and was buried on the 7th at Kensal Green Cemetery.
Anne Powne Gully was baptized at Gorran on 12 September 1786. She was the eldest child of William Slade Gully (1754-1816), who had inherited Trevennen, in Gorran, in 1783.
Her father died when she was 28. She married Samuel James Fletcher on 1 January 1828. At this time both were of Newport, Isle of Wight. She bought a new villa on the Pittville Estate, which had been developed by Joseph Pitt, to the north of the main spa at Cheltenham. In 1832 she was at Trevillis House, Cheltenham "afterward numbered 1 Pittville Villas, her own freehold." In December 1836, Samuel left Anne. Both agreed to live apart.
In 1838, Samuel was at Hollymount in County Mayo. He subsequently emigrated to Baltimore, Maryland. In 1841 he took steps to dissociate himself from Anne, and early in 1842 introduced a private bill into the state Senate. The bill passed to the House of Delegates on 1 March 1842, and on the 10th received its second reading and was passed back to the Senate. It received the Governor's assent that autumn. (By the mid-1830s, the Maryland legislature was granting slightly more than thirty divorces a year. By 1842, the number of divorces sought was so great that primary jurisdiction was transferred to the courts.)
Also in 1842, Anne achieved notoriety for threatening litigation against the Crown to claim that the Gully family, through "Sir John Coryn", were the rightful heirs to the estates of the Duchy of Cornwall. An article in the Morning Post of Thursday 9 June 1842 reads:
A fruitful subject of conversation has been furnished the gossips of Truro and the lower part of the county of Cornwall, by the publication of a claim to "the whole of the lands of the ancient Corin Colyn Carewen Earl of Cornwall de Bodugron Lord Fanhope Duke of Exeter," and which lands comprise, according to the statements set forth in the claim, among other property, "all the lands in Goran of Coryn, Tregarthen, Tregear, Rescassa, Carhays, in fact all Goram," and also "Hampden and Twickenham," which it is said with "much other lands in and around London are in the list of the old Earl's lands in the post mortems." The lady by whom this extensive claim is thus publicly set up, signs herself "Ann Pownes Fletcher Née Gully and Coryn;" she dates her residence "39, Brewer-street, Regent's-circus, London," and describes herself as being "only daughter and executrix and administratrix, and residuary legatee to the will of the late William Slade Gully, Esq., of Trewennen and Treworder." The claim seems to be made principally on the part of her brother, "Major William Slade Gully, of Trewennen," to whom she calls upon the present holders of the property to surrender possession; for she says, in one part of her published address, "Let all leaseholders look unto their deeds; those who deal nobly with us shall be nobly dealt with. Although I know the Trelawneys, the Tremaynes, the Bullers, the Lemons, to be our lessees, I would not hurt a hair of their heads; but I must by my oath to my father, see that my brother has his rights."
Mrs. Fletcher commences her letter, which is addressed to the several occupiers of the lands, by referring to the death of "William Slade Gully, of Trevenna, in Gorra and Trewordra, in Kenwyn, the old seat of Colo, alias Coryn Count Morotonio, in 'Exon Domesday Liber,'" who, she states, was "the last legal descendant of the old baronial title (Earl of Cornwall of Bodrugon), and whose decease took place about twenty-five years since." She then traces back the family in the following terms:- "His grandfather was Samuel Coryn Gully, Esq., who married the Slade heiress of Trevennen, whose ancestors were the Slades and Moyles of Domesday records. His great grandfather was John Gully of Tresillian, Esq., of the family of De Gouilley, Knight of Scilly, Mayor of Madron, in the old Heralds' pedigrees, at the Museum library, which are copies from the Heralds' College. De Gouilley's heiress, about the 13th century, was wedded to Otus, or Henry Arundel de Trevise, or Trerica; these two families intermarried frequently, as it appears there was a second De Gouilley branch, as well as a second of Arundel, which became Lord Arundel, as the second branch of Coryn became Lord Cornewaille, and the elder Lord Burford: thus De Gouilley and Arundel were one branch, and Arundel's heir is Gully. The junior Gully settled in Newlyn, Cornwall, whence John Gully aforesaid second son. He married the eldest daughter, and heiress according to the Stenanata Nobilia where the eldest daughter inherits, or the eldest sister, of the late John Coryn, of Trewardra, who died in 1732, leaving her heiress to