William Beecroft and Mary Cosgrove
Husband William Beecroft [9429]
Born: 10 Nov 1816 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1 Christened: Died: 27 Jul 1867 - Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Buried: FamilySearch ID: KH47-1RM
Father: Richard Beecroft [9501] (1779-1820) Mother: Cathryn Belbin [9502] (1798-1825)
Marriage: 27 Apr 1840 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1
Wife Mary Cosgrove [9430]
Born: 1824 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia Christened: Died: 10 Apr 1888 - Tasmania, Australia Buried: FamilySearch ID: LDH9-6RSEvents
• Event: The Mercury, 24 Nov 1874. A HARD CASE.
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.• Event: The Mercury, 26 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.
Children
1 M Captain Edward Joseph Beecroft [9431]
Born: Aug 1831 - Greater London, England Christened: Died: 11 Apr 1898 - Forth, Tasmania, Australia Buried: - Forth Pioneer Anglican Cemetery, Forth, Tasmania, Australia FamilySearch ID: GD5F-S88Spouse: Barbara Emily Thomas [10751] (1850-1915) Marr: Abt 1876 - Port Sorell, Tasmania, Australia 2
2 F Elizabeth Beecroft [9444] 1
Born: 7 Oct 1841 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1 Christened: Died: 24 Apr 1902 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia Buried: 26 Apr 1902 - Church of England Cemetery, Launceston, Tasmania, AustraliaSpouse: Did Not Marry
3 F Mary Catherine Beecroft [9447] 1
Born: 14 Aug 1843 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1 Christened: Died: 25 Mar 1880 - Port Esperance, , Tasmania, Australia Buried:
4 M William James Beecroft [9434] 1
Born: 7 Jun 1846 - Tasmania, Australia 1 Christened: Died: 5 Jul 1901 - Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Buried: - Cornelian Bay Cemetery and Crematorium, Hobart, Hobart City, Tasmania, Australia FamilySearch ID: KLB6-ZLWSpouse: Kate Dean 1 [9436] (1848-1914) Marr: 25 Sep 1867 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1
5 M James Richard Beecroft [9448] 1
Born: 19 Oct 1848 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1 Christened: Died: 17 Sep 1905 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia Buried: FamilySearch ID: PQRV-VZ7Spouse: Sarah Ann Cole 1 [9472] (1852-1942) Marr: 22 Jun 1871 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1
6 F Ann Jane Beecroft [9432] 1
Born: 28 Nov 1851 - Tasmania, Australia 1 Christened: Died: 10 Mar 1855 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia Buried: 12 Mar 1855 - Cypress Street Anglican Cemetery, Newstead, Launceston City, Tasmania, Australia Find A Grave ID: 213111205Spouse: Did Not Marry
7 F Harriet Evangalist Beecroft [9446] 1
Born: 6 Oct 1854 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1 Christened: Died: 2 Feb 1905 - Forest, Tasmania, Australia Buried:Spouse: Andrew Ferguson 1 [9474] (1860-1924) Marr: 14 Jan 1890 - Tasmania, Australia 1
8 M George Vernon Beecroft [9449] 1
Born: 7 May 1857 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1 Christened: Died: 1917 - Newport, Victoria, Australia Buried: 15 Apr 1917 - Williamstown, Victoria, Australia FamilySearch ID: KLB6-84WSpouse: Rebecca Harris 1 [9473] (1859-1939) Marr: 3 Aug 1889 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1
9 F Ann Jane Beecroft [9459] 1
Born: 28 Nov 1858 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1 Christened: Died: Buried:
10 F Emily Louisa Beecroft [9440] 1
Born: 30 Oct 1859 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1 Christened: Died: 20 Feb 1955 - Wynyard, Tasmania, Australia Buried:Spouse: Frederick William Ferguson 1 [9476] (1862-1946) Marr: 28 Jul 1887 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1
11 F Alice Amelia Beecroft [9443] 1
Born: 8 Jun 1862 - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1 Christened: - Stanley, Horton District, Tasmania, Australia 1 Died: 23 May 1934 - Tasmania, Australia 1 Buried: - Stanley, Horton District, Tasmania, Australia 1 FamilySearch ID: KL63-TBLSpouse: Benjamin Spinks [10124] (1866-1908) Marr: 18 Aug 1896 - Stanley, Horton District, Tasmania, Australia 1
1 LDS - IGI Index (familysearch.org).
2
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 25 Nov 2025), entry for Barbara Emily Thomas, person ID MMQF-VTB.
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