Person:Patience Williams (6)

From “County families of the UK” 1864: Patience Swinfen-Broun of Swinfen Hall, Staffs. Patience, daughter of late John Williams of Llanfair, Montgomeryshire, by Patience, daughter of John Thomas of Rhosfawr, Montgomeryshire, married (1) 1831 Henry John Swinfen (d. jun1884), son of Samuel Swinfen (d. jul1854), and (2) 1861 Charles Wilsone Broun of Linburn, Dumbartonshire. Henry John Swinfen was b. 1802 at Berkshire, son of Samuel Swinfen and Susanna (IGI).

Patience Swinfen BROUN (b. 1813) d. 1876 Lichfield (bmd).

Wikipedia: Samuel Swynfen, Swinfen Hall, Staffordshire died in 1854 and, in his will, left 60,000 pounds to his widowed daughter-in-law Patience Swynfen. However, Samuel possessed another large estate that was not mentioned in his will. Patience claimed that too. However, Frederick Hay Swynfen, Samuel's nephew, also claimed the estate. Litigation followed with eminent barristers Sir Frederick Thesiger representing Patience, and Sir Alexander Cockburn, the nephew. However, contrary to Patience's instructions, Thesiger negotiated a settlement with Cockburn and put it to the judge. Patience was furious and succeeded in having the agreement set aside and a new trial listed. Dismissing Thesiger, Patience instructed a young and little known barrister named Charles Rann Kennedy, promising to pay him 20,000 pounds if he succeeded in her cause. No doubt spured by the incentive, and the fact that he was engaged in a sexual relationship with Patience, Kennedy won the estate. However, she went on to marry a Charles Broun and then to declare that she had no intention of paying Kennedy. Kennedy sued and won, but his claim was overturned on appeal on the grounds that, what was effectively a contingency fee agreement, offended ancient prohibitions on champerty and maintenance. Patience now sued Thesiger over his original professional misconduct. Further, she alleged that Sir Cresswell Cresswell, the judge in the original trial, had induced Thesiger's agreement to a settlement by suggesting that he had formed an unfavourable opinion of Patience's case. Her claim was unsuccessful.

Patience was married to Henry John Swinfen, son of Samuel. Frederick Hay Swinfen contested her inheritance.