all the tithes, lands, and baronial hereditaments of the old Thanes, Earls of Cornwall de Bodrugon and Truro, who, though attainted, as others were, but not executed, had all the titles and honors restored to their family by our ancestor Joan Calwoldely, or Callonsley, one of our great grandmothers, by a deed of Parliament which I have. After Edward 2nd, before the civil wars, these Earls of Cornwaille were esquires of the Duke, the King's son, and sat next to him at the Royal table. They were before that period Governors of the realm in the absence of the Kings in foreign wars; and in former times were feudal Earls to the British Kings, for all the lands west of Totnes, the grant of which is found in Versus de Beg, one of the most ancient of British M.S.S. at the Museum, wherein it is stated that the Earls of Cornewaille descended from Brute and Coreyn, and Coryn. Brute, with 7,000 men, and Coreyns with 300 men, left Troy after the siege, Brute marrying Eneas's daughter; and after losing the elder Coreyn in Gascony, they landed at Totnes." Mr Fletcher states on the authority of the MS., that at that time Britain was only inhabited by a race of giants. Coryn was appointed to wrestle with the chief of them, Gog-magog, whom he threw on the sands and broke his neck, for which service, says the chronicle of Versus de Beg "Brute gave all that country to Coryn, and Coryn called it after his own name Cornewaille, and his men Carnewailles, and so these men of countrie be called for ever more; and in this country dwelled Coryn with his men, and made towns and houses, and inhabited the land at his will" - See page 32.
Mrs. Fletcher goes on to state, that afterwards "Brute was crowned King of New Troy (London), and left it to Loteryn, his only son, who married Earl Coryn's only daughter and heiress, Estrild, who at her father's death took her father's lands of Cornewailles, and at her husband's death reigned over all England as Queen Coryn for 15 years. She then placed her son, aged 20, on the throne, and returned into Cornewaille, and there ended her days. These Kings (continues Mrs. Fletcher) were continued in succession till Constantine, 74 descents, all named, and the number of years each reigned, what cities they founded, and other acts; this Roman Emperor was one of these Kings, and when he left England to be anointed at Rome, he gave all England to the Earl of Cornewaille." Further parts of the letter assert, that "this history on vellum, red and black letters, so clear that a child might read it, has lain unknown and unexamined since the first fire of London, which scorched the margin, but burnt no letters." A similar ancient work, the authenticity of which cannot be denied, is also stated by Mrs. Fletcher to be at Herald's College, "which relates to the coming of Christ, and the introduction of the Christian religion into Britain by one of the Coryn kings, as likewise of the making of towns, cities, great roads, streets of Watling, St. Giles's, and Cripplegate."
Mrs. Fletcher quotes from monumental inscriptions and other records, with a view to shew the consequence and power of the Earls of Cornewaille, and extent of their possessions. She says "they were also garter knights, and in Parliament always." The line is traced to Oto or Henry Coryn de Bodrugon, the last Earl, who in the civil wars was driven by "his relations by marriage, Valletort and Trevenion, over cliff at Bodrugan, in Gorran, to his possessions in Normandy and Brittany, and burnt his houses. His pardon was granted, but he was shipwrecked in coming home; his tomb is in Bodmin church, near the altar." The descent is next raced to "the heroic Joan, who, on her knees before the King, recovered by a deed the titles and lands of all her ancestors; which deed (continues Mrs. Fletcher) I have." After this it is admitted that "the subsidies and pardon fine could not be answered by Coryn, and the lands were leased off under crown commissioners." "But," says Mrs. Fletcher, "Coryn's enemies entered on his lands by leases legally wrong (and where is the man of any rank in Cornwall who can say 'I hold no lease of Coryn.') The Queen of England could as soon lease away England as Coryn can Cornwall and Devon." After further tracing the family, the fair claimant says "Volumes might be written of the Coryn descent, and feats of arms; and they can be brought down in one uninterrupted line of heirs and heiresses from Troy to the death of John Coryn in 1732, to the present Major William Slade Gully, of Trevennen, and his brother the Rev. Samuel Thomas Gully and myself; Major Slade Gully's heiress, Mrs. Gregoe, and his brother's heir Algernon at Eton College."
