Mary Cutler Paulin to her son Frederick, 18 April 1883

Letter from Mary Cutler Paulin to Frederick Paulin, 18 April 1883

Acock’s Green

April 18^th/83

My dear Fred,

I feel [illegible] that we have not written to you before this but you will have had letters from the Bordesley folks, all we have thought of is looking for letters from you. Nancy thinks for them we could last help feeling very [illegible] about you it was such terrible matter the [illegible] of March and altogether we are getting frigid and the wind is very cold, your father is better but is bothered as usual with business – we think you must have suffered [illegible] no board that terrible [illegible] hope with may be repaid for all it

[2]

Will be a long time before you feel settled or comfortable and we do trust you will folks keep well we keep having colds here, no cry has colds Miss Shearman is getting better but looked very ill for three weeks after [illegible] left but kept to her duties poor girl, she says why did you go from all your best friends we only wish we were with you we should not much how rough it was. Your father has been getting seeds garden, George has worked being well too Saturdays he is getting £1 per week now [illegible] will be able

[3]

To manage. I must try and let some news Uncle William writes he is passing his bill in the House of Lords commuted yesterday will send my dividend the end of the week. Grandpa sent £5 unknown to Grandma because copperman is so long lending the tent, very kind poor old gentleman. Mrs Grant so as here yesterday looking very well for her letter I have [illegible] I went to see her with your first letter – Lizzie and Polly came on & after Sunday and staid till Monday evening they were both pretty well but we [illegible]

[4]

Right since you left – I have it a busy long time getting use to your absence. Papa says you have done quite right to go and he wishes he was with you. I think Birmingham will soon be blown up. A parcel coming from Auntie Bessie this week. Louise is very busy getting ready to go. We have sending you kind enquiries after you kind see take greater interest in the postman. [illegible] with united love and kindest wishes now and after Mother

Who is Who:

Nancy – no idea

Miss Shearman – Miss Louise Shearman ran a private school in Acock’s Green, in the 1890 s she boarded young George Rutherford when he was a student

Mrs Grant – no idea

Grandpa and Grandma – George and Sarah Paulin, resident in Henley-on-Thames

Uncle William – Mary’s brother William Henry Cutler, who at the time was fighting the government over their takeover of the Windsor and Eton Waterworks, a Cutler family business he inherited when their father died in 1842

Aunt Bessie – Mary’s paternal aunt Elizabeth Cutler Bennison (1806-1887)

Lizzie – no idea

October 26, 2020 0

George Paulin (Sr) to his granddaughter Polly Paulin, 1893

Letter from George Paulin to his granddaughter Marion (Polly) Paulin, 15 March 1893

Henley on Thames

5 Queen Villas

March 15, 1893

My Dear Polly

I was very glad to receive your letter. I was much troubled with the thought you were all in some way afflicted. I was glad to see Mr Goodwin to hand you were all pretty well. I hope before your receive this he will have return in safety. My wife is still unable to be received from her bed, she is tolerably in health but quite unable to use her legs. I am so very glad that all your family are so blessed with the spirit of affection to their parents and keep themselves from the evil temptations of the wicked spirit. May the Blessed spirit of our Redeemer rest in their hearts, that they may all prosper in their endeavors to obtain prosperity in their honest exertions in their various occupations.

Mr Rutherford said his children were both well, and he was more resigned at his great loss which we all ought to be for the dear one is gone to rest from all anxieties and great labour to which she was

[2]

Not strong enough to sustain. I should like to see you all again, but the distance is so great, and the expense so heavy that any anticipation is quite unlikely to be carried out. So we must wait till we shall all meet together with our Saviour + Redeemer

Our winter was a very sharp and severe one from Nov to end of Jan frost of 24 degree:

With regards to the trustee, I think it will be better to let the matter rest until the death of Mr Cutler as it will save a great expense at the present time as his executor will see to it. I pretty well know the lawyer they would make all sorts of obstacles to increase the length of their bill for “letter” “Journey” “Addressing” “Consultation” [illegible] I suppose all the deeds of the two houses and the settlement are in his or friends in safe custody but in the event of his death his executors are responsible for these productions.

I think he has got himself bound to a schemer of a wife. The idea of her leaving him and going abroad!

