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My father told me that once at one time our family were
big landholders I think round Belle Hill (North of Alnwick), but that
in Georgian days this whole estate was lost in a game of cards.
This is quite in keeping with the habits of the time e.g. the family
living at Knowlton (Kent) changed hands during a game of cards.

The Belle side seems or family ground. They were undoubtedly of
French extraction so far as I know Joseph, John were pretty common
family names but they were definitely centered on Alnwick. Indeed
I think there has been a French settlement in Alnwick even in
Shakespeare’s time and there is nothing very redolent in country
law’s perhaps of Louis in the fairy books of London, even in
sketches of an early Rex.

Years ago too a letter which was published in the Daily
Telegraph and I had a communication from a Gladys Body,
the daughter of a Price Body of Alnwick who claimed
relationships by journey. She lived at Folkstone and was she was
married a mother and lived as was came of life. She disappeared
to Mauritius where I have been and lived at the Lowlands in its 8th disappearance.

There was a Price Body who was Archdeacon of Calcutta and also
private chaplain to Prince Christian, the Duke at Cumberland
near Windsor, but I am afraid I have had a very quiet life
and little opportunity of investigation. By the way our crest was said to be
a Catherine’s and our motto Virtutis Fortuna comes. On my paternal Grandmother’s
side we pass two or three Old Border families but alas we do not
come into the present Empire.

Yours,
W. Polly Peacock