Estate Duty Office Will of James Gill, Devon (1857)

© Crown Copyright

Devon Record Office 1078/IRW/G/276

Transcribed by Roy Drew

Last Will and Testament + Codicil of James Gill (Yeoman)

This is the last Will and Testament of me James Gill of Woolfardisworthy near Crediton in the County of Devon Yeoman. I give and bequeath to my Brother John Gill an Annuity or clear yearly rent charge of Five Pounds. And to my Housekeeper Elizabeth Anstey, Widow, the like Annuity or clear yearly rent charge of Five Pounds to be paid to the said Annuitants respectively (free from the legacy duty chargeable thereon) during their respective lives by even and equal half yearly payments the first of such Payments to commence and be made at the end of six calendar months from my decease. And I charge my Real Estate called The Lower Munchendown Farm Estate situate in the parish of Woolfardisworthy aforesaid with the payment of the said several Annuities accordingly and authorise the said Annuitants respectively and the event of the said Annuities or either of them being in arrear and unpaid for the space of Twenty One days to recover the same and all costs by Distress upon my said Estate in the same manner in all respects as Landlords are by law empowered for the recovery of rent in arrear.

I bequeath to my Nephew James Gill (son of my said Brother John) the sum of One Hundred Pounds. And to Mary Gillard, Susan Garnsey and Elizabeth Barnes, the three daughters of my said Brother the sum of Twenty Five Pounds each. I bequeath to Anthony Gill, Elizabeth Gill and Mary Gill son and daughters of my Brother Anthony Gill the sum of Twenty Five Pounds each. I bequeath to my Brother William Gill the sum of Two Hundred Pounds. To James Gill, George Gill and Anthony Gill (the three sons of my said Brother William) the sum of One Hundred Pounds each. And to Mary Ann Stevens, Emily Gill, Sarah Emma Gill and Jane Gill (the four daughters of my said Brother William) the sum of Twenty Five Pounds each.

And I bequeath to George Gill, Elizabeth Gill and Jane Gill (the son and daughters of my deceased Brother George Gill) the sum of Twenty Five Pounds each.

All which said several legacies I direct shall be paid to the said Legatees respectively at the expiration of Twelve calendar months from my decease. And (subject to and charged with the payment of the said Annuities and Legacies and my just debts Funeral and Testamentary expenses) I give devise and bequeath my said Estate at Woolfardisworthy aforesaid and all other my Real Estate. And also all my Personal Estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever unto my Nephew William Gill (another son of my said Brother William) his heirs executors administrators and assigns absolutely. And I devise all such Real Estate as may be vested in me at my decease as Trustee or Mortgagee unto and to the use of my said Nephew William Gill his heirs and assigns subject to the trusts and equities affecting the same respectively. And I appoint him my said Nephew William Gill Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Will and declare this done to be and contain my true last Will and Testament. In witness where of I have here under set my hand this Twenty First day of June in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Six _____________ James Gill ______________

Signed by the said James Gill the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presence his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses

_____________ T. Melhuish Comins, Solr Witheridge_______________ and _______ George C Stringer his Clerk.


I James Gill of Woolfardisworthy in the County of Devon give and bequeath to the Minister and Churchwarden for the time being of the said parish of Woolfardisworthy the sum of Ten Pounds Sterling to be by them invested in such security as they shall from time to time think proper and upon trust to pay and apply the yearly income arising there from in the Purchase of Bread to be distributed among the Poor of the said Parish of Woolfardisworthy in their absolute discretion at Christmas every year and I declare this to be a Codicil to my Will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this Ninth day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Seven.___________ James Gill ___________

Signed by the said James Gill as a Codicil to his Will this Ninth day of March 1857 in the presence of us _______ John Voysey ______ and

_________James Eastmond Jnr _________


Proved on the 24th April 1857 in the Principal Registry Office of the Lord Bishop of Exeter by William Gill Sole Executor