The Commons of Longframlington
 

There was an interesting tale posted on the NDFHS mailing list a couple of days ago about a member of the Common family of Longframlington.

A Joseph Common was a WW1 casualty, dying accidentally in 1916 in Notts. The cause of death is not clear. He is buried at Chatton but appears on the memorials at Chatton and Longframlington.

His father, another Joseph Common of Longframlington, died a month later. This Joseph was estranged from his family (mother and children lived in Chatton). He had inherited £4000 of a £20,000 fortune left by an uncle (a reclusive shepherd named Wardle). The money had come from speculation during the South African gold boom and was found in his cottage when he died.
Joseph's estranged wife tried to get arrears of maintenance which was settled through a solicitor but Joseph then tried to make a will preventing his wife from getting any money by leaving it all to his solicitor. The solicitor declined, reminding him that he had children to inherit.
There's all sorts going on in this tale :)