Will of Ann Lake

of Bapchild, Kent

I direct all my debts to be paid and in order to an equal distribution of my property among my children I give and bequeath All the Property of which I may be possessed at the time of my death to my brother in law John Lake of Radfield in Bapchild aforesaid Gentleman and my sons George, John and Robert and the survivors and survivor of them

Upon trust to divide the same into as many equal parts or shares as I may have children who survive me or who shall have died before me leaving issue
and Upon trust to pay and make over one of such parts to each of my sons who may survive me and to the issue in equal shares of such one or more of them as may have died in my lifetime leaving issue such issue of my said sons taking the share of and representing their respective parent

And Upon trust to stand possessed of one respectively of the remaining parts upon such trusts for the benefit of each respectively of my daughters Mary Cobb, Ann Knight, Jane Lake and Charlotte Rammell and their child and children and others in remainder as are in and by the last will and testament of my said late husband declared concerning the sum of four thousand pounds thereby bequeathed in trust for each of my said daughters respectively and her respective issue and with such and the like powers and provisoes as are in the said Will declared concerning each of the said sums of four thousand pounds and so that the share of each daughter of and in my property shall be added to the property provided or her by my late husband’s will and in all respects be subject to the same trusts and powers

Provided always and I give the same power to appoint a new trustee or trustees and the same power or authority to retain the interest of the share intended for my daughters Mary and Ann and to advance money for issue as are given by the will of my said late husband and to the same extent as if I had added the same powers and authority to this my will

And I nominate and appoint my said brother in law [John Lake] and my said sons George, John and Robert joint Executors of this my will and declare that they shall not be answerable for involuntary losses and may deduct their respective costs and expences in the execution of the aforesaid trusts including professional charges of my said son John

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the _____ day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six
Ann Lake

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Ann Lake the testatrix as and for her last will and testament in the presence of us who at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto
Willm. Lake Cobham, Kent - Richd. Denne Rodmersham, Kent

In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
In the Goods of Ann Lake, Widow, deceased

Appeared Personally John Lake of Lincolns Inn in the County of Middlesex Gentleman and made oath that he is the son and one of the Executors named in the last will and testament bearing date the ______ day of September 1836 and now hereunto annexed of Ann Lake late of Wood Street in the Parish of Bapchild in the County of Kent widow deceased; that he was professionally employed in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty six by the said deceased to prepare her will which was accordingly done in draft in the month of September of that year and engrossed for execution on the seventeenth day of that months as appears by a memorandum endorsed on the said draft
And he further made oath that the execution of the said will was delayed until this appearer should go into Kent which he was then expecting daily to be able to do but which journey was delayed from various circumstances until the twenty second day of October then next following when the appearer paid a visit to his said Mother the deceased and returned to London therefrom on Tuesday the twenty fifth day of the said month of October and that speaking at this distance of time from his recollection he has no doubt and verily believes that the said will as executed by the said deceased either on the twenty second, twenty third or twenty fourth of the said month of October in the presence of this appeare and William Lake and Richard Denne the two attesting witnesses thereto but which of the said days in particular he is quite unable to depose having made no memorandum in respect thereto

And he further made oath that he has enquired of the said two attesting Witnesses if they have any recollection of the day on which the said will was executed and that they have both informed him that they are wholly ignorant in that respect and have no means of recalling the time to their recollection And he further made oath that the said Will was recognized by the said deceased within in a few days of her decease and was found after her death in a drawer where she was accustomed to keep her papers and articles of value
And lastly that the said deceased would not have executed any will without first consulting him the appearer and that the said will is the last will and testament of his said mother the deceased
John Lake

On the 18th day of June 1844 the said John Lake was duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit before me
Herbert Penner Surr. [Surrogate] Present Wm. Abbot Snr. Not Pub.

In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
In the Goods of Ann Lake Widow deceased

Appeared Personally John Lake of Lincolns Inn in the County of Middlesex Gentleman and made oath that he is jointly with his Uncle John Lake and his brothers George Lake and Robert Lake one of the Executors named in the last will and testament now hereunto annexed of his mother Ann Lake of Wood Street in the Parish of Bapchild in the County of Kent widow deceased by which will the testatrix has amongst other things given and bequeathed to him the appearer and the said John Lake, George Lake and Robert Lake a certain portion of the residuary estate and effects
Upon trust to stand possessed thereof upon such trusts for the benefit of each respectively of her daughters Mary Cobb, Ann Knight, Jane Lake and Charlotte Rammell and their child and children and others in remainder as are in and by the last will and testament of her husband William Lake deceased declared concerning the sum of four thousand pounds thereby bequeathed In trust for the said daughters and their respective issue

And he further made oath that he the appearer and the said John Lake, George Lake and Robert Lake are the Executors named in the last will and testament of the said William Lake deceased the husband of the said testatrix and that as such Executors Probate of the said will of the said William Lake deceased was on the twenty sixth day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty five granted to them by authority of this Court and by reason thereof the trusts of the said will in respect of the said share of residue bequeathed to the said daughters of the said testatrix and their issue as aforesaid can be carried into due execution by this deponent and his said Co Executors
John Lake
On the 23rd day of July 1844 the said John Lake was duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit Before me
John Danberry Surr. [Surrogate] Present Wm. Abbot Snr. Not Pub.

Proved at London the 25th July 1844 before the Judge by the oaths of John Lake Esquire and George Lake, John Lake and Robert Lake Esquires the sons the Executors to whom Admon. was granted having been first sworn, to wit, the said John Lake and John Lake (the son) before the Worshipful Herbert Jamer?, the said George Lake before the Worshipful Sherrard Beaumont Burnaby and the said Robert Lake before the Worshipful John Dorney Harding respectively, Doctors of Laws and Surrogates, duly to administer.

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 20th October 2020

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