[3]

I cannot tell you that my health and strength is as it used to be. I suffer from lung complaint and old age. But I am thankful that my intellect is as strong as ever, to transact my business affairs in the household, and to be able to render assistance to my afflicted wife, which takes away from me much cheerfulness. Mr Goodwin told me that Jack was helping him. We had the photo of Fred, wife and Child, and Mr Goodwin thought we had rec one of his children, but we hadn’t. He saw the one of his wedding in our bed room by the side of our dear Louise’s wedding photo. All the houses are sold No 1.2.3 in Jan, No 4 to Mr Fuller, No 5 and No 6 to myself. I should very much like you to see them, they will all look very nice. The trees in front of my house are all very pretty. Mr Fuller next door No 4 cut his trees down which Mr Bennett said was very unwise. But I think

[4]

It makes my houses look better and separate. There is one thing I often think that my wife being such an invalid that if I am unfortunate to be unable to help myself I shall be left to myself no one to have any interest for me. Mr Bennett 250 miles and yourselves 5000 miles away. I keep on writing but I must soon stop. So with my love to yourself and Fred and all your family from

Yours Very affectionately

George Paulin

I am afraid you will find it difficult to read this medley

I thought the enclosed evening primrose seed might [illegible] in your garden. So I enclose a few seeds. I expect they will not blossom this year, if they come up. There is one sunflower seed.

Who is Who:

George Paulin – Frederick Paulin’s father

Mr Bennett – George Bennett, husband of Sarah Paulin, and daughter of George Paulin

Mr Rutherford – husband of Louise Paulin. This letter refers to their two children George and Louise

Mr Goodwin – I don’t know who he is

Mr Fuller – one of the people to purchase houses built by George, called the Queen’s Villas, in Henley-on-Thames

My wife – George’s wife Sarah Clements, and mother of Frederick and Sarah Paulin. Unsure why she is refered to in such impersonal terms to Polly (Marion) as this is her grandmother.

Mr Cutler is Mary Cutler Paulin’s brother William Henry Cutler, who was very ill at this time. He died in 1895.

October 20, 2020 0

Frederick Paulin to FA Pauline, 15 Dec c1886-1888

[Date estimated between 1886 and 1888]

Acock’s Green, Wednesday Dec 15

My dear Fred,

Your very acceptable and thoughtful Xmas box came quite safely and has been conferted and gone to reduce our most pressing obligations affording us gratification and relief and fixing a thankfulness to you for such assistance –

We hope the weather at least helps to prepare you for a cheerful time shortly which will have passed and become history by the time this reaches you. It certainly doesn’t smile here for today a dark dirty fog envelopes everything around and is accompanied by falling snow and sleet which makes everything cold damp dreary and desolate. We hope this description of climate is now prevailing with you and from your several allusions to the climactic conditions on your side we are consoling ourselves that there are some members of our family who are at least better off as regards weather which is always competent to reuse a lower one to cheers depress and makes the

Existence corresponding by pleasant or intolerable. We had a fairly indulged autumn up to the last week or two so we suppose the inferior and faulty specimens which appear to have been reserved for a contrast we have to be home, if with a grin

You will have by this time my letter to you respecting spicer’s overture as to you acing for them in Victoria + distric on salary and com + shall be f which will come to get you news in answer to is which will come I dare say in comm

Say when you next write after receiving this whether you would recommend a despatch of “asbestos fire proof” paint to you. The Asbestos co have divided themselves into two sections latetly, the asbestos will in the future receive district attention from the paint department and the latter will be under the managing directors control, Mountford of Clement S Birm the same who sent out some paint some time since but which didn’t

Reach you. In the paint department many improvements have been effected and it is now made in all colours the form of paint still provides for out door rough work and the improved is prepared for indoors dados friezes and decorative purposes whilst it is claimed for it great resisting power as to fire or water. It can be met over other paint if necessary. For warehouses churches, hospitals, offices, repositories of art + shipbuilding as a safeguard against fire at sea it is of great value.

Mr Cutler who has been in costly litigation with the Mayor +c of Windsor as to the value of the waterworks at Eton which has been take over by that body (council) subject to arbitration as to compensation for same has last week in the House of Lords lost his compensation and has been saddled with the heavy costs. We are sorry it is so.

We are all pretty well some [illegible] your mother is I am happy to say better she was very unwell a fortnight since from overwork and chill and kept her bed for a few days which rest with

Good nursing mainly no doubt helped her very much. Ask Ernest to attend to the small charge on the Cyanite freight as Mr Evans of the CPR 88 command wishes it promptly paid + I have not paid it because Ernest told me not to do so and I have informed Mr Evans that my sons with to carry the preliminaries themselves so as to form a precedent for our future – a big future I trust.

