Category Archives: Thomason

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)

Winstanley, Woodcock, Thomason, Haslewood, Perks, Lyon

Current research (2021) is focusing on the Winstanley and Haslewood connections – there are some fascinating life-stories from collateral branches (Admiral Lord Nelson’s solicitor, William Haslewood; the builder of the first Eddystone Lighthouse, Henry Winstanley; corkscrew inventor and medalist, Sir Edward Thomason, among others).

Once again these connections will be explored using online records (wills, parish records, census data and other web-based documentary sources) and from books and papers in my possession.

Wills will be added to the library as I transcribe them.

Watch this space.

Julian

1852 Phillis Bown Thomason

11-2146-0623_PhillisBownThomason_1852

In the name of God, I Phillis
Bown THOMASON, widow of Edward THOMASON, Knight, now residing in the Borough of Warwick, and being of sound mind, and blessed be God for it, do hereby make this my last will and testament of me, the said Phillis Bown Thomason, that is to say, I give and bequeath to Henry Richard Yeoville, Architect, of the Borough of Birmingham, and to his brother George Yeoville, Artist, of the Borough of Birmingham, two out of the five natural or reputed natural children of my only son, Henry Botfield THOMASON, and their heirs, executors and administrators, all my freehold messuages and land at Great Malvern, in the County of Worcester, part of them in the occupation of J O Bridges, and other tenants, and my freehold estate at Great Malvern called Hayes Barr, namely, the house, stabling, out offices and land now or late in the occupation of Mr Yeend and Mrs Yeend, late Miss Belcher, and also those my freehold messuages, tenements and manufactory etc., in Church a Street, Birmingham, in the tenancy of George Thomas Whitgraves and George Richmond Collis, and also all that my messuage, warehouse, stable and outbuildings in Colmore Row and Church Street in the occupation of Langstone Parker, Surgeon, and also all that my messuage, tenement and outbuildings in Colmore Row in the occupation of Mr Barney, and also all that my messuage, dwelling house and outbuildings at the corner of Colmore Row and Church Street in the occupation of Mrs Dobson, and also all that my messuage, shopping, etc., in Colmore Row in the occupation of Mrs Granvers, and also all that my messuage and shopping in Great Charles Street in the occupation of Mrs Cobley, and also all that my messuage and shopping adjoining Mrs Cobley’s, now in the occupation of Mr Burgass, and also all that my messuages with the appurtenances at the corner of Caroline Street St.Paul’s now in the occupation of Mr (Duchemin), and also all those warehouses, shopping, etc., in Catherine Street St Paul’s, now in the occupation of Mrs Sarah Pit, and also all that my messuage and outbuildings situate at the corner of Great Charles Street and Newhall Street Birmingham, now in the occupation of Mr a Freer, Surgeon, and also all that my other real and personal estate and all monies, securities for money, shares in various companies, goods, chattels and all my other personal property and effects, of which I may be possessed or entitled to at the time of my decease, to hold the same unto the said Henry Richard Yeoville and his brother George Yeoville, their heirs, executors and administrators, upon the trusts following, that is to say: all the dwelling houses or tenements in Birmingham herein named are not to be sold, but kept at rental until the leases expire, and the rents and proceeds after paying the expenses of repairs to be divided into five shares to the five residuary legatees in manner hereinafter named, that is to say, all the other parts of my property in trust, except the houses above named, shall be as soon as conveniently may be after my decease sold if it is desirable so to do, either by auction or by private sale, except such specific articles as I may give or bequeath by my will or by my codicil or codicils to this my will, and the money received from the sales of my property shall, after the executors have paid off all my just debts and funeral expenses and all the trust and probate duty hereby created, shall out of the monies that have been reserved from rents, dividends, shares of companies and proceeds from any of my property which they may have thought proper to have sold, proceed to pay the following legacies, that is to say, to my sister Anne
THOMPSON, wife of Benjamin THOMPSON, residing at No. 24, St Nicholas Church
Yard, Newcastle on Tyne, the sum if fifty pounds; to my sister Elizabeth GORDON to pay her fifty pounds; also to my sister Emily WHATELEY to pay her the sum of fifty pounds – Benjamin Thompson of Newcastle on Tyne knows the direction to my sisters Mrs Elizabeth Gordon and Mrs Emily Whateley; I also give and bequeath to Sarah Braine, the faithful servant of my dear departed husband, if she be alive at the twelve months after my death, the sum of twenty pounds; I also give and bequeath to my husband’s niece now resident at Copenhagen the sum of three hundred pounds if she be alive at twelve months after my death, to be paid to the Reverend Charles COVEY in trust for her, and his receipt shall be an effectual discharge for the same; I also give and bequeath to the Rev. Charles Covey the sum of one hundred pounds if he shall be alive twelve months after my decease; and I direct and I hereby appoint that Henry Richard Yeoville and his brother George Yeoville shall be executors and shall stand possessed of all my monies and property of every sort and denomination except such articles as I have given away, either by my will or codicils, Henry Richard Yeoville and George Yeoville  to be in trust for the five persons whom I shall hereinafter name, and the said Henry Richard Yeoville and George Yeoville are two out of the five persons to be residuary legatees by my will, that is to say, the five persons whom I have adopted, I believe to be the five children or reputed children of my only child, Henry Botfield THOMASON, and of my dear husband Edward Thomason, and the names of these five children are: Elizabeth StCLAIR, formerly Elizabeth Yeoville, Richard Henry Yeoville (sic), Adelaide YEOVILLE, George Yeoville, and Mary Ann YEOVILLE, and I hereby appoint the two brothers of this family to be my executors, and to stand in trust for one fifth  for each of themselves and one fifth part for each of their three sisters out of what becomes to be the residue of my property after paying my debts, legacies and bequests named in my will or in my codicil that I may make, and these five named persons, and they shall be tenants in common subject nevertheless to one moiety or equal half share of their fifth part to their two older sisters, Elizabeth and Adelaide, and one fifth of the entire share of Mary Ann Yeoville to the trust hereinafter declared concerning the same, and I do hereby direct that the respective shares of the said Henry Richard Yeoville and George Yeoville, and also one undivided moiety or equal half part of the shares of the
