The Testimonies for Robert Eden - Page 5 - Transcript
To The Honble Commissioners of American Claims
The Memorial and Petition of Thos Eden of London
Merchant on behalf of his late Brother Sir Robt Eden Bart
Sheweth
That his said Brother having gone to America in June 1783
to endeavour to recover his Effect there, died towards the towards the latter
NB. This Memorial shod End of the following year, without any success therein, and since his
have been enterd after the Death Mr Harford, with whose claim he was connected, having received his
Schedule at page 179 final Answer from the State of Maryland, which also determine at the
same time Sir Roberts, is returned.
Your Memorialist with Jonathan Davidson Esqr of the County of Durham
were left Executors by his Will, and they administered, His Widow, The Honble Caroline, Lady
Eden, was also an Executrix, but was abroad at the Time of his Death, and still continues
on Account of the Scantiness of her Income, and Its Insufficiency of bringing up the Children,
and also settling the Claims on the Estate - Your Memorialist is and has been the sole Acting Executor
and has also Lady Edens power of Attorney to transact all her Business. That in Consequence of
which, when all hopes of Success of Recovery of the Effects were gone in America, your Memorialist,
wrote to your Honble Board, stating the total Amount of Sir Robert’s Losses, and praying they might
be taken into Consideration with Mr Harfords, with whom they are in some Degree blended; and
has since given in a Copy of the particulars of the Claim taken from Sir Robert Eden’s own Hand Writing, as given into the Treasury Novr 1782. but being given to understand, he must give the particulars
of the Will that appertain to the disposal of the American property, Herewith you have an
Extract thereof. After speaking of the property in the Funds tied up by the Marriage Settlement
He says, “I hereby leave such direction or appointment thereof to my said Wife Dame Caroline Eden,
“as she shall think proper Relying entirely on her Justice and Impartiality therein, as also the
“direction and appointment of the Sum of Ten Thousand pounds, to be recovered from the province of
“Maryland as settled by a late Act of Parliament in the same Manner.
“All my Estates, Goods, and Chattels, and property in the said province of Maryland, I hereby direct
“to be sold, in order to pay my just Debts and after payment thereof, I give and bequeath the Residue
“unto the said Dame Caroline Eden, My Wife, and the said Fredk Morton Eden (speaking of his Eldest Son)
“to be equally divided between them, and in Case Either of them shall die, before this my Will shall take
“Effect, I give the Moiety of him or her so dying unto my Children Willm and Catherine Eden &c &c”
Your petitioner humbly requests, you will take the Case into Consideration, and he will produce such
Witnesses to identify the property as he can get. He is himself acquainted, with the House and premises
in Annapolis, as also the plantation, called the Homing pot, given by the late Lord Baltimore (he
believes) to Sir Robt and Lady Eden.
In respect to the Back Lands, He is perfectly acquainted, that his Brother had very sanguine
Expectations therefrom, more than the Statement, before the Disturbances took them from him
From the near Connection of Sir Robt by his Marriage with the late Proprietor’s Sister
to him, It cannot be improper for your Memorialist to represent his Loss in his Income as
Governor, which from that Connection, he was likely to have held for himself, and Family, Had
not the unhappy war taken place? Your petitioner will add no more but that relying on
Your Justice He will ever pray &c &c &c
Exd B.B. London April 27th 1780 Vide fo: 420.
[Transcribed by Jillian Curran]
