
Will of
Solomon Grosvenor Shakespeare
| This is the last Will and Testament of
me Solomon Grosvenor Shakespear of Hampton in Arden in the County of Warwick Gentleman I nominate and appoint my son William Grosvenor Shakespear and John Webb of the City of Coventry solicitors Clerk Executors and my Wife Mary Shakespear Executrix of this my Will I give and bequeath to my said Wife during the term of her natural life one annuity or clear yearly rent charge or sum of Ninety pounds to be issuing and payable out of and I charge the same upon my Capital messuage or tenement known by the name of Birchley Hall and the outbuildings Yards Gardens Orchards Closes pieces or parcels of land or Ground Allotments of Land Hereditaments and premises thereunto adjoining and belonging including also the Allotment of Land purchased by my late Father of the Commissioner under the Allesley Inclosure Act and devised to me by the last Will and Testament of my late Sister Mary Shakespear deceased And also my Coppice Wood Spring or Wood Ground containing fifteen acres one rood and twenty three perches known by the name of Elkins Wood with the appurtenances which said Capital messuage Lands Wood Ground hereditaments and premises are situate lying and being in the several parishes of Fillongley Allesley and Meriden in the said County of Warwick and are now in the tenures or occupations of Thomas Barker and myself And I direct that the said annuity or yearly rent charge shall be paid to my said Wife by four equal quarterly payments on the twenty fifth day of March the twenty fourth day of June the twenty ninth day of September and the twenty first day of December in each year the first payment to be made on such of the said days as shall first happen next after my decease Also I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Shakespear if he shall be living at the decease of my said Wife during the remainder of his life one annuity or clear yearly rent charge or sum of twenty pounds to be issuing and payable out of And I charge the same upon my said Capital messuage Lands Wood Ground hereditaments and premises and direct that the same shall be paid to him by two equal half yearly payments on the twenty fifth 1 day of March and the twenty ninth day of September in each year the first payment to be made on such of these days as shall first happen next after the decease of my said Wife and Subject to the said annuities or such of them as for the time being shall be payable I give and devise my said Capital messuage Lands Wood ground hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances unto the said William Grosvenor Shakespear and John Webb and their heirs during the natural life of my daughter Jane Shakespear Upon trust to let and set the same and receive the rents and profits thereof and pay the said rents and profits (but not by way of anticipation) to my said daughter during the term of her natural life or otherwise authorise and permit and suffer my said daughter to receive such rents and profits for her sole and separate use and benefit independent and free from the Control of any husband and her receipts alone shall be good discharges for the same and from and after the decease of my said daughter I give and devise my said Capital messuage Lands Wood Ground hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances unto and to the use of the Child if only one wholly or to all the Children if more than one equally of my said daughter Jane Shakespear his her or their heirs and assigns for ever and if more than one to take as tenants in common and not as joint tenants But in case my said daughter Jane shall depart this life without bearing any such Child or Children surviving her I give and devise my said Capital messuage Lands Wood Ground hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances unto and to the use of such person or persons for such Estate or Estates Interest or Interests as my said daughter shall in and by her last Will and testament or by any Codicil thereto to be duly signed and attested direct limit or appoint give or devise and for want of any such direction limitation or appointment gift or devise I give and devise my said Capital messuage Lands Woods Grounds hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances unto and to the use of my said Son William Grosvenor Shakespear his heirs and 2 assigns for ever I give and devise my messuage or tenement outbuildings Yards Gardens Orchards Closes pieces or parcels of land of Ground hereditaments and premises thereunto adjoining and belonging known as Rowes Farm situate lying and being in the Parish of Fillongley aforesaid now in the occupation of Charles Camwell unto and to the use of my Son Thomas Shakespear and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life and from and after his decease I give and devise the said last mentioned messuage or tenement outbuildings yards Gardens Orchards Closes pieces or parcels of Land or Ground hereditaments and premises unto the Widow of my said Son otherwise if he shall leave one for and during the term of her natural life and from and after the decease of my said Son Thomas or of his Widow as the Case may be I give and devise the said last mentioned messuage or tenements outbuildings Yards Gardens Orchards