Help With Will of Thomas Cooper

[sunshine18]

Hi there, I am hopeless with old writing. Was just wondering if anyone could help me decipher the will of Thomas?

[patrish]

Sorry I cant read any of it. 

If you dont have the actual paper copy, copy it (if you can)  and take to your local library and get it enlarged.

[Redroger]

Just had a quick look and while I can read some of it, the copy is not good. If you bought it from the National Archives or wherever you bought it I would ask for a better copy.

[oldtimer]

Hi

i had a go, but there was some I couldn't read.

I will try and fill in the gaps later if no-one else has a go!

The last will and testament of me Thomas Cooper of the parish of Lond? in the county of ……husbandman I desire to be decently buried at the discretion of my Exec. hereinafter named  & I dispose of my worldly Estate as followeth I give & bequeath unto my friend George ….. with whom I now live All & every my household Goods I give and bequeath unto the five sons of my Brother William Cooper for them to divided as equally as they …    between them all my Working Tools wearing Apparal & the boxes in which I keep the said Apparel I also give & bequeath unto the said George ….. Two hundred pounds now standing in my own ….  in the …….    ………
Annuities also fifty pounds to the said George …… to …… of ….. & all such at my decease from the ……… Benefit Club of which I am member I …… and …..in the first place to pay all my just Debts funeral expenses & the expense of proving this will & then the remainder of such Just? Monies to be divided into ……equal shares the said George …… to take one share & to pay to my Brothers William & …….Cooper each one share to my sister Mary ……. one share to James the son of my late Brother Richard Cooper one share & the other one share to be equally divided between the three children of my late sister Elizabeth ….. which ….. payment to ….. to be made at the end of ……….Months next after my decease & I do hereby make nominate constitute & appoint the said George …… Executor of this my said will and I do hereby revoke make null & void all former or other will or wills by me at any time heretofore made ………. Whereof the said Thomas Cooper the Testator have hereunto set my hand & seal this twelfth day of April in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred & thirteen Thos. Cooper Signed Sealed published & declared by the above named Testator Thomas Cooper as & for his last Will & testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as ….. thereto in the presence of the Testator & in the presence of each other. Jonas Chitty, Jas. Fuller Wm Maryett

Proved at London 6th August 1819 before the worshipl Samuel  .....     ......Dr of Laws & Surrogate by the Oath of George G….. sole exec to whom admon was granted he being first sworn duly to administer

[sunshine18]

Thankyou everyone for your help and a very special thanks to old timer:) At least I have some names to check against whether I have the right man.

[Alexander.]

In case you aren't aware - it is the will of Thomas Cooper of the parish of Send in the County of Surrey.

Though if you purchased this from the National Archives site, you probably know that already. It is very poor quality - is this the best copy you have? There are quite a few missing surnames in Judy's transcription which could be key - but it's just too pixelated  to make good guesses at the moment.

Alexander

[Redroger]

Yes, As I said earlier if you paid for this from TNA then don't let them get away with foisting this copy onto you without further pressure. A recent post on another thread regarding a similar poor copy bought from "Scotland's People" resulted in a perfectly legible replacement.

[veeblevort]

Hello Sunshine18,

Here are some suggestions for most of the gaps. I see a number of
words differently from oldtimer, but these do not affect in any real
sense the meaning of the will.

Believe the end of line 10 is a mistake, and 'five Per Cent' should
have been written.



 1 The Last Will and Testament of me Thomas Cooper of
 2 the parish of Send in the county of Surrey husbandman I desire to be
 3 decently Interred at the discretion of my Exor hereinafter named  &
 4 I dispose of my Worldly Estate as followeth I give & bequeath unto my
 5 Friend George Garment with whom I now live All & every my household
 6 Goods I give and bequeath unto the five sons of my Brother William Cooper
 7 for them to divided as equally as they can between themselves All my Working
 8 Tools wearing Apparal & the boxes in which I keep the said Apparel
 9 I also give & bequeath unto the said George Garment Two hundred
10 pounds now standing in my own account in the Navy's five Cent
11 Annuities also Fifty pounds to the said George Garment to Note of Hand
12 & all dues at my decease from the Ripley Benefit Club of which I am
13 a Member In Trust and thereout in the first place to pay all
14 my just Debts Funeral expenses & the Expense of proving this my
15 will & then the remainder of such Trust Monies to be divided into
16 eight equal shares the the said George Garment to take one share
17 & to pay to my Brothers William & Joseph Cooper each one share
18 to my Sister Ann Smith one share to my Sister
19 Mary C___e one share to James the Son of my late Brother
20 Richard Cooper one share & the other one share to be equally
21 divided between the three Children of my late sister Elizabeth Gad
22 which several payments I desire to be made at the end of
23 three Months next after my decease & I do hereby make
24 nominate constitute & appoint the said George Garment Executor
25 of this my said will and I do hereby revoke make null & void
26 all former or other Will or Wills by me at any time heretofore
27 made In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Cooper the Testator
28 have hereunto set my hand & seal this twelfth day of April
29 in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirteen
30 Thos. Cooper L[ocus]S[igilli] Signed Sealed published & declared by the above
31 named Testator Thomas Cooper as & for his last Will & Testament
32 in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as
33 Witnesses thereto in the presence of the said Testator & in the presence of
34 each other. Jonas Chitty, Jas. Fuller Wm Maryett

35 Proved at London 6th August 1819 before the worship[fu]l
36 Samuel Rush Meyrick Dr. of Laws & Surrogate by the Oath of
37 George Garment sole Exor to whom Admon was granted he being
38 first sworn duly to administer

vv.

[oldtimer]

Well done VV 

I agree with all your changes!

Good Job!