Brighton Gazette - Thursday 28 May 1868

CUCKFIELD.

Sudden Death of Warden Sergison, Esq.

On Friday last, Mr Sergison, the highly respected Squire of the parish, suddenly expired.

He had acted as Chairman of the Bench at the Petty Sessions on Monday, and was seen to ride through the town on Wednesday morning in good health, and on Thursday when the Rifle Corps were inspected in Cuckfield Park, the officers took luncheon at the Mansion, the young ladies, his daughters, hospitably entertaining them in the absence of their father and mother, who were London.

He was taken suddenly ill at about two o’clock on Friday morning with a violent fit of coughing, and ruptured a blood vessel internally, and soon after five was a corpse. Mrs Sergison was with him, and a telegram was despatched for the attendance of their daughters, remaining at home at Cuckfield Park, who immediately started for London, but were too late to witness the last moments of their parent.

By his death the estates devolve on his only son, Captain Sergison, who is serving with his regiment, the 4th Hussars, in India. He inherits under the will of his great grandmother, and cuts off the entail, the property having been entailed by that lady, who died nearly 70 years since, for two lives, after which the male heir comes into full possession, it having been held since her death by trustees, giving a life interest to the heir for the time being. It first passed to her eldest son, Warden Sergison, Lieut. Colonel 1st Life Guards, who dying without issue, it descended to Francis, his brother.

Then Miss Ann Sergison, only sister to the two Colonels, who had married the Rev. W. Pritchard, was declared heir to the estate, and they adopted the name of Sergison, being the parents of the gentleman whose melancholy decease we are now recording, and his brother, the Rev. William Sergison, of Slaugham Rectory.

Since the estate has been in his hands, great improvements have been made, especially in the home, or Cuckfield Park portion, Ansty Farm, adjoining the Park, having been added by purchase, and the Laines and Lodge Farms, lying in the very centre of the property, late the property of the Earl of Abergavenny. and a moiety of the Cuckfield Manor, they being joint Lords by exchange, so that the large estate may now be said to lie in as it were a ring fence.

Mr Sergison was universally respected by all classes, as a magistrate, a country gentleman, and a friend, and his loss is deeply deplored. His age was 67; he married the daughter of the last Sir Jacob Astley, and sister to Lord Hastings, by whom be had one son and three daughters, who all survive him.