Closes pieces or parcels of Land or Ground hereditaments and premises unto and to the use of the Child if only one wholly or to all the Children if more than one Equally of my said Son Thomas his her or their heirs and assigns for ever and if more than one to take as tenants in common and not as joint tenants But in case my said Son Thomas shall depart this life without leaving any Children or a child surviving him I give and devise my said last mentioned messuage or tenement outbuildings yards Gardens Orchards Closes pieces or parcels of land or Ground hereditaments and premises unto my said Son William Grosvenor Shakespear his heirs and assigns for ever I give and devise my messuage or tenement outbuildings yards Gardens Orchards Closes pieces or parcels of land or Ground hereditaments and premises thereunto adjoining and belonging known as Tippers Farm situate lying and being in the Parish of Fillongley aforesaid now in the occupation of Willian Taylor unto and to the use of my said Son William Grosvenor Shakespear his heirs and assigns for ever I give and devise my Copyhold Closes pieces or parcels of land or Ground hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances situate lying and being in the Manor 3 and Hamlet of Balsal in the Parish of Hampton in Arden in the said County of Warwick now in the occupation of Isaac Watson which I purchased under a decree of the Court of Chancery made in a cause of "Woodcock against Couchman" unto and to the use of my said son Willaim Grosvenor Shakespear and the said John Webb their heirs and assigns Upon trust that they or the survivor of them or his heirs or assigns do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease sell and dispose of the said Closes pieces or parcels of land or Ground hereditaments and premises together or in parcels by public Auction or private Contract and Surrender or assure the sums to the purchaser or purchasers thereof and receive the money to arise by Sale thereof and therewith in the first place pay and discharge all expenses attendant upon such Sale or Sales in the next place to pay to William Smith of the Parish of Lea Marston in the said County of Warwick the sum of Seven hundred pounds which I borrowed of him upon Bond and deposit of the Title Deeds relating to the Allotment of land hereinbefore mentioned to have been devised to me by my said Sister for the purpose of establishing my Sons in business in Hampton in Arden aforesaid and all interest for the same and to pay the residue to my said Sons in equal proportions And I declare that the receipt or receipts to be given by the said William Grosvenor Shakespear and John Webb or the survivor of them his heirs and assigns for the purchase money or monies for which my said Closes pieces or parcels of Land or Ground hereditaments and premises shall be sold shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers thereof and who shall not be bound to see to the application of such purchase money or monies accountable for the same or any part thereof Provided always that if it shall happen that the money to arise from the Sale of my said Copyhold Closes pieces or parcels of land or Ground hereditaments and premises shall not be sufficient to pay the Costs of Sale and the said sum of seven hundred pounds and interest I charge 4 the deficiency upon the rents to arise from the hereditaments and premises devised to my said Sons respectively until they shall realise such deficiency but I direct that such deficiency shall be borne by my said Sons in equal proportions I give and bequeath to the said John Webb the sum of Nineteen pounds Nineteen shillings as a compensation for the trouble he will have as a trustee and Executor of my Will And I give and bequeath all my household Goods and furniture plate linen China Housekeeping Stores and provisions and my wearing apparel unto my said Wife for her own absolute use and benefit And I give and bequeath all the residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever unto my said Wife and daughter and my said Sons in equal shares and proportions And if it shall happen that the annuities herein before bequeathed to my said Wife and my said Son Thomas or either of them shall be in arrear for the space of twenty eight days after any day on which they ought to be respectively paid I give to my said Wife and Son full power and authority to recover the said annuities or such of them as may be in arrear in such and the same manner and with such remedies as are given to Landlords for recovery of rent under a Lease or on common demise And I declare that the provision hereby by me made for my said Wife shall be accepted by her in lieu and satisfaction of all dower or thirds to which she has or may become entitled in any freehold or Copyhold lands tenements or hereditaments of which I have been now are or may hereafter become seized I give and devise all real Estates vested in me as Mortgagee or Trustee to the said William Grosvenor Shakespear and John Webb their heirs and assigns subject to the trusts and equities affecting the same respectively And I do hereby declare that the receipt or receipts of the Executors and Executrix and the Trustees appointed by this my Will and of the Trustee or Trustees for the time being of my Will for any