This is the last will and testament of me Edward Rich of Queen Street, Bridgend in the County of Glamorgan plasterer. I hereby constitute and appoint my wife Ann Rich and my sons Edward Rich and John Rich executors and trustees of this my will and I give and devise to them all estates vested in me as trustee or mortgage subject to the equities affecting the same. I direct that my said executors shall as soon as may be after my decease pay and discharge all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses. I direct my said trustees to permit my wife to occupy my freehold residence at Queen Street, Bridgend and to have the full use of all the furniture and effects therein and subject to such directions and payments I devise and bequeath to my said trustees all and singular my real and personal estate of whatever nature or kind and wherever situate and wether [sic] in possession, reversion or expectancy to hold the same according to the several nature and tenure thereof upon and for the trusts and purpose following - that is to say – to have and receive the rents and income arising therefrom and after applying such parts thereof as shall from time to time be necessary for discharging the outgoings of my said property and for maintaining my freehold and leasehold estate in good and efficient repair and condition I direct my said trustees to pay the said rents and income to my said wife for her own use and benefit and after her decease I give devise and bequeath as follows. To my son Thomas Rich the freehold house and premises situate in No 10 Elder Street, Bridgend now occupied by Mrs Martha John, two leasehold cottages being on the south side of the road leading from Bridgend to Cowbridge being No 26 & 27 and now in the occupation of John Howe and Frederick Higgins, one leasehold house on the east side of the road leading from Bridgend to Eweny being No 151 now in the occupation of James Stephen Gandern?, also her customary hold houses in Brackla Street being No 37 & 38 now in the occupation of Elizabeth Hopkins and William Richard Davies. To my son Edward Rich the freehold house and premises in Queen Street being No 31 in which I now reside, also two leasehold cottages on the Cowbridge Road being No 28 & 29 and now in the occupation of Thomas Slader and John Bartlet, three customary hold houses in Brackla Street being No 44 & 45 & 46 and now in the occupation of Mrs Llewellyn, Joseph Thomas and William Roberts and likewise that piece of ground adjoining the houses before built and occupied by me as yard and garden. To my son John Rich the freehold house situate in Elder Street aforesaid being No 11 and now in the occupation of William Richards, two leasehold cottages on Cowbridge Roar aforesaid being No 30 & 31 and now in the occupation of Edward Stephens and Jane Griffiths, three customary hold houses in Brackla Street being No 41 & 42 & 43 and now in the occupation of Samuel Rees, Edward Rich junior and Arthur Watts, and to my daughter Ann Davies the freehold house in Elder Street aforesaid being No 12 and now in the occupation of Morgan Trotman, two leasehold cottages on the Cowbridge Road aforesaid being No 32 & 33 and now in the occupation Henry Hayman and William Orchard, one leasehold house on the road leading from Bridgend to Eweny being No 152 and now in the occupation of John Phillips, two customary hold houses in Brackla Street being No 39 & 40 and now in the occupation of William David and David John and as to my household furniture and effects and all other my real and personal property not before disposed of I give devise and bequeath the same after the decease of my said wife to my four children before mentioned in equal shares as tenants in common, and my desire is that should either of my said children depart this life before my said wife or before he or she shall become entitled to any portion property or share under this my will leaving issue then I devise and bequeath the property or share of such deceased child unto and equaly [sic] between his or her issue as if named herein the ground rent if the leasehold cottages to be apportioned as follows, the eight houses on the Cowbridge Road to pay twelve shillings each house and the two houses on the road leading to Eweny fifteen shillings each house, and I hereby revoke all testamentary dispositions heretofore made by me and declare this to be my last will and testament. As witness my hand this twenty third day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty three 1883. Edward Rich.
Signed by the said Edward Rich the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other hereunto subscribe our names as witnesses
Feb 23 1883 Thomas Cole, Baptist Minister, Bridgend. Witness
Feb 23 1883 Jenkin Jenkins, stone mason, Bridgend. Witness
Proved at Llandaff on the 22nd day of July 1885 by the oaths of Edward Rich and John Rich the sons, two of the executors to whom administration was granted. Power reserved of making the like grant to Ann Rich, widow, the relict, the other executors named in the will.
The testator Edward Rich was late of Queen Street, Bridgend in the County of Glamorgan, plasterer, and died on the first day of July 1885 at Queen Street, aforesaid.
Under £950
Extracted by the executors in person
Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales. NP20 6LB Tel 01633 858 359 25 February 2001