Footnotes

• Robert Stephenson had no legitimate offspring, and the principal beneficiary of his estate, (inheriting about a third), was his first cousin and fellow engineer George Robert Stephenson, with a further sizable legacy going to his co- executor George Parker Bidder, another engineer, who had been Robert's lifelong friend and worked with him at Great George Street. The present forms record George Robert inheriting "The Deceased's Share and Interest in the Locomotive Steam Engine Factory at Newcastle upon Tyne and the business carried on therein" as well as his "Household Furniture Plate Linen Books Pictures Statuary Wines and Liquors and other effects in House at Gloucester Square". He and Biddle received a half share each in the "Furniture & Effects in Offices No 24 Great George Street Westminster". Among specific bequests is £2000 left to the Institution of Civil Engineers (who were to further benefit by the gift by George Robert of part of the land at the back of 24 Great George Street). Although most of these legacies were settled in 1860, those to the servants, receiving £20 each, were settled much more promptly, the majority on 8-10 November 1859, possibly indicating when Robert's household was broken up. Included among the papers is a receipt dated 27 July 1859, made out to Robert during his lifetime, and what we surmise to be a photograph of the house in Gloucester Square (long since demolished).

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Category: Books / Books, Maps and Manuscripts

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