said Elizabeth StClair and her sister Adelaide Yeoville shall be paid to them as soon as conveniently may be after my decease, and I direct my said trustees to stand possessed of the remaining moiety or equal half part of the respective shares of the said Elizabeth StClair and her sister Adelaide Yeoville and for their children in such manner and form and with such accompanying powers, provisions and declarations as they the said trustees in their discretion shall think proper, and I direct that the expense attending every settlement thereby directed or authorised to be made shall be paid and deducted out of the share to which the same persons shall relate, and I direct my trustees to stand possessed of the share of the said Mary Ann Yeoville and of and in the said trust monies in trust to invest the same in their names in the public funds  or government securities of the United Kingdom or on real or leasehold securities in England, and I empower them in their discretion to vary the investment from time to time for any other of the funds described, and I direct them during the minority of the said Mary Ann Yeoville to apply the whole or such part as they shall deem proper of the annual income of Mary Ann Yeoville’s share to be applied for her maintenance and education, and the accumulations of the unemployed income by investing the same in manner aforesaid, and to make the accumulations with the capital of Mary Ann Yeoville’s share due if she shall live to attain the age of twenty one years then the trustees shall pay to her one moiety or half part of her said trust monies and also pay her the accumulations thereof during her minority; and as to the remaining moiety or equal half part of and in the same monies, upon trust, to settle the same in such manner and at the like expense as is hereinbefore declared concerning Mary Ann Yeoville’s Money not to be subject to any husband but for her individual use as is in the case with her sisters, Elizabeth StClair and Adelaide Yeoville’s moiety, but in case the said Mary Ann Yeoville should die under the age of twenty one years without leaving any issues living at her death, for if she does not live but has issue, then her share of her property must go to her issue, but in case of her leaving no issue, then and in that case, that is if no issue of hers living at her death, then I direct her
brothers, Henry Richard Yeoville and George Yeoville, my executors, to stand possessed of the share or shares original and accruing of the said Mary Ann Yeoville in trust for the said Henry Richard  Yeoville and George Yeoville, Elizabeth St Clair and Adelaide Yeoville or such of them as shall be living at the time of her, Mary Ann’s decease or (…) in equal proportions as tenants in common and not as joint tenants, and it is proper that I shall name the companies I have shares in, which are alluded to in the former part of my will day at this time in January one thousand eight hundred and fifty, I have shares in the Birmingham and Staffordshire Gas Company, the Birmingham Banking Company, the Worcester Canal Company, the London and North Western Mail and the Birmingham Water Works, I have also a bond of Messrs Whitgrave & Collis which was at first four thousand pounds, two thousand pounds has been paid and two thousands are still owing to me by Messrs Whitgraves & Collis at the date of this my will; I have also a bond from Lady PINCHORN who is the mother of my daughter-in-law, which bond Lady Pinchorn is paying off by instalments of thirty pounds every Christmas, and which I permit her to do so long as I live out, at my death, Lady Pinchorn must pay the remaining part of the bond, whatever is not paid at my death into the hands of my executors by instalments of thirty pounds at each Christmas until the whole bond is paid off, and I do hereby direct that all purchasers of my property shall pay the monies for the same to my trustees and executors, and it shall exempt them from all responsibility by showing them the receipt for the same; in respect to the application thereof, as the receipt of my executors shall be a good and sufficient discharge for the same, and I further declare that my trustees and executors shall be at liberty out of the trust monies to pay all expenses incident to the execution of this my will and testament, written on six sheets of paper, and I also think it right  again to mention that I believe the five children therein named to be the natural children or reputed natural children of my son Henry Botfield Thomason, and therefore I have left to them all the freehold leasehold and personal property of every description and denomination which my dear husband in his will bequeathed to me, or property to which I may be in any ways entitled to, except things which I may have disposed of during my life or may have devised away by this my will or by any codicil or codicils to the above named five children, and I have named Henry Richard Yeoville and George Yeoville as my executors and trustees for themselves and for their three sisters, and I therefore set my signature to this my will and testament this month of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty – Phillis Bown Thomason – signed by me, the said testatrix, and by her published and declared to be her last will and testament in the presence of us who at her request and in her presence, and in the presence of each other, all being present at the same time, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses – William Grubb, Edwin Gale

