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Lot Essay
Henry Greswolde Lewis (1753-1829) of Malvern Hall, co. Warwick, inherited Malvern Hall from his mother Mary (d.1757), daughter of the Rev. Marshall Greswolde (d.1728).
Mary Greswolde Wilson France was born in 1820 and was the eldest daughter of Thomas Robert Wilson France (1787-1853) of Rawcliffe Hall Lancaster, and his wife Mary Freer, whom he married in 1818. She died in 1853 unmarried at the age of 33.
The unusually engraved coat-of-arms records the arms of her father and those of her godfather's mother. However it is interesting to note that the marriage of Mary Wilson France's parents, as recorded in the Gentleman's Magazine of 1818 refers to Miss Freer being of Malvern Hall', the home of Mary's godfather to be Henry Greswolde Lewis. It is possible that Miss Freer was the illegitimate daughter of Henry Greswolde Lewis, he being both Mary's godfather and grandfather. In his will Henry Greswolde Lewis left Mary's mother, Mrs Wilson France, née Freer, an income of £400 per annum and a trust of £6,000 for her three daughters. He also left a legacy of £10 to a widow named Mary Freer, presumably Mrs Wilson France's mother.
Mary Greswolde Wilson France was born in 1820 and was the eldest daughter of Thomas Robert Wilson France (1787-1853) of Rawcliffe Hall Lancaster, and his wife Mary Freer, whom he married in 1818. She died in 1853 unmarried at the age of 33.
The unusually engraved coat-of-arms records the arms of her father and those of her godfather's mother. However it is interesting to note that the marriage of Mary Wilson France's parents, as recorded in the Gentleman's Magazine of 1818 refers to Miss Freer being of Malvern Hall', the home of Mary's godfather to be Henry Greswolde Lewis. It is possible that Miss Freer was the illegitimate daughter of Henry Greswolde Lewis, he being both Mary's godfather and grandfather. In his will Henry Greswolde Lewis left Mary's mother, Mrs Wilson France, née Freer, an income of £400 per annum and a trust of £6,000 for her three daughters. He also left a legacy of £10 to a widow named Mary Freer, presumably Mrs Wilson France's mother.