This is the last Will and Testament
of me James Hodges of the parish of Magor in the County of Monmouth,
Gentleman, whereby I dispose of my estate and effects in manner following, that
is to say. I give and devise unto my
son James Herbert Hodges all that messuage farm lands and premises
called by the name of Coarn-man-arran Farm situate lying and being in the
several parishes of Llanvhangel Torymynydd and Wolvesnewton in the County of
Monmouth containing by estimation seventy acres or thereabouts be the same more
or less and now in the occupation of Charles Jones as tenant
thereof. Also all that my messuage and
cottage farm lands and premises called Green Pool at Plusterwine in the parish
of Woolastone in the County of Gloucester containing by estimation twenty five
acres or thereabouts be the same more or less now in the occupation of John
Read as tenant thereof. And also
all that my piece of land near the Red Barn in the said parish of Magor
containing by estimation one acre and two roods be the same more or less now in
the occupation of Thomas Rowland as tenant thereof. Also all those my seven pieces or parcels of
land situate in the parishes of Redwick and Magor in the said County of
Monmouth containing by estimation seventeen acres or thereabouts be the same
more or lass now in the occupation of George James as tenant
thereof. To hold the several messuages
land hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances unto my said son James
Herbert Hodges his heirs and assigns for ever. I give and devise unto my said son James Herbert Hodges
all my estate and interest of and in all that piece or parcel of land containg
by estimation eight acres be the same more or less situate lying and being in
the parish of Christchurch in the said County of Monmouth now in the occupation
of William Lewis as tenant thereof adjoining a wharf on the banks of the
River Usk below Newport Bridge to which I am entitled during the life of the
Reverend Stephen Williams. To
hold to my said son James Herbert Hodges his heirs and assigns during
all my estate and interest therein paying yearly out of the rent thereof my
insurance on the life of the Reverend Stephen Williams to the Globe
Insurance office. I give and devise
unto my daughters Ann the wife of Richard Baker, Elizabeth
the wife of Joseph Belcher Hillier and Sarah the wife of Thomas
Dowle all those four pieces or parcels of land situate in Magor Lower
Common Field in the said parish of Magor containing by estimation eight acres
or thereabouts be the same more or less now in my own occupation. And also all that my piece of land called
the six acres situate in the said parish of Magor adjoining the said Lower
Common Field also now in my own occupation.
Also all those my four pieces of land situate in Magor Middle Common
Field in the said parish of Magor containing by estimation five acres or
thereabouts be the same more or less now also in my own occupation to hold unto
my said daughters Ann Baker, Elizabeth Hillier and Sarah Dowle
their heirs and assignes as tenants in common and not as joint tenants. I give and devise unto my daughter Frances
Temperance Hodges all that my messuage tenement or dwelling house
with the garden and orchard thereto belonging situate in the village and parish
of Magor aforesaid now in my own occupation together with the several pieces of
land now occupied by me therewith situte in the said parish of Magor called the
Well Patch containing by estimation half an acre and the nine acres which said
land adjoins Whitewall Road and Pool Differn.
And also all that piece of arable land containg one acre or thereabouts
situate in the lower common field in the said parish of Magor to hold unto my
said daughter Frances Temperance Hodges her heirs and assigns for
ever. I give and bequeath all my
household goods and furniture, plate, linen and china, implements of husbandry,
live and dead stock and all other my personal estate and effects of what nature
or kind soever and wheresoever situate unto my said son James Herbert Hodges
his executors administrators and assigns upon trust to convert the same into
money and after payment of all my just debts funeral expenses and the costs of
proving this my will to pay and divide the residue of the money arising
therefrom unto and equally among my said children the said James Hodges,
Ann Baker, Elizabeth Hillier, Sarah Dowle and Frances
Temperance Hodges share and share alike.
And lastly I do hereby appoint my said son James Herbert Hodges
sole executor of this my will. In
witness whereof I have to this my last will and Testament contained in three
sheets of paper set and subscribed my hand to the third and last sheet thereof
this twenty sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and forty seven. Jas Hodges.
Signed and acknowledged by the said
testator James Hodges in the presence of us who in his presence at his
request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as
witnesses Jas Evans, Solicitor,
Chepstow; F Griffiths, his clerk
10th day of May 1853.
