Letter Frederick Paulin to his son Frederick Arthur Pauline, 26 May 1894
Conservative Club, Temple Row, Birm.
May 26th 1894
Dear Fred,
Yours of the 3rd inst with Draneys letter reached us a few days ago, but just after I had some large posters printed relating to the other properties. There said posters I sent out to Victoria 5 days ago to Saunders, Charlie, [illegible] + Dr Morrison parties interested. The cannery matter I will not fail to work for. I replied you will send me an estimate of the additional cost 0f putting up 10,000 cases _ we are all well but find progress in the Trustee matter very difficult. Since W[illegible] break down so far as we can discover, access to his safe has been had by some one probably by Bennison young man now in Silesia his executor no documents +c appear to have been rushlon by turned upside down
[2]
We have found the conveyance of land at AG but not the conveyance of the Henley Property nor the trust deed of 1859. The title (abstract of) relating to both have not yet turned up, so you see I have just changed the pen!
You will be as vexed proportionately as myself at this condition of affairs which shows that we should have been here in this business months ago. Who to blame is difficult to say or to hold responsible for placing us in such a fix. We are moving anything or anybody who can enlighten us and shall do so without any hesitation, because the situation is seriously expensive
[3]
There is another matter which I haven’t yet fathomed. I refer to the contents of my Uncle John’s will. When I was in Henley a fortnight ago I found that his will passed thro’ Mercer’s hands the solicitors for probate, so I called there but I while an old acquaintance of mine and their clerk was at Oxford. So I wrote him a note and left it with the caretaker woman of the office to give to him asking him for information but I got no reply from him after a weeks waiting, I wrote him again attending to my former letter and request and still I have had no answer. This seems to me mysterious! I am writing this with Ma + Violet in London where we are frequently writing or seeing about some missing deeds –
[4]
On our return to Miss Shearman’s now in a day or 2 I intend breaking the journey at Henley and finding out the reason for White’s silence. When I saw G Bennett for 2 or 3 hours last week in Derby, he said he was not aware that John Paulin had made a will or had anything to leave. But I do and am going to bedrock to know – all this is perplexing and Clifford has broken his covenant as to time of building at A Green in a most flagrant manner. The conveyance says not nearer than 15 yards to the public road whereas he has built within 10 yards. This will require to be dealt with discretionally and I will carefully consider everything. We are comforted to see by the letters that you are all going on so well. We shall be glad to be back with you again, but now we are here will finish everything + if possible leave no occasion for a future visit.
Who is Who:
John Paulin – Frederick Sr’s Uncle – will have to do more research on this.
G Bennett – Husband of Frederick’s sister Sarah, ironmonger in Derby
Clifford – unsure, but appears to be a neighbour in Acock’s Green, the family still owned Henley Lodge, but did not live there
Miss Shearman – could be the teacher in Acock’s Green who boarded George Frederick Andrew Rutherford during his education – which was at about this time. George gave his son the name Shearman as one of his middle names.

