Will of Elizabeth (Ball) Dickens 1824

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Ball Dickens

Transcript of the Last Will and Testament of Elizabeth (Ball) Dickens. Paragraphs and emphasis added to aid legibility. Original spelling and capitalisation preserved.

Transcribed by Ros Haywood from a copy held by the National Archives (UK); used under the terms of the Open Government Licence [You are free to transcribe, translate, index and quote from published or unpublished Crown copyright material among the records as extensively as you wish and you may publish the results in any format and any medium: in accordance with the terms of the Open Government Licence.]

I Elizabeth Dickens of Oxford Street in the Parish of Saint Mary le bone London widow do hereby make and declare this to be my last Will and Testament and I do hereby nominate and appoint my Eldest Son William Dickens to be my Executor to this my last Will and Testament.

I desire that my Funeral expenses and all my Just and lawful debts be paid out of my funded property.

In the first place I give and bequeath to my said Son William Dickens the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds Stock. (