This is the Last Will and Testament
of me James Williams of Treowen in the parish of Wonastow in the County
of Monmouth farmer. I give, devise and
bequeath unto Walter Nicholas of Treowen in the parish of Wonastow
aforesaid farmer and John Watkins Pen – a – dree in the parish of
Llanvihangel Crucorney in the said County of Monmouth farmer their heirs
executors administrators and assigns respectively All my real and personal
estate of what nature or kind soever whereof I may die possessed upon trust in
the first place to permit and empower my dear wife Eliza Maria to
receive the interest and proceeds of the sum of one thousand three hundred
pounds composed of the following monies
…? Four hundred pounds secured
by a mortgage on property belonging to William Williams at Cwmcochen in
the parish of Clodock in the County of Hereford farmer and also the further sum
of four hundred pounds secured by a bond of the said William Williams
and the further sum of five hundred pounds (now deposited in the Bank of Messiers
Bromage and Company at Monmoth for and during the term of her natural
life subject nevertheless to the payment thereout of two shillings per week to
my sister Elizabeth Roberts at present inhabiting one of Miss Herbert’s
Alms houses at Abergavenny which said sum of two shillings per week I direct to
be paid to my said sister for and during the term of her natural life and I
direct that the said sum of one thousand three hundred pounds composed as
aforesaid shall as soon as conveniently may be after the decease of my said
dear wife be called in and the amount equally divided between my five daughters
videlict Jane the wife of Walter Nicholas, Eliza
the wife of Thomas Bevan, Ann the wife of William Price of
The Hendre, Elizabeth and Eleanor now unmarried, share and share
alike there respective heirs executors administrators and assigns. But in case my said sister Elizabeth
Roberts should happen to survive my said wife I hereby direct and empower
my said Trustees to retain in their hands such a portion of the said sum of one
thousand three hundred pounds as will enable them to continue the said weekly
payment of two shillings per week to my said sister for her life and as soon as
conveniently may be after her decease to divide the sum which may then remain in
their hands between all my said daughters share and share alike their
respective heirs executors or administrators and thereso empower the said Walter
Nicholas and John Watkins with the consent in writing of my said
wife to vary and transpose the investment of the said sum of one thousand three
hundred pounds either by investing the same or any part thereof in the names of
the said Trustees or Trustee for the time being of this my Will in the public
stocks, funds or securities of the United Kingdom or any real securities in
England or Wales. I bequeath all the
residue of my personal estate unto the said Walter Nicholas and John
Watkins their executors administrators and assigns upon trust as soon as
conveniently may be after my decease to get in such residuary personal estate
and divide the same equally between my said daughters their respective
executors administrators and assigns and I hereby give and devise all that my
cottage garden and premises situate in Llanwenarth in the County of Monmouth
and now or late in the occupation of
[blank section. DW] as tenant from year to year to the said Walter
Nicholas and John Watkins their heirs
And assigns upon
trust as soon as conveniently may be after my decease to sell the same either
by Public Auction or Private Contract and after payment thereout of all my just
debts and funeral and testamentary expences to divide the residue between my
said daughters share and share alike the respective executors administrators or
assigns I devise all real estates (if any vested in me as Trustee or Mortgagee)
unto and to the use of the said Walter Nicholas and John Watkins
their heirs and assigns to the end and intent that they may recouver the same
upon payment of the principal sums and interest thereby respectively secured I
declare that if my said Trustees or either of them shall die or be unwilling to
accept or execute the trusts of my Will it shall be lawful for my said wife to
substitute by any writing under her hand in whom alone or as the case may be
jointly with the surviving and continuing Trustee my trust estate shall be
vested I empower the Trustees or Trustee of this my Will to give receipts for
all monies and effects to be paid or delivered to such trustees or trustee by
virtue of this my Will and declare that such receipts shall exonerate the
persons taking the same from liability to see to the application or disposition
of the monies or effects therein mentioned I empower the trustees or trustee
for the time being of my Will to compound or allow time for the payment of any
debt or debts due to my estate and to settle all demands against my estate and
all accounts between me and any person on such terms as my said Trustees or
Trustee shall in his or their discretion think expedient and I exempt every
Trustee of my Will from liability for losses occurring without his own wilful?
default and authorise him to retain and allow his Cotrustee all expences
incidental to the Trusteeship I appoint the said Walter Nicholas and John
Walters to be joint executors of this my Will.
And lastly I hereby revoke all other Wills by me heretofore made and
declare this to be my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereto set may hand and seal this [Blank. DW]
day of October one thousand eight hundred and forty five. James Williams (LS) – signed sealed
published and declared by the said Testator as and for his last Will and
Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presence at
his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as
witnesses this fourth day of October one thousand eight hundred and forty
five. T.W. Oakley, Solicitor,
Monmouth; Mary Jones.
Proved at London 1st
March 1850 before the Judge by the Oaths of Walter Nicholas and John
Watkins the executors to whom admon was granted having been first sworn
(by Commission duly to administer
Transcribed from
a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South
Wales. NP20 6LB Tel 01633 858 359 1 & 2 November 2002