INTRODUCTION

The Ankers are on my father's side of the family and Elizabeth Anker was my great-great-grandmother. I am aware that a Tom Anker came to the U.S. in the 1940s and I believe that his father was named Leonard Lymberry Anker. It was understood from my grandmother that he had a lot of information about the Anker family tree but unfortunately for one reason or another, he did not keep in touch and he died in 1997, aged 92, taking this genealogical information with him.

Leonard was the illegitimate son of Elizabeth Anker's daughter, Elizabeth, and never knew who his father was. It had been previously thought that she left everything to her grandson in her will. However this is not the case. I was able to find a copy of the will through the National Probate Registry. In it, it seems that of all her children, Elizabeth, the daughter, received the smallest inheritance - only £10 pounds or the equivalent in household articles. Perhaps this was a reflection of Elizabeth's disapproval of her lifestyle. Nevertheless, Elizabeth was named executor of her mother's will which was proved on 26 June 1931. The will does however provide some interesting insights into the Anker family history and into the relationships of Elizabeth's household.

You can read a full account of Elizabeth's life and a history of the family here: Whittlesey Ancestors - The Anker Family (Part 2)

In her will, she left her furniture and her late husband's gold watch and silver chain to her son George William, various portraits and kitchen utensils to her daughters and the sum of £20 pounds to her sister Fanny Maria Draper.

The mahogany table and chairs were passed down to George W Anker as the will states and were kept for several years before they were sold. The chairs were of rosewood and went with the matching round table. The gold watch and silver chain that was supposed to go to Robert Hallam Henderson after the death of George W Anker. However Robert died at 16 years of age. He fell down a crevasse in Switzerland, on a school trip. He attended Westminster Abbey school and was extremely intelligent. It is said he could speak seven languages.

The pendant (which has a photograph of George in it) and the portrait of my great grandmother, Ada Anker, still exist.

- Daniel Hewitt

The life and times of Elizabeth Anker (nee Hallam)

She was born in Nottingham on 18 January 1857 to George and Elizabeth Hallam. Her father worked as a framework knitter. She was one of eight children. Elizabeth married George Anker, an engine driver, on 11 December 1878 and the family settled in Carlton, Nottingham. They had five children, one of whom died of spina bidifa at just seven weeks old. Elizabeth's husband passed away in 1898. She never remarried. Elizabeth died in 1931. In her will, she left her furniture and her late husband's gold watch and silver chain to her son George William, various portraits and kitchen utensils to her daughters and the sum of £20 pounds to her sister Fanny Maria Draper.

The transcript

THIS IS THE LAST WILL and TESTAMENT of me ELIZABETH ANKER of 1
Conway Avenue Carlton in the County of Nottingham Widow I hearby
REVOKE all former wills made by me and I APPOINT my daughter
Elizabeth Newell and John Hugh Cecil Godfrey of the City of
Nottingham Solicitor (hereinafter called "my trustees") to be the
EXECUTORS and TRUSTEES of this my will and I DECLARE that the said
John Hugh Cecil Godfrey shall be entitled to charge and be paid
for his services connected with the winding up of my estate and
the administration of the trusts of this will. I GIVE to my son
George William my mahogany table at present in the drawing room
together with my drawing room suite of furniture consisting of
couch and six chairs. I GIVE the gold watch chain and silver watch
formerly the property of my late husband and now on loan to my
said son George William to my said son during his life and at his
death to my grandson Robert Hallam Henderson the son of my
daughter Nellie. I GIVE to my daughter Ada Maria the three portraits
of herself now hanging in my drawing room and the two seascapes
also on the same room also my case of silver teaspoons and sugar
tongs together with my crystal bowl and also my gold neck chain
with gold pendant containing my late husband's photograph attach-
ed thereto I GIVE to my said daughter Nellie my two pictures of
war incidents relating to Hussar soldiers at present hanging on
the wall of my dining room and the portrait of myself hanging on
the wall of my drawing room and my kitchen sideboard. I GIVE my
daughter Elizabeth the sum of ten pounds or alternatively any
articles of furniture of household effects belonging to me at my
death (other than those specifically bequested by this my Will
or any Codicil thereto) up to the value of ten pounds I GIVE my
silver teaspoons marked "Wm. Rogers & Son A.A." equally between
my said daughters Elizabeth and Nellie. I GIVE my six silver forks
of similar quantity to the last mentioned spoons to my said
daughter Ada Maria. I GIVE to my sister Fanny Maria Draper the
legacy or sum of twenty pounds. I DEVISE and BEQUEATH all my real
estate and the remainder of my personal estate UNTO my trustees
UPON TRUST that my trustees shall sell the said real estate and
call in sell and convert into money such part of my personal
estate as does not consist of money AND shall out of the moneys
to arise from the said sale and conversion out of my ready
money pay my funeral and testamentary expenses and debts And shall
stand possessed of the residue of the said moneys UPON TRUST for
my said son George William and my said daughters Ada Maria
Elizabeth and Nellie in equal shares IN WITNESS thereof I have
hereunto set my hand the third day of May one thousand nine
hundred and thirty.

Signed by the above named Elizabeth Anker as
her last will in the presence of us both
present at the time who in her presence
and the presence of each other have hereunto
set our names as witnesses

ELIZABETH ANKER

Walter Scott, Solicitor, Nottingham
Phyllis G Dutton, his clerk

On the 26th day of June 1931 Probate of
this Will was granted at Nottingham
This is a correct copy
(signed) F. Gilbert Perkins
Deputy District Registrar

THE COVER

[PROBATE]
BE IT KNOWN that ELIZABETH ANKER of 1 Conway Avenue
Carlton in the County of Nottingham Widow
died there on the 26th day of March 1931
AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that at the date hereunder written
the last will and Testament
of the said deceased was proved and registered in the District Probate Registry
of His Majesty's High Court of Justice at Nottingham
and that administration of all the estate which by law devolves to and vests
in the personal representative of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid
Court to ELIZABETH NEWELL of 17 Seely Road in the City of
Nottingham (wife of Henry Newell) daughter of the deceased
and JOHN HUGH CECIL GODFREY) of Victoria Street in the said
City Solicitor the executors
named in the said Will

Dated the 26th day of June 1931

Gross value of Estate: £840.14.3
Net value of Personal Estate: £ 51.6.11
(Signed) F Gilbert Perkins
Deputy District Registrar

Extracted by Godfrey Berryman & Scott

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The will

Reference

1. The Will of Elizabeth Anker, of Carlton, Nottingham, proved 26 Jun 1931: National Probate Registry at York Probate Office

Added: July 23rd 2010

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