I Phillis Bown
Thomason, the widow of the late Sir Edward Thomason, Knight, do write this and make it a codicil to my last will and testament, that is to say, I give and bequeath to Henry Richard Yeoville one of my iron chests which now contains the parchments, writings and papers relative to my property, that he may have the custody of the said parchments and papers as he is appointed to act with his brother George Yeoville as one of the executors of my last will, and also one of my residuary legatees, and he must, with his brother George Yeoville also appointed an executor of my last will, Act with him and as he is also one of the residuary legatees and he must with his brother have the care of the monies belonging to the trust, I also bequeath to George Yeoville my other iron chest for the purpose of his having in his custody my (niver) plate and my presents in diamonds, snuff boxes, etc., and all my jewellery of every description which I may not have disposed of during my lifetime by sale or otherwise, as he is appointed to act with his brother Henry Yeoville. I also bequeath to Henry Richard Yeoville my mahogany dining table which was formerly my son’s. I also give and bequeath to George Yeoville my mahogany library table which has two drawers and which was formerly my son’s; I also give and bequeath to Elizabeth St Clair, formerly Elizabeth Yeoville, my mahogany bedstead with the blue hanging and also the feather bed mattress, bolster, two pillows, four blankets and fringe quilt belonging thereto. I also give and bequeath to Mary Ann Yeoville my other brass bed and the (family) hanging, mattress, feather bed, bolster, 4 blankets and quilt belonging thereto. I also give and bequeath to Henry Richard Yeoville my silver tankard (it was formerly my son’s); I also give and bequeath to George Yeoville my silver sugar basin and cover and the silver label belonging to it. I also give to Henry Richard Yeoville my grand pianoforte; my music books must be divided among such of the two brothers and three sisters who practice on a pianoforte. I also give and bequeath to George Yeoville my seven bisque figures and groups with the seven glass covers for them, and the seven black stands for them (these seven were presented to me by the Marquis Genora of Florence. I have two bookcases; one of them is at Warwick and the other bookcase is at Peachfield House, but it must not be removed during the time Mr Budges is my tenant which he gives leave to that effect, I bequeath whichever of the two Henry Richard Yeoville makes choice of to him, and I bequeath the other of the two bookcases to George
Yeoville; with respect to my books, I bequeath such part of them to be divided as Henry Richard Yeoville and George Yeoville wish to retain, the brotherstaking it in turn to choose one sort and what books the bothers do not wish to retain must be sold to go to residue. I give and bequeath my diamond watch and the gold chain attached to it to Elizabeth St Clair, it was my son’s and she must never sell or part with either the watch or chain. I give and bequeath to Adelaide Yeoville my embossed gold watch and the embossed hook and chain. I also give and bequeath my small repeating watch to George Yeoville and a gold chain to it. I give and bequeath to Mary Ann Yeoville my plain gold watch and gold chain, and I give all my clothes laces and furs, etc., to be divided among Elizabeth St Clair and Adelaide Yeoville and Mar Ann Yeoville to  be divided in as equal shares as circumstances admit, each sister taking in turn to choose first of one article at a time until all are divided among them, and be it noticed and remembered that, although I am particular in mentioning my various property, it is very probable and most likely that I shall give much or most part of them away before my death, although many articles may still remain in my possession at my request by courtesy until I die, and want them no more. If Adelaide prefer the plain watch and a gold chain instead of the embossed watch and hook, she is to have it and then Mary Ann must have the embossed gold watch and gold hook.  The five brothers and sisters named herein I have adopted, they are my only dependants. I also give and bequeath to my sister Anne Thompson the family picture painted in oil of our parents and five of their children – Anne is the youngest of us in that picture; and I also give her the portraits of our Grandfather and Grandmother, these two pictures are hers for her life only, and at Anne Thompson’s death I bequeath them to Anne’s eldest daughter and to that daughter’s descendants. I also give and bequeath to the Rev. Charles Covey the oil portrait of my ever dear husband as an heirloom to continue in his family; I also give to Charles Covey the likeness of his Grandfather Thomason, I also give to Charles Covey another oil portrait intended for my husband, but it is so bad that, at the particular order of my husband and myself, Charles Covey must have it burnt and destroyed as soon as possible after the decease of my husband and of myself. I also give and bequeath to the Trustees of Queen’s College at Birmingham my shield of faith which was designed and caused to be manufactured by my ever dear husband; it is in a mahogany case wi5 a plate glass before it, and I bequeath it on condition that it shall be placed in the Chapel of Queen’s College over the communion table, and to remain as a fixture at the altar of Queen’s College Chapel. The shield is now in the care of Messrs Whitgraves and Collis in Church a Street, and those gentlemen must give it up and relinquish it to the Trustees of Queen’s College. This is the first codicil to my last will and testament, and to which I will set my handwriting – Phillis Bown Thomason – signed by the within named testatrix and by her published and declared to belong to her will and testament in the presence of us who at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other all being present at the same time have hereunto subscribed our names – William Grubb, Edwin Gale