We rejoice you write hopefully and quite think more + more that you are all better off and likely to be more so than if you had remained in England. The Commercial features here are atrociously bad, lifeless

We have in store the plum pudding boiled yesterday and they gave me a taste last evening for tea + my word they are toothsome. In 10 daysnow (Dr) we shall all be keeping Xmas and the mental telegrams to + fro will be doubtless frequent + festive in memory as in days gone by.

Your mother has had a nice long letter from Mrs Ernest with which she is much pleased and will write back in a few days.

Hoping you are all well + happy together.

Your Affectionate father.

Cheat sheet

Mrs Ernest – wife of Ernest Paulin, Emma Jane Jennings – already in Victoria

Mr Cutler is Mary Cutler Paulin’s brother William Henry Cutler, who inherited the Windsor and Eton Waterworks from their father John Cutler in 1843. The waterworks were taken over by the city of Windsor, and the letter talks about the fight for compensation which reached the House of Lords

September 20, 2020 0

Redcliffe House, Henley-on-Thames, 1899

Excerpt from a document dealing with the trust originally created in 1859 when Frederick Paulin was courting Mary Cutler. This trust was created to protect the interests of Mary Cutler Paulin and her children. I am not sure why it was done, or why it took another two years for the couple to marry (after the birth of their daughter Louise and three months before the birth of their son Frederick Arthur Paulin) but it was done with her mother Louise Freak Cutler, brother William Henry Cutler, and brother in law William Churchill Longman as the original trustees. On the death of Freak Cutler and Longman, George Paulin, Frederick’s father, and George Bennett his brother in law were named as trustees. Later on J Walter Fry became a trustee.

So as seen above, Redcliffe House on New Street in Henley-on-Thames was part of the trust. It is possible that this was also the house that Frederick and Mary lived when they were resident in Henley. Several censuses and city directories stated that they lived on New Street, as did Frederick’s father, George. No street numbers were provided. Their home “Henley Lodge” in Acock’s Green, Birmingham, where they lived before they emigrated to Canada was also owned by the trust.

The house is listed: https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101291564-redcliffe-house-henley-on-thames#.Xklw72hKjIU

From Google Maps – 31 New Street, Henley-on-Thames

April 20, 2020 0

Crease and Crease to FA Pauline, 1896

Transcription of letter, Crease & Crease to FA Pauline, 16 July 1896

[1]

Crease & Crease, Barristers-at-law, Solicitors & c. Temple Building, Victoria BC, 16 July 1896

FA Pauline, Esq

Victoria, BC

Re Settlement Trust

Dear Sir/-

We have carefully perused the draft of a deed of appointment of a new trustee which you have handed to us. From this document and the information you have given us we understand that by deed dated 12^th July 1859 made in contemplation of the marriage of your father and mother certain monies were settled in trust for your mother Mrs Pauline and her children by the marriage. Louisa Cutler [Mrs Pauline’s mother], William Henry Cutler [brother] and William Churchill Longman [brother-in-law] were the original trustees.

By deed of the 4^th June 1880 Messrs Geo Bennett [F Paulin’s brother in law] and George Paulin [FP’s father] were appointed trustees with Mr WH Cutler vice Louise Cutler and WC Longman both deceased.

By deed of 20^th August 1881 Mr Joseph Walter Fry was appointed a new trustee in the place of Mr Bennett who retired from the trust. The trust property was then vested in Messrs Geo Paulin, WH Cutler and JW Fry.

On 15^th March 1894 Mr G Paulin died. Mr Cutler had been found by inquisition to be of unsound mind. The trust property is therefore now vested in Messrs WH Cutler and JW Fry.

We further understand that the beneficiaries consist of your mother Mrs Paulin and your brothers and sisters, all of whom are of age. One of your sisters, however, has died leaving two infant children.

That the trust property consists of a mortgage for L420

[2]

From WH Cutler, Geo Bennett and G Paulin to WH Cutler, Geo Paulin, and Walter fry on house at Henley-on-Thames (b) Freehold lands at Acocks Green, Yardley, Worcester, known as “Henley Lodge” (c) L840 stock in Reading Corporation present value L1092. We may here remark incidentally that we are at a loss to know how the above mortgage could be made between the parties there named.

