(Fleggburgh)

 (Fleggburgh)

Will of Francis Vickerman

Francis VICKERMAN owned Fairlea Mill (or its predecessor), Taylor Hill, Almondbury, Huddersfield and was the father of Enoch and Benjamin VICKERMAN.

On 15 March 1812 Francis VICKERMAN's mill at Taylor Hill was attacked by Luddites.   This was only 6 weeks before the Luddites murdered William HORSFALL at Crosland Moor.   It is thought that Francis VICKERMAN's  nephew (also Francis) was possibly the 'V' whose testimony helped convict some of the Luddites,  17 of whom were hanged at York in early 1813.    Read more about the Luddite attacks.

Having already given to my three sons, Joseph VICKERMAN, Enoch VICKERMAN and Benjamin VICKERMAN their shares of my property I propose to make some provision for my daughters and their children and for that purpose I give and devise unto my friend Joseph BATLEY of Armitage in South Crosland nr Huddersfield Dyer and my sons Joseph VICKERMAN and Enoch VICKERMAN all those nine dwelling houses with the outbuildings and gardens thereto respectively belonging called Spring Gardens situate near Lockwood in the parish of Almondbury and now or late in the occupations of John DYSON, Joseph SHAW, Benjamin SHIRES, [xxx] ROYSTON, Joseph ARMITAGE, Joseph ROBINSON, William WILSON, John LEECH and Joseph WOOD. Together with all the rights and privileges thereto belonging. To hold unto and to the use of the said Joseph BATLEY, Joseph VICKERMAN and Enoch VICKERMAN their heirs and assigned upon trust out of the rents thereof to keep the said premises in good and tenantable repair and then to pay to my daughter Elizabeth the wife of Emor DRAKE during her life for the use of herself and her children exclusively an annuity of fifty two pounds by two equal half yearly payments on the twenty fifth day of December and the twenty fourth day of June in every year. The first payment whereof shall commence and be made at such of the said days as shall first happen next after my decease. 

And upon further trust to pay the residue of the said rental unto my daughter Sarah the wife of Humphrey DYSON. And from and after the decease of my said daughter Elizabeth DRAKE upon further trust by mortgage or sale of the said premises (unless my daughter Sarah DYSON shall be prepared to pay the same as it becomes due) to raise and pay to the children of my said daughter Elizabeth DRAKE and when they severally attain twenty one an equal share of eight hundred pounds (which sum I hereby charge upon the said premises). And in case any one or more of them shall die under twenty one the share or shares of the child or children so dying shall be paid to the survivors or survivor of them. And I direct that until each child’s share of the said sum of eight hundred pounds shall be payable interest after the market sale of Interest of the day shall be paid and applied for the maintenance of such of the said child or children as shall not have received their shares. 

And subject to the before mentioned charges and to the powers and remedies hereby given to my said trustees for recovering and enforcing the same, I give and devise the said nine dwelling houses gardens hereditaments and premises unto and to the use of my said daughter Sarah DYSON her heirs and assigns for ever for her separate and exclusive use and not to be in any respect liable to the debts control or engagements of her present or any after taken husband. Provided that if it be deemed advisable so to do I do hereby empower my said trustees or the survivors or survivor of them his heirs or assigns to sell and dispose of all or any part of the said premises either by auction or private contract for the most money that can be reasonably obtained for the same or to take up money on mortgage thereof for the purpose of raising the said sum of eight hundred pounds. And in either case I empower them or the survivors or survivor of them his heirs and assigns to give sufficient and valid receipts and discharges for the purchase or mortgage money. And I declare that any such purchaser or mortgagee shall not be obliged to see to the application of the purchase or mortgage money or to inquire into the necessity or propriety of any such sale or mortgage.

I give and bequeath all such parts of my household furniture as were not included in my wife’s marriage settlement and also the sum of six hundred pounds owing to me on the Promissory note of my son Joseph VICKERMAN unto the said Joseph BATLEY, Joseph VICKERMAN and Enoch VICKERMAN upon trust to accumulate the interest thereof until the oldest of the children of my daughter Hannah BERRY shall attain twenty one and then upon trust to pay to such eldest child his or her equal share of the said sum and the accumulated interest thereon and so in like manner as each of the said children shall attain twenty one. But in case any one or more of them shall die under twenty one the share or shares of principal and interest of the child or children so dying shall be paid to the survivors or survivor of them. And if only one surviving child then the whole to that surviving child.

I give and devise unto the said Joseph BATLEY, Joseph VICKERMAN and Enoch VICKERMAN all such estates as are vested in me upon any trust to hold the same to them their heirs and assigns upon the several trusts which may be then subsisting relative thereto. I appoint the said Joseph BATLEY, Joseph VICKERMAN and Enoch VICKERMAN executors of this my will. In witness whereof I have hereunto to this first sheet hereof set my hand and to this last sheet my hand and seal this thirteenth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty three

I do hereby certify, that on the eleventh day of February in the year of our Lord 1834, Joseph BATLEY of Armitage in the Parish of Almondbury, in the county of York, Dyer; Joseph VICKERMAN of Parkhouse in the Parish of Almondbury aforesaid, Merchant, and Enoch VICKERMAN, Steps Mill in the Parish of Almondbury, aforesaid, Merchant, the Executors named in this the last Will and Testament of Francis VICKERMAN late of Taylor Hill in the Parish of Almondbury aforesaid, in the diocese of York, Gentleman deceased, were sworn well and truly to execute and perform the same; and that the whole of the goods, chattels, and credits of the said deceased, within the diocese of York, do not amount in value to the sum of eight hundred pounds.