In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, in the part of Dame Phillis Bown Thomason, widow, deceased

Appeared Personally: William Grubb of the Parish of Malvern in the County of Worcester and made oath that he is one of the subscribed witnesses to the papers writing thereunto annexed purporting to be and contain the last will and testament with a codicil thereto of Dame Phillis Bown Thomason, late of Warwick in the County of Warwick, widow, deceased, and referring to the said will and codicil, and observing the date of the said will, the same being as follows, to wit, ‘this month of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty, and the said codicil being without date, he the appearer further made oath that at the periods at which the said will and codicil were respectively executed, he the appearer was in the service of the said testatrix, but that the appearer cannot from any circumstance depose either from recollection or belief on what day in the said month of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty the said Will was executed by the said testatrix nor at what period the said codicil was executed by her save that the said codicil was executed by the said testatrix in the present year one thousand eight hundred and fifty one during the time she was resident at the residence in Warwick, and before she went in the month of April now last past to Malvern in the County of Worcester, where she died – William Grubb – on the first day of December one thousand eight hundred and fifty one, the said William
Grubb was duly sworn to the truth hereof by virtue of the annexed Commission – before me: George Jenkins, Commissione

In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, in the part of Dame Phillis Bown Thomason, widow, deceased

Appeared personally: Henry
Richard Yeoville of All Saints Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Architect,
George Yeoville of the same place, Architect, and Edwin Gale of the Parish of
Budbrook near Warwick, in the County of Warwick, Coachman to Lord (…) and (…) to the paper writing thereunto annexed, purporting to be and contain the last will and testament and codicil thereto of Dame Phillis Bown Thomason of Warwick in the County of Warwick deceased, the said will being dated the month of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty and the said codicil being without date partly and severally made oath, and first the said Edwin Gale for himself made oath that he is one of the subscribed witnesses to the said will and codicil, and that at the periods when the said will and codicil were respectively executed by the testatrix in the said month of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty but the particular day of such month this appearer cannot remember, and the said Edwin Gale further made oath that he is unable from any circumstances to depose at what particular time the said codicil was executed by the said testatrix, save that the same was executed by her some time in the latter end of the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty residents in the early part of the present year one thousand eight hundred and fifty one prior to the time when she the said testatrix went from her residence at Warwick, to wit in the month of April last to Malvern, and this  appearer Edwin Gale further made oath that he was, the time of the execution of the said codicil to have been in the latter end of the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty or the early part of one thousand eight hundred and fifty one from the fact that Henry Richard Yeoville and George Yeoville came on a visit to the said Phillis Bown Thomason at Warwick very shortly after she had executed the said codicil which was the last visit they made to the said Phillis Bown Thomason while she resided at Warwick, and the said Edwin Gale further made oath that there was not any other person present when the same testatrix executed the said will and codicil SA e the appearer and William Grubb the other subscribed witness thereto, and the appearer s, the said Henry Richard Yeoville and George Yeoville for themselves made oath that they are the executors named in the said will and codicil, and that they visited the said Phillis Bown Thomason at Warwick as deposed to by the said appearer Edwin Gale and that the date of such visit was on the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth day of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty one, and she then informed those deponents that she had been making a codicil to her will, allowing to the circumstances as changes it had very recently taken place and that after the  death of the said testatrix they found the said will and codicil in a (Bu..an) in the house of the testatrix at Malvern aforesaid, in which she kept her papers of moment and concern and that they have made and caused to be made diligent search and enquiry for any other will, codicil or testamentary instrument made and executed by the testatrix but have not discovered any such and they verily believe that the said testatrix did not leave behind any papers of a testamentary character other than the said will and codicil, and the said Henry Richard Yeoville and George Yeoville further made oath that they have made and caused to be made diligent enquiry for the purpose of ascertaining the exact date at which the said will and codicil were respectively executed, but they have not been able to obtain any information whatever and they are ignorant of any circumstance by which the date of the execution of the said will and codicil can be more particularly fixed than that the said Will was executed sometime in the month of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty, and the said codicil sometime in the latter end of the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty or in the early part of the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty one, prior to the month of April last past, and the said Henry Richard Yeoville and George Yeoville made oath that the whole body, series and contents of the said will and codicil are in the handwriting of the said testatrix with which they are well acquainted having several times seen her write – Edwin Gale, Henry Richard Yeoville, George Yeoville – on the tenth day of December one thousand eight hundred and fifty one the said Henry Richard Yeoville,
George Yeoville and Edwin Gale were sworn to the truth hereof by virtue of the annexed Commission – before me Henry Gales, Commissioner

Proved 1st January 1852

1804 Jane Thomason

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This is the last will and testament of me, Jane THOMASON of Stourbridge in the County of Worcester, widow. First it is my will and desire that all my just debts, funeral expenses and the expenses of proving this my will shall be paid, satisfied and discharged by my executors hereinafter named [as soon as may conveniently] be after my decease.  ITEM; I do hereby give and bequeath unto Mary TAYLOR of the parish of (Tasley) in the County of Salop, widow, niece of my late husband, the legacy or sum of one hundred pounds; also I hereby give and bequeath unto my two nieces Sarah HOBSON and Mary CORBETT, my nephew William Webb LANE and my two kinsmen John Noxon LANE and James LANE, sons of my (xxx) nephew John Noxon Lane the like legacy or sum of (one) hundred pounds only, and all [faded text] and effects of what nature or like so ever and wherever, I hereby give and bequeath unto my said two nieces, Sarah Hobson and Mary Corbett and my said nephew William Webb Lane in equal proportions, share and share alike, and it is my particular desire that my executors hereinafter named shall and lawfully may reimburse and indemnify themselves out of my said personal estate all such costs, charges and expenses which they or either of them shall or may sustain or be put unto in or about the execution of this my will, and that they shall not be answerable or accountable for any loss or diminution in such estate unless such loss or diminution be occasioned by or through their wilful neglect or default, and further that my said executors shall not be answerable the one for the other of them for the acts, deeds or defaults of the other of them, but each of them for himself and his own acts, deeds and defaults only; and lastly, I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my two friends, Francis Hobson of Courdsley and George Timmings of Birmingham, executors of this my will, and also hereby declare this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof, I have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal the fourteenth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and three – Jane Thomason – signed, sealed, published and declared by the said testatrix, Jane Thomason, as and for her last will and testament in the presence of us who at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto: John (@x), Wm Hunt

