The Will of Matilda Benton of Middlesex (Dated 1843)
All names are in bold or large script for ease of reference.
This is the last Will and Testament of me Matilda Benton of No. 10 Portman Place Edgeware Road in the County of Middlesex Widow of Mr. George Charles Benton deceased first I direct that all my just debts funeral and testamentory expenses be paid and satisfied by my executors hereinafter named I give and bequeath the sum of three hundred pounds three and a half per cent Bank annuities unto and equally between the six children of Henry Augustus Walker Clerk in the Office of Woods Whitehall namely Augusta Sophia Elizabeth Martha Walker Maria Eleanor Walker Laura Agatha Walker Henrietta Angelina Walker Henry Augustus Walker and Clara Angelina Walker the shares of such children to be paid to them on their attaining their respective ages of twenty one years and in case any or either of the said Children shall die before his her or their share or shares shall become payable then I give and bequeath the share or shares of his her or them so dying to the survivor or survivors of the said Children equally I give and bequeath the sum of One Hundred and fifty pounds like three and a half per cent Bank Annuities unto and equally between the Children of my Niece Clara Conolly namely Clara Rose Conolly Constance Montgomery Conolly and Georgiana Kate Conolly the shares of such Children to be paid to them on their attaining their respective ages of twenty one years and in case any or either of the said Children shall die before his her or their share or shares shall become payable then I give and bequeath the share or shares of him her or them so dying to the survivor or survivors of the said Children equally I give and bequeath to the said Clara Conolly Charlotte George of [...?...] Place Southampton Spinster and Sarah Wood now living with me as Servant the sum of fifty pounds apiece of like three and a half per cent Bank Annuities and I direct that the said six last mentioned legacies shall be transfered to the several legatees as soon as conveiniently may be after my decease I give and bequeath to Matilda Lowden of Fleet Street London Spinster the sum of fifty pounds like three and a half per cent Bank Annuities to be paid or transfered to her on her attaining her age of twenty one years I give and bequeath to Georgiana Fairman of Grove Cottage Peckham Spinster the like sum of fifty pounds like three and a half per cent Bank Annuities to be paid or transfered to her on her attaining her age of twenty one years I give and bequeath to Edward Lowther Benton (son of Edward Benton of Tottenham Court Road Pawnbroker) the like sum of Fifty pounds like three and a half per cent Bank Annuities to be paid or transfered to him on his attaining his age of twenty one years and in case of his death before he shall attain that age then I give and bequeath the last mentioned legacy to his Brother Alfred Moore Benton to be paid or transfered to him on his attaining his age of twenty one years And I further direct that the whole of the before mentioned legacies shall be paid and discharged out of the sum of Seven Hundred and Seventy Six pounds fouteen shillings and eight pence three and a half per cent Bank Annuities now standing in my name or in the name of John Nicholas Fairman as my trustee in the Books of the Bank of England All the rest residue and remainder of my Estate and Effects both real and personal I give and bequeath unto the said Henry Augustus Walker his hiers Executors and administrators to and for his and their own use and benefit absolutely And I appoint the said Henry Augustus Walker and the aforesaid John Nicholas Fairman Executors of this my Will In Witness whereof I the said Matilda Benton have to this my last Will and Testament written upon two sheets of paper set my hand and seal the nineteenth day of April One thousand eight hundred and forty three M. Ben [signed ] by the testatarix Matilda Benton and acknowledged by her to be her last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time and subscribed by us in the presence of the said tetatarix and of each other Witness John Laws 7 Church St. Edgware Road [signed ] John Hiscock No. 1 Church St. Edgware Road [signed] Frances Elizabeth Sampson 1 Philpott Terrace [signed]
Appeared Personally John Laws of No. 7 Church Street Edgware Road in the County of Middlesex Chemist and made oath that he is one of the subscribed witnesses to the last Will and Testament of Matilda Benton late of Portman Place Edgware Road in the said County of Middlesex Widow deceased bearing date the nineteenth day of April one thousand eight hundred and forty three and now hereunto annexed And he further made Oath that having now particularly referred to the imperfect signature of the said deceased written or made at the foot or end of the said Will thus "M. Ben" this Deponant saith that at the time of the execution of the said Will the said deceased was confined to her Bed by illness and having made the attempt to sign her name she was from great weakness unable to complete the same but that she [...?...] and intended such attempt at signing her name as and for her signature to the said Will John Laws the 15th day of July 1843 [signed] the said John Laws was duly sworn to the truth of this Affidavit Before me A. T. Bayford Sur. [signed] Jn. Wills Not. Pub. [signed]
Proved at London the 25th July 1843 before the Worshipful Frederick Thomas Pratt Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the Oath of Henry Augustus Walker one of the Executors to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn duly to administer Power reserved of making the like Grant to John Nicholas Fairman the other Executor when he shall apply for the same.
Matilda (nee Knight) was the second wife of George Charles Benton who's will can also be found on this site, they had no known children together.