People of Note
Miles of Firbeck
Philip Miles was born in 1735, he married Elizabeth Peachy, daughter of W. M. Peachy. Philip and Elizabeth had 2 children:
- Eliza Miles died in April 1862.
- William Miles m. Frances Harriet Jebb
Frances Harriet Jebb, was the daughter of Joshua Jebb and Dorothy Gladwin.
She married in 1829 to William Miles(1791-1844) of Clifton. She was sister of Sir Joshua Jebb.
In 1850 Mrs. Miles purchased the Firbeck Estate from the trustees of the late Mr. Gally Knight.
Mrs. Miles spent a few winters in Rome where she purchased pictures, statues, coins and gems, which were on display at Firbeck Hall.
She was the translater of 'Flowers of German Poetry' and other works.
On 19 November, 1864,while ploughing a field at Thwaite House, which belonged to Mrs. Miles, two labourers found a vase containing about 1000 ancient coins, some of them gold. The coins were taken to Firbeck Hall and Mrs. Miles gave a present to both of the finders. This collection is at Clifton Museum Rotherham.
Mrs. Miles died at the age of 78 on October 21st, at Onslow Cresecent, Brompton and was buried in the chancel vault at Firbeck Church in November, 1877.
She died without issue and her property was left to members of the Jebb family.
The personal estate was just under £350,000, by the will dated May, 1875, and 4 cocicils dated May, 1875. Firbeck Hall and all the Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire Estates were left to her nephew Rev. Henry Gladwin Jebb, for life, with remainder to Sidney Gladwyn Jebb, the eldest son of her nephew, Joshua Gladwyn, for life, with remainder to his sons, in strict settlement; the pictures, plate, works of art, furniture etc., at Firbeck Hall were to go with the property.
A sum of £225,000 was to be set aside, plus an annuity, for Joshua Gladwyn Jebb, for life, and at his decease £1000 per annum to any widow he may leave.
A sum of £1000 per annum to be paid on the death of Rev. Henry Gladwyn Jebb, to any widow he may leave.
There were numerous bequests in favour of relatives, friends and servants. Doncaster and Sheffield Infirmary's and the Worksop Dispensary also benefitted.
Source:Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales), Friday, January 4, 1878
Will of Eliza Miles 1862
The Will of Miss Eliza Miles, of Firbeck Hall, near Tickhill, Yorkshire, has been proved, and the personalty sworn under £140,000.
The estate of Aylton Court is devised to her cousin, Philip William Skinner Miles, Esq. A legacy of £20,000 is bequeathed to her cousin, Sir W. Miles, M.P., an annuity of £300 to her cousin, Elizabeth Wickens; liberal legacies to her cousins the Kingtons, and to many other her relatives and friends.
Her jewels are bequeathed to her sister-in-law, Mrs. Frances H. Miles, whom she has appointed residuary legatee of both her real and personal estate.
All legacies under £100 to be paid free of legacy duty, as well as the bequests to the following charitable institutions:
Bristol Infirmary and Clifton Dispensary, each £200.; Harvey's National Institution, Bristol, and Church Building Society, each £300; Orphan, Blind, Deaf, and Dumb Asylums, Bristol, each £100; Clifton Scripture Readers, Church wardens of Clifton, £200, the interest to be expended in bread for the poor; also a sum of £15 to be distributed by them amongst the poor every Christmas.