In the next part of her letter, Mrs. Fletcher states that an attempt was made by her father to recover the lands and titles, and that George the Third ordered all the records to be searched, till which Herculean task was accomplished, nothing could be proved. She then goes on to say, "men have taken advantage of my father's death to supersede us, but as far as proofs can go, we have them, thanks to his gracious Majesty." Where can Vivian call himself Lord of Truro and Glynn, my brother is lord of both, and Glynn is but a lease to Glynn, a cousin of Trenance Littleton's wife: I refer Lord Vivian to the will of the old occupier of Glynn in 1727." After adverting to the services of Major Gully in India and elsewhere, she says - "The late William Slade Gully, his father, was everywhere acknowledged to be heir to Arundel and Coryn, even by the men who now hold our lands at lease and deny us. They recognised him as lord, as the grass-soil, as the old grant of the duchy menorial rights calls the fee, and the men of Exeter acknowledged him the Boisville Duke. It may be true, as was stated at Lord Falmouth's death, that his estate had been nearly five hundred years in his family; if so, the old lease is nearly up, for most of the lands of Coryn were leased for 200, 300, and 500 years, some of which leases are out, and the Crown has renewed them, but can renew them no more now; and the due proceedings of law mentioned in the Acts of Charles II. will soon be entered upon against those who have fattened upon the poor old grass soils."After several allusions to the present holders of the property, Mrs. Fletcher says - "It is not to be supposed that I, who lived with my father eight-and-twenty years, and know all, suffer our lands and honours, of fifteen hundred years before Christ duration, to be lost without a struggle, and I shall find persons to aid me, by God's will." Further on in her lengthened address she says - "It is not generally known that Richard Vyvyan of Trelowarren, about 1494, married an Arundel of Trevice de Goulley's line; that his daughter was married to Coryn of Trengwainton; that his eldest son William was drowned in the Thames; and his second son Robert, who married Margaret Bogan heiress of St. Keverne Manor, carried her lands and that branch of Vyvyan to Bodmin, that their son John had Truan by his marriage, and that John had Prior Vivian alias Wannisworth, last Prior of Bodmin, and his sister Elizabeth, who married Richard Coryn, of Trewordra, and that Coryn, and not Vyvyan of Trelowarren, are Prior Vivian and Elizabeth's heirs. The third branch took Trelowarren, which could not have been done if it had been old baron's fee to Vyvyan. And although Sir Vyal has put a tablet on Prior Vivian's tomb that he is heir to the Prior, I here inform Sir Richard that he is not, and that my brother is, and heir to Truan and St. Keverne, although Sir Richard has sold St. Keverne away from us." Again, she says, "Coryn, by Richard, king of the Romans, is right heir to the Earl of Pembroke by the surviving sister and co-heiress, whom he married, and in direct line it comes to Coryn and my brother, proved by the aforesaid monument by this Cecolia, heiress of the De Bouville also, and of the line direct of the Heryngdon and Huntyngdon, about 1469 set in abeyance under Elizabeth Coryn, second wife of Oto, Earl of cornwall, who was shipwrecked, and left Elizabeth Calwodele. I can produce proof of all this, and Richard Vyvyan's post mortem after death with the fact. The St. Keverne lands came to Coryn by Margaret Bogan aforesaid, and I can prove that Cecily Bouville could not have married anyone but Coryn, as she is said to have been a ward of the King, under age, and died under age the wife of Coryn, to whom her lands came and passed to Elizabeth, their child, by heirship! Jacobs, in his Peerage, states that Cecily Baker, Sir John Baker's daughter, married Dorset, and the funeral monuments state that the dowager Lady Dorset was Cecily Baker, and where she lies interred; therefore, how was that Cecily a Bouville?