We are not of course aware of the contents of the Settlement or of the various provisions therein. We understand that it is desired that Mr Fry should be released from the trusts, and that the trust funds should be invested in this Province at better interest than received from present investments in England. We conceive that the trustees have full power of varying investments and of investing in Colonial securities.

We would suggest as a course of effectuating the above desire that the Present Trustee might, if authorized by the trusts, sell or convert into money all the present investments. His accounts could then be passed and approved. New trustees residing in this province might then be appointed in pursuance of the powers contained in the Settlement, and Mr Fry be thereupon released under proper deed by the beneficiaries who are of age from further liabiliites.

We are assuming that the present investments can be realized without such a sacrifice as would amount to a breach of trust.

If realized and the proceeds may under the trusts be invested in this Province we see no objection to the new Trustees being resident

[3]

Here.

We may remark it is always most undesirable that trust property should be vested in a sole trustee.

If a trustee wishes to be discharged from any liability he has or is about to incur in relation to the execution of his trusts he must obtain the consent of all the beneficiaries. He cannot do this if any of the beneficiaries are infants, because infants have no legal capacity to consent; moreover if the parties interested in the trust are not all in existence, as where a benefit is conferred for children unborn, the trustee obviously cannot obtain the sanction of all parties interested, and cannot therefore with safety be discharged from the trust. Such cases are however sometimes met by the beneficiaries of age entering into a covenant or bond that the minors will consent when they obtain full age.

With regard to the enclosed form of appointment we note that it contains no provision for the transfer of the trust property which is now vested in Messrs Cutler and Fry to the new trustee, with the exception of the mortgage which is to be tranfered by a separate deed.

The transfer of the interest vested in Mr Cutler or his committee (or guardian) is a point which we have no doubt has been considered by the solicitor in charge of the matter. Our law here varies from the English since the introduction of their Conveyancing Acts.

The variation in the name Paulin and Pauline is immaterial except in so far as it raises a question of identity and we think it would be

[4]

Advisable for the name to be mentioned as “Paulin” (otherwise Pauline) or as “Paulin” (now commonly known as Pauline).

We return the draft appointment of new trustee herewith.

Yours faithfully,

Crease and Crease.

March 12, 2020 0

Mary Cutler Paulin to FA Pauline, c1884

Transcription, letter from Mary Cutler Paulin to FA Pauline, nd (circa 1884)

[1]

Henley Lodge

Good Friday Evening

Excuse writing

Dear Fred

We received your cheerful letter dated 6^th March on the 8^th April and considering the pleasure it is for us to receive one from you. I think it a pity we so seldom write. I regret very much that we do not write once a week, we are always talking of this, I must say I am always very busy and lately have been put out in my work having been obliged to go to London twice, first to help with Uncle William [Cutler – Mary’s brother], then I went away to shop with her the load a letter to say come at once Aunt was very

[2]

Ill so I went and ursainer [?] another 9 days Aunt is better, but not at all well as soon as she can collect a few little debts she will I think come and live with us. It is a great pleasure for us to think you are in a new and pleasant part of the world and hope the right work does not try you. You seem to think the girls are all out but Bess remains only 3 weeks in her first place not that it was her fault the lady she went to help was ill and had to go away. Amy [illegible] two months when the family went to Bath and I would

[3]

Not let her go with them as she was subject to walk in her sleep. Bessie is now at Fordreds High Street and will not have any pay for two years, the season ticket is an expense, but she seems to be getting on very well. Amy + Florence are helping me with work but I shall find them something to do before very long as I should do better with a strong servant I think. George does not like the curate with the Father would be glad to get back

[4]

To his old place he has been suffering with tooth ache, last Saturday went to Lucas and had one out. I went with him and had one of my troublesome old stumps out. Louise is not happy with the old folks at Henley. I went there on my way from London and they are from what I saw the most trying old couple, Poor Loo says she will try and have patience. Uncle Harry [Clements – FA Pauline’s great-uncle] that gave you the knive, died last Monday of heart complaint Mrs Tom Clements [Rebecca – FA Pauline’s great aunt] died 3 weeks ago.

With kindest love and wishes, MP

[5]

Your father is as well as hard work will let him be, has been to church twice. The Rector often talks of you. Many thanks for papers. The children are well, five of them have been to church to day, hope you will be able

[6]

To read this. I must get nice thin paper. I hope to see Lizzie and Pollie Braund here on Easter Sunday. Miss Shearer went London Easter day and will go to Henley on her way back to see Louise.

February 8, 2020 0