William Matthew Coulthurst- 1797 - 10th Feb 1877
According to John Brown of the Society, William Coulthurst was probably one of the most wealthy residents of the area and surprisingly has the most humble of grave stones at St Leonard's
John has written that he lived at Streatham Lodge, South Streatham 1836-1877. A generous supporter of the work of Immanuel Church, Streatham Common of which he was church warden for over 20 years
He was a London banker and senior partner in Coutts & Co- bankers to Queen Victoria.
In 1851 William Matthew Coulthurst unmarried aged 54 banker born Gargrave Yorkshire was living with his brothers Henry and Nicholas (both solicitors) and sister Hannah at Streatham lodge, 'East side of Croydon Road' Streatham Surrey with 12 servants.
In 1861 the same household plus Edmund Coulthurst, nephew aged 40 banker was at 'Streatfield House' in Streatham.
Death of William Matthew Coulthurst registered Q1 1877 at Wandsworth aged 82. Will of William Matthew Coutlhurst, late of 59 Strand and New Street Spring Gardens and of Streatham Surrey, who died 10/2/1877 at Streatham proved 19/3/1877 by Edward Marjoribanks, Hugh Lindsay Antrobus and Edmund Coulthurst (all nephews) and the Hon Henry Dudley Ryder, all of 59 Strand, and Frederic Ouvry of 66 Lincolns Inn Fields, effects under £600,000.
William Matthew Coulthurst built a church at Surbiton in 1874 at a cost of £19,000 in memory of his sister Hannah Mabella.
(Source - extracts from UCL Profile & Legacies Summary, Census returns and John Brown-Streatham Society)
In John Brown's "Sherlock Holmes in Streatham" John explores if Conan Doyle who lived close to Streatham may have modelled a rich banker, Alexander Holder in The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet to William Coulthurst