Will of George Ashdown

of Otford, Kent

I give and bequeath all my household goods and furniture plate linen china and other household effects and all fuel and provisions for housekeeping belonging to me at the time of my decease to my dear wife Selina Ashdown

And I give and bequeath all the Residue of my Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever unto my friends Thomas Blackman and Richard Hickmott both of Pratts Bottom in the Parish of Chelsfield in the said County
But nevertheless upon the trusts and for the purposes following (that is to say)
upon trust to sell and dispose of all such parts thereof as shall be in their nature saleable and to call in collect and receive the residue thereof and after payment thereout of all my just debts and my funeral and testamentary expences Upon trust to lay out and invest the surplus in the name or names of my said trustees or the survivor of them in and upon the Parliamentary stocks or Public Funds of Great Britain or on Government or Real Securities in England with power from time to time to alter vary and transpose the same for or into other stocks funds or securities of the like nature as they or he shall think fit
And upon trust to pay the dividends interest or other annual income thereof to my said wife during the term of her natural life for the maintenance and support of herself and my several children until they shall respectively be able to maintain themselves

And after the decease of my said wife Upon trust as to the principal of the said stocks funds and securities and the future income thereof for all and every or such one of my children being sons or a son who shall live to the age of twenty one years or being daughters or daughter shall attain that age or marry which shall first happen to be equally divided between and amongst them if more than one share and share alike as tenants in common and not as joint tenants
And I authorize my said trustees or the survivor of them after the decease of my said wife to apply all or any portion of the income to arise from the then vested or expectant share of any or either of my said children in for or towards their respective maintenance education and benefit
And I also authorize my said trustees or the survivor of them during the lifetime of my said wife with her consent in writing and after her decease at their or his sole discretion to apply any portion of the income to arise from the then vested or expectant share of any or either of my said children for the purpose of putting or placing him her or them out to learn any trade or business or otherwise for the purpose of his her or their advancement in the world

And I appoint the said Thomas Blackman and Richard Hickmott joint Executors of this my Will and I give devise and bequeath unto the said Thomas Blackman and Richard Hickmott their heris executors administrators and assigns all estates vested in me as trustee or mortgagee to be held by them upon the trusts and subject to the equity upon and subject to which the same respectively shall be held by me at the time of my decease

As Witness my hand this twelfth day of November 1852 The Mark X of George Ashdown

Avice Ashdown Riverhead _ William Hider Clerk to Mr Carnell Solicitor Sevenoaks

Proved at London 17 January 1853

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