Charles Sweetinburgh

Charles Sweetinburgh (also given as Sweetingburg, Sweetenburg and Sweetinburg) of Margate and 10 Great St Helens counterclaimed for the compensation as mortgagee of the Adelphi estate in British Guiana. To his frustration, the money was paid into colonial court in a dispute between a previous owner and the buyer that involved only part of the award.

1. The variants on his name make tracing him with confidence difficult, but if (as seems plausible) he was the son of Charles Sweetinburgh, victualler of Half Moon Alley, then he was first cousin to Frances Jennings, John Keats' mother: Charles Sweetinburgh the elder had married Mary Havers nee Jennings, the sister of John Jennings, Frances' father.

2. In 1841 Chas. Sweetinburgh aged 65 Ind. was living at New Cross with Ann Sweetinburgh aged 60 and Ellen aged 20; the death of Charles Sweetinburgh was registered Q3 1843 Camberwell. No will has yet been traced for him but the will of Ann Sweetinburgh widow formerly of Deal but now of Great Winchester Street was proved 24/10/1849 and gives details of the couple's children.

T71/1610: letter, dated 28/11/1835, from Charles Sweetingburg, 10 Great St Helens, stating: 'I have several times come to your office'; 'I am the only mortgagee so how can there be another claim?'

Letter, dated 21/12/1835, from Charles Sweetingburg, 10 Great St Helens, stating: the counterclaim for £1284 13s 4d due to the heirs of a late proprietor should not have been brought as a counterclaim but by an action against the executors of the late Mr Kewley, who purchased the estate. I am the mortgagee, and it is 'but justice to pay me the balance even if you retain the £1284 13s 4d until a settlement takes place in the colony, particularly as these monies were to retire certain Bills falling due in a short time'.

Letter, dated 15/07/1837, from Charles Sweetingburg, Margate, stating: I came to town in response to an advertisement on this award, on 06/07/1837, to be told the hearing only concerned the claim by the Farley relations: 'It is now nearly 3 years since the printed paper was first put into my hands at your office respecting my Claim for Compensation.' (A handwritten note on the reverse shows the payment to the colonial court: 'How much?', '£5555 10s 9d.' T71/1594 p. 97: letter, dated 17/07/1837, to C. Sweetenburg, Margate, referring to this claim going into the colonial court.

1. Andrew Motion John Keats.

2. 1841 census online; Ancestry.com, England and Wales FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915; PROB 11/2101/410.