Mary Cosgrove
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth: 1823
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Event, The Mercury, 24 Nov 1874
A HARD CASE.• Event, The Mercury, 26 Nov 1874
TO THE EDITOR OF THE MERCURY.
SIR,-On Monday last, a property situated in Brisbane-street in this town was sold at public auction, under an order of the Court of Escheats, in which court it was some time back escheated to the Crown by due process of law.
This property has been occupied by a family named Beecroft for about twenty-five years, and on it they erected during the husband's life time several buildings, and fenced and improved it. The husband died about twelve years ago, since which it has been occupied by the widow and her children.
It was some time back discovered by tho Govern- ment that the property had been held all this time under a codicil to the will of the original owner, one Joseph Goodman, but which codicil he failed to execute duly before his death. A large amount of credible testimony was collected, and laid before the Governor-in-Council, to show that it was clearly the intention of Goodman, repeatedly expressed, to leave the property in some way to Beecroft's family, but these testimonies failed to affect the decision of the court, or of the Governor-in-Council.
There is a strong feeling of sympathy through- out this community for this widow and her children, and I might also say of indignation against the Government for having driven them from under the roof by which they have been sheltered for twenty five years, struggling in poverty a good part of that time, but now leaving them to light that hardest of all battles under the additional burden of rout.
The property sold for £410. Out of it the Governor in Council have, in answer to an applica- tion, stated their intention to give the family £50 ; but this is not regarded here as meeting the case in the way in which it ought to be met, the buildings on the premises having alone cost the Beecrofts, I believe, nearly, or fully, £300.
A memorial to the Governor in Council is now being forwarded by Mrs. Beecroft, praying that £100 may be given to her, to be applied in the purchase of a cottage, as a dwelling for herself and family, consisting now of five daughters, and a son incapable, by affliction, of getting his living.
The prayer of the memorial will be supported by the names of most of the magistrates, bankers, merchants, tradesmen, and other citizens of Laun- ceston and it is to be hoped, for the honour of humanity, and for the honour of that Christianity which we profess to guide our Government and influence our laws, and which teaches us "not to oppress the widow or the fatherless," that the Governor in Council will grant her prayer.
Sympathising in the troubles of this family, I have taken tho liberty of troubling you with this detail of facts, but I do so mainly in the hope that the public statement of them may sustain the Government in making the appropriation sought by the memorial an act which will, in this community meet with most general approval.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Launceston,
W. J, NORWOOD.
21st Nov., 1874,
Escheated Property. - We have had it intimated to us that the letter of Mr. Norwood, on which our remarks in Tuesday's Mercury were based, only tells half the story, the other side showing that if Goodman at any time had the intention stated, he abandoned it. We are obliged to hold over a letter from Mr. William Beecroft that supports Mr. Norwood's statements. It will appear to-morrow.
Spouses and Children
1. *William Beecroft
Marriage: 27 Apr 1840 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1
Status:
Children:
1. Elizabeth Beecroft 1
2. Mary Catherine Beecroft 1
3. William James Beecroft 1
4. James Edward Beecroft 1
5. James Richard Beecroft 1
6. Ann Jane Beecroft 1
7. Harriet Evangalist Beecroft 1
8. George Vernon Beecroft 1
9. Ann Jane Beecroft 1
10. Emily Louisa Beecroft 1
11. Alice Amelia Beecroft 1
Sources
1. LDS - IGI Index (familysearch.org).