Mary Catherine Oswin (née Smith)

Executrix of Charles Oswin or Oswan (q.v.) and party to the Chancery suit of Oswin v Shand.

1. Mary Catherine, daughter of Joseph Nicholas Smith and his wife Mary nee Marsden, baptised in Godalming, Surrey, 02/11/1770. Charles Oswin Esquire, bachelor, of St Marylebone, married Mary Catharine Smith, spinster of St Luke Chelsea, by licence in Marylebone, 07/02/1816. The will of Charles Oswin of Englefield Green Surrey proved 29/12/1831. The will identified his wife as Mary Catherine Oswin and his brother as Richard, and provided for his adopted son Charles Oswin, a dentist of Harley Street, and the latter's children.

2. Mary Oswin, age 70, of independent means, born in county, was living at The Hive, Englefield Green, Egham, in the census of 1841, with one male and two female servants. In 1851 Mary C. Oswin born Godalming Surrey was living as 32 Sloane square widow aged 80 with three servants. Mary Catherine Oswin of 32 Sloane Square, was buried at Brompton Cemetery 04/05/1859 aged 89 years. The will of Mary Catherine Oswin, late of Sloane Square, widow, who died 28/04/1859 was proved in London 16/06/1859, effects under £14,000.

3. Charles Oswin was buried 05/12/1831 in Iver, Buckinghamshire. The vicar of Iver at the time was Rev. Edward Ward, an anti-slavery campaigner. The connection between the Oswins and Rev. Ward is seen in the will of Frederick Thomas Smith of Sloane Square, brother of Mary Catherine, who in his will proved in 1849 bequeathed 5 guineas each to Rev. Edward Ward of Iver and Charles Oswin of Harley Street (the Oswin's adopted son). Mary Catherine Oswin was also his executrix and received in her brother's will £500, a table clock, old-fashioned china, the family bible and prayer book, the family picture, the mahogany chest, pianoforte and writing desk.

National Probate Calendar 1859.

1. Ancestry.com, Surrey, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [database online]; Ancestry.com, London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1932 [database online]; PROB 11/1793/134.

2. 1841 census online; 1851 census online; Findmypast.co.uk, Middlesex, Brompton Cemetery [database online]; National Probate Calendar 1859.

3. Findmypast.co.uk, England Deaths & Burials 1538-1991 [database online]; Robert Isaac Wilberforce and Samuel Wilberforce, The Life of William Wilberforce (1838) vol. 4 p. 195; PROB 11/2087/118.

We are grateful to Linda Hall for her assistance with compiling this entry.