This is the last will and testament of me John Phillips of the parish of Cumcarvon in the County of Monmouth laborer, made, published and declared this thirtieth day of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty two.
Imprimis I appoint my son John Phillips sole executor of this my will and I desire to be decently buried by and at his discretion. Also I give and devise unto my said son John Phillips all that cottage or tenement, garden, orchard and meadow situate in Cumcarvon aforesaid and now in my own occupation. And also all that cottage or tenement, outhouses, garden and appurtenances situate in the town of Trelleck in the said County and now in the occupation of my tenant Isaac Pembridge and all other my real estate wheresoever situate to hold the same unto my said son John Phillips, his heirs and assigns upon trust that he maintain, board, lodge, cloath and support my wife Mary for her life and after her decease to hold the same unto the said John Phillips, his heirs and assigns for ever. Also I give and bequeath unto my said son John Phillips all my household furniture and effects, all my live and dead farming stock and crops the lands which I rent of the Reverend Mr Cupar and all other my personal estate whatsoever to hold the same and every part there of unto my said son John Phillips, his executors, administrators and assigns absolutely, he paying thereout all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal. The mark and seal of John Phillips.
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said John Phillips the testator as and for his last will and testament 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 the same having been first read over to him and approved of by him the interlineation between the fourteenth and fifteenth lines having been first made Jn RN Norton; Jas Pearce King, Sol’s, Monmouth.
3rd day of November 1853. John Phillips the lawful son of the deceased and sole executor named in this will was duly sworn as such and that the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased are under the value of one hundred pounds, and that the testator died on the eighth day of May one thousand eight hundred and fifty three. Before me, Edward? Arney, MA, Surrogate
Appeared personally John Ralph Norton Norton of the Town of Monmouth in the County of Monmouth, Gentleman, and made oath that the paper writing hereunto annexed purporting to be the last will and testament of John Phillips late of the parish of Cwmcarvan in the said County, labourer, deceased, bearing date the thirtieth day of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty two was wholly drawn and written by and with the proper handwriting of this deponent pursuant to the directions and instructions given him by the said deceased for that purpose and he also saith that the words "upon trust that he maintain board lodge cloath and support my wife Mary for her life and after her decease to hold the same unto the said John Phillips, his heirs and assigns" were so written and interlined by him this deponent before the said deceased executed the said will. And he further saith that the said will and interlineation was read over and explained by him this deponent to the said deceased who appeared perfectly to understand the same and expressed his approbation thereof and put his cross or mark at the foot or end of the said will in the presence of this deponent and of his fellow subscribing witness thereto James Pearce King both of whom were present at the same time and who respectively subscribed their names to the said will as witnesses to the due execution thereof at the request and in the presence of the said testator and of each other. Jno RN Norton
Sworn before me Edward Arney, Surrogate
Diocese of Llandaff, In the Consistory Court, In the goods of John Phillips deceased.
Appeared personally John Phillips of the parish of Cwmcarvan in the County of Monmouth, labourer, the sole executor named in the last Will and Testament of the said John Phillips late of the parish of Cwmcarvan aforesaid, labourer deceased, who died on the eighth day of May 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, a probate of the said Will is 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 the Debts due and owing from the said deceased, are under the Value of one hundred pounds, to the best of this Deponent’s knowledge, information, and belief. And he 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. John Phillips
Sworn on the third day of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three before me Edward F Arney, Surrogate
Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales
NP20 6LB Tel 01633 858 359 7 September 2000