Elizabeth Hillier (the wife of Joseph Belcher Hillier) the
lawful daughter and one of the residuary legatees in this Will named was duly
sworn well and faithfully to administer and as usual and that the goods
chattels and credits of the deceased are under the value of six hundred pounds
and that the testator died on the 8th April 1853. (James Herbert Hodges the sole
executor in this Will named having died in the life time of the testator) before me James C Campbell, Surrogate
Know all men by
these presents that we Joseph Belcher Hillier of the parish of Magor in
the County of Monmouth, farmer; Richard Baker of the parish of
Lanvihangel juxta Roggiett in the said County, farmer, and Thomas Dowle
of the parish of Ifton in the said County, farmer are held and firmly bound
unto the Right Reverend Father in God
Alfred by divine permission Lord Bishop of Llandaff in the sum of
one thousand and two hundred pounds of good and lawful money of Great
Britain to be paid unto the said Lord Bishop or to his certain attorney his
executors administrators or assigns to which payment well and truly to be
made. We oblige ourselves and each of
us by himself for the whole
our and each of our heirs executors and administrators firmly by these
presents. Sealed with our seals dated
the tenth day of May in the fifteenth
year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria by the Grace of God of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith &c and in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and fifty three
The Condition of this obligation is
such that if Elizabeth Hillier (wife of the above bounden Joseph
Belcher Hillier) the lawful daughter and one of the residual legaties named
in the last Will and Testament of James Hodges late of the parish of
Magor in the County of Monmouth, Gentleman, deceased and administatrix with the
Will annexed of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said James
Hodges deceased do make or cause to be made a true and perfect inventory of
all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased which have
or shall come to the hands possession or knowledge of her the said Elizabeth
Hillier or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons for her
and the same so made do exhibit or cause to be exhibited in the Registry
of the Consistory Court of Llandaff on
or before the last day of November next ensuing and the same goods chattels and
credits and all other the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased do
well and faithfully administer according to law, that is to say, do pay the
debts of the said deceased which
he did owe at his
death and then the legacies contained and specified in the said Will
annexed to the said letters of administration so to be committed as far as
his goods chattels and credits will
thereto extend and the law charge her and further do make or cause to be made a
true and just accompt of her said
administration when she shall be thereunto lawfully required. And all the rest and residue of the said
goods chattels and credits which shall be found remaining upon the said
administatrix’s accompt and not otherwise disposed of in the said Will the same
being first examined and allowed of by the Judge or Judges of the said Court
for the time being shall distribute and pay in such manner and form as shall be
limited by the direction of the said Judge.
And lastly do at all times hereafter clearly acquit discharge and save
harmless the within named Lord Bishop the said Judge and all other officers of
the said Court against all persons having or pretending to have any right title
or interest in the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased then this
obligation to be void or else to remain in full force and virtue. JB Hillier; R Baker; Thos Dowle
Signed sealed and
delivered in the presence of Wm Evans
NOTE: I
have used a proforma for this document.
DW
Diocese of Llandaff In
the consistory Court. In the goods Mr James
Hodges deceased
Appeared
personally Elizabeth Hillier the wife of Joseph Belcher Hillier
of the parish of Magor in the County of Monmouth the party applying for Letters
of Administration with the Will annexed
of the Estate and Effects of the said James Hodges late of the
parish of Magor in the said County, Gentleman deceased, who died on the eighth
day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three
and made Oath that the estate and effects of the said deceased for and in
respect of which said Letters of Administration with the said Will annexed are
to be granted, exclusive of what the said deceased may have been possessed of
or entitled to as a Trustee for any other person or persons, and not
beneficially, and without deducting any thing on account of debts due and owing
from the said deceased, are under the value of six hundred pounds to the best of this deponent’s
knowledge, information and belief. And
she lastly made Oath that the said deceased did not die possessed of any
leasehold estate or estates for years, either absolute or determinable, on a
life or lives to the best of this deponent’s knowledge, information and
belief. Elizabeth Hillier
Sworn on the tenth day of May in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and fifty
three before me James C Campbell
NOTE: I
have used a proforma for this document.
DW
Transcribed from
a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South
Wales. NP20 6LB Tel 01633 858 359 26 December 2002