Chapter 12: Charles and Nelsie

                                                   

On 10 October 1959 Chas was admitted into the Welsh Mission Hospital in Shillong, suffering from TB peritonitis and uraemia. At 6pm on 20 October he died.

Following his “English” marriage in 1937, Chas had written a will on 21 July 1955 to make future provision for his family. It was very comprehensive and covered all eventualities at his death. As the eldest son, Bobby was appointed as one of the executors.

To Nelsie he left all his gold and silver ornaments, which would be divided equally among his children if Nelsie was to pre-decease him. He allowed the executors to get a valuation of the ornaments, furniture and personal effects if this would help with the distribution. If any of the children were to pre-decease Chas, any of their children would obtain their parents’ share.[1]

 Any residual property was to be converted into money and put in a Trust Fund to pay an income to Nelsie during her lifetime, and then to his children, or their children. If any of the children were to pre-decease Chas and be married, but with no children, then their spouse would get their share.

There is a slip attached to the will, confirming acknowledgement of the fee to put the document through probate in 1960. It is interesting to note that Nelsie’s surname is listed as Kharshiing at this point, and not Blake. The will was finally proved on 8 August 1966.

During the time that Chas’s will was going through probate, Nelsie wrote her own will (22 Jan 1964). By this time she was living with Betty and Gordon in Calcutta. I would like to think Nelsie was fully reconciled to their marriage by this time, rather than moving in out of necessity, after all she still had living relatives in Shillong. At the top of her will, it says it will be held by Gordon with Bobby appointed as one of the executors. As with Chas’s will all the children, or their children, would again receive equal shares (⅕) of all her property. There is no provision covering the death of any of the children without their own, and leaving a share to their spouse.

 Nelsie’s will is much shorter than that of her husband, but it includes a document (undated) listing the total value of all the ornaments, gold and silver. However it seems to show that not all the children received an equal share.[2]

 Bobby - Rs.3595.80

Betty - Rs.5435.80

Jimmy - Rs.4945.80

Peter - Rs.6795.80

Nellie - Rs.6795.80

Nelsie died on 15 April 1973 of cardiac asthma with krahmia. She had been living with Betty and Gordon in Calcutta for about 14 years and it was left to Betty to deal with her estate. It may be that in leaving Shillong that she felt more “British” than Khasi, equally it should be noted that Chas had left the money in his will to the children, and it made sense for Nelsie to move to Calcutta with her daughter.

A document from the Office of the Assistant Controller of Estate Duty assessed Nelsie’s estate as follows (I have summarised; PV is present value):

 Cash in hand nil.

1. Current Account, with National & Grindlays Bank        Rs.     12,221.00
2. Fixed deposit, with National & Grindlays Bank

(account 1) Rs. 5000/- x3                                           Rs.     15,000.00

4. (account 2) Rs. 6000/- x6                                           Rs.     36,000.00
5. Accrued interest on fixed deposit accounts (to 15.4.73)

          Rs. 15,000/-            Rs. 789/-

Rs. 36,000/-            Rs. 1576/-    

                                                                                Rs. 2,365.00

                                                            P.V.              Rs. 65,586.00

                                        Less Funeral Expenses     Rs. 1,000.00

                                                  NET P.V.                Rs. 64,586.00

 

Calculation of duty 

On 1st Rs. 50,000/-                     nil

On Balance Rs. 14,586/-              @4%            = Rs. 583.44

 

DUTY PAYABLE                                             = Rs. 583.44

 There is another document relating to a Fixed deposit account with National & Grindlays Bank Ltd. This appears to be separate from the two listed in assessment, as it was held jointly between Betty and her mother. There is a letter dated 5 December 1974, in which a representative of the Bank says that the money in reality belonged to Nelsie as it was from the sale of a property she had in Shillong. Presumably this was Nelsie Dene 2. However the Bank acknowledge that, as the money was held jointly with Betty, then she (as the survivor) is entitled to the balance, and none of her siblings have a claim.[3]

                                           Pictures of the former Grindlays Bank, Parliament St, London

Nelsie was buried alongside Chas in Shillong, where they rest in a pleasant, tree lined cemetery in what was, when we visited a rather unkempt grave. 

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[1] Will of Charles Ramage Blake.

[2] Will of Nelsie Kharshiing.

[3] Letter from Grindlays’ Bank to Elizabeth Benson, 4 December 1974.