|
Edward
Hickman J.P
Birth: July 1724
Death: 1802
Signature:
Mother: Elizabeth Law
married: Anna Maria Greene
Anna died in December 1779 aged 51
Anna Maria (Greene)
Hickman
Edward appears as the outstandingly fortunate member of the family throughout
it's history. He was preceded by two generations in which trading conditions
favored the accumulation of wealth, and both those generations passed on
the bulk of their assets without division. The first Gregory had only one
son, and the second Gregory made a marriage settlement that benefited his
eldest son almost exclusively. Also Edward's grandmother Sarah Law left property
which all came to him. A situation such as he enjoyed never occurred again
in later generations, and Edward thus stands out as a young man finding himself,
at the age of 24, in a position of supremely good fortune, not equaled by
any of his family before or since.
Oldswinford Castle
Marriage
Edward's marriage took place in October 1759. His wife Anna Maria (born
September 1728) was the eldest daughter of Richard Greene of Rolleston Hall,
Billeston, Leicestershire, sometime High Sheriff of that country. Her mother
, Catherine Fortrey, was nice of James Fortrey, a Page of the Backstairs
to James II. Catherine Forgery's ancestry is impeccable: she was fourteen
in decent from Edward III, via Lady Anne Plantagenet and the families of
Bourchier, Tuchet (Lords Audley), Brooke, and Josceline.
Magistrate
His most important appointment by far was that of Justice of the Peace
for Worcestershire and Staffordshire. Magistrates were then the virtual
rulers of the countryside. Headed by the Lieutenant, the Commission of the
Peace was the instrument of Government in each county, undertaking the administration
of all civilian affairs. Its members the Justices, both individually and
collectively, carried responsibilities and authority which were far wider
than theirs today, extending a long way beyond the confines of any court of
justice. They exercised extensive social and economic jurisdiction as well
as legal, at a time when there was no police force and no local administrative
services. All parish business was controlled by the magistrates resident in
the neighborhood, and they constituted the only form of permanent executive
power outside of chartered cities.
The fact of Edward holding the position of magistrate gives some indication
of his character - only confident and resolute men would be appointed.
M. V. Herbert
The Hickmans of Oldswinford.
|
