Will of William SIMPSON (c1764-1843) Pot Manufacturer of Church Gresley
South Derbyshire Wills Collection
--- William SIMPSON (c1764-1843), Pot Manufacturer of Church Gresley ---

[WILL]
This is the last Will and Testament of me William Simpson of Church Gresley in the County of Derby, Pot Manufacturer. I give and devise all those my three messuages or Dwellinghouses with the appurtenances thereto belonging situate standing and being in Church Gresley aforesaid, and in the respective occupations of George Redfern, Charles Simpson, and John Bird. Also my Butcher’s Shop and fasting house in Church Gresley aforesaid in the occupation of Thomas Swain and also two third parts (the whole into three equal parts to be divided) of and in my Close, piece, or parcel of land called the Top of the Hill situate in Church Gresley unto and to the use of my son John Simpson his heirs and assigns for ever. I give and devise all those my three messuages or Dwellinghouses with the appurtenances situate in Church Gresley aforesaid in the respective occupations of myself, Stephen Winfield, and Nathaniel Sankey, and also my three gardens lying at the back of and adjoining my said three last mentioned Dwellinghouses and also the remaining one third part of my said Close, piece, or parcel of land called the Top of the Hill unto and to the use of my son William Simpson his heirs and assigns for ever (subject nevertheless to and charged chargeable with the payment of the legacy or sum of twenty pounds which I hereby give and bequeath to my son John Simpson and direct to be paid within six calendar months after my decease). And it is my wish and desire that my said Close of land called the Top of the Hill shall be divided between and belong to my said sons John and William as follows: namely the one third part thereof lying at the back of and immediately adjoining my said three gardens to my said son William his heirs and assigns and the remaining two third parts thereof to my said son John his heirs and assigns. I give and devise all those my two messuages or Dwellinghouses with the gardens and appurtenances thereto belonging situate, standing, and being at Mushroom Hall in the parish of Ashby de la Zouch in the County of Leicester in the respective occupations of Widow Grice, and William Newbold, and also my Close of land adjoining thereto called Mushroom Close now in my own occupation, unto and to the use of my son Charles Simpson his heirs and assigns for ever (subject nevertheless to and charged and chargeable with the payment of the legacy or sum of twenty pounds which I hereby give and bequeath to George Simpson and Mary Simpson, the children of my son Thomas Simpson, and which I direct to be paid to and equally divided between them by my said son Charles within six calendar months after my decease). I give and devise all those my four messuages or Dwelling houses with the three gardens and other appurtenances thereto belonging situate standing and being in Church Gresley aforesaid and now in the respective occupations of Thomas Boffey, Abraham Bates, and William Cantrell and one unoccupied unto and to the use of John Griffiths and Mary Griffiths the children of my late daughter Tracey Griffiths their heirs and assigns for ever as tenants in common and not as joint tenants. And in case either of them the said John Griffiths and Mary Griffiths shall be under age at the time of my decease then I direct my Trustees and Executors hereinafter named to receive the rents and profits of the said last mentioned messuages and premises or the shares thereof of such of them the said John Griffiths and Mary Griffiths as shall be so under age during their his or her minorities or minority and invest the same at interest for the benefit of the said John Griffiths and Mary Griffiths or such of them as shall be so underage and to pay or transfer the same with the accumulation thereof unto them respectively on their attaining their respective ages of twenty one years. I give, devise, and bequeath all that my pot manufactory with the appurtenances thereto belonging situate in church Gresley aforesaid now in my own occupation also those my five gardens situate in Church Gresley aforesaid now occupied by William Simpson, George Smith, William Mumford, John Ward, and Thomas Collier, and also all other my real estate whatsoever and wheresoever not herinbefore disposed of and also all my household goods and furniture and all other my personal Estate and Effects of what nature sort or kind soever and whatsoever the same may be unto my said sons John Simpson, William Simpson, and Charles Simpson their Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns according to the nature and quality thereof respectively. Upon trust that they my said sons John, William, and Charles, or the survivors or survivor of them, or the Heirs, Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, of such survivor do, and shall with all convenient speed after my decease, sell and absolutely dispose of the said potworks, gardens, and real estate, to such person or persons, for such price or prices, and in such manner as to them or him shall seem advisable, and do and shall make, enter into, and execute all such Contracts, Acts, Deeds, Conveyances, and Assurances as shall be necessary for perfecting such sale or sales and also do and shall sell dispose of, call in, and convert into money, my said household goods and furniture and personal estate and do and shall stand possessed of and interested in the moniesto arise from my said real and personal estates upon the Trusts following (that is to say), upon trust to pay thereout all my just Debts, funeral, and Testamentary  expenses and all other expenses attending or in anywise relating to the execution of the Trusts of this my will. And also the sum of two hundred pounds charged by way of mortgage to Mr William Hough upon part of my real estates hereinbefore devised together with all arrears of interest thereon (if any) and lastly to pay and divide the residue of the said monies (if any) unto between and amongst my said children John, William, Thomas, Charles, and the two children of my said daughter Tracey in equal shares and proportions. The said two children of my daughter Tracey taking one share only between them. And I hereby declare that the receipts of any said Trustees for the monies to arise from the sale of my said real estates shall be effectual discharge to the purchasers thereof who shall not be required to see to the application thereof or be answerable or accountable for the misapplication or nonapplication thereof. And I appoint my said sons John, William, and Charles Executors of this my will and declare that they shall not be answerable or accountable the one for the other of them or for any involuntary loss which may happen in the execution of the Trusts hereby in them reposed. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the eleventh day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine.

Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said William Simpson the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereof. The word “Thomas” having been previously written on an Erazure: William Hough, Jno. Knight.

This is a Codicil to my foregoing last Will and Testament bearing date the eleventh day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine. Whereas I have by my said Will given and devised all those my messuages or Dwellinghouses situate in Church Gresley in the respective occupations of myself, Stephen Winfield, and Nathaniel Sankey, and also my three gardens lying at the back of and adjoining my said three last mentioned Dwellinghouses and also one third part of my Close, piece, or parcel of land called the Top of the Hill unto and to the use of my son William Simpson his Heirs and Assigns for ever subject to the payment of a legacy or sum of twenty pounds bequeathed by me to my son John Simpson and whereas my said son William Simpson hath since departed this life. Now therefore I do hereby give and devise the same three messuages or Dwellinghouses, garden, and one third part of the said Close of land called Top of the Hill, unto Anne Simpson the Widow of my said son William Simpson and her Assigns for the term of her natural life if she so long remains unmarried and after her decease or second marriage I give and devise the same unto between and amongst the children of my said son William Simpson and their Heirs and Assigns for ever in equal shares and proportions as tenants in common and not as joint tenants (subject nevertheless to and charged with the payment of the said legacy of twenty pounds to my said son John Simpson at the time and in manner in my said Will mentioned). In all other respects I hereby confirm my said Will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of February one thousand eight hundred and forty two.

Signed by the said testator as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses. The words “if she so long remains unmarried” and the words “or second marriage” having been previously underlined: John Knight, William Hough.


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This South Derbyshire Will Transcription contributed by & © 2002 Mike Bostock All Rights Reserved