Estate Duty Office Will of Joseph Murch late of Cullompton, Tin Plate Worker (1840)
© Crown Copyright
Devon Heritage Centre 1078/IRW/M/1050
Transcribed by Art Ames
Proved in the Archdeaconry Court of Exeter 28th January 1840
Appeared personally John Murch of the parish of Colyton in the county of Devon stonemason one of the executors named in the last Will and Testament of Joseph Murch late of Cullompton in the said county of Devon tin plate worker deceased who died in September 1839
I Joseph Murch of Cullompton in the county of Devon late tin plate worker being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding do hereby made and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner following
First I desire that I may be interred in an oak coffin with a breastplate thereon and lined with flannel and that my funeral may be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as the funeral of my late dear wife
I give and bequeath to my two nieces (that is to say) to Mary Merchant and Juliana Merchant the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds each
I give to and bequeath to my niece Ann Walland wife of John Walland Schoolmaster the sum of one hundred pounds together with all my household goods and furniture
I give and bequeath to my four nephews sons of my brother Robert Murch of Colyton in the said county that is to say to John Murch Robert Murch Philip Murch and William Murch the sum of fifty pounds each
To my niece Ann Beech I give and bequeath the sum of twenty pounds
I give and bequeath to my nephew Robert Westcombe the sum of twenty pounds which I desire may be placed in the Tiverton Bank and paid to him in the sum of three shillings and sixpence weekly I also give to him the said Robert Westcombe and his wife a suit of mourning each
I give and bequeath to the three daughters of my late sister Anne or Nancy Saville that is to say Jane Ann and Elizabeth the sum of twenty pounds each
I give and bequeath to my nephew and niece that is to say Henry and Ann the son and daughter of my late brother William Murch the sum of twenty pounds each
I give and bequeath to Henry Voisey Murch to Joseph Murch and to Elizabeth Bale the three grandchildren of my sister Betty or Elizabeth Merchant the sum of ten pounds each. To the said Joseph Murch and the said Elizabeth Bale I also give a suit of mourning each
I give and bequeath to Betsy Merchant daughter of my late brother in law John Merchant the sum of five pounds and a suit of mourning
I give and bequeath the sum of five pounds for the use and benefit of the Cullompton National School and I also give and bequeath the sum of five pounds to the boy who shall have been the last in my employee in leading me about in my walks
To the above mentioned John Walland schoolmaster I also give and bequeath the sum of fifty pounds
It is my will and desire that the several legacies above mentioned shall be paid at the expiration of six months from the time after my decease
The residue and remainder of my property after payment of the aforesaid legacies of all my just debts and of all my funeral testamentary and lawful expenses I give and bequeath to the three daughters of my sister Merchant and the four sons of my brother Robert Murch each respectively before mentioned (that is to say) to the said Ann Walland Mary Merchant Juliana Merchant John Murch Robert Murch Philip Murch and William Murch to be equally divided between them share and share alike
Lastly I hereby constitute and appoint my said brother Robert Murch and the aforesaid John Murch his son to be the executors of this my last Will and Testament
In witness hereof I Joseph Murch the testator have hereunto set my hand and seal this 26th day of July in the year of our Lord 1838 Joseph Murch
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Joseph Murch the testator 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 subscribed our names as witnesses hereunto the word 26th having been first made on an erasure
Joseph Foster Henry Voisey