Proved 14th November 1804 by Francis Hobson and George Timmins

1849 Sir Edward Thomason Kt

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In the name of God, Amen, I Sir Edward THOMASON, Knight, residing at 50, Pultney Street, Bath and being in tolerable health and sound mind, blessed be God for it, I herewith certify that I make a will dated the twentieth day of March one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, and also that the said Will was witnessed by William Grubb and Edwin Sale, and signed by me on the twenty-fifth day of March one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, and also I subjoined or added a codicil to this said will dated May 16th 1847 say one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, and signed by me and witnessed the nineteenth day of May one thousand eight hundred and forty seven, now I do hereby certify and declare that, for certain weighty and important reasons, and the difficulty I find in bequeathing my property to Institutions and certain individuals, and to give my dear wife as little trouble as possible, and as much power as may be for her comfort, I do thereby appoint and constitute my beloved wife Phillis Bown THOMASON my sole executrix to this my will and testament, and I do hereby further declare that I make null and void and of none effect any aforesaid will and codicil and all other wills and codicils that may be found dated prior to the day of the date of this instrument, and I do hereby solemnly declare that I give and bequeath the whole of my property of every kind and denomination whatsoever and wheresoever discovered, including all freehold estates and leasehold houses or estates, and all monies in the funds or out at interest, and all my (book) credits or debts and stock in divers places on sale and all my shares and interests in institutions as Canal shares, Gas shares, Fire shares, Waterworks shares, Railway shares and Mining shares and my Bank shares, all these together with my furniture, books, plate, jewels, wines, works of art, pictures, potentate and presents, I do hereby give and bequeath to my beloved wife Phillis Bown Thomason for her own interest, use and benefit, knowing as I do that I can place every confidence in her to follow out in her lifetime and by her will my intentions of which she is well acquainted. I hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven – Edward Thomason, Knight – witnessed by us and in the presence of each other to the signing hereof – John Downs, William Grubb

Appeared personally, William
Grubb of Jury Street in the Parish of Saint Mary in the town and county of
Warwick, Butler, and made oath that he is one of the subscribed witnesses to the last will and testament hereto annexed, bearing date the eleventh day of December one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, of the said Sir Edward Thomason, formerly of Pulteney Street Bath in the County of Somerset, but late of the town and county of Warwick, Knight, deceased; and he further made oath that on the eleventh day of December aforesaid, the testator duly executed his said will by signing his name at the foot or end thereof in the presence of this appearer and of John Downs the other subscribed witness thereto, they being both present at the same time, and the said John Downs and this appearer, then attested and subscribed the said will in the presence of the said testator, and of each other – William Grubb– on the twenty-ninth day of October 1849, the said William Grubb was duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit by virtue of the commission thereto annexed. Before me Henry
Donne Hilton, Clerk Commissioner

In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, in the Goods of Sir Edward Thomason, Knight, deceased:

Appeared personally, Dame Phillis Bown Thomason of Jury Street in the Parish of Saint Mary in the town and county of Warwick, widow, and made oath that she is the relict and sole executrix named in the last will and testament of the said Sir Edward Thomason formerly of Pulteney Street, Bath in the County of Somerset but late of the town and county of Warwick, Knight, deceased now hereto annexed bearing date the eleventh day of December one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, and with reference to the following clause contained in the said will, to wit: “and I do hereby solemnly declare that I give and bequeath the I give and bequeath the whole of my property of every kind and denomination whatsoever and wheresoever discovered, including all freehold estates and leasehold houses or estates, and all monies in the funds or out at interest, and all my (book) credits or debts and stock in divers places on sale and all my shares and interests in institutions as Canal shares, Gas shares, Fire shares, Waterworks shares, Railway shares and Mining shares and my Bank shares, all these together with my furniture, books, plate, jewels, wines, works of art, pictures, potentate and presents, I do hereby give and bequeath to my beloved wife Phillis Bown Thomason for her own interest, use and benefit, knowing as I do that I can place every confidence in her to follow out in her lifetime and by her will my intentions of which she is well acquainted”, she this appearer further made oath that her acquaintance with the said testator’s intentions therein referred to was derived from verbal communication only – Phillis Bown Thomason – on the twenty-ninth day of October 1849 the said Dame Phillis Bown Thomason, widow, was duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit by virtue of the Commission hereto annexed – before me Henry
Donne Hilton, Commissioner

Proved 3rd November 1849 by Dame Phillis Bown Thomason, widow, the relict and sole executrix

