumptive expectant portion or share portion or share of any such legatee or legatees respectively and if and in the said trust money funds and securities for the putting or placing him or her in or to any profession trade or business or otherwise for his or her benefit or advancement in the world although such legatee or legatees respectively shall not at the time or prospective times of advancement or applying the same for any or other of the purposes aforesaid have acquired a vested interested therein. But I declare that with respect to the application to the income to the maintenance and education of any minor who may be actually or presumptively entitled any share or potion under my Will that it should be lawful for my said trustee or trustees whether himself or themselves to apply the same or in his or her discretion to pay such money to any person or persons acting with or without authority as guardian or guardians of such minor for the purpose of being so appointed without incurring any responsibility in regard to the application of the monies so paid. I give and devise to the said trustees all such real estates or are invested in me or trustee or mortgage to hold the same unto and to the use of the said trustees their heirs and illegible for ever or for all my estate and interest therein subject nevertheless to the equities effecting the same respectively and to the interest that that such of the trust and powers affecting the said trust promises as at the time of my decease shall be subsisting carried into effect. I declare that if any person hereby named or beneficiary being a trustee of my Will should or go into residence out or be absence for a year from England and Wales or suffer his estate and effects to become illegible in a bankruptcy or insolvency or make any assignment for the benefit of creditors or disclaim neglect or refuse or be incapable to perform or decide to resign from the office it shall be lawful for the other or continuing trustee or trustees being competent or if there be no such trustee for the executors or administrators or one of the one of the executors or administrators of the trustee who shall have last died in the office or if there be no such person for my acting executors of administrators to appoint by inviting one witness a trustee in the room if such a person and that any instrument purporting to be made in the presence of the foregoing power and not appearing on the face of it to be invalid shall although not so made be valid for purposes other than the examination of the parties to the making thereof and that any trustee appointed under this power shall immediately have all the powers of a trustee although the trust property be not then rests in him. I declare that the receipt in writing of my trustees or trustee for the time for any trust monies or trust property shall discharge the person or person paying or transferring the same for responsibility for the application there of or any transaction leading illegible but lastly I declare that each trustee shall be answerable for the illegible arising from his own default and may retain and allow to his customers all expenses incidental to the performance of the trust. I appoint my son William Craine Sutton on his attaining twenty one years of age and Joseph Sutton of Leasowe side farm, Farmer, and Joseph Price of Great Meolse, publican and my wife Eliza Sutton during her widowhood executors and executrix of this my Will and hereby revoking and making void all and every Will and testamentary dispositions by me at anytime here before made I declare this to be my last and only Will and testament. In writing whereof I have to this Will contained on this a five preceding sheets of paper set by my hand this first day of May one thousand eight hundred and eighty eight. John Sutton signed by the said John Sutton the testator and for his last Will and in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other hereunto subscribe our names as witnesses, the words “or should” being first struck out and the words “a share” inserted on the second line of the third sheet thereof - Leigh Clair, solicitor, Hoylake and Joseph W illegible his Clerk.

At Chester on 26th November 1888 probate for this Will was granted to Joseph Price and Eliza Sutton (during her widowhood) two executors

Margin note
For 27 days inc. ad