Legacy and Succession Duty Office Will and Codicil of Christopher Venner of Stoodleigh, Devon (1865)

Died 27 Dec 1822

© Crown Copyright

Devon Record Office 1078/IRW/V/71

Transcribed by Christine Gibbins

Will and Codicil of Christopher Venner, late of Stoodleigh in the County of Devon

Yeoman Deceased

Proved 28 Jun 1855 under £2,000, Extrix Elizabeth Venner

In the Goods of Christopher Venner left unadministered by Elizabeth Venner, widow, deceased.
I James Abraham Venner of Stoodleigh in the County of Devon, the party applying for letters of administration unto the will and codicil annexed of the personal estate and effects left unadministered, of Christopher Venner, late of Stoodleigh in the county of Devon deceased, make oath that the said deceased died on the eighth day of February one thousand eight hundred and fifty five at Stoodleigh aforesaid living at the time of his death a fixed place of abode at Stoodleigh aforesaid within the District of the County of Devon, and oath the personal estate and effects of the said deceased left unadministered which be in anyway died possessed of, or entitled to and for or in respect of which letters of Administration unto the said will and codicil amended due to be granted exclusive of what the said deceased may have been possessed of or entitled to as a Trustee for any other person or persons and beneficiary and without deducting anything on account of the debts due and owing from the said deceased are under the value of six hundred pounds to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. And I lastly make oath that the deceased was not proven or entitled to any freehold estate or estates for years either execute or determinable on a life or lives to the best of my knowledge, information and belief.
Sworn in the District Registry at Exeter in the County of Devon on the twenty second day of December 1865, by James Abraham Venner, before me Edw Hy Turner. District Registrar

