The Death of George Cumberland Senior

It has long been a puzzle as to how and when George Cumberland, the husband of Elizabeth Balchen and thus Mary (Balchen) Man’s brother-in-law, died. We now have evidence from the newspapers of the time and other sources that suggest that George committed suicide.

George Cumberland's death was first reported on Saturday November 16 1771 and is listed among a number of other persons as having died on the same day namely Sunday November 10.  It is probably safe to assume that that date is the date of George's death. We also learn from the death notice that George was the Chief Examiner of the South Sea House which may go some way to account for Henry Man's position as Deputy Secretary to the same House.

Some time later, on November 21st, it is reported in the newspapers that: 'Mr. George Cumberland, late of the South-Sea House, was a Gentleman greatly respected for his honesty and integrity; the cause of his melancholy exit is attributed to his having dabbled too freely in the Alley on speculation.'  We can assume that 'melancholy exit' refers to George's suicide which was motivated by losses on the stock market.

The Alley refers to "[Ex]change Alley" which was a narrow alleyway connecting shops and coffeehouses bounded by Lombard Street, Cornhill and Birchin Lane. These coffee houses such as Jonathon's pictured below were venues for trading stocks and commodities and were the progenitor of the London Stock Exchange.

According to Clementina Black's book 'The Cumberland Letters' (1921) George's burial was registered at St Dunstan's, Stepney, on November 21st, 1771. Although he had prepared and signed a will on 21st March 1768, it was not witnessed. Therefore, after his death, Henry Balchen (uncle of the newly widowed Elizabeth Cumberland and her sister Mary Man) and John Balchen (Henry's son) had to sign an affidavit as to the authenticity of the will which was then probated on 19 November 1771.  The will of George Cumberland and and the affidavit have been transcribed as follows:

The last Will and Testament of me George Cumberland, Snr.  In consequenc of the Love and Esteem I bear to my dear Wife Elizabeth Cumberland, I leave her all my Estate and Effects to her for and during her life and afterwards to my two Sons - Richard Denison Cumberland and George Cumberland to be equally divided or to the Survivor and I nominate my said Wife Eliz.Cumberland and my dear Friend Mr. William Tapp my Executors.  Dated 21 March 1768.   [signed] G. Cumberland. 

19^th Nov’r 1771

Which day appeared personally Henry Balchen of the Parish of Saint Mary White Chapel in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, and John Balchen of the Parish of Allhallows, Bread Street, London, Linnen Draper, and being Sworn on the holy Evangelists to depose the truth severally, made Oath as follows that they these Deponents knew and were well acquainted with George Cumberland, late of the Parish of St Dunstan, Stepney in the County of Middlesex, deceased, for several years before and to the time of his Death and thereby became well acquainted with his manner and Character of handwriting and Inscription having often seen him write and Inscribe his Name and having now carefully viewed and perused the paper Writing hereunto annexed purporting to be and contain the last Will and Testament of the said deceased beginning “The last Will and Testament of me George Cumberland and ending “and my dear Friend Mr. Wiolliam Tapp my Executors – dated 21^st March 1768 and Inscribed G. Cumberland, they these Deponents do severally depose that they verily and in their Consciences believe the whole Series and Contents of the said proper Writing, Beginning, Ending and Inscribed as aforesaid to be all of the proper hand Writing and Inscription of the said Deceased.  (signed) H. Balchen, John Balchen  [The] same day the said Henry Balchen and John Balchen were only Sworn to the truth of this affidavit before me.  Geo. Harris, Suurog:        Tho. Adderly, ??.

This Will was proved at london on the Nineteenth day of November, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy One before the Worshipful George Harris, Doctor of Laws, Surrogate of the Right Worshipful George Isay, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of William Trapp one of the Executors named in the said Will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn only to administer power reserved of making the like Grant to Elizabeth Cumberland, Widow, the Relict of the said deceased, and the other executor named in the said Will when she shall apply the same.  Ex’d

We should also note that Richard Balchen, father of Mary Man and Elizabeth Cumberland and an apothecary, seems to have suffered from bankruptcy as well although he appears to have managed to clear his name. There is only one month between the declaration (left) and the clearance (right).

Given the above it is interesting that the two Balchen sisters Mary and Elizabeth had a father who was a bankrupt and each married men who also became bankrupts but with three very different outcomes: the father recovers, one husband kills himself, and the other flees. To return to the Cumberland Family page Click Here. To return to the Balchen Family page Click Here. To return to the Man family home page Click Here.