1832 Florentia Watts

11-1797-499_FlorentiaWatts_1832

This is the last will and testament of me Florentia Watts of Hanslope Park in the County of Bucks widow of which I constitute and appoint my dear daughter Amelia Watts sole executrix I desire that my body may be buried in the family vault at Hanslope near to that of my late  dear husband and that my funeral may be [conducted] with proper solemnity but without pomp I desire that my debts funeral expenses and the charges of proving my will be first paid by my executrix I bequeath to my nephew Henry McVeagh Esqr as a token of my remembrance of his affectionate kindness to me when I was in affliction the sum of two hundred pounds to be paid to him immediately upon my death I bequeath to the general infirmary at Northampton the sum of one hundred pounds to be also paid immediately after my death I give and bequeath to my son William Watts Esquire and my said nephew Henry McVeagh Esquire the sum of eleven thousand pounds sterling and all my plate jewels linen china glass [inserted words not legible – and furniture upon trust to permit and suffer my dear daughter to have the [  ] arrangement of my said plate [  ] linen china glass & furniture during her life] and upon trust to place out or continue at interest in the public funds or on Government securities the said sum of eleven thousand pounds sterling and to pay to or permit and suffer my said daughter Amelia Watts to receive and take the dividends thereof half yearly as they shall become due during her life and after the decease of my said daughter I give & bequeath my said plate linen china glass and furniture unto my said son William Watts for his own use and benefit and as to the said sum of eleven thousand pounds to be invested by my said trustees as aforesaid I give and dispose of the same after the death of my said daughter in the sums and manner following To my sister Frances Twysden five thousand pounds To my niece and God Child Mary Twysden one thousand pounds To my other four nieces daughters of my said sister five hundred pounds apiece to my said nephew Henry McVeagh one thousand pounds To my friend Mrs Charles Ricketts five hundred pounds To her five daughters fifty pounds apiece as a little remembrance of me.  To Emily and Georgiana the two daughters of my friend Mrs George Ricketts two hundred and fifty pounds apiece To the general infirmary at Northampton two hundred pounds To Mrs Heathfield if living and if dead to her daughter Jane one hundred pounds To my servant Joseph Masters Bunny Hunt Sarah Todd and John Clare fifty pounds each I beg my dear daughter to dispose of the residue of my monies not hereby bequeathed in such charities at Hanslope and Bath as she shall think proper I do not make any pecuniary bequest to my son as he will receive a considerable accession of fortune on my decease under the provisions of my marriage settlement and otherwise In witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal this thirty first day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirtyFlorentia Watts – Signed sealed published and declared by the said Florentia Watts as her last will and testament in the presence of us – Jno Baldwin Captain Ret. – W Singleton vicar of Hanslope – George Lucas Newport Pagnel Bucks Gentleman

 

Codicil 2/12/1831

From circumstances I find I have only ten thousand pounds to leave instead of the sum specified in my will I therefore leave my sister Frances Twysden only four thousand pounds To Henry McVeagh my nephew five hundred pounds and no sum to either Emily or Georgiana daughters of the late Mrs George Ricketts as they are settled in life which will leave some hundreds for my funeral expenses & little charities – Florentia Watts – December the 2d 1831 No 10 Crescent Bath

 

Affidavit 12/3/1832

Appeared personally Amelia Watts of the Royal Crescent in the parish of Walcot near the City of Bath spinster Frederick Dowding of the same city gentleman John Olive of the parish of Walcot aforesaid carpenter and Thomas Pizzie of Bath Street in the said City of Bath upholsterer and severally made oaths as follows And first this appearer Amelia Watts for herself saith that shortly after the death of her mother the said Florentia Watts she this appearer that this will was deposited an envelope sealed up and endorsed thus “The will of Mrs Florentia Watts dated 31st July 1830” Also this appearer further saith that the said envelope remained in her custody unopened until the same was opened by the said appearer Frederick Dowding as hereinafter mentioned and this appearer Frederick Dowding saith that he on the eighth day of March instant received the said envelope sealed up as aforesaid in the presence of the said appearer Amelia Watts and her brother William Watts Esquire and immediately thereupon by their direction opened the said envelope and took thereout the will of the said Florentia Watts with a codicil both hereunto annexed and respectively marked with the letter A and B and these appearers Amelia Watts and Frederick Dowding both say that the word “furniture” obliterated in the twentieth line and the word “furniture” also obliterated in the thirty first line of the first side of the said will and the erasure at the end of the thirteenth line of the first side of the said will were so respectively obliterated and erased when the said appearer Frederick Dowding so first opened the envelope & perused the said will as aforesaid And the appearer Amelia Watts for herself saith that the said Florentia Watts had only a life interest in the furniture of her dwelling house and consequently had no furniture to dispose of by her will and which was no doubt the reason why the said testatrix obliterated the word “furniture” from the said will as above deposed to and both these appearers Amelia Watts and Frederick Dowding further say that having now carefully viewed and examined the said will and codicil they verily and in their consciences believe that the same respectively are now in the same plight and condition as when the appearer Frederick Dowding first opened the said envelope containing the said will and codicil as aforesaid (except the marking of the said will and codicil with the letters A and B) and those appearers John Olive and Thomas Pizzie severally make oath and say that they respectively knew and were well acquainted with the said Florentia Watts late of Hanslope Park in the County of Bucks and of the Royal Crescent Bath widow deceased for several years previously and to the time of her death and have frequently seen her write and subscribe her name to writings whereby they have acquired a knowledge of her manner and character of handwriting and subscription and having now viewed and perused the paper writing hereunto annexed marked with the letter B purporting to be a codicil to the will of the said Florentia Watts the said codicil beginning thus “from circumstances I find” ending thus “& little charities” and thus subscribed “Florentia Watts” and dated thus “December the 2d 1831 No 10 Crescent Bath Those appearers John Olive and Thomas Pizzie say that they verily and in their consciences believe the whole body series and contents of the said paper writing or codicil and the name Florentia Watts thereunto set and subscribed to be of the proper handwriting and subscription of the said Florentia Watts – Amelia Watts – Fredk Dowding – John Olive – Thos Pizzie – sworn before me by all the said appearers by virtue of the annexed commission [Gams] Barry Commissioner

 

Probate 16/3/1832

Proved at London with a codicil 16th March 1832 before the judge by the oath of Amelia Watts spinster the daughter the sole executrix to whom adm’on was granted having been first sworn by commission duly to administer.

 

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