      This is the last will and testament of Christopher Venner of Stoodleigh in the county of Devon, Yeoman. As follows I give and devise to my son William Christopher Venner all that my messuage, tenement and dwelling house with garden and said premises thereas belonging situate in Banstone [?] Street in the town of Tiverton. To hold the same unto and in the use of my said son William Christopher Venner his life and his assignees forever. I give and devise unto my son Emanuell Venner all that my messuage tenement and farm called Over Woodhouse situate in the parish of Oakford in the said county. To hold the said messuage tenement and farm called Over Woodhouse with the appurtences unto and to the use of me son Emanuell Venner his heirs and assignees forever. I give and devise unto my wife Elizabeth Venner during her natural life care she shall remain my Widow and unmarried an annuity a yearly rent charge of fifty pounds sterling to be issuing and payable out of and from the messuage cottages closes of land and tenements called West Barton situate in the parish of Tiverton aforesaid, this paid annually a yearly rent charge to be paid by equal quarterly payments on Lady day Midsummer's day, Michaelmas day and Christmas day in every year. The first quarterly payment to be paid the next quarter day following my decease free and clear of all rates and taxes and adjustments whatsoever. I hereby charge the said annuity on the said hereditaments and premises called West Barton accordingly with forever to the said annuitant and her assignees forever the said annuity and every part thereof when in arrears and all costs and charges by distress and sale in like manner as rents under a demise are redeemable by law are subject to and charged with the said annuity on yearly rent. I give and devise the said messuage cottage closes of land Hereditaments and premises called West Barton unto James Denis Wotton Gentleman of Tiverton. The aforesaid Gentleman and Thomas Heathfield of Stoodleigh aforesaid Gentleman and their heirs ... for my son James Abraham Venner his heirs and assignees forever and I direct the said trustee and trustee for the time being to access and take the rents and profits of the said hereditaments and premises called West Barton subject as aforesaid and apply and disperse of the same for the use and benefit the aforesaid James Abraham Venner during his minority either by applying towards his maintenance and support or necessity as they my said the trustees shall make in their or his discretion. I give and bequeath to the aforesaid James Denis Wotton and Thomas Heathfield the sum of one thousand pounds upon trust for my daughter Elizabeth the wife of George Channing. I give and bequeath to the aforesaid James Denis Wotton and Thomas Heathfield the sum of four hundred pounds upon trust for my daughter Caroline wife of Robert Thorne . I give and bequeath to the aforesaid James Denis Wotton and Thomas Heathfield the sum of four hundred pounds upon trust for my daughter Louisa. The said several legacies or sums of monies given upon trust for my said daughters respectively I will and direct to be paid six calendar months after my decease for the sole and separate use and benefit of such daughters as shall be under coverture and for all intents and purposes she and they respectively shall direct appoint to the intent that the same may be independent of any husband or husbands to whom she or they may happen to be married and not subject to his or their debt engagements or control and as I declare that the receipt and receipts of such daughter or daughters respectively or of her or their respective appointees shall sufficiently discharge the said trustee or trustees for the time being from such legacies notwithstanding coverture and after the payment and discharges of my debts and funereal and testamentary expenses I give and bequeath the interest and annual produce of all the rest residue and remainder of my monies and securities for money and the use of my goods and chattels farming stock implements used in husbandry personal estate and effects and the interest of all monies to accrue or be received b y selling the same or any part thereof if my said wife shall as Executrix think proper to dispose of the same unto my said wife Elizabeth Venner during her natural life in case she shall so long remain my widow and unmarried and from and after her decease or marriage which shall first happen I give and bequeath the said principal monies chattels personal estate and effects and the monies to be made by a sale thereafter of any part thereof and all my children's unto such shares as my said wife have by deed or will direct by apportion and in default of such direction or apportionments unto any or all my children equally share such share alike as tenants in common and I do declare this be my will that if my said wife shall happen ail or be married again before the said James Abraham Venner has attained his age of twenty one years as such case the personal estate and effects bequeathed as afore said shall in either of the said events be at the say of the trustee or trustees for the care and support of said son. I do bequeath to these accordingly throughout the minority of said son support and maintenance I do declare that his trustees hereby apprehend each of them and the heirs executors and administers of each of them shall be managed and chargeable duly for such monies as they respectively shall actually receive by virtue of the trusts aforesaid to retain to reimburse themselves respectively all costs relating to the trusts aforesaid or use any manner occasioned hereby and lastly I nominate and appoint my sais wife Elizabeth Venner executrix of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all other wills by me heretofore made.

      In witness hereof I the said Christopher Venner have to this my last will and testament written on three sheets of paper subscribed and set my hand and seal the twenty ninth day of June one thousand and eight hundred and fifty two

       Signed sealed acknowledged and declared by the aforesaid Christopher Venner and for his last will and testament written on three sheets of paper with his own hand to the first and second pages and his hand and seal to this the third sheet in the presence of us all present at the same time who in the presence of each other and also in his presence and in the presence of each other hereto subscribe our names as witnesses Robert Wotton Solicitor Tiverton Robt Reed

      This is the codicil to the last will and testament of Christopher Venner of Stoodleigh in the County of Devon yeoman bearing the date of the twenty ninth day of June one thousand and eight hundred and fifty two Whereas I have appointed my wife Elizabeth Venner Executrix of the same when by she will become contracted by the lease which was granted to me by Balliol College Oxford of Thorne Estate in the parish of Stoodleigh aforesaid therin the occupancy of George Channing my son in law and being desirous that the said George Channing shall have my right in the said estate for the remainder of the term granted therein I do therefore by this codicil give and bequeath all the rights and interest which I have remaining in the said estate unto the said George Channing his executors and administers and I satisfy and confirm my said will in all other particulars thereof.

       In witness whereof I have to this codicil subscribed and set my hand and seal the seventh day of Feb one thousand eight hundred and fifty five

       Signed sealed acknowledged and declared by the said Christopher Venner as and for a codicil to his last will and testament in the presence of us both present at the same time who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have here subscribed the same as witness hereto

      William Fowler James London
      The mark and seal of Christopher Venner