Will of Robert Willis of Hanham, 1 Aug 1862

In the Name of God, Amen.

I, Robert Willis of the Hamlet of Hanham in the Parish of Bitton in the County of Gloucester, Yeoman, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, thanks be to God for the same and knowing the frailty of this mortal life and the certainty of death and being therefore desirous to settle my worldly affairs do make and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament in manner following, that is to say.

I give, devise and bequeath to unto my brother William Willis and Edward Olds of Hanham all these two messuages or tenements known or distinguished by the name of Mould House situated in Hanham, with the grounds and appertenances thereto belonging, which premises I purchased of Francis Earl and are now in my occupation.

And also that my one sixth part or share of and in the property called or known by the name of Thomas Willis’s Estate adjoining Hanham Common consisting of land and nine messuages or tenements with the appertenances, three of such tenements adjoining the land of the common in occupation of Henry Neads, William Lovel, and Joseph Bader and the six other tenements situate at a place called the Batch in the occupation of Joseph Horwood, Samuel Willis, William Bruton, James Flair, Aron Leonard and John Nurse as tenants.

I also give, devise and bequeath to my said Trustees, William Willis and Edward Olds, all that my one third or other part share of and in the beforementioned property known as Thomas Willis’s Estate which I purchased of John Salmon and alls of.

And also one third part in a messuage or tenament sittuat in Lewellins Court in the Parish of St Paul’s Bristol in the occupation of James Clash.

I also give, devise and bequeath to said Trustees, all that my one sixth part or share of and in eight messuages or tenements with the appertenances thereof situated in Colege Street and Brandon Street in the City of Bristol, five in College Street numbers 49, 50, 51, 52 and 53, three in Brandon Street Nos. 1, 2, 3.

I also give, devise to my said Trustees all those three messuages or tenements with the appertenances situate in Keynsham in the County Somerset now in the occupation of James Olds, John Linsey and Henry Wobco and also two closes of Ground situate in the Parish of Keynsham, the one Arrabel called the Tying in Keynsham Field and the other Pasture called Rowleses adjoining a field belonging to Esq. Ling called Hollinors now in the occupation of William Rudle as tenant.

Also give and devise to my said Trustees all those two messuages and tennaments situated near the batch in the occupation of Mary Cox and John Lear to hold the same and all and singular the before devised property unto the said William Willis and Edward Olds their Heirs, Executors and Administrators for ever, for all my estate term and interest therein according to the tenure of the property upon trust nevertheless that they do and shall receive and pay to or otherwise permit and suffer my Daughter Dinah Nurse to receive and take the Rents, Issues and Profits of the said devised property.

Also two messuages or tennaments near the church on Jeffris Hill in the occupation of Joseph Hatherly and James Clark as tenants. Also one piece of ground called part of Sidgeston in the Hamlet of Oldand in the occupation of John Jones.

And I give, devise and bequeath all this above mentioned property to my said daughter and for sole and exclusive use and benefit independent of her present, any future husband, and from home after her decease I will and direct that my trustee do and shall receive and jointly with the of the children apply such rents and profits to and for the maintenance and breeding up of all and every the children of my said daughter, shares and proportions as they shall jointly think proper otherwise equally between them without being accountable to such children for apportionement or application of the same.

And when the youngest of the children of my said daughter shall attain the age of twenty and one years then I give, devise and bequeath all the before mentioned property devised upon trust as aforesaid to such children if more than one otherwise to such only child to hold the same to them, him or her if more than one as tenants common and not as joint tenants and their, his or her heirs, administrators for ever or for all term Estate and interest therein according to tenure or nature of the property.

But in case of the decease of the survivor of such Children before he or they shall have attained the age of twenty and one years or be married. And leaving no issue provided always that notwithstanding the aforesaid devise and bequeath it is my will and I hereby direct that in case my said Daughter should die during the lifetime of her present husband leaving no issue her surviving my said Trustees and shall pay out of the rents received by them the yearly sum of twenty pounds to my son in law Samuel Nurse to home. I give, bequeath the same for his life.

I also give and devise to the William Willis and Edward Olds and their heirs, all those severally belonging to hold the same to my said Trustees and their heirs upon trust, nevertheless, that they do and shall at the request of my daughter or at their own discretion.

In the first instance of request to payment of all my debts, demands or expenses, due to or which may be incurred after my decease. I give to my son in law Samuel Nurse the sum of one shilling and no more and as the money due to me from Bethea or any other person and also to all the rest and residue of Goods and Chattels not heretofore stock, monies, property and affects of every kind and description not heretofore bequeathed and of which I may be possessed at the time of my decease, I give and bequeath the same to my Daughter to and for her own sole and exclusive use and benefit, subject to the payment of debts, funeral expenses, the charg of proving my Will and other incidental expenses.

NB. As I do give the whole of the above mentioned to my Daughter and husbands for and during their natural life and after to all their children share and share alike and that none of this said property shall neither be sold nor mortgaged and if my daughter and her husband should die before the children shall attain the age of twenty one years then I give to my said trustees William Willis and Edward Olds power to take the rents and to see the said children taken care of until they attain to the age of twenty and one years and the children to satisfy for as Trouble and expenses and all my daughters shall die and leave no issue then I give the same property to my brother William Willis and family share and share alike.

And I hereby appoint my Daughter, Dinah Nurse and the said William Willis and Edward Olds, Executrix and Executors of this my will.

In witness, thereof I have hereunto subscribed my name as well as to three preceding sheets this first day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty two.

Robert Willis

Signed by the testator Robert Willis and published as his will in our presence who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.

William F. Jones
George Weston

Proved at Bristol the Nineteenth day of June 1863 by the oath of Dinah Nurse (wife of Samuel Nurse, Daughter of the deceased) and one of the Executors to whom Administration was granted – William Willis and Edward Olds the other Executors having renounced Probate.

£200.

Late of Bitton in the County of Gloucester, who died at Bitton, 28th November 1862. Charles Clarke, District Registrar.