The last will of Wright Ingle

Who was Wright Ingle?

Wright Ingle was born in around 1791. The Norris museum has a handwritten document by a Dr Semple which tells the story that travellers to St Ives came across a woman in labour on the roadside. They took her to the workhouse and she gave birth to a son but then died. In order to be baptised the child needed a name. Two workhouse attendants allowed their names to be used and thus he became Wright Ingle. ^[1]

The Will

An announcement in the St. Neots Chronicle and Advertiser on 08 April 1865 gave this summary of the will:

The will of Wright Ingle, Esq., of Chapel Street, Grosvenor Square, London, was proved on Wednesday, the 1st ultimo, when the personalty was sworn under 4100,000. The executors and trustees nominated are Haylock Watson, John Russell Sowray, and David Owen, Esqrs. to each of these be has bequeathed a legacy of 150 guineas, £10 for a ring, and to have the free use of his wines, &c., and of his residence for the next two years, whilst engaged upon his property. The estates are held in trust for his great nephew (George Wright Ingle), the son of his nephew, George Ingle, of Elsworth, Cambridgeshire, miller, now in his infancy, and in the care of the testator's niece, Mrs. Ann Watson ; an annuity being left to him increasing in amount from £100 to £500 per annum, till he comes into possession. To his said niece, Mrs. Ann Watson, the wife of his executor and the daughter of his late brother, James Ingle. he leaves an annuity of £150, and the selection of plate and furniture. £2,000 to his great nephew, Wright Ingle, son of his nephew, Holden Ingle, of Hail Weston, Hunts. Legacies and annuities are also left to his brother, nephews & nieces, and their children ; also to his servants. The interest of £200 to be given to four poor widows, of St. Ives, Hunts, and the like to four poor widows of Fenstanton, Hunts. ^[2]

Executors

• Haylock Watson
• John Russell Sowray
• David Owen

Beneficiaries

The Ingle Bequest

Wright Ingle left £200 to the Vicar and Churchwardens of Fenstanton in trust to invest and to divide the income twice yearly on the shortest and longest days between four poor widows of the parish. The distribution of this money ceased in 1981. ^[3]

Transcript

Page 1 This is the last Will and Testament of me Wright Ingle of No 7 Chapel Street Grosvenor Square in the parish of Saint George Hanover Square in the liberties? of the City of Westminster Esquire. I revoke all former and other wills codicils and Testimonial dispositions by me at any time before made heretofore made and I ?? this to be my last will. I ?? that my earthly remains be interred in a stout leaden? coffin in the vault ?? for my late dear wife Elizabeth Ingle in the Parish Church of Saint Ives in the County of Huntingdon and that my name be written on the tablet erected to the memory of my said ?? late dear wife in that Church and I ?? that my funeral may be ?? ?? in the same way as far as may be possible as my said dear wife's funeral was performed. I bequeath out of {{red|??) part of my personal estate as shall not be of the nature or affected by realty and shall be by law applicable by payment thereof to the Vicar and Churchwardens for the same being of the said Parish of Saint Ives the sum of two hundred pounds.

Page 28

Codicil This is a Codicil to the last will and testament of me Wright Ingle of Number 7 Chapel Street Grosvenor Square in the County of Middlesex Esquire ?? will ?? date the thirteenthday of October One thousand eight hundred and sixty two ?? by my said will bequeathed to my Niece Mary Green (herein called Mary Cloe Widow) a legacy or sum of twenty five pounds and also an annuity of twenty pounds for her life and to be continued after her death until her youngest child by her late husband should attain the age of twenty one years or die under that age but as she has married again without my consent I hereby revoke the said legacy of twenty five pounds as well as the said annuity given to her and her said child and in lieu thereof I give her a legacy of twenty pounds to ?? mourning for herself and children and whereas I have by my said will bequeathed to Mrs Anne Watson the wife of Mr Haylock Watson an annuity of one hundred pounds for the term of her natural life now I hereby revoke the said annuity of one hundred pounds and in lieu thereof I bequeath to her an annuity of one hundred and fifty pounds per annum for the term of her natural life. I bequeath to my housekeeper Mrs Elizabeth Howe or Rowe if living with me at the time of my death in addition to the legacies given to her by my said will an annuity or yearly sum of sixty pounds per annum for the term of her natural life. .... Page 29

Proved at London with a Codicil 1st March 1865 by the oaths of Haylock Watson Esq. the executor named in the will John Russell Sowray in the Codicil spelt Sowry (son of George Sowray) and David Owen the executors named in the Codicil to whom ?? was granted.

Note It appears there is more after this line but it seems to be signatures rather than any further information.

Sources

1. ↑ Dady, Jack. Beyond Yesterday: A History of Fenstanton. Archived Books, Fenstanton, 2002. pp 93-94.
2. ↑ St. Neots Chronicle and Advertiser published 08 April 1965 page 1 column 5 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002161/18650408/024/0001 viewed 30 Dec 2022
3. ↑ Dady, Jack. Beyond Yesterday: A History of Fenstanton. Archived Books, Fenstanton, 2002. p 68.