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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Durham => Topic started by: curtiss on Friday 30 August 13 15:49 BST (UK)

Title: struggling reading a will
Post by: curtiss on Friday 30 August 13 15:49 BST (UK)
Hello All

Not sure if anyone can help me but i got 2 wills of my 3xgreat grandfather and 4x grandmother but can not read them! does anyone know how i can make heads or tails of them.

Thanks in advance

Emily
Title: Re: struggling reading a will
Post by: lizdb on Friday 30 August 13 15:50 BST (UK)
Can you post the troublesome bits, so we can have a look?
Title: Re: struggling reading a will
Post by: curtiss on Friday 30 August 13 16:01 BST (UK)
Thank you i think i have attached a photo of it as i can't seem to attach the whole thing

Thank you again

Emily
Title: Re: struggling reading a will
Post by: curtiss on Friday 30 August 13 16:03 BST (UK)
sorry i posted it all as the only bit i understand is his name and lanchester hehe

Thanks Again

Emily
Title: Re: struggling reading a will
Post by: lizdb on Friday 30 August 13 16:19 BST (UK)
Heres a starter at it

This is the last will and testament ofme Joseph Thompson of Lanchester in the county of Durham cleric(?) I devise all that my  ...... ....... parcel of ground situate at ........ ......... near Lanchester aforesaid unto my son Joseph Thompson his heirs and assigns in trust to pay the rents and yearly proceeds thereof unto my dear wife wife Mary Thompson during her life and after her demise(?) in trust to my son John Thompson his heirs and assigns for ever. I bequeath unto my said son Joseph Thompson his executors and administrators all mypersonal estate and effects of what nature or kind whatsoever in trust after payment of all my just debts to pay the interest dividend and yearly proceeds thereof unto my said wife during her life and upon her demise(?) to divide my said personal estate equally amongst all my children share andshare alike ......


Do some more in a min!
Title: Re: struggling reading a will
Post by: lizdb on Friday 30 August 13 16:20 BST (UK)
.....including himself the said Joseph Thompson and also the said John Thompson, tne children of my deceased daughter Maria having the share that she would have received if she had been living at the time of my decease. I give and bequeath unto my said son Joseph Thompson his heirs and assigns  allsuch estates as are vested in me by way of trust upon the trusts affecting the same and I reinstate and appoint my son the said Joseph Thompson sole executor of this my will witness tnereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty

Then he signs, witnessed by J Hutchinson (solicitor) and Elizabeth Crabtree.
Then it goes on to say Will was proved in 1842 (when he died)
Title: Re: struggling reading a will
Post by: JenB on Friday 30 August 13 16:33 BST (UK)
 .....of Lanchester in the county of Durham Clerk.....

.....I devise all that my close or parcel of ground....
Title: Re: struggling reading a will
Post by: JenB on Friday 30 August 13 16:36 BST (UK)
.....ground situate at Pea Bank? near Lanchester.....

I think it's decease, not demise  :-\
Title: Re: struggling reading a will
Post by: curtiss on Friday 30 August 13 16:37 BST (UK)
 ;D ;D ;D

Wow that is amazing thank you so much i had no idea at all what it said.

Thank you so much

Emily
Title: Re: struggling reading a will
Post by: lizdb on Friday 30 August 13 16:38 BST (UK)
I have seen a LOT worse!
Title: Re: struggling reading a will
Post by: JenB on Friday 30 August 13 16:40 BST (UK)
Quote from: lizdb on Friday 30 August 13 16:38 BST (UK)
I have seen a LOT worse!

I'll second that!

Emily, it wold be worth spending the time to go through the original with liz's transcription just for the sake of doing some practice. The more you do this the easier it will become.
Title: Re: struggling reading a will
Post by: curtiss on Friday 30 August 13 16:41 BST (UK)
Yes the other one i have is clear at first but on one page is really bad but it is 2 pages long and have no idea how to upload it as i wont let me attach the file

But thank you so much it is a great help i have a headache from looking at it all afternoon

Emily
Title: Re: struggling reading a will
Post by: curtiss on Friday 30 August 13 16:43 BST (UK)
thanks Jen

i think i will do that not but my grandfather must of spent all his inheritance as no one else has wills

Thanks

Emily
Title: Re: struggling reading a will
Post by: lizdb on Friday 30 August 13 17:21 BST (UK)
Quote from: JenB on Friday 30 August 13 16:36 BST (UK)

I think it's decease, not demise  :-\

Yes, you are right.
Becomes clearer when I got to the word decease later on in tbe script!