1847 Ann Thomason, Spinster

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In the name of God, Amen. I Ann THOMASON, Spinster, daughter of the late Edward and Mary Thomason of Birmingham, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, praise be Almighty God for it, do, for the settling and disposing of the effects which it has pleased God in his great goodness to bestow upon me, make this my last will and testament in manner following. First it is my will and desire that my body be buried after the same manner and in the same vault as my late beloved sister and my late beloved mother, and that all my just debts and funeral expenses  be punctually paid and discharged, and I give and bequeath the sum of fifty pounds to the poor men and women who go to St Philip’s Church, to be distributed to them in any way that one of the clergymen belonging to the church shall think proper. Also, I give and bequeath to my three cousins, Eliza FORD, Ann Sophia FORD, and Mary Frances FORD, the sum of one hundred pounds to be divided between them in equal shares; also, I give and bequeath to my cousin Ann WRIGHT, wife of William WRIGHT of Kingswinford the sum of [thirty] pounds; also, I give and bequeath to each of my undermentioned nephews and nieces the sum of one hundred pounds, namely to my nephew Edward COVEY one hundred pounds, to my niece Elizabeth WILLIAMS one hundred pounds, to my nephew Charles COVEY one hundred pounds, to my nephew Henry Botfield THOMASON one hundred pounds, to my niece Mary Fredericke THOMASON one hundred pounds, and to my niece Elizabeth Augusta THOMASON one hundred pounds. Also, I give and bequeath to my pious young friend and companion Elizabeth Brown, daughter of William Brown, the sum of five hundred pounds as a testimony of my great regard for her and high appreciation of her conduct she has administered much to my temporal and spiritual comfort, and I do desire that the above mentioned sum of five hundred pounds be paid to her my
said friend Elizabeth Brown within three months after my decease. Also I give and bequeath to Ann Wadsworth, widow, of Lichfield Street the sum of ten pounds; also I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Bullock the sum of ten pounds for kindly minding my late dear mother dangerous illness, she living with us at that time as housemaid. Also, I give and bequeath to the servant that shall be living with us at the time of my decease five pounds. Also, I give and bequeath to the Child Sunday School of St Philip’s Birmingham ten pounds. Also, I give and bequeath fifty pounds to each of the undermentioned charitable institutions in Birmingham, namely, to the [ ] hospital fifty pounds, to the Dispensary fifty pounds, and to the eye infirmary fifty pounds. Also, I give and bequeath to each of my executors for their trouble the sum of one hundred pounds. And lastly, I give and bequeath all the residue and remainder of my property of every denomination whatsoever or wheresoever to be equally divided between my sister Elizabeth COVEY, my brother Edward THOMASON and my brother James
THOMASON share and share alike. And I do constitute and appoint my brother Edward Thomason and my nephew Edward Covey to be joint executors of this my last will and testament, whereunto I do this day set my hand and seal this third day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight – Ann Thomason – signed, sealed and declared by the said testator, Ann Thomason, for and as her last will and testament in the presence of us who, in her presence and at her request and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses: Mary Price, Frances Goodall, Ann Elizabeth Lenwood.

Whereas I have by my last will and testament given and bequeathed to my friend Elizabeth Brown the sum of five hundred pounds to be paid her within three months after my decease, and the said Elizabeth Brown is married to and is now the wife of (Leacroft) Freer of Birmingham, Draper, now I do hereby direct that in case the said Elizabeth, the wife of the said Leacroft Freer shall happen to depart this life in my lifetime, that the said legacy of five hundred pounds shall be paid to the said Leacroft Freer if living within three months after my decease, and if he also shall die in my lifetime, then I direct that the said legacy or sum of five hundred pounds shall be paid to the executors or administrators of the said Leacroft Freer within three months after my death, to be by them equally divided between and among the children of the
said Leacroft Freer and Elizabeth his wife at their respective ages of 21 years, and in case any of them shall die under that age and without issue then the survivors to take the share or shares of the party so dying equally between them and, in case there shall be only one child living to attain 21 years or having lawful issue, then I give and bequeath the said legacy of five hundred pounds to such one and only child for his or her own use and benefit, and I do hereby declare this to be a codicil to my last will and testament. As witness I have set my hand the fifteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six – Ann Thomason – witness (Ann Hill)

Whereas I Ann Thomason in and by my last will and testament, bearing date the third of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, give and bequeath to my sister Elizabeth Covey, since deceased, one third part of the residue and remainder of my property, I do now will and direct that the same one third part as mentioned in my said will shall now be equally divided betwixt her children Edward COVEY, Elizabeth WILLIAMS and Charles COVEY, in witness whereof, I the said Ann Thomason do to this writing, which I thereby declare to be a second codicil to my last will, set my hand and seal this twenty-Second day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven – Ann Thomason

In the name of God Amen. I Ann Thomason, being of sound mind and understanding, praised be God for it, do hereby this 19th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty, make this third codicil to my will and testament, that is to say, I revoke the disposal of that part of my will and testament which relates to that portion of my property and interest in a freehold Estate at Smethwick in the County of Stafford now occupied by Jonathan Hasley as Tenant at the yearly rent of fifty pounds, and it is my will, (p…), will, meaning and intent that I hereby give and bequeath the whole of my right and interest in the aforesaid freehold estate to my eldest brother
Edward THOMASON, Knight, entirely for his own use and benefit, and in case of his death before me then I bequeath my aforesaid interest in the said Estate entirely to my nephew Henry Botfield THOMASON, and my aforesaid eldest brother Edward Thomason, Knight has faithfully promised me that he will, after my decease, give unto my niece Augusta THOMASON yearly and every year during the term of her natural life the sum of twenty pounds lawful money of a Great Britain – Ann Thomason – witness my hand this 19th day of October one thousand eight hundred and forty, appended to my will by me: Mary Wheeler, William Collins

