peter the wild boy

In 1762 George II’s housekeeper Jane Kien died – and died a very wealthy woman. The total value of her estate was put at £3,500, nearly £300,000 in today’s money. £700 in cash was found in her room, and bonds for a further £1,200. She also owned numerous houses, including one in the very fashionable Half Moon Street off Piccadilly. Her most valuable possessions were passed to close friends and included: portraits (including one of herself wearing ‘diamond buckels and earings’ and one of William III) a tortoiseshell snuff box, a gold repeating watch, silver coffee pots, candlesticks and bread baskets, a tortoiseshell stick tooth case studded with gold, a silver clock, cabinets, china, plate and Japan Ware – and a drawing of Christ by Rubens. Other items, including a chariot, horses, cows, plate, jewels and household goods were auctioned for £1,025. She also left small cash bequests and mysterious “sealed packages”…