Brandon Old Hall – Ownership in 19th & 20th Centuries

See also ‘Ownership of Old Hall Farm in the 18th Century’.

In the late 1700s James Vere, a banker in Lombard St, London had sons John, James (jnr), & Peter.  Peter Vere married Elizabeth and had 5 daughters including Mary & Isabella and lived in Grosvenor Place, London.

31 Mar 1805 – James Garnar, Gentleman, of Grantham died having left his estate  in Lincs, Leic and elsewhere to Elizabeth Vere (will dated 1801). Their daughter Mary married Archibald Campbell Dennistoun and they had 2 daughters, Eleanor Ann Catherine and Clementina Isabella  Margaret.

22 Oct 1827 –  Mary’s sister Isabella Vere married Frederick John Foster Ballymascanlon, Dundalk, County of Louth, Ireland.

7 Nov 1863 – Frederick & Isabella Foster, who had no children, made a will leaving the following  estate to Mary’s daughters (her nieces):

• 1/5 of the estate left to her mother by James Garnar, including Brandon Old Hall (tenant William Robinson), total 348 acres, 1 rood, 17 perches
• 8 acres at Carlton on Trent, which were exchanged for land in Manthorpe
• 1/5 of the estate left by her grandfather James in his will of 1818
• ½ of the estate in freehold farms (120 acres) in Deeping Fen from her late father Peter
• ½ of her estate as co-heiress of James Vere
  

27 Mar 1881 – John Vere died.

3 Feb 1883 – James Vere of Carlton on Trent, Notts and 16 Suffolk St, Pall Mall, died intestate, no issue.

Dennistoun Sisters:

Clementina Dennistoun married Hon Sydney William Foster Skeffington.  A daughter, Florence Clementina Vere, was born in 1873.  Sydney died in 1876.

14 Feb 1885 – Hon Clementina IM Skeffington of Carlton on Trent re-married James Craig (late Lt Col of 2nd Brigade North Irish Division, Royal Artillery).  Conveyance of 13 Feb mentions that she is heiress to her maternal uncle John Vere of Carlton on Trent and co-heiress of her mother, including the Garnar estate in Brandon, Hough, Gelston & Caythorpe (tenant William Robinson).

4 Jul 1885 – Indenture between Frederick John Foster of Ballymascanlon also known as FJ Blake (executor of 1877 will of John Vere),  Clementina Skeffington-Craig and Charles T Orford (trustee) of 43 Bloomsbury Square to sell estate to pay off estates of FJ Foster, Rev Arthur Turner (died 25 Nov 1879) and James Vere for loan secured on  Willoughby Farm, Willoughby Notts.

On 4 Oct 1887, Cecil de Vere Craig, the infant (and only) child of Clementina & James Craig died.  On 8 Jun 1896, FJ Blake died.   On 15 Oct 1910, James Craig died.

14 Mar 1911 – Indenture between Clementina Skeffington-Craig, Admiral (Retd) Robert Peel Dennistoun of the United Services Club, CT Orford and George Brenton-Laurie of 10 Victoria Park, Dover, Major, Royal Irish Rifles (trustee).

After CT Orford died (19 Jun 1914) he was replaced as executor by his wife, Mabel Jane Christina.  RP Dennistoun died on 18 Jan 1915.  George Brenton-Laurie was killed in action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, 12 Mar 1915.

4 Aug 1915 –  Coutts Bank, Chichester Arthur Skeffington of Carlton on Trent and Viscount Massereene (Hon Algernon William John Clotworthy Skeffington 12th Viscount Massereene and Ferrard of Antrim Castle)) appointed trustees.  Chichester Arthur Skeffington died 3 Sep 1918.

Clementina died in 1937.  On 17 Aug 1940 Viscount  Massereene married his cousin, Florence Clementina Vere Laurie (widow of Lt Col Laurie).  The Viscount died 20 Jul 1956.  Clemantina’s daughter Florence died 14 Dec 1978.

Eleanor AC Dennistoun of Carlton Hall married (14 Feb 1889) Count Francis Arthur Perucca Della Rochetta of Turin at St Martins in the Strand.  Conveyance (13 Feb 1889) mentions properties in Lincs, that she is co-heiress to her mother’s estate plus a share of the Foster estate from the 1863 agreement.  Trustees: James Craig of Carlton Hall, FJ Blake & CT Orford (both of South Sea House, Threadneedle St)

18 May 1917 – Count Della Rochetta died at Carlton on Trent, age 79 (no children)

13 Oct 1919 – Eleanor made new will leaving her inheritance to her niece Florence Clementina Vere-Laurie (or to her son Sydney John Athelstan Vere-Laurie).  New trustees: Arthur Francis Wood of Farndon and Herbert Gray Gibbs, of 19 Surrey St, Strand.  Eleanor died 23 Apr 1923.