EDMUND WOODHEAD
1750 - 1838

Farmer And Piece Maker of Plane Tree Farm,

Clough, Walsden

Thank you to Barbara Greenwood for transcribing and submitting this will

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This is the last will and testament of me Edmund Woodhead of Clough in Walsden in the Parish of Rochdale and County of Lancaster Cotton Weaver as follows ..

First I will that all my just debts funeral expenses and the expenses and charges incident upon the probate and execution of this my last will and testament be all duly paid and discharged out of my effects by my executors hereinafter named.

And it is my will and mind that my wife Mary and children shall carry on the concern jointly as we have done so long as they can agree and that she shall have the command and ordering thereof with the consent and approbation of my executors hereinafter named, but if it shall at any time hereafter appear to my said executors to be better and more convenient for them to part then in that case they shall make out a valuation of all my assets at that time and my wife Mary shall take up furniture or money at her option to the amount of twelve pounds in value for her own use and shall have twelve pounds a year for her support to be paid to her by two equal payments half yearly in each year until the youngest of my children attain twenty one years of [age] and if sickness or any other casualty that sum may appear to my said executors insufficient for her comfortable support they shall allow her so much more as they may see necessary and reasonable for her support.

And whereas my son Samuel hath had ten pounds already it is my will that in case any of my other children do marry before the youngest attain to twenty one years of age he she or they so marrying shall each one ten pounds out of the joint stock to set them in house.

And when the youngest of my children shall have attained twenty one years of age the whole of all my effects then remaining after the payment of all the before mentioned payments and other things are made and done shall be equally divided amongst my children namely Edmund, Sarah, Samuel, William, Thomas, George and Joseph and my wife Mary if she be then living and not married again share and share alike.

And in case any of my children die before the youngest attains to twenty one years of age and leaves a child or children (if more than one) such child or children shall take the parents share equally amongst them. And every one of them shall have received ten pounds (as before mentioned) shall allow and account the same in part of their respective shares but no interest shall be charged them.

And whereas my son William is now abroad in the army I do will and direct that my executors shall retain and keep or put out on interest his share until such time as he shall come home and be discharged from the army or until they are fully satisfied that he never will return then in that case his share shall be equally divided amongst all my other legatees. And I do give bequeath and devise the same severally and every part thereof severally and respectively accordingly ...

And I nominate constitute and appoint my son Edmund Woodhead, my nephew Ralph Taylor and John Fielden of Warland joint executors of this my last will and testament revoking and making void all former wills by me made I publish and declare this to be my last will and testament in witness thereof I put my hand and seal the sixteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty two.

Sealed signed published and declared by the within named Edmund Woodhead [signed] to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request subscribe our names as witnesses:

Samuel Fielden,

William Fielden,

James Scholfield

[all signed]

The 22nd day of January 1839 - Edmund Woodhead and Ralph Taylor the surviving executors in this will named were sworn in common form and they further made oath that the personal estate and effects of the testator within the diocese of Chester were under the value of two thousand pounds and that John Fielden the other executor named herein is dead.

The testator died on the 28th day of November 1838.

Probate issued dated 21st February 1839

I do hereby certify that on the 17th day of March 1842 Edmund Woodhead the son and Ralph Taylor the nephew the surviving executors in this will named were sworn well and truly to execute and perform the same and that the whole of the goods chattels and assets of the said deceased within the province of York do not amount in value to the sum of two thousand pounds.

Prerogative passed 24th March 1842

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