Transcription by Chris Kirkman September 2011

Hannah Clark
In the Name of God Amen
I Hannah Clark of East Mersea in the County of Essex Spinster do
make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that
is to say First I nominate constitute and appoint my brother Elijah
Clark my friend Robert White Forster of East Mersea aforesaid Gentleman
and Charles Tiffin of Peldon in the same County Farmer Executors
of this my Will and I give and bequeath to each of them a legacy of
ten pounds to be retained by them immediately after my decease I be
queath at my decease unto my Godchild Hannah the wife of Frederick
Wilson of Finsbury Pavement in the County of Middlesex Wine Merchant
formerly Hannah Tiffin Spinster sister of the said Charles Tiffin /All my
plate wearing apparel watches trinkets and one moiety or half part
of all my linen to and for her own absolute use and disposal I be
queath unto my servant Deborah Morley a legacy of nineteen pounds
and nineteen shillings I bequeath to my servant Jane the wife of
Moses Woods a legacy of ten pounds I bequeath unto my old servants
Thomas King and Thomas Ward each a legacy of five pounds and
which several legacies I direct to be paid within one year after my de
cease provided my said servants are in my service at the time of my
decease but not otherwise I bequeath unto my said brother the use and
enjoyment of all my household goods and furniture and other household
effects/ except as aforesaid/ during his life and after his decease I bequeath
the same unto the said Hannah Wilson absolutely and I direct my
executors to raise an Inventory to be taken of the same Articles and
two copies thereof to be signed by my said brother of which copies
so signed one shall be delivered to him and the other to the said
Hannah Wilson I bequeath all my live and dead farming stock grow
ing crops implements of husbandry money securities for money and
all the rest and residue of my personal estate and effects whatsoever to
be divided between my said brother Elijah Clark and my said Godchild
Hannah Wilson in such way and manner as they may think proper
within one year after my decease and if any dispute shall arise con
cerning the division thereof then such division shall be made by the
executors of my said will in such way and manner as they shall see fit
and proper I devise all my freehold and copyhold messuages lands tene
ments and hereditaments with their appurtenances unto and to the use
of the said Charles Tiffin his executors administrators and assigns upon
trust to pay the rents and profits thereof as and when the same shall become
due unto my said brother Elijah Clark for his life and on his decease upon
further trust during the life of my said Godchild the said Hannah Wilson
to pay the rents and profits thereof as and when the same shall become
due and not by way of anticipation into her own hands whensoever
she shall be coved [Note 1] for her separate use independently of her husband and
for which rents and profits her receipts alone shall be discharges to my said
trustee and upon further trust during any and every discoverture1 of my
said Godchild the said Hannah Wilson to pay the rents and profits
thereof to her for her own use and benefit and I empower the said
Hannah Wilson whether coved [Note 1] or sole by any deed or deeds with or
without power of revocation and new appointment or by her last
Will and Testament to limit give and devise the said hereditaments
or any part thereof to such person or persons and to such use or uses
as she the said Hannah Wilson shall appoint and in default of
appointment To the use of her child if only one or for her children in
equal shares if more than one in fee simple And I empower my said
brother during his life and the said Hannah Wilson after his decease
by deed to grant Leases of the same hereditaments or any part or parts
thereof for any term or terms of years not exceeding seven years in
possession at the best rent without taking any fine or premium I devise
all the real estate which at my decease shall be vested in me as mort
gagee or trustee to my said executors subject to the equities affecting the
same respectively I declare that the receipts of my said executors
shall exonerate all persons paying monies to them by virtue of
my Will from all liability in respect of the application thereof I de
clare that if my said trustee or any trustee to be appointed under this
provision shall die or become unwilling or unable to act as trustee as
aforesaid it shall be lawful for my said Godchild the said Hannah
Wilson whether coved or sole to appoint any fit person to be trustee
in the place of the trustee dying or becoming unwilling or unable to act
and I declare that the trustee for the time being as aforesaid shall be
competent to exercise all the powers hereby confided to the trustee herein
named and I further declare that the trustee for the time being of my
Will and also the executors of my said Will shall neither of them be
answerable for losses happening without their own respective default
and shall be at liberty to retain out of the respective trust monies all ex
pences incident to the execution of the trusts and powers of my Will here
by revoking all other testamentary papers In witness whereof I have
hereunder set my hand this twelfth day of August in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one. Hannah Clark
Signed by the said testatrix Hannah Clark as her last Will and Testament
in the presence of us present at the same time who at her request in her
presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names
as witnesses Sarah Tiffin - Saml Tillett Conveyancer Colchester

Proved at London the 26th October 1843 before the Judge by the oaths
of Elijah Clark the brother Robert White Forster and Charles Tiffin the
executors to who admon was granted having been first sworn (by
& com[m]on) duly to administer.

Note 1 (n.) The condition of a woman during marriage, because she is considered under the cover, influence, power, and protection of her husband, and therefore called a femme covert, or femme couverte.

Read More
East Mersea Tales - the Wilson Family

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