The Will of Daniel Sharpe, Banker of London (Dated 1812)
All names are in bold or large script for ease of reference.
This is the last Will and Testament of me Daniel Sharpe of Smithfield London and of Finchley in the County of Middlesex Banker as follows that is to say I give and devise unto my brother William Sharpe of Smithfield aforesaid Banker and to my wife Jane Ann Mary Sharpe and to Daniel Sant of Upper Thomas Street London Wine Merchant all that my freehold house and land at Finchley in the County of Middlesex and also all that my freehold house and premises situate and being in Smithfield aforesaid and also all and singular my personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresover debts monies securities for money bonds notes bills of exchange furniture plate linen china books and other effects and things to hold to them their hiers executors and administrators upon and for the several trusts and intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned that is to say upon trust to sell and dispose of my freehold estate at Finchley aforesaid by public or private contract as they in their discretion shall think fit for the best price and most money that can had or gotten for the same subject to the contract I have entered into for the purchase thereof at the time in such contract mentioned and out of the monies to arise by such sale and out of my said personal estate and effects upon trust to pay all my debts legacies funeral and testamentory expenses and charges of proving this my will and to pay the surplus after payment of such debts and legacies as aforesaid into the hands of my said trustees for the purpose of carrying on the said business upon the trusts herin afterementioned and I direct that the reciept of my said trustees shall be a good discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the said estates and premises and whereas my said brother William Sharpe is a partner with me in the business of a Banker or money taker carried on by us in Smithfield aforesaid but the capital in the said business together with the house in Smithfield aforesaid where the said business is carried on belongs exclusively to me my will and mind therefore is that the said business should be carried on at the said house in Smithfield aforesaid under the discretion of my said trustees and direct that my said brother William shall have the superintendance and management thereof so long as he shall think fit to remain in the same and that he do acount with my other trustees for one half part of the gains and profits of the said concern to be applied by them in manner hereinafter directed and that he retain the other moiety of the gains and profits of the said concern for his own use and benefit and I direct that my said brother shall have the use of the said house for his residence rent and tax free the same to be born and paid out of the said partnership business but paying for the fixtures in the said house at a fair valuation and my will and mind is and I hereby direct my said trustees or the survivor of them ot the hiers administrators or assigns of such survivor after payment of my said debts and legacies as aforesaid to pay the surplus of the monies to arise by such sale and of my debts and personal estate into the said banking concern for the [...?...] of the capital thereof and for the increase of the business and gains and profits thereof and I direct that my said brother allow interest at the rate of five percent for one moiety of all such capital as may from time to time be brought into the said concern by [...?...] or my said trustees and I direct that my said wife shall be at liberty to draw upon the said banking concern for so much of my half part of the gains and profits of the said business as my said trustees shall think fit for the maintenance of herself and for the support maintenance and education of my children until they arrive at the age of 21 years and when and so soon as any one of my said children being a son or sons shall attain that age or being a daughter or daughters shall attain 21 or bee married after that age then I direct my said trustees or the survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor to pay unto such child or children attaining such ages or days of marriage as aforesaid one equal part or share of the capital which may then be in the said concern for his or her own use and benefit such share to be reckoned and computed according to the number of children including my said wife for one share, that may happen to be living at the time of such child or children attaining 21 or days of marriage as aforesaid not exceeding £1000 but in case the capital will not admit of such child taking so large a sum then only a sum in proportion to such childs share of the said capital and in case my said brother William Sharpe shall die or be desirous of quitting the said concern business before my son Daniel Sharpe shall attain the age of 21 years then I direct my other trustees to carry out the said business in such and the same manner and apply the profits in increase of the capital as aforesaid until my said son shall attain the said age of 21 years and in case my said son shall not be competent or shall not choose to carry out the said business upon the terms aforesaid then I direct my trustees or the survivor of them or their executors or administrators of such survivor to sell and dispose of my said freehold house in Smithfield aforesaid and the trade and business carried on therein by public sale or private contract for the best price that may be gotten for the same and divide the money to arise by such sale unto and equally amongst my said wife and all my children that shall be then living and the children of such of them as shall be then [...?...] [...?...] of my said children accounting for the sums they may have recieved on their comming of age as aforesaid and in case any of my said should be under age then I direct my said trustees to lay out and invest the share of such child in the public stocks or funds until such child shall attain the said age of twenty one years being a son or attaining that age or day of marriage being a daughter or daughters and to pay the interest dividends and proceeds thereof or so much thereof as shall be necessary for the maintenance and education of such child or children to them respectively on their attaining the said ages or days of marriage as aforesaid respectively and in case my said wife Jane Ann Mary Sharpe shall marry surviving the minority of any of my said children or surviving the time of any of my said daughters shall remain unmarried then I direct my said trustees to pay to her one fifth part of my moiety of the gains and profits of the said business for her own sole and seperate use and benefit and not be liable to the debts control or engagements of her said husband or any future husband and her reciept alone wether married or sole shall be a good discharge to my said trustees for the same and I nominate my said wife the said William Sharpe my brother and the said Daniel Sant joint executors and trustees of this my will and do declare this to be my last Will and Testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty third day of December one thousand eight hundred and twelve Daniel Sharpe [signed & seal] signed sealed published and declared by the said Daniel Sharpe 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 witnesses hereto Catherine Stephens Sharpe Smithfield [signed] John Turpin Clerk to Daniel Sharpe Smithfield [signed] William [...?...] [...?...] 25 Bartletts Buildings [signed]
Proved at London 22nd April 1813 before the worshipful John Daubeny Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oaths of William Sharpe and Daniel Sant two of the executors to whom administration was granted being sworn to administer power reserved to Jane Ann Mary Sharpe widow the relict and other executor.
Proved at London 2nd March 1825 before the worshipful John Daubeny Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oath of Jane Ann Mary Sharpe widow the relict the other executor to whom administration was granted having been first sworn duly to administer.
Daniel Sharpe's wife was Jane Ann Mary Steer, only their son Daniel is mentioned by name in this will, for the other children see the will of Jane Ann Mary Sharpe (nee Steer) Catherine Stephens Sharpe was the wife of Daniels brother William Sharpe, William was baptised William Troutbeck Sharpe, Daniel & William were the children of William Sharpe & Sarah Troutbeck.