Mrs. Fletcher then says - "It is shame to the country that the Major is not in his rights and I call on all men of honour in it to assist me to place him there. For this purpose I am not ashamed to ask a subscription from those who owe all they possess to the Coryn lands. I have expended my income for some years in collecting proofs, and now, that I have proofs, I want funds to bring the case before Chancery, or I must sacrifice years of income to pay the charges of gratuitous lawgivers - at the same time, perhaps, ruin hundreds for rents that will be stopped and commissioners appointed." "The lands are as liable to be called on now for men-at-arms as in the days of Richard;" and "how if he has not his 228 manors, is Major Gully to supply them?" Further on she adds - "I believe I am entitled to be Countess of Huntyngdon, and to possess her lands in my own right, as only daughter of the Coryn race, as she was the Earl of Pembroke's only daughter and heiress, married to Lord Bouville, of Chuton, who was grandfather of Cecily Beryl, mother of Cecilia Coryn; but apart of that I can claim a title from Coryn, and the "Midsummer Lords and Ladies," as the Stemmata Nobilia calls these mushroom nobles, shall not supplant me and my heirs, nor keep me in poverty when I ought to have wealth." In another part she says, referring to her brother's claim, "My brave brother is worthy of his name and of his sword: let him have it girded on and the belt as we see it on the old Earl in Truro Church, and I am content; and if the man of the county refuse this, God's vengeance will follow, for God's hands direct mine in furnishing my proofs and courage." The letter goes on to deny the titles of various landowners, and to call on the Cornwallians to petition the Queen, and again possess their "old Earl and Coryn, and let his leader and royal master be his Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall." It condemns the manner in which the lands have been abused, and says the possessrs have permitted houses to be erected on the Castle Mount which her fathers held so sacred, have suffered manors to be sold away, and even churches to be pulled down.
Mrs. Fletcher finishes her very lengthy letter by an appeal for justice.
This extraordinary claim referring to - perhaps it would hardly be correct to say affecting - as it does property to a vast, an almost incalculable amount, has necessarily excited much curiosity, and is the subject of general conversation.
With reference to the paragraph, the first few lines of which are for the sake of distinguishing it from the others, set in italic, a reply has been published, dated "Pencalenick, June 1st," and signed "John Vivian." After setting forth the paragraph it says, "Mrs. Fletcher has most comically jumbled together circumstances which occurred during an interval of two centuries. The fact of a son of Richard Vyvyan of Trelowarren, being drowned in the Thames, in attempting to save the life of a son of a nobleman, to whose suite he belonged, in 1494, has led her to confound the father of the young man with his lineal descendant Sir Richard, the third Baronet of this family, who was imprisoned in the Tower as a Jacobite in 1716. Upon this delusion she has based the above plausible statement about the claims of her own family to certain property in St. Keverne, and it would be unworthy of notice if it had not been published in such a way as to throw doubts upon the title to the St. Keverne property, a part of which was sold ten years since to several purchasers, some of whom may be alarmed by such grave assertions.
I therefore state for their satisfaction, that Sir Richard Vyvyan, the third baronet, married the heiress of Mr. Vivian, of Cosworth, who was possessed of several manors in the eastern part of the county, that there was no alliance between these two old families until this marriage; that they had several children, ayounger son of whom obtained the manor of St. Keverne, by marrying the heiress of that property about a century since; that Trewan was also given to him by his mother, who only left a portion of her own estates to the eldest son; that his descendant, the late Mr. Vyvyan, of Trewan, dying without issue, left that place to Mr. Vyvyan, the present owner, and the St. Keverne property to Sir Vyell Vyvyan, the father of the present baronet; that Sir Vyell Vyvyan, who was the grandson of the second son of their common ancestor. Sir Richard succeeded to his title and to the entailed estates upon the death of Sir Carew, the last surviving descendant of the first son, Sir Francis, and that the St. Keverne property being at Sir Vyell's own disposal, was left by him to his children.
It is remarkable that during a succession of twenty generations from the reputed founder of the family (Sir Vyell Vyvyan, who who married a daughter of the Earl of Kildare in the reign of Edward the Second), the oldest family estates have descended from the father to the eldest son with only two exceptions; the first Baronet was succeeded by his brother's son, and the late Sir Carew, by his first cousin's son, who thus represented the two distinct families of his great grandfather, the third Baronet, and of the lady whom that gentleman married. All Mrs. Fletcher's account is therefore at variance with the facts. There is no tradition of any family connection between the Vyvyans of Trelowarren and Vivian, the last Prior of Bodmin, or his collateral relation until that marriage took place.
In this state matters remain at present.
