Estate Duty Office Will of Martha Brown late of Cullompton, Widow (1845)
© Crown Copyright
Devon Heritage Centre 1078/IRW/B/1637
Transcribed by Art Ames
Proved 27th June 1845
Appeared personally Rebecca Davy of the parish of Crediton in the county of Devon spinster and Elizabeth Davy of the parish of Cullompton in the said county widow executrixes named in the last Will and Testament of Martha Brown formerly of Fordton in the said parish of Crediton but late of Cullompton aforesaid widow deceased who died on the third day of January 1845
This is the last Will and Testament of me Martha Brown of Fordton in the parish of Crediton in the county of Devon widow and when it shall please my heavenly Father to remove me from this state of trial and probation to I hope and trust a far better world I dispose of all my property in manner hereinafter mentioned I give and bequeath the following legacies
To my niece Rosina Shute widow the sum of two hundred pounds but in case the said Rosina Shute shall die before me then I will and direct that the said sum of two hundred pounds shall be paid to and equally divided between such of the children of the said Rosina Shute as shall be living at my decease
To my niece Martha Watson widow the sum of eighty pounds but in case the said Martha Watson shall die before me then I will and direct that the said sum of eighty pounds shall be paid to and equally divided between such of the children of the said Martha Watson as shall be living at my decease
To my nephew Josiah Davy of Leeds the sum of ten pounds
To my nephew Albert Davy of Leeds the sum of ten pounds
To Sarah Davy widow of the late Thomas Davy of London the sum of one hundred pounds
To my sister Mary Roberts the sum of two hundred pounds but in case the said Mary Roberts shall die before me then I will and direct that the said sum of two hundred pounds shall be paid to and equally divided between such of the children of the said Mary Roberts as shall be living at my decease
To my brother Joseph Davy the sum of two hundred pounds but in case they said Joseph Davey shall die before me then I will and direct that the said sum of two hundred pounds shall be paid to and equally divided between his two daughters or in case of the death of either of his said daughters than to the survivor of them
To my nephew Edward Davy the sum of two hundred pounds
To my nephew Henry Davy the sum of two hundred pounds
To my friend the Reverend Matthew Lee Yeates the sum of fifty pounds
To my niece Mary Matthews wife of William Matthews the sum of fifty pounds
To William Matthews the son of my said niece Mary Matthews the sum of ten pounds
To Richard Matthews the brother of the said William Matthews the sum of ten pounds
To my niece Eliza Brown the sum of fifty pounds
To my niece Harriet Fisher widow the sum of fifty pounds
To my niece Caroline Brown the sum of fifty pounds
To my niece Louisa Wreford wife of Samuel Wreford of Ottery the sum of eighty pounds
To my niece Elizabeth Madge the wife of William Madge of Crediton the sum of eighty pounds
To my niece Ann Drake the wife of John Drake the sum of eighty pounds
To Georgina Rias the wife of Edward Rias the sum of sixty pounds
Hereby declaring that the said several legacies hereinbefore given to the said Mary Matthews Louisa Wreford Elizabeth Madge Ann Drake and Georgina Rias shall be for their own use and benefit and separate and apart from their respective husbands and that their respective receipts shall be a sufficient discharge
To my niece Emma Warnsey widow the sum of ten pounds
To my nephew Edward Brown the sum of ten pounds
To my niece Rebecca Phippard the son of ten pounds
To my cousin Maria Fisher the sum of ten pounds
To my friend Ann Stephenson Morgan of Collumpton the sum of ten pounds
To Ann Gibbons of Crediton the sum of ten pounds
To my old and faithful servant Harriet Dorothy the sum of ten pounds
To the Reverend John Owen of Crediton the sum of ten pounds
To the trustees of the Crediton Unitarian Meeting the sum of fifty pounds for the purpose of being laid out at interest and the proceeds applied towards the support of the minister for the time being of that congregation of protestant dissenters or in such other way as the other trust funds thereof shall be from time to time applied.
To the trustees of the Collumpton Unitarian Meeting the sum of fifty pounds for the purpose of being laid out at interest and the proceeds applied towards the support of the Minister for the time being of that congregation of protestant dissenters or in such other way as the other trust funds thereof shall be from time to time applied
And it is my will and I do hereby direct that the said several legacies or sums of money hereinbefore respectively bequeathed by me shall be paid to the said several persons hereinbefore mentioned at the expiration of one year after my decease
I give to my sister Rebecca Davy the best of my wearing apparel and also all my rings and broaches
Also I give to the said William Matthews the son of my said niece Mary Matthews my late husband’s silver watch
I give to my nephew the said Henry Davy my best carpet the rosewood round table in the drawing room also the sofa and all the chairs
And as to all the rest residue and remainder of my good chattels monies securities for money personal and testamentary estate whatsoever (subject only to the payment my just debts funeral expenses and legacies) I give and bequeath the same unto my sister Rebecca Davy and my sister in law Elizabeth Davy their executors administrators and assigns equally share and share alike for their own use and benefit
And I do hereby make and appoint my said sister Rebecca Davy my said sister in law Elizabeth Davy executrixes of this my Will and hereby revoking all former or other Wills by me at any time heretofore made I declare this to be my only last Will and Testament
In witness whereof I the said Martha Brown have to this my Will contained in three sheets of paper set my hand and seal (to wit) my hand to the first two sheets and my hand and seal to this third and last sheet this twenty first day of July one thousand eight hundred and forty
Martha Brown
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Martha Brown as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
Thomas Pring Wm Saunders