death (murder ?) seized him unexpectedly - Greatford Lincolnshire
Monument " to the memory of John Willis MD, second son of the Rev Francis Willis MD www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/8487L2 and Mary www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/567C0R his wife. (daughter of Rev John Curtois of Branston) He was born at Dunston in the county of Lincoln September 28th 1751
Was educated at Brazenose College Oxford and died at Longhills near Branston in the same county, at the house of his relative Rev Peregrine Curtois (by whom this monument is erected) September 25th 1835 aged 83 ............ death seized him unexpectedly when unimpaired in mind and body"
John assisted his father in the treatment of George lll during his initial madness in the 1780s, and continued to do so after his father's death aided by his younger brother Robert www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/v1YECh . He was rewarded with a pension of £650 for life.
A RECORD OF HIS DEATH
"Sept. 25th-Dr. Willis was called as usual: at 8 o'clock he desired Gane to tell the Miss Curtoises that he had had a very good night, and never felt better in his life." He desired Gane to order horses for the carriages for the ball, and also begged the breakfast might be punctual, as he wished to go to Lincoln to see his horses. About 20 minutes before 9, Miss M. Curtois, whose room was opposite to his, thought she heard him retching, and went and listened at his door, but all was quiet; and on the maid's coming in, she instantly asked her how Dr. Willis had passed the night, when the maid gave her the message sent by Dr. Willis at 8 o'clock; but added, Gane was very much surprised his master had not rung, and that he was going up to see the reason. A few minutes after 9, Gane's voice was heard screaming for Mr. Curtois. On rushing up stairs, Mr. Curtois found him lying on the floor, half dressed, apparently dead, but not cold. Mr. Curtois and Gane tried to pour brandy down his throat-his legs were put into hot water, he then was lifted into a hot bed, and his body was rubbed with vinegar. A groom was sent off instantly for Dr. William Cookson. Mr. Curtois, becoming most impatient for his arrival, rode off to meet him, and saw Mr. Hett passing the gate, and brought him in. Mr. Hett pronounced that all was over, and that the cause of the sudden death was water at the chest, of which Dr. Willis' father had died. A bottle of camphorated spirits of wine was found by him, without the cork, and it appeared that while he was rubbing his back with the spirits, the water had gone to the heart; that he had slipped from his chair onto the floor and died without a struggle; his countenance was perfectly placid and unchanged. Dr Cookson arrived in about an hour and a half; Mr. Curtois was not in the house, so after going up to see Dr. Willis, he came into the drawing room to the Miss Curtoises, and informed them that the death was occasioned by water on the chest. An inquest was considered but decided agains. No one had entered Dr. Willis' room that morning, excepting his valet Gane, unless it might be the housemaid to light the fire. Dr. Willis' medicine chest was always kept in his own room."
After his death rumour arose that he did not die "from natural causes, as was at the time alleged and believed, but from the effects of more subtle agents" - chradams.co.uk/willis/johndeath.html
Dying unmarried and very rich he left property worth c£300,000. - His estates at Greatford and Shillingthorpe to his nephew Dr. Francis Willis; £20,000 each to his nieces, the Misses Curtois; £10,000 to Mr. Bowman his chief assistant & the residue worht c£100,000 to Rev Curtois,
Peregrine Curtois was an executor of the will, and apparently decided to interpret it to his own best advantage. Dr Willis had kept his notes from his attendance on the King and had them bound, and as the will bequeathed to Dr Francis Willis ‘all and every the books about his house in Tenterden Street’ the question arose as to whether this was simply ‘printed books as were sold in booksellers’ shops’ or whether the bound notes fell into this category as well. The decision of the Rolls Court was that they did, and they passed to Dr Willis rather than the Rev Curtois
chradams.co.uk/willis/johnmd.html - Church of St Thomas Becket, Greatford Lincolnshire
death (murder ?) seized him unexpectedly - Greatford Lincolnshire
Monument " to the memory of John Willis MD, second son of the Rev Francis Willis MD www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/8487L2 and Mary www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/567C0R his wife. (daughter of Rev John Curtois of Branston) He was born at Dunston in the county of Lincoln September 28th 1751
Was educated at Brazenose College Oxford and died at Longhills near Branston in the same county, at the house of his relative Rev Peregrine Curtois (by whom this monument is erected) September 25th 1835 aged 83 ............ death seized him unexpectedly when unimpaired in mind and body"
John assisted his father in the treatment of George lll during his initial madness in the 1780s, and continued to do so after his father's death aided by his younger brother Robert www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/v1YECh . He was rewarded with a pension of £650 for life.
A RECORD OF HIS DEATH
"Sept. 25th-Dr. Willis was called as usual: at 8 o'clock he desired Gane to tell the Miss Curtoises that he had had a very good night, and never felt better in his life." He desired Gane to order horses for the carriages for the ball, and also begged the breakfast might be punctual, as he wished to go to Lincoln to see his horses. About 20 minutes before 9, Miss M. Curtois, whose room was opposite to his, thought she heard him retching, and went and listened at his door, but all was quiet; and on the maid's coming in, she instantly asked her how Dr. Willis had passed the night, when the maid gave her the message sent by Dr. Willis at 8 o'clock; but added, Gane was very much surprised his master had not rung, and that he was going up to see the reason. A few minutes after 9, Gane's voice was heard screaming for Mr. Curtois. On rushing up stairs, Mr. Curtois found him lying on the floor, half dressed, apparently dead, but not cold. Mr. Curtois and Gane tried to pour brandy down his throat-his legs were put into hot water, he then was lifted into a hot bed, and his body was rubbed with vinegar. A groom was sent off instantly for Dr. William Cookson. Mr. Curtois, becoming most impatient for his arrival, rode off to meet him, and saw Mr. Hett passing the gate, and brought him in. Mr. Hett pronounced that all was over, and that the cause of the sudden death was water at the chest, of which Dr. Willis' father had died. A bottle of camphorated spirits of wine was found by him, without the cork, and it appeared that while he was rubbing his back with the spirits, the water had gone to the heart; that he had slipped from his chair onto the floor and died without a struggle; his countenance was perfectly placid and unchanged. Dr Cookson arrived in about an hour and a half; Mr. Curtois was not in the house, so after going up to see Dr. Willis, he came into the drawing room to the Miss Curtoises, and informed them that the death was occasioned by water on the chest. An inquest was considered but decided agains. No one had entered Dr. Willis' room that morning, excepting his valet Gane, unless it might be the housemaid to light the fire. Dr. Willis' medicine chest was always kept in his own room."
After his death rumour arose that he did not die "from natural causes, as was at the time alleged and believed, but from the effects of more subtle agents" - chradams.co.uk/willis/johndeath.html
Dying unmarried and very rich he left property worth c£300,000. - His estates at Greatford and Shillingthorpe to his nephew Dr. Francis Willis; £20,000 each to his nieces, the Misses Curtois; £10,000 to Mr. Bowman his chief assistant & the residue worht c£100,000 to Rev Curtois,
Peregrine Curtois was an executor of the will, and apparently decided to interpret it to his own best advantage. Dr Willis had kept his notes from his attendance on the King and had them bound, and as the will bequeathed to Dr Francis Willis ‘all and every the books about his house in Tenterden Street’ the question arose as to whether this was simply ‘printed books as were sold in booksellers’ shops’ or whether the bound notes fell into this category as well. The decision of the Rolls Court was that they did, and they passed to Dr Willis rather than the Rev Curtois
chradams.co.uk/willis/johnmd.html - Church of St Thomas Becket, Greatford Lincolnshire