William
Cracroft Fooks QC was a barrister and prominent Dartford citizen. Information
about his life is at https://dartfordhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/William%20Cracroft%20Fooks%20QC%20%281812-99%29%20%3A%20Barrister%20at%20Law.
He died on August
2nd 1899 at his home, The Bowman’s Lodge, Dartford.
William’s
will was signed on January 24th 1897. It appointed his wife Julia
and his sons William and Courtenay to be executors. He left his law books to
his sons William and Courtenay, who were both barristers. The residue of his
property was left on trust for his wife Julia Shears Fooks, for life. When she
died, his six surviving children would each receive one seventh of the residue.
They were
-
Ellen
Cracroft Gibson (b 1838), who had married Frederick George Gibson in 1860
-
William
Cracroft Fooks (b 1840)
-
Isabel
Georgina Homewood (b 1844), who had married William Henry Homewood in 1867
-
Agnes
Edith Holt White (b 1851), who had married Rashleigh Holt White in 1879
-
Julia
Letitia Newton (b 1859), who had married Arthur William Newton in 1885
-
Courtenay
Cracroft Spurrell (b 1860)
The
remaining seventh share was divided equally between the four children of his
deceased son, Walter Pemberton Fooks (b 1842).
The
value of the estate was initially assessed as £11,513 7s 10d but later re-sworn
as £13,341 1s 6d. This is equivalent to about £5,400,000 now (estimated in
relation to the wage of the average worker).
