Charles E. Sexey - Sexey Estate

Sexey Estate

For the purposes of probate the estate was appraised at $100,000 and included stock in the San Francisco Gas Light Company, California Insurance Company, California Electric Company, Spring Valley Water Company, and the Bank of California. In addition to this he was a stockholder in the Marysville Woollen Mill, and had both business and residential property in Marysville.

His widow Jane lived on for approximately eight years. During this time she spent time in San Francisco as a semi-permanent guest at Lick House, an expensive and fashionable hotel, and it is there she died in late August 1896. The Appeal reported her death as follows: "Death of Mrs. Sexey. One of Marysville’s most liberal and charitable women. Mrs. Jane F. Sexey died at the Lick House, San Francisco at an early hour Sunday morning. The news of her death created considerable surprise among her many friends in this city, for although it was known that she had not been well for some time, no one thought the end so near. The deceased was a relict of the late Charles E Sexey who died at Oban in Scotland in 1888 where he had gone with his wife on a pleasure trip to renew old acquaintances and visit the scene of childhood’s day in England and Ireland. They were married in 1864 residing in Long Bar up to 1870 coming to Marysville where the deceased has made her home ever since. It was her custom to go to San Francisco every year and it was during one of these visits that the grim Angel of Death knocked at her door."

The obituary is lengthy and describes her as a "model woman in every way," detailing her charitable work and devotion to the Catholic Church and the College of Notre Dame. It is stated that the deceased had no known relatives and that her money was left to charitable institutions.

On 10 December 1897 Charles, who had died in Scotland, and his wife Jane who had died in America were ‘laid to rest in one mound’ in Oakland, California according to Jane's wishes. This strange occurrence came about when Catholic priest the Rev. Father Coleman was sent to Scotland to retrieve the remains of Charles Sexey who had died there some nine years previously. The Appeal stated "In accordance with telephonic instructions received from Father Coleman who has arrived in San Francisco from Scotland with the remains of the late C E Sexey, Undertaker Bevan left for Oakland on the Oregon Express Train this morning. Having in charge the casket bearing the remains of Mrs. Sexey which has been ensconced in the vault at the local cemetery since the funeral following the request of the wife’s will. Both bodies were interred at the cemetery in Oakland this afternoon."

In spite of the declaration in Jane Sexey’s obituary that her money would be left to charitable institutions, two of her relatives went to Marysville in January 1898 to claim a share. The Appeal newspaper reported as follows: "The Sexey Estate. Two of the beneficiaries under the will arrive in town. Margaret O’Donnell one of the heirs of the estate of the late Mrs Jane F Sexey, her husband and Patrick Burne the husband of her sister who is also one of the heirs have arrived here from Aberdeen, Dakota to look after their interests. The two sisters were born in Ardara, Co. Donegal and are two of the children of James O’Donnell named in the will, the other two, a brother and sister, also being alive. It will be remembered that Mrs. Sexey left the residue of her Estate to her brother James O’Donnell and her sister Hannah and in case of death of either the other was to get the share. It so happens that both are dead and the four children of James will get a quarter each. Attorney Richard Belcher was appointed to act for the heirs and Attorney W H Carlin is acting for the Executor."

The final disposition of the estate was reported in the Appeal on 20 March 1898.: "The Sexey Estate. Decree of Final Distribution made and entered by Judge Gray. Administration Praised. Value of Property had increased twenty thousand dollars since the death of Mrs. Sexey."

The final judgement was that the estate of $60,000 was to be distributed amongst the four O'Donnell heirs, with the residue being distributed in payments to attorneys and Father Coleman. The estate was appraised at about $80,000, but the rents and other income increased it to $101,000. Judge Gray heard evidence to ascertain the identity of the heirs and had affidavits confirming that Jane Sexey’s brother and sister had both died. The heirs, when examined, said that although they were near relatives of the deceased they had never met her and knew very little about her, as she’d left home so many years before. It seems there were other heirs attempting to get the money, and these were not even blood relatives, but in the end the Judge decided the four O’Donnells were entitled to receive it. Charles Sexey’s four children in New Zealand never received a penny of their father’s wealth or ever derived any benefit from it.