Estate Duty Office Will of Giles Bennett of Cullompton, Devon, Ropemaker (1821)
© Crown Copyright
Devon Heritage Centre 1078/IRW/B/665
Transcribed by Art Ames
Proved in the Registry of the Archdeaconry of Exeter the 24th November 1821
Henry Hill of the parish of Bradninch in the county of Devon, schoolmaster one of the executors of Giles Bennett late of Cullompton ropemaker who died on the 14th day of July 1821
This is the last Will and Testament of me Giles Bennett of Cullompton in the county of Devon ropemaker
First I give devise and bequeath unto Thomas Grant of Cullompton aforesaid in the county of Devon Farmer John Wescombe also of the same place cabinet maker Henry Hill of Bradninch in the said county of Devon schoolmaster all my dwelling houses gardens lands and premises hereinafter particularly mentioned and described situate and being in the parish of Cullompton aforesaid and also all my good chattles monies securities for money stock in trade and all my personal estate and effects whatsoever upon the trusts and for the intents and purposes hereinafter particularly mentioned and described (that is to say)
Upon trust to give unto my daughter Mary the dwelling house in which I now reside consisting of one kitchen one parlour and two bedrooms over the same being one of my dwelling houses called Caryls situate at Stoneyford in the said parish of Cullompton and also one half of the garden belonging to the same
But if my said daughter should die before she has attained her age of twnety one years and without issue then I give devise and bequeath the same unto Henry Bennett son of my son Giles Bennett
And as to the other dwelling house called Caryls adjoining the last mentioned dwelling house and the other half of the garden upon trust for my said son Giles and also I give unto my said son Giles the use of the rope walk and from and immediately after the death of my said son Giles then upon trust for my daughter Mary
I also hereby request my trustees hereinafter mentioned to investigate into the state of the repairs of the dwelling house which I hereby give unto my said son Giles at any times whenever he or they may think necessary and if the premises are not kept in good and tenantable repair and also the insurance regularly paid then I give and devise the said dwelling house and premises unto my said daughter Mary
And whereas my said son Giles wife is at times very litigious and it is probable after my decease my said daughter Mary may not reside there long I do hereby request my trustees to make inquiries respecting my said son’s wife’s conduct and if she does not permit the tenant who may reside in the house which I give unto my said daughter Mary to live peaceably then I hereby direct my trustees to give my said son a half years notice to quit the said premises and request them to let the same and pay the rent thereof unto my said son during his life
I give unto my said Trustees the sum of twenty pounds in trust for my said son Giles to be paid by John Wescombe in four payments to be laid out in hemp for his trade in the following manner (viz.) five pounds half yearly until the whole is paid
And my will in mind is that it shall and may be lawful for my said trustee to deduct to themselves respectively all such costs and expenses as they shall respectively be at or put unto in or about the execution of this my Will
And lastly I do hereby appoint them the said Thomas Grant John Wescombe and Henry Hill executors of this my Will hereby desiring them after the payment of all my just debts funeral expenses and expenses of proving this my Will and the reasonable charge of executing the trust hereby in them reposed to pay and give the overplus of my personal estate and effects household goods and furniture unto my said daughter Mary
In witness whereof I have to this my Will contained in two sheets of paper set my hand and seal to each sheet this tenth day of April one thousand eight hundred and twenty one
The mark of Giles Bennett
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Giles Bennett as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have here subscribed our names as witnesses hereto in his presence and in the presence of each other the words “one” and “without issue” in the fourteenth line and the words “house” in the twenty first line being first interlined and also the first lines in the last sheet
Jno Voisey Wm Wescombe Henry Hill