Estate Duty Office Will of Henry Matthews late of Cullompton, Plumber and Glazier (1822)
© Crown Copyright
Devon Heritage Centre 1078/IRW/M/353
Transcribed by Art Ames
Proved in the Registry of the Archdeaconry of Exeter the 26th of February 1822
Henry Matthews of Cullompton in the county of Devon the executor named in the last Will and Testament of Henry Matthews late of Cullompton aforesaid plumber and glazier who died on the twenty fourth day of August 1821
This is the last Will and Testament of me Henry Matthews of Cullompton in in the county of Devon plumber and glazier made the fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one
First I give and bequeath to my dear wife Rebecca Matthews for the term of her life (if she shall so long remain my widow) one annuity clear yearly rent charge or sum of fifteen pounds of lawful current money of England to be issuing and payable free of taxes and deducting out of all those my messuages or dwelling houses situate in the parish of Cullompton aforesaid and now in the several occupations of my son Henry Matthews Henry Mortimore and [ ] as tenants thereof to me by four quarterly payments yearly at the four most usual days of payment in the year that is to say Lady Day Midsummer Michaelmas and Christmas the first quarterly payment thereof to be made on such of the said days as shall first happen after my decease
And my will is that in case the said annuity yearly rent charge or sum of fifteen pounds or any part thereof shall be unpaid by the space of twenty eight days next after either of the said days whereon the same is hereinbefore directed to be paid then and so often it shall and may be lawful for the said Rebecca Matthews to enter upon all or any part of the said premises out of which the same shall be issuing as aforesaid and to distrain for the same or for so much thereof as shall be in arrear and all costs and charges occasioned by the non payment thereof
And subject to the said annuity of fifteen pounds and power of distress for the recovery thereof I give and devise my said messuages or dwelling houses with their respective appurtenances unto and to the use of my said son Henry Matthews his heirs and assigns for ever subject nevertheless and charged and chargeable to and with the payment of the sum of forty pounds of lawful current money of England to my son James Matthews and to the sum of one pound each of like lawful money to my four daughters Sarah the wife of William Bailey of Taunton in the county of Somerset hairdresser Mary Matthews Ann Matthews and Rebecca Matthews and to my daughter in law Elizabeth the wife or widow of my son Thomas Matthews to whom respectively I give and bequeath the same accordingly to be paid to them at the end of six calendar months next after the death of my said wife and also subject to the payment and discharge of all my just debts
Also I direct and require my said wife to make or cause to be made and taken a full and particular inventory and account of all my household goods and furniture and to deliver the same duly authenticated under her hand to my son Henry Matthews within one month after my death and thereupon I give her the use of the said household goods and furniture for the term of her life if she shall so long remain my widow
And from and immediately after her death or second marriage which shall first happen I give and bequeath the same household goods and furniture in manner following (that is to say) to my son James Matthews my best feather bed bolster and pillows and my best shell of a bed with the bedding usually used therewith my night stool my large dining table half a dozen beech chairs and my bell metal pot to be delivered unto him by my executor within one month after the death or second marriage of my said wife and all the rest thereof to my said son Henry Matthews
And in case my said wife shall neglect to deliver such inventory in the manner and within the time aforesaid then I give the same household goods and furniture to my said two sons in manner aforesaid at the end of one month next after my death
Also I give to my said son James Matthews all my clothes and wearing apparel to be delivered to him by my executor immediately after my decease
And also all my money securities for money working tools and implements in trade and all the rest residue and remainder of my personal and testamentary estate and effects whatsoever and whosoever situate or being not hereinbefore otherwise disposed of (subject to the payment of my funeral and testamentary expenses) I give and bequeath unto my said son Henry Matthews and I hereby make and appoint him my said son Henry Matthews sole executor and residuary legatee of this my last Will and Testament
And lastly I hereby revoke all former Wills and testamentary dispositions by me at anytime heretofore made
In witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament written upon and contained in two sheets of paper to the first sheet thereof set my hand and to this second and last sheet my hand and seal the day and year first above written
Henry Matthews
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Henry Matthews the testator as and for and to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other
Samuel Shallis Ann Bowerman Giles Bowerman