sum or sums of money payable to them her or him by virtue of the trusts thereof shall be a sufficient and 5 effectual discharge for the same respectively or so much thereof respectively as in such receipt or receipts shall be expressed or acknowledged to be received And that the person or persons to whom the same shall be given his her or their heirs Executors administrators or assigns shall not afterwards be answerable or accountable for any losses or misapplication or nonapplication thereof Provided always and I do hereby declare that if the Trustees appointed by this my Will or to be appointed under the present provision or either of them shall die or be desirous of being discharged from or refuse or decline or be incapable to act in the trusts hereby in them reposed before the same shall be fully executed then and in every such Case it shall and may be lawful for the surviving or continuing Trustee or the executors or administrators of such surviving trustee by any deed or deeds to be by them or him or her duly executed from time to time to nominate and appoint any fit person or persons to be a Trustee or Trustees in the room or place of the Trustee or Trustees so dying or desiring to be discharged or becoming unwilling or incapable to act as aforesaid And that when and so often as any new Trustee shall be nominated and appointed as aforesaid all the trust estates monies and premises or such of them as shall then be subject to the trusts and provisions of my Will which shall have been vested in such trustees or trustee so dying desiring to be discharged or becoming unwilling or incapable to act as aforesaid shall thereupon with all convenient speed be conveyed assigned and transferred (shall thereupon) so and in such manner as that the same shall and may be legally and effectively vested in the person or persons so to be appointed as aforesaid either solely or jointly with the surviving or continuing trustees or trustee as occasion shall require To the uses upon and for the trusts intents and purposes hereinbefore respectively expressed and declared or such of them as shall then be subsisting undetermined and Capable of taking effect and the person or persons so 6 to be appointed as aforesaid shall have and be entitled to exercise the same powers and authorities as if he she or they had been appointed a trustee or trustees of this my Will I empower my Executors and Executrix and the trustee or trustees for the time being of my Will to compound or allow time for payment of any debt or debts due to my Estate and to satisfy all demands against my Estate whether supported by strictly legal evidence or not and to settle all accounts between me and any person or persons on such terms as my said Executors and Executrix and trustees or trustee shall in their her or his discretion think expedient and to refer any matters in difference relating to my affairs to arbitration I hereby further declare that the Executors and Executrix and the trustees of my Will hereby appointed or to be appointed as aforesaid and each of them and each and every of their heirs executors and administrators shall be charged and chargeable for such monies only as they shall actually receive by virtue of the trusts hereby in them reposed notwithstanding their or any of their giving or joining in giving any receipt or receipts for the sake of Conformity And I direct that none of them shall be answerable for any Banker or Broker with whom any of the trust monies and premises shall be placed for safe custody or for any default or neglect of the other or others of them or for involuntary losses And also that it shall and may be lawful for them with and out of the monies which shall come to their respective hands by virtue of the trusts of my Will to retain and reimburse themselves respectively and also to allow to each other all costs charges and expenses and fees to Counsel for advice as they or any of them shall or may sustain expend or disburse in or about the execution of the trusts of my Will or in relation thereto And I revoke all former Wills by me made and declare this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Solomon Grosvenor Shakespear have to this and the five preceding sheets of this my Will set my hand the first day of November One Thousand Eight hundred and 7 Sixty one ------------(signed)------------ This and the five preceding sheets were signed by the said Testator Solomon Grosvenor Shakespear as --- for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto the words between the Eighteenth and nineteenth lines on the fourth sheet having been first interlined (signed) George Frances Priest Articled Clerk (signed) James Whittindale Clerk to messrs Woodcock Priest and Woodcock Solicitors Coventry Proved at Birmingham on the 25th day of October 1866 by the Oaths of William Grosvenor Shakespear the Son of the deceased John Webb and Mary Shakespear Widow the relict of the deceased the Executors to whom Administration was Granted The Testator Solomon Grosvenor Shakespeare (otherwise Shakespear) was late of Hampton in Arden in the County of Warwick Gentleman ----- died on the 17th day of April 1866 at Hampton in Arden aforesaid Effects under £600 Extracted by S & H S Chim Proctors Birmingham |
Transcript supplied by Chris Brand