Monthly Archives: May 2024

1806 William Perks of Wolverhampton Blacksmith

12th May 1806

At Wolverhampton the 12th day of May 1806 before the Reverend Thomas Walker, Surrogate etc. On which day appeared personally Martha Perks and did suggest that William Perks late of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford Blacksmith deceased died upwards of fourteen days ago without making any will and that she was the widow relict of the said deceased and the person to whom the right of administration does belong; wherefore she prayed the same to be granted to her which the Surrogate upon taking the usual oath and giving good security decreed the same accordingly – being first duly sworn and also that the personal estate of the deceased at the time of his death did not amount in value to the sum of £20.

Before me

Thomas Walker Surrogate

1772 William Perks of Wolverhampton, Gentleman

28th April 1772

I William Perks of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford Gentleman being in perfect health and of sound mind and memory do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say) I give devise and bequeath unto my dear and loving wife all my messuages land tenements and hereditaments and all my personal estate and effects to hold to her her heirs executors administrators and assigns forever firmly relying on her care of my children and making such provision for such of them in her lifetime or by her will as she shall think proper and trusting that she will give a preference to such of them as shall be most dutiful to her and likely to improve what she shall bestow upon them but I direct all my just debts and financial expenses to be paid out of any said personal estate and I appoint my said wife Mary Perks sole executrix of this my will and revoke all former wills by me made and I devise the guardianship of such of my children as shall be under the age of twenty one years at the time of my death unto my said wife during their respective minorities.

In witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament (written with my own hand) wrote my name and put my seal this twenty-eighth day of April one thousand seven hundred and seventy-two.

Signed sealed published and declared by the said testator William Perks this 20th of April 1772 as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses in his presence and also in the presence of each other.

W Perks

Sarah Perks

Sarah Jarden

George Perry

 

At Wolverhampton fourteenth August 1780. Let a probate of this will be granted to Mary Perks the sole executrix therein named.

Having been duly sworn before me – Titus Neve, Surrogate

1657 John Phillips of Brockton, Shropshire

9th October 1657

In the name of God Amen; the ninth day of October in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fifty and seven [1657] and in the three and twentieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith etc. I John Phillips of Brockton in the County of Salop yeoman being weak in body but of sound mind and memory (laud and praise be to almighty God therefore) considering with myself the frailty of man’s life and the time of death uncertain for the [settlement] of my estate and peace and quietest amongst my wife and children do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say) first and principally I give commend and bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God my creator and his Son Jesus Christ my Redeemer, trusting and verily believing through the merits death and passion of Jesus Christ my Redeemer to be saved and by none other ways means or merits whatsoever and my body to be buried at the discretion of my wide and executor hereafter named. And for my worldly estate I give and bequeath the same in manner and form following:

Inprimis I give grant and bequeath unto Richard Phillips my eldest son all my estate of inheritance to have and to hold to him and his heirs for ever.

Item I give unto my said son Richard all the messuages tenements and lands situate belonging with all by lease under Sir Humphrey Brigge or any other to have and to hold to him and his assigns for and during the term that I have herein for and toward the payment of legacies.

Item I give unto my said son Richard all my cattles chattels and bedsteads in my dwelling house [where] cupboards or [grasse] and one new chest in the parlour and one […] for and towards the performance of this my will.

Item my will is that my brother Andrew shall have the use of the chamber that has lodged him so long as he shall keep himself unmarried.

Item I give unto my daughter Anne the sum of twenty pounds if she will [ ] by my wife and my son Richard at her day of marriage and in case she cannot obtain the estate that I have assigned unto her or the greater part thereof then my will is that she shall have ten pounds more in augmentation of her portion to be paid unto her by my executor at her day of marriage.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son William the sum of thirty pounds to be paid unto him by my executor when he shall accomplish the age of two and twenty years and my will is that he shall have yearly during his apprenticeship a hide of the best beast that shall be killed for the use of my wife and children.

Item I give and bequeath unto my two younger sons John and Francis the sum of thirty pounds apiece to be paid unto them severally by my executor when they shall severally accomplish the age of one and twenty years and in the meantime my will is that they shall be maintained by my executor and kept to school or bound apprentices at the charges of my executor and disposed of as my wife and my brothers shall think fit and convenient.

Item my will is that my wife Elizabeth shall have the use of all my goods undisposed of and not bequeathed during her widowhood and shall have power to bestow the same amongst my children according to their deserts.

