Probate of the will and codicil of Sarah Wentworth

MLMSS 11579/Box 1X

fonds

16 April 1881

9663830

0.60 metres of textual material (1 outsize box)

Sarah Wentworth was born to Francis Cox and Frances (Fanny) Morton, both ex convicts, on 1 January 1805 and baptised at St Philip’s Church of England in Sydney. She grew up on the waterfront in Sydney Cove where her father has established his blacksmith’s workshop and at 16 became apprenticed to a milliner.

She later met and married William Charles Wentworth, explorer, lawyer and politician, and together they lived at Vaucluse House in Sydney.

The Wentworths developed the mansions and grounds of the estate over the course of five decades. The property became Australia’s first official house museum in 1915. Despite William’s success, Sarah was avoided by the elite of Sydney society who regarded her as a ‘damaged woman’ due to her convict parentage and having borne the first two of her ten children to William out of wedlock. Sarah’s social ostracism contributed significantly to the family’s decision to move to England in 1853. Sarah came back to Sydney in 1861 with her youngest daughters but ultimately returned to England in 1868. She passed away in Norwood, England in 1880.

References:
Liston, Carol., and Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales. Sarah Wentworth, Mistress of Vaucluse / Carol Liston. Glebe, N.S.W.: Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, 1988.
Obituaries Australia. “Wentworth, Sarah (1806–1880).” National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Accessed 5 August 2022. https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/wentworth-sarah-13709/text24496, accessed 5 August 2022.
Wright, Katrina. “A very Sydney scandal.” Sydney Living Museums. Accessed 5 August 2022. https://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/2015/06/05/very-sydney-scandal

Five page document on vellum. Includes the seal of her Majesty's High Court of Justice. Probate Division.

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Title on front, 'Probate of the Will and Codicil of Sarah Wentworth Widow deceased. Dated 16th day of April 1881. Extracted by C J Mander. Solicitor. 9 New Square Lincolns Inn.'