Sir Frederick Williams, 2nd Baronet

Sir Frederick Martin Williams, 2nd Baronet DL (25 January 1830 – 3 September 1878) was a politician in the United Kingdom. He was Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Truro in Cornwall from 1865 until his death in 1878.

Sir Frederick Martin Williams, 2nd Baronet
Member of Parliament for Truro
In office 1865–1878
Preceded by	Montague Edward Smith and Augustus Smith
Succeeded by	Arthur Tremayne and Sir James McGarel-Hogg
Personal details
Born	25 January 1830
Died	3 September 1878 (aged 48) Heanton Court, Barnstaple, Devon
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Mary Christian Law
Children	William Robert Frederick Mary Beatrice Leonard Caroline six other children[1][2]
Occupation	Politician

Personal life

He was the son of Sir William Williams, (1791 – 24 March 1870), of the Williams family of Caerhays and Burncoose, the first Baronet (Williams of Tregullow) and his wife Caroline Eales.[3] In 1858 he married Miss Mary Christian Law, the granddaughter of Dr George Henry Law, formerly Bishop of Bath and Wells.[3]

An estimated 2,000 people attended his funeral at Gwennap where he was buried in the family vault. His residence was at Goonvrea in the parish of Perranarworthal and the family seat was at Tregullow near Scorrier House.[1] Sir Frederick bequeathed all his real and personal estate to his widow (estimated at under £160,000) and the large freehold property, of Tregullow to his heir, Sir William Williams, 3rd Baronet, of Tregullow.[4] An Order of the High Court of Justice required the lease of the Prince of Wales Quarry at Trewarner Down in the Manor of Tintagel, which was owned by the deceased, to be sold at auction on 30 August 1880.[5] The quarry included the only beam engine in north Cornwall, which hauled stone from the pit and drained the quarry. The beam engine was expensive when installed in July 1871 for £1,590 4s.[6]

Cornish Bank

Sir Frederick Williams was a major shareholder of the Cornish Bank with a one-third share. The Cornish Bank "closed its doors" on Saturday, 4 January 1879, following persistent rumours, that following his death, his property and resources would be withdrawn from the bank. The bank issued a circular on 27 December 1878 in an attempt to dispel the rumours claiming they were making arrangements to replace Sir Frederick's share of the capital. One rumour was that Sir Frederick was overdrawn on his account by £80,000 and consequently, the creditors became alarmed and there was a run on the Bank on Wednesday, 1 January. The bank had branches in Falmouth, Penryn, Redruth and Truro with the first one established in either 1770 or 1771 in Boscawen Street, Truro.[4]

References

1. "Funeral of the late Sir Frederick M Williams, Bart., MP". The Cornishman (9). 12 September 1878. p. 6.
2. "The Late Sir F M Williams Bart, MP". The Cornishman (9). 12 September 1878. p. 7.
3. "Death of Sir Frederick Williams, Bart., MP". The Cornishman (8). 5 September 1878. p. 4.
4. "Suspension of the Banks of Messrs Tweedy, Williams & Co". The Cornishman (26). 9 January 1879. p. 4.
5. "Sales By Auction". The Cornishman (109). 12 August 1880. p. 1.
6. "Prince of Wales Engine House". Tintagel Web. Retrieved 10 February 2017.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir Frederick Williams
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
• Leigh Rayment's list of baronets