Item my will is that if any of my children shall die before their portions be due to be paid unto them then that portion shall be equally divided amongst my children then living.

Item I will the rest of my goods cattles chattels and debts whatsoever (my debts and legacies paid and my funeral expenses discharged I give and bequeath to my son Richard and hereby do make and ordain him my executor of this my last will and testament to perform the same according to the trust and confidence I have in him reposed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this day and year first above written.

Signed sealed published by John Phillips in the presence of William Vermalds John Stringer Francis Rosen

1812 Mary Thomason of Kemberton (Widow)

13th March 1812

This is the last will and testament of me Mary Thomason of Kemberton in the County of Salop widow made this thirteenth day of March One thousand eight hundred and twelve (1812). First, I desire to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named and that my just debts and funeral expenses with the charges of proving this my will may be paid and discharged as soon as conveniently may be after my decease.

I give and bequeath unto Richard Thomason of Manchester in the County of Lancaster Merchant and to my son William Thomason their executors and administrators the sum of five hundred pounds to be paid to them within six months from the time of my decease upon trust that they or the survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor do and shall put and place the same out to interest upon Government or private security as they shall think fit and do and shall receive the interest dividends and produce thereof as the same shall become due and pay the same into the hands of my daughter Mary the wife of Francis Yates for and during the term of her natural life to and for her own sole and separate use and wherewith her said husband shall not intermeddle nor shall the same or any part thereof be subject or liable to his debts control or engagements and I do declare that her receipt alone notwithstanding her coverture shall from time to time be a good and efficient discharge for the same and every part thereof; and from and after her decease then upon trust to call in and receive the said sum of five hundred pounds and all such interest as shall be then due thereon and to pay and equally divide the same amongst all and every the children of my said daughter either already born or hereafter to be born share and share alike and in case of the death of any or either of the said children under the age of twenty-one years leaving issue then I direct that the part or share of him her or them so dying shall go and be paid to such issue but in the case of the death of any or either of them the said children under the age of twenty-one years without leaving issue then I direct that the part or share of him her or them so dying shall go and be paid to the survivors or survivor of them; and in the case of the death of all the said children under the age of twenty-one years and without issue then I direct that the said sum of five hundred pounds and all such interest as shall be then due for the same shall go and be paid to the said Francis Yates his executors and administrators to and for his or their own use.

I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann the sum of five hundred pounds to be paid her within six months from the time of my decease and I do express declare and direct that the said several sums of five hundred pounds and five hundred pounds given to or in favour of my two daughters shall be accepted by them respectively in full of all legacies parts and shares of and in the property bequeathed to or in favour of my said two daughters by the will of their late father Samuel Thomason deceased and also in full of the property to which they became entitled by the death of their late brother Samuel Thomason; and in case the said legacies shall not be accepted by them in full of such property then I do hereby give and bequeath the legacy or legacies of her or them refusing to accept the same unto my son William Thomason and his executors and administrators to and for his and their own use.

And as to all the rest residue and remainder of my money goods chattels effects and personal estate whatsoever wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever  I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said son William to and for his own use provided always and I do hereby direct and declare that it shall be lawful for my said Trustees respectively and their respective executors and administrators to deduct and reimburse himself and themselves all loss cists charges and expenses which they shall or may sustain expend or be put unto in carrying into execution the Trust of this my will or the management or execution thereof or any other thing in any wise relating thereto and that they or either of them shall not be answerable or accountable for any loss which may happen of the said trust monies or any part thereof unless the same happen through his or their wilful default nor shall the one of them be answerable or accountable for the acts deeds receipts or disbursements of the other of them but each of them for his own acts deeds receipts and disbursements only anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

Provided also and I do further direct and declare that in case my daughter Mary shall survive the said Francis Yates her husband then it shall and may be lawful to and for my said Trustees or the survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor to pay all or such part of the said principal sum of five hundred pounds to her in her lifetime as they or he shall in their or his discretion think fit anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Richard Thomason and my said son William executors of this my will and revoke and make void all and every former and other will and wills by me at any time heretofore made and declare this only to be my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal and published and declared this to be my last will and testament the day and year first above written.

Signed sealed published and declared by the said testatrix Mary Thomason as and for her last will and testament in the presence of us who in her presence at her request and also in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.

The mark of Mary Thomason

Thomas Barber

Samuel Nicholls

(From the Wills in the Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry)