Estate Duty Office Will of John May late of Cullompton, Innkeeper (1842)
© Crown Copyright
Devon Heritage Centre 1078/IRW/M/439
Transcribed by Art Ames
Proved 4th April 1842 in the Archdeaconry Court of Exeter
Appeared personally Mary May of Cullompton in the county of Devon the widow and sole legatee for life or until marriage named in the last Will and Testament of John May of the parish of Cullompton aforesaid innkeeper deceased who died on the 27th day of September 1841 – Francis Wolland innkeeper and Roger Rowe butcher both of Cullompton aforesaid the executors in trust having renounced
This is the last Will and Testament of me John May of Cullompton in the county of Devon innkeeper.
First I give devise and bequeath unto Thomas Wolland of Cullompton aforesaid innkeeper and Roger Rowe of the same place butcher all that my inn called or known by the name of The Devonshire Inn in which I now reside with the outhouses and premises thereunto belonging situate in Cullompton aforesaid
Also my stock in trade horses gigs harness household goods and furniture and all that I may die possessed of requesting them as soon as convenient after my decease to take an inventory of the same and have it valued and allow my wife to have possession of the same during the term of her natural life or as long as she shall remain my widow
And from and immediately after the decease or intermarriage of my said wife then I direct my trustees to sell my said inn outhouses and premises and all other my effects and divide the same between my three children namely Elizabeth Mary Ann and Grace share and share alike to be paid them when they shall respectively attain their age of twenty one years
But in case either of my said children should die before he or she shall attain the age of twenty one years and without issue then I give his or her share unto my then surviving children share and share alike
Subject nevertheless to the payment of my just debts funeral expenses and the expense of proving this my Will
And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint them the said Thomas Wolland and Roger Rowe executors in trust of this my Will and I hereby direct that my said executors and trustees shall each be answerable for his own act and receipts only and not the one for the other of them and that they shall not be answerable for any loss or miscarriage by any security or securities that may happen in my estate And also that they shall retain all their costs charges damages and expenses out of the estate and effects in them respectively vested in and by this my Will and the trusts therein contained
In witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament set and subscribed my hand this second day of May one thousand eight hundred and forty John May
Signed sealed published and declared by the said testator John May as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto
Henry Hill Henry Hill jr.