Bethell Walrond

MP for Saltash and then Sudbury between 1825-1832. The compensation for his Lower and Upper Walrond estates on Antigua was paid to his father-in-law James St Clair Erskine, the 2nd Earl of Rosslyn (q.v.), but he was paid a share of the compensation for an estate on Antigua previously owned by his mother's family, the Codringtons.

1. Bethell [given as Bethel in the compensation records] Walrond was the son of Joseph Lyons Walrond of Antigua and subsequently of Dulford House, and Caroline, daughter of Edward Codrington (1732-1775) of Dodington in Gloucestershire; hence Bethell Walrond was the nephew of Admiral Edward Codrington, William John Bethell (ne Codrington) and Sir Christopher Bethell-Codrington (each of whom q.v.). Anna Maria Bethell (q.v.) was his aunt by marriage.

2. 'Another West Indian [in addition to Massey Lopez] who bought in Devon was Joseph Walrond (1752-1817) of Antigua who settled at Dulford House near Cullompton; his son became an MP and in 1873 members of the family owned over 7000 acres.'

3. Rent account and statement of condition book for the estates of Bethel Walrond, esquire, of Dulford in Broadhembury, including particulars of tradesmen's bills.

4. According to reports on Walrond's death he was devoted to his dogs (and rabbits and other animals), loathed his wife and children, and treated them abominably, as he did the servants. It was also remarked that he did not mind who he went to law with, employing at one point more than 40 solicitors, and insisting that his full title as a grandee of Spain be included in all documents. His own estate at death reckoned at 3,000 acres.

5. Administration of the personal estate of Bethell Walrond of Dulford House Collumpton [sic] Devon who died 28/05/1876 was granted to his son Henry Walrond and another administrator 25/06/1878, the previous administration having expired, personal estate under £14,000.

T71/877 Antigua claim no. 54 (Browns (sp?), St Philips); Margaret Escott, 'Walrond, Bethell (1801-1876) of Clifton Street, Bond Street Mdx. and Dulford House, Montrath Devon', http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/walrond-bethell-1801-1876 [accessed 12/08/2014].

1. John Burke, A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland enjoying territorial possessions or high official rank, but uninvested with heritable honours (4 vols., London, Henry Colburn, 1835-1838), Vol II, p. 557-560.

2. John Habakkuk, Marriage, debt and the estate system (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1994) p. 457.

3. Held by the Devon Record Office: 3223 A/PZ 5 1864 - 1866.

4. See reports in the New York Times, 15 July 1877 and 6 October 1878 (taking report from the London Standard, 7 September 1878).

5. National Probate Calendar 1878.