Estate Duty Office Will of Richard Hellings Pook, Yeoman of Culmstock, (1837)

© Crown Copyright

Devon Heritage Centre 1078/IRW/P/1022

Transcribed by  Art Ames

Died 18th August 1836

Proved 20th January 1837 by Mary Pook, sole executrix

In the Name of God Amen. I Richard Hellings Pook of Culmstock in the County of Devon being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make this my last Will and Testament in the manner following (that is to say) 

I give and bequeath all my Effects and Estates, both real and personal wheresoever and of what kindsoever to my Friends Mr Wm Anning of Wooding Kernvin in this parish and Mr John Southey of Millmoor in this parish, after the payment ff my just debts & funeral expences and to their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assignees.

In trust for the use of my dear wife Mary Pook during the term of natural life or so long as she continues unmarried and for the use of my dear children William Pook and Amelia Pook in equal portions

But in case my said wife should marry again or should die my Will is that her portion should  be divided equally between my said two children aforesaid or in case either of them should die before attaining the age of twenty one years and unmarried my Will is that the portion of that Child should be equally divided between my other child of my wife provided she be then living unmarried and in case both my children should die before attaining the age of twenty one years & unmarried my will is that their Portions should be possessed by my wife during the term of her natural life or so long as she may continue unmarried but on the event of her death or marrying again, then I give all my said Effects & Estates to my nephew John Dunn or if he also should die before attaining the age of twenty one years unmarried then I give all my said Effects & estates to my sister Elizabeth Anning, her Heirs Executors Administrators & assignees. 

My Will also is that my dear wife aforesaid while she may continue unmarried shall have the management of all my said Effects and Estates for the maintenance & Christian education of my children aforesaid & for the promotion of their welfare until they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years, at which time they shall be respectively entitled to the free & independent possession of their respective portions or in case my wife should marry again then that the Trustees aforesaid shall manage my said effects & estates as they shall judge most conducive to the welfare of my children. And I do hereby constitute and appoint my dear wife Mary Pook sole executrix of this my last will and testament.

I do hereby divert that my said trustees & executrix shall each of them be accountable only for their own acts respectively & not the one of them for the other & that they shall not be answerable for any loss or miscarriage by any security or securities that may happen in my estate & that they shall retain all their Costs Charges & Expences out of the estates & effects in them respectively vested by this my Will & the Trust Therein contained

In witness whereof I the aid Richard Hellings Pook have to this my last Will and Testament set & subscribed my hand & seal this thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six

Sealed Published & declared by the said Richard Hellings Pook as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence & in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto 

John Blackmore Clerk

George Civicars

Mary Hellings