Isabella Hutchison (née Cunningham)

Profile & Legacies Summary

26^th Feb 1780 - 29^th Jun 1866

Claimant or beneficiary

Biography

Widow of George Hutchison and trustee to the residuary devisees of her brother-in-law David Hutchison (q.v.) who owned Coffee Grove estate in Manchester, Jamaica.

Born in 1780 in Port Glasgow, Lanarkshire, to John Cunningham, a merchant, and Ann Cunningham née Semple. Widowed by 1836 when she was living at 45 Heriot Row, Edinburgh. At Heriot Row in the censuses of 1841 and 1851, "Ind[ependant means]" and "Annuitant", with 2 female servants. Living at 29 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, "House Proprietor", age 81 in the census of 1861, along with Alice H. Hutchison, age 51, a visitor, clergyman's wife, born in Ireland, plus 2 female servants.
Trustee of the residuary devisees of David Hutchison following the death of her husband George Hutchison.
Isabella Hutchison was responsible for "erecting, completing and furnishing the residence for the Sisters of Mercy at Lauriston Gardens" and bequeathed her estate to the convent, which was also responsible for setting up the school that is now St Thomas of Acquin's High School on Lauriston Gardens.

Sources

T71/860 Manchester claim no. 439 (Coffee Grove).

GROS OPR Births 574/ 30 298 Port Glasgow; 1841, 1851 and 1861 censuses online; T71/1606 (unnumbered bundle): letter dated 30/06/1837 (T71/1606) from Mr McCrae, 22 Fludyer Street, re transfer of stock, gives Isabella Hutchison as widow, 45 Heriot Row; General Register Office for Scotland, Deaths 1866 685/04 0415. Note her death certificate gives her father as a banker but he's listed as a merchant in Port Glasgow in her baptism record.
See separate entry for David Hutchison.
1866 SC 70/4/106 Edinburgh Sheriff Court Wills; https://www.st-thomas-of-aquins.org.uk/chaplaincy/history-of-the-school/ [accessed -7/10/2020].

We are grateful for the assistance of Hamish Johnston in compiling this entry.

Further Information

Absentee?

British/Irish

Maiden Name

Cunningham

Spouse

George Hutchison

Will

Isabella Hutchison, widow of George Hutchison formerly Lieutenant-Colonel, East India Company

Inventory (Source: 1866 SC/1/131 Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories)

Died 29th June 1866 at her home, Lauriston Lodge, Edinburgh.

Cash; revenue from trustees of late husband's estate; interest on heritable bond; interest on account kept by factors of trustees; interest on account held with Lindsay, Howe & Co.; furniture, linen, books, etc.

Total £397 personalty (moveable estate)

Will (Source: 1866 SC 70/4/106 Edinburgh Sheriff Court Wills)

Made 21 February 1862 with later codicils. Mrs Hutchison had taken responsibility for paying for "erecting, completing and furnishing the residence for the Sisters of Mercy at Lauriston Gardens". The trustees, after paying for this building, her funeral and settling any debts, were to use the residual funds "for the benefit of the Institution of the said Sisters of Mercy."

She placed Miss Helen Margaret Grant, the Superioress (sic) of St Catherine's Convent, Edinburgh, in charge of her funeral. She was to be buried in the precincts of the Convent. Portraits (including "my late brother Lord Cunningham") donated to her nephew, thereafter to others named. Portrait of herself to go to her niece.

SEE ALSO her husband, George Hutchison, formerly Lieutenant-Colonel, Honourable East India Company.

Inventory (Source: 1829 CC8/8/152 Edinburgh Commissary Court)

Will made 14th June 1827; GH died 24 July 1828.

Cash in house, deposit + interest, three promissary notes, shares in Edinburgh & Leith Glass Company and Edinburgh South Stock Water Company; balance due by British Linen Company; balance due from estate of David Hutchison; furniture, wines, carriage, horses at Heriot Row house. Total £4,919.

Wealth at death

£397

Occupation

Annuitant

Associated Claims (1)

Legacies Summary

Cultural (1)

Benefactor

Convent of the Sisters of Mercy......

Details

Physical (1)

Convent

Sisters of Mercy

Details

notes →

Isabella Hutchison bequeathed her estate for the benefit of the Convent of the Sisters of Mercy in Lauriston Gardens, Edinburgh. She had already paid for the construction and furnishing of the...