Will of Edward Hepper of Cullompton, Gentleman
Proved 23 March 1848
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/2071/205 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 5 Quire Numbers: 201 – 250
Transcribed by Art Ames
This is the last Will and Testament of me Edward Hepper of the parish of Cullompton in the county of Devon gentleman
I give devise and bequeath all the real and personal estate of which I now am or at the time of my decease shall be seized or possessed of or entitled to unto and to the use of my dear wife Mary Ann Hepper her heirs executors administrators and assigns respectively forever or according to the quality of the estate subject nevertheless to the payment of all my just debts funeral expenses and the charges of proving this my Will
And I appoint my said dear wife sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament and I hereby revoke all Wills by me heretofore made In witness whereof I have hereunto and also to a duplicate hereof set my hand this third day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hudred and forty five Edward Hepper
Signed published and declared by the said Edward Hepper the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and also in the presence of each other (we the witnesses being both present at the same time) have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto Josh Mountford attorney at law Exeter Thos Turner his clerk
In the goods of Edward Hepper deceased
Appeared personally Mary Anne Hepper of the parish of St David in the county of the city of Exeter spinster and made oath that she is the lawful niece of Edward Hepper formerly of the parish of Cullompton in the county of Devon but late of the parish of St David in the county of the city of Exeter gentlemen a widower deceased being the natural and lawful child of Thomas Hepper the natural and lawful brother of the said deceased and that she is also the sole executor named in the last Will and Testament of the said deceased hereto annexed bearing date the third day of October one thousand eight hundred and forty five
And wherein the deponent is described as the wife of him the said deceased and with reference thereto this deponent sayeth that she to wit on the twelfth day of April one thousand eight hundred and forty four intermarried with her said uncle the said deceased then a widower in the church belonging to the parish of St Mary Steps in the county of the city of Exeter from and after which they the said deceased and this deponent continued to live together as husband and wife until his death since which she hath ascertained that the aforesaid marriage has between them was void and illegal
And this deponent further saith that the insertion of her name in the Will of the said deceased as his wife originated in the fact of their having been married and of their being considered and living together at the time of making the said Will as husband and wife Mary Anne Hepper
On the twentieth day of March 1848 the said Mary Ann Hepper was duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit before me C.H.C.H. Bartholomew officiating minister of the parish of St David in the county of the city of Exeter commissioner
Proved at London 26th of March 1849 before the judge by the oath of Mary Anne Hepper spinster the niece (in the will describe as the wife) the sole executrix to whom admon was granted having been first sworn by comon duly to administer