Will of Francis Fane Taylor of Bradford Leigh, 7 Jul 1867

This is the last will and testament of me Francis Fane Taylor of Bradford Leigh in the parish of Bradford in the county of Wilts Farmer.

First I direct all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid by my executors hereinafter named out of my personal estate.

I give and bequeath all my household furniture and linen to my dear wife Mary Taylor . I give and bequeath all my farming stock and all and every the agricultural and dairy implements and utensils whatsoever which shall be in or about my farm at Bradford Leigh aforesaid to my said wife Mary Taylor for her life and at her decease I give the same to my son Charles Taylor subject to the payment thereout by him of the following legacies namely

I give to my son Charles Taylor the sum of Fifty Pounds.

I give to my brother Charles Taylor of Quidhampton in the Count of Wilts and to my sister Harriet the wife of William Taylor of Winsor near Southampton and to my sister Eliza Coles of the same place widow the sum of two pounds each to buy them mourning.

But if at the death of my said wife Mary Taylor my said son Charles should prefer giving up the said farm at Bradford Leigh and selling the said farming stock and implements and utensils then the above legacies are to be paid out of such sale and the remainder (if any) after paying the necessary expenses of such a sale to be for the use of my said son Charles . I give devise and bequeath all those of mine freehold tenements at Winsley in the parish of Bradford in the county of Wilts with the gardens and appurtenances thereto belonging in the occupation of Mrs Strugnell and others unto and to the use of my three children Anne Jane the wife of Robert Nurse of the parish of Saint George in the county of Gloucester Maltster and Victualler Thomas Taylor of the aforesaid Butcher and the said Charles Taylor of Bradford Leigh aforesaid farmer their heirs, assigns in equal shares as tenants in common and my wish is that they either continue the same in their present state dividing the rents and profits thereof as they become due among them in the proportions aforesaid or that they as soon after my decease as they think fit they sell the same either together or in lots by public auction or private contract and after paying the expenses of such sale they divide the proceeds in manner aforesaid so that each of them the said Ann Jane Nurse, Thomas Taylor, and Charles Taylor or his her or their heirs executors or administrators take on third share thereof and in the case either of them the said Ann Jane Nurse, Thomas Taylor, and Charles Taylor shall die before me leaving a lawful child or children such child or children shall represent and take the place of his her or their deceased parent or parents as to the share or shares of such deceased parent or parents and if either of them the aforesaid Ann Jane Nurse, Thomas Taylor and Charles Taylor should die before me without having any lawful child or children then the share or shares of him her or them so dying to be divided equally between the survivors or survivor of them his her or their executors or administrators.

I give and devise all estates vested in me as trust or mortgage unto the said Robert Nurse subject to the equities effecting the same.

I nominate and appoint the said Robert Nurse together with my son Charles Taylor executors of this my will.

And as to all the rest residue and remainder of my real and personal estate of what nature kind or quality soever and wheresoever the same maybe situate I give devise and bequeath the same unto and equally between my said children Ann Jane Nurse the wife of the said Robert Nurse the said Thomas Taylor and Charles Taylor their heirs executors and assigns.

And lastly revoking all other wills by me at any time previously made I hereby declare this to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I the said testator have to this my last will and testament set my hand this seventh day of July in the year of our lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty Seven.

Signed

Francis Fane Taylor

Witnessed Sparks solicitor Bradford on Avon Wilts
James Hanks of Bradford on Avon Wilts gentleman

Proved at Salisbury 4th March 1868 by Robert Nurse and Francis Fane Taylor late of Bradford Leigh in the parish of Bradford in the county of Wilts farmer died 28th November 1867

Value under £450