John Morris of Scalford 1847 Will
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives PR/T/1847/134
This is the last Will and Testament of me John Morris of Scalford Lodge in the County of Leicester farmer and Grazier
I direct all my Just debts funeral and Testamentary Expences and Legacies and annuities to be fully paid
I Give devise and bequeath all my Messuages Cottages Closes Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Real Estate whatsoever situate in the Lordship of Scalford aforesaid or elsewhere within the Kingdom of England with their Appurtenances And also all my personal Estate and Effects of what nature or kind the same may be Unto my Son in Law George Hallam of Wykeham in the said County Farmer Thomas Ward yeoman and William Clark Auctioneer both of Melton Mowbray their heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns Upon trust to permit and suffer my Affectionate Wife Elizabeth Morris and my Son John Morris to occupy my said Estates and receive the profits arising from my personal Estate and apply the same for the space of two Years from my decease for the benefit of my said Wife and for the maintenance education and bringing up of all my Younger Children And from and at the End of two Years from my decease I dispose of my Real and personal Estate in manner hereinafter particularly mentioned
I Give unto my said Wife the legacy or sum of twenty pounds and also so much of my furniture as may be required to furnish two Rooms in a comfortable manner in the discretion of my said Trustees
And I Give and Devise unto my said Wife Elizabeth Morris One Annuity or Yearly sum of forty pounds clear of all taxes and other deductions whatsoever and which I will shall be paid half Yearly during her life on the sixth day of April and the eleventh day of October in every year the first payment thereof to be made at the end of two years of my decease
I Give to my Son Thomas Morris my double barrel Gun by “Webster” and my Mahogany portable Writing Desk
I Give and Bequeath unto my two daughters Ann Evans and Elizabeth Hallam the sum of five hundred pounds apiece to be paid to each of them at the death of my said Wife
I Give and Bequeath unto my daughter Jane Morris the sum of five hundred pounds which I will shall be paid to her at the end of one year from my decease
As to my Real Estate I Give and Devise All that messuage or tenement and farm house with the buildings and appurtenances thereto belonging And also the several closes or grounds inclosed hereinafter mentioned being part of my own farm and lands in my own occupation namely two closes called Middle Stendalls and Bottom Stendals as now fenced off containing twenty four acres and twenty perches Cross Hedge Close or House Close containing twelve acres three roods and thirty two perches Two closes called Blank and Sick Closes as now divided containing nineteen acres one rood and twenty perches The bottom Slates as now fences off in several parts or closes containing twenty four acres one rood and thirty perches and The Top Slates close now divided into three parts or closes and containing twenty acres one rood and thirty perches with their rights members and appurtenances Unto my Son John Morris his heirs and assigns for ever
I Give and Devise unto my said Son Thomas Morris his heirs and assigns for ever All those several closes or grounds inclosed lands and hereditaments being other part of my real estates and farm situate in the liberty of Scalford aforesaid adjoining the above lands known by the names and containing the several quantities hereinafter named be the same more or less namely The homestead two acres and thirty eight perches The two Bank Closes twenty acres, Little Bank six acres taken out of Stendal, The North Part of Stendal as now fenced off Ten Acres, Two Closes called the Brickyard Closes containing nineteen acres and an half and also a Close called the Mill Holme containing five acres
And I expressly subject and charge the said two estates so devised to my said two Sons John and Thomas Morris with the just and true payment of the several legacies and annuities hereinbefore and hereinafter given devised and bequeathed to be by them paid in equal shares to the several & respective Legatees and annuitants by virtue of this my Will
It is my express wish and desire that my two afflicted Sons William and Henry Morris shall live with my said two Sons John and Thomas Morris and be clothed supported and maintained by them equally in every respect And in case they should be required to leave my said Sons John and Thomas Morris Then I Give and Devise unto my said two Sons William Morris and Henry Morris Two Annuitys or clear yearly sums of thirty pounds apiece of lawful English Money which I will shall be paid quarterly during their joint lives into the proper hands of my said Trustees for the sole use and benefit of my said two afflicted sons to be paid on the sixth day of April the 24th day of June the 29th day of September and the 25th day of December in every year The first payment to be made immediately on my said Sons or either of them shall leave the residence of my said Sons John and Thomas Morris and go and reside elsewhere And I Give my said Trustees the same power of enforcing payment of the said two Annuities or either of them as the case may be as Landlords have for obtaining rent in arrear and apply the same for the sole benefit of my said two afflicted Sons equally
I Give and Devise unto my Uncle William Marriott of Leicester An Annuity or yearly sum of twenty five pounds for and during the term of his natural life to be paid half yearly on the 6th day of April and the eleventh day of October in every year the first payment to be made on such of the said days as shall first happen after my death
And with regard to my Personal Effects at the end of two years from my decease I direct the same to be then valued by two respectable persons and divided into two equal parts or shares One Moiety or equal half part of which I Give to my said Son John Morris and the other Moiety or equal half part I Give to my said Son Thomas Morris the shares to each shall be determined by such Valuers and in case they do not agree then they shall appoint a Referee whose decision shall be final and conclusive
And I do appoint my said three Trustees George Hallam Thomas Ward and William Clark joint Executors In Trust of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me made
And Lastly I declare that my said Trustees shall be at liberty out of the said Trust Monies and Premises to retain all necessary costs charges and expences they may be at or put to in executing the Trusts of this my Will and that neither of them shall be answerable for any Banker Broker or other person where such Trust monies may be invested or in whose hands the same may happen to be or for any loss thereto unless the same happen through his or their wilful neglect or default not one for the other but each for his own wilful acts deeds neglects and defaults only
In Witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this third day of December one thousand eight hundred and forty four
John Morris
Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Testator John Morris as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other set our hands as Witnesses to the due execution thereof
Sarah Clark
Langley Burton
I John Morris do declare this to be a Codicil to my Will written on the other part of this Sheet of Paper and direct the same to be taken as part thereof
I Give unto my daughter Jane Morris the further legacy of two hundred pounds in addition to the sum of five hundred pounds bequeathed in the said Will and I direct the same to be paid at the end of five years from my decease by my Son Thomas Morris and I charge the estate devised to him with the true payment thereof
And I declare that the several interlineations in my said Will were done before the execution thereof And do confirm the same in every other particular
As Witness my hand this 25th day of June 1846
John Morris
Witnesses to the signing by the said John Morris in his presence and in the presence of each other at the same time
Jane Glenn
John Roberts
16 February 1847 in the Court of the Commissary of the Bishop of Lincoln Langley Burton of Melton Mowbray confirmed that the various interlineations and other amendments in the will were all done before execution of the will
Same day and place John Roberts farmer of Scalford confirmed that he and Jane Glenn wife of John Glenn farmer of Eaton Lodge, Leicestershire were present at the execution of the Codicil