In my will and testament date the third day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, I gave and bequeathed to my brother James Thomason of Norway, then living or to his executors, administrators and assigns, a certain portion of my property and effects after my decease to be remitted to him by my executors therein by me appointed, but as my said brother James Thomason of Norway has since or recently departed this life leaving behind him one only child, namely his daughter Elizabeth Augusta Thomason, Spinster, I do hereby declare in this my fourth codicil to my aforesaid will and testament, made by me and witnessed this eleventh day of November one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, that I revoke the aforesaid bequest or gift mentioned in my former aforesaid will and testament of all that portion of my property and effects left to my aforesaid brother James Thomason, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, and I do hereby give and bequeath the same portion or part of my property therein mentioned to his only surviving child Elizabeth Augusta Thomason, my niece, after this manner, that is to say, that my executors of my aforesaid will therein appointed shall hold the amount so bequeathed, whatever it may appear to be, at interest for the benefit of my aforesaid niece, Elizabeth Augusta Thomason, during her natural life and that during her natural life the interest that may be (…) therein at a (…) and request that my aforesaid niece Elizabeth Augusta Thomason shall have the power to will away the principal at her decease to whomever she may be disposed to give it; and I do hereby authorise, desire and request that my executors so pay or cause to be paid all such remaining principal at the demise of my aforesaid niece, Elizabeth Augusta Thomason unto the person who may be hereafter named in her own will and testament made and signed by my aforesaid niece Elizabeth Augusta Thomason. In witness of this my fourth codicil I do set my hand and seal only witnessed this eleventh day of November one thousand eight hundred and forty-one – Ann Thomason – witness the signing hereof: Ann Elizabeth Palmer, Mary Wheeler

Whereas I Ann Thomason in my last will and testament bearing date the third day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, did give and bequeath to my niece Mary Fredericka Thomason the sum of one hundred pounds, but since then she has departed this life, therefore as she the aforesaid Mary Fredericka Thomason is dead, it is now my will and desire that her sister, my niece, Elizabeth Augusta Thomason should have that hundred pounds that would have been Mary Fredericka Thomason’s if she had lived. Therefore, I do now give and bequeath to my aforesaid niece Elizabeth Augusta Thomason that hundred pounds as mentioned in my will as there and then bequeathed to my niece Mary Fredericka Thomason as she is dead. I think it quite right that her sister my niece the aforesaid Elizabeth Augusta Thomason should have it in addition to the sum of one hundred pounds left in my will to herself, the said Elizabeth Augusta Thomason, and I do hereby declare this to be a fifth codicil to my last will and testament. As witness my hand this thirteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one – Ann Thomason – witness to the signing and sealing: Mary Wheeler, Elizabeth Plant

As my nephew Edward Covey, whom I had appointed one of my executors to my last will and testament is since dead, I do now hereby nominate and appoint his brother
Charles Covey, Clerk, instead of him and do give him full power and authority to act as joint executor with my brother Edward Thomason, Knight, and do likewise give to each of them the sum of one hundred pounds for their troubles as I have before mentioned in my will. Witness my hand this sixth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-five – Ann Thomason – witness: Mary Wheeler, Elizabeth Plant.

Proved 24th December 1847

1844 Henry Botfield Thomason

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This is the last will and testament of me, Henry Botfield THOMASON of Mathon Lodge in the County of Worcester. I give and devise to Jane THOMASON such property as she brought to me on my marriage to her, her heirs, administrators and assigns. I give to Ephraim Clarke and Joseph White, formerly in my employ but now in the parish of Harborne, Staffordshire (   ) pounds… leave Sarah Clarke sole executrix of my will. The residue and remainder of my estate, both personal and real, I give and bequeath to Sarah Clarke of Harborne Staffordshire of whatever nature or sort so ever that may belong or come to me hereafter for life and then to return to my next of kin as heir at Law. Signed by the said testator in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses – Henry Botfield Thomason – April 10 1839 – John Davis, James Dean

Proved 15th March 1844 by Sir Edward THOMASON Knight and lawful father and next of kin of the said deceased