This transcript is published here with permission of the The National Archives, London. It is published here for the personal
use of genuine Family History Researchers, and must not be
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The National Archives: C12/1054/18
Porrett v Coulson (1788)
Brief notes.......
Complaint of William Porret of Scarbrough one of the executors & residuary legatees of Thomas Coulson, late of Scarbrough, decd. (1 May 1778)
- " ..that your orator was bred up in the business of a mariner."
- 7.2.1739/40 married Elizabeth one of the daughters of Thomas Coulson decd.
- 1743 built a ship called BETTY and went to sea on his own account until 1746 when Thomas Coulson
asked him to take over the running of his business and gave assurances
it would be to his benefit. He then put a paid master to run his ship
& worked ashore since then
- 1753 decided to go back to sea as
he had had no payment or any other benefit, but was persuaded to stay
ashore with additional assurances re: imbursements.
- 1753 William Porret commisioned a new ship called VENUS for Thomas Coulson.
- 1768 Thomas Coulson died, at which stage William Porret was still acting as clerk & manager
- Thomas Coulson's will divided the estate into 4 shares:
1. > son Francis Coulson, and then to grandson Thomas Coulson, son of Francis Coulson
2. > daughter Barbara Maxwell
3. > William Porret
4. > daughter Ann Coulson
- notes money owing to the estate of Thomas Coulson from the estate of William Coulson decd intestate: £688.16s.11 1/2d
The complaint concerns the calculations of the relative portions owing from the estate of Thomas Coulson. Francis Coulson & Barbara Maxwell not allowing that William Porret is entitled to anything for his period as unpaid manager.
Answer of Francis Coulson & Barbara Maxwell
- disputes that William Porret acted in anyway as clerk of manager for Thomas Coulson "...except for a few years before the said Thomas Coulson's
death when his business was very trifling the said complainant might
write some letters or draw some bills for him, which these defendants
believe the said complainant did more for hiw own amusement than to be
of service to the said Thomas Coulson.."
- claims that William Porret lived rent free in Thomas Coulson's house
- lists William Porret's family as: William Porret, Coulson Porret, and Sarah now the wife of John Wright of Doncaster
- Thomas Coulson also had a daughter Sarah, whose children are Thomas Foster and Elizabeth the wife of Joseph Huntriss of Scarbrough.
- they claim that William Porret is witholding the best part of £1,000 from the estate of Thomas Coulson.
- attached statement of account from Francis Coulson includes the incidental mention that the ship VENUS went to Quebec in 1770