39 Brewer Street, Golden Square, London was a lodging house, where Anne lived "in the front room second floor".
This led to some discussion, which seems to have dragged on for years. In the West Briton of 12 April 1844, for instance, we find a letter from Anne:
Anne died, aged 62, in January 1848 at 39 Brewer Street and was buried on the 7th at Kensal Green Cemetery.
She had made her will on 27 December 1847. It is a long and rambling document, covering eight broadsheet-sized pages. Photographic copies of some pages are here. A sample page reads:
... ancient Lord of the Duchy as restored by King Henry 7th by a deed in Roll's Chapel at the Tower, copied for me and amongst my papers.
Joanna the heiress, these heiresses brought (... husbands) the Duchy to Thomasine Trenance of Lanhydrock, Bodmyn, whose lands were sold ... illegally to Roberts, merchant of Truro, after Earl of Radnor, who dying without heirs, his mortgagee Hunt afar is in possession and has had notice to quit of me.
I have also cut the twig and turf upon about twenty other... all labelled in a bag with their Earth. Mr Henry St Aubyn was present when I executed one such ... being conversant with Cornwall. I hereby give him thirty pounds for journeys to london when ... by my trustees to advise upon the steps to be taken if he undertakes it.
also 30£ to Anne Gully my niece or her sister whichever it may be for her journeys to take possession ... rooms and villa and apportion the contents as ordered by me, and 30£ to John Garland Cregoe ... is required to meet the upon any trust they commit to him, and ten pounds to ... Fallowes Esqre if he needs to go into Cornwall to survey Truro and Bodmin at my decease.
Having arranged this great claim I again state that this is the last will and testament of me Anne Powne Fletcher of Trevillis House Cheltenham alias 1 Pittville Place, Pittville Villas, now residing at Miss Roberts No 39 Brewer Street Golden Square London in the front room second floor where are all my valuable Papers, Jewels and Wardrobe, formerly Anne Powne Gully of Trevennen, Gorran, Cornwall, only daughter of William Slade Gully Esqre and Jenefer Powne his wife of Trevennem and Treworder Trevissick
... and I hereby make void all other wills, mine or said to be mine, and also I hereby declare to be null and void in favour of this my will my settlement or marriage articles of the twenty seventh of December eighteen hundred and twenty seven made at Newport Isle of Wight where I was married on the first of Jany following by Mr Geary to Saml James Fletcher Esqre, and separated from him by deeds in 1837-8, since which in fact since he left me at Cheltenham before that I have not seen him.
I desire that after my decease my niece will send him the locket with his hair which is in my French watch chain, and my wedding ring in a letter registered by Post, directed to Saml James Fletcher Eswqre Westport Hotel Ireland no writing accompanying, but "You are free may God forgive you".
I will that my funeral be neat and clean, a Herse (sic) and pair and two mourning Coaches.
Crape hatbands and scarves to drivers and undertaker, and my Trustees and Brothers if present, doctor and Clergyman.
No mutes.
I wish if I die in london to be buried in Kensal Green where a bit of land is to be purchased large enough to erect and arched moon stone covering well cemented and durable over my Coffin, one end marble in which is to be cut "To the memory of Anne Power Fletcher only daughter of late Wm Slade Gully Esqre of Trevennen and Tewardrai Cornwall who died at No. ..... London.
She had devoted several years of her life to the compilation of records to recover to her family the ancient titles of the Corin Cornewaill dukes of Exeter Barons Burford and lands they were deprived of at her father's death, which she bequeaths to her heirs to perfect, and she dies a Christian in hope of immortality.
"Life at the best is nought but woe."
"Resurgam" and the arms nearly as on my seal Cornish diamond.
"See I am gone as others go."
And Coryn and Cornwall added.
A yew tree is to be planted and kept at the head of the grave, and I order whoever has Trevillis House to keep it in repair for ever annually and always.
I ordered also that in Gorran Church by the side of my Father's monument the following may be written on white marble quite plain and so kept by Trevennen heirs.
"Sacred to the memory of Anne Powne Fletcher, only daughter of William Slade Gully Esqre who died in London (or where it may be) on the ... day of ... and was buried in ...
She devoted all the latter years of her life to the collection of records to regain possession for her heirs of the ancient lands and titles of Corin Cornewaille of Tewordrai and Lanhydrock Dukes of Exeter Barons Burford which were granted back by deed and Act of Partliament under Henry 7th to Joanna of Lanhydrock the heiress of Otto Colyn of Bodrugan, and she has bequeathed her papers to further (?) her design. Wm Slade Gully Esqre was also heir in descent from 2. Elizh's reign of Slade of Trevennen all buried under this seat:
he was legal heir of Colyn Cornewaille Lord Ffaunehoppe duke of Exeter, and the Barons of Burford:
his wife Jenefer Powne was Co-heiress of Thomas of Tregamenna of the ancient ap Thomas of Wales."
"Resurgam." "In cielo."
The arms as above cut in the stone on one side of this inscription may be put as if in London, and my Grave made as above in the churchyard where I die, unless at Gorran, when the inscription will be as above for Goran and any addition my friends desire but no alteration.
I will that my funeral expences, and other debts and legacies be paid by my Trustees aforesaid and my Executors in trust out of monies in hand, in the banks of Cheltenham, Westminster and Savings Bank, and from rents and dividends due and collected in after time.
I give to each of my Brothers Major Slade Gully and Saml Thomas Gully ten pounds for mourning.
I give to each of their wives the same.
I give to Cornelia and John Cregoe of Gorran my Niece and Husband ten pounds each.
I give to Charlotte Anne Gully my Niece ten pounds for mourning.
I give between the daughters of Saml Thomas Gully my Brother ten pounds.
I give to Algernon Wm Gully and Francis John Gully five pounds each of mourning.
I give to Mrs Peter Gully Widow my Box of black Cloathes as packed and five punds as soon as possible, requesting my Trustees to see that if the property of Coryn is ever recovered or any part, thata she has the share of Peter Thomas Gully's arrears as Executor and residue till he died in May 1832, as I consider that she had no right to make off this not in possession in 1838, but as his widow is entitled to dower or her share.
If her annuity is still under mortgage at my decease, I give devise and bequeath, as much of the five hundred and fifty six pounds and sevenpence 3 per cent stock Bank of England aforesaid which I got from Peter's death to be sold out to redeem it and pay the expences of redemption, and I charge my said Trustees to empower some bank to pay to her own signature newly written ever three months, for her own uses and not for any expence (?) whatever, the quarter part of the said annuity of forty pounds which is to be for her maintenance only.
but if she has redeemed her annuity before I die then I give the said five hundred and fifty six pounds and sevenpence 3 per cent bank stock to my Trustees in trust to purchase for Edward Garland Colmore Cregoe, or the eldest son living of Cornelia and John G Cregoe an ensigncy or cornetcy in one of the Regiments of Foot or Cavalry in England as soon as he is of age to enter the army, with the accumulations.
I give to the maidservant or nurse attending me in my last illness a sovereign each at my funeral.
I give to Mr Slade of Mevagissey five pounds, a relative of mine.
I give to Hannah Devonshire and Mary Harris a sovereign each, charging them to take care and nurse my mother.
I give to my dear Mother my black furs, 2 pieces of black velvet in my box for a gown and bonnet and cloak and a piece of black satin for a Gown, desiring her to have them made up for my mournings with the crape of death. and I charge her to give the two thousand pounds of mine out of Trevissick to Cornelia Cregoe and Charlotte Anne Gully as her daughters - my Brother the Major being Lord legally of Trevissick Estate and he having ceded his right to Sam for half value or less.
I give my Mother also the choice of my ol...(?) and lace shawls except my best India Shawl which I return to my Brother the Major Slade Gully his gift to me. My worst moire (?) shawl my Mother will accept also and my black Chine Crape Scarf. any of my boots or nightcaps and Sleeping Gowns for herself to use, but not to give away.
I desire Charlotte to select the best of all linen and cambrick Handkerchiefs for her, black Stockings and her own night Chemies which she gave me, large and frilled - also my lace for her caps & pills of which I have some good remnants, and some of my Habit Shirts and collars useful for her. My two lace gowns and India Muslin, and a piece of silk each from my great tin Box I give to my nieces at Berrynarbor, and a shawl each.
all the rest of my Gowns, Shawls and Cloathes of every sort I give between my two nieces Cornelia and Charlotte Anne daughters of Major Slade Gully.