Judy, I realized I sent my thanks to you off list and just wanted to thank you on list for your help. I'm a newbie to lists so forgive me please, I'm still learning. Thank you, Val ----- Original Message ----- Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:17:38 +0100 From: "Judy Lester" <jlester@btinternet.com> Subject: Re: [MDX] Middlesex Deeds Registry To: <middlesex_county_uk@rootsweb.com>, "'Valerie Stubaus'" <bvts@comcast.net> Message-ID: <61002.92698.qm@smtp817.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Val, These are not land transactions, but simply a lease that is changing hands. The land itself will have belonged to a freeholder, not named here, but probably the dukes of Bedford who owned the Bedford Estate. It would appear that James ROSE died intestate (without a will), since the administration (admon) of his estate is referred to in the second indenture. The index to death duty registers (accessible on Find My Past) indicates that letters of administration in relation to the estate of James ROSE were granted in 1856 to Wm George ROSE of Holborn Hill. As regards Francis Street itself, when the relevant volume of the "Survey of London" was published in 1949 ... http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=65175 "There are only two old houses left on the north side of the former Francis Street, No. 13, a large house of early 19th-century date, of four storeys with an arched doorway flanked by two windows on each side, and a similar house to the east which has two shops and is much damaged." A virtual "walk" down Torrington Place as far as Gower Street, using Google Maps Street View (pull down the orange man), should show you whether anything still remains of the old houses that were in Francis Street. I suspect not. HTH Judy London, UK -----Original Message----- From: middlesex_county_uk-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:middlesex_county_uk-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Valerie Stubaus I have copies of some indentures from the Middlesex Deeds Registry and was hoping someone might be able to explain to me the land transactions. The first is 4/392 dated 23 Feb 1855 James Rose did "grant bargain sell & demise" unto Edward Penton & William Snowdon Yard property on the south side of Francis Street no.19 for a term of 21 years. It mentions a previous indenture I still need to obtain. Second on 4 Oct 1858 indenture 13/127 James Rose's son William George Rose (admon of James Rose late of no. 19 Francis Street) did "grant bargain sell & demise" unto Catherine Rose widow of 19 Francis that same piece of property along with others on Upper Chenies Mews. James Rose died Feb 1856 and I have found no will or probate records. A third indenture 14/422 dated 9 Nov 1858 Catherine Rose did "grant bargain sell & demise" the same no.19 Francis Street to John Woodward for a term of 21 years. She is still living at no. 19 Francis Street. Three other indentures in Dec 1858 Catherine Rose is late of no.19 Francis Street but now of Huntley Street and is selling/transferring the other properties on Upper Chenies Mews. It makes sense to me in the second indenture the property is being transferred to the widow from her son but wasn't the property already sold/transferred from the first indenture? I understand that sometimes land was used to raise capital and if this is the case in the first indenture how is it different from the third where it seems the property finally did change hands? The wording in all of them is almost identical. Also, does anyone know if what was no. 19 Francis Street is still there? I believe Francis Street is now called Torrington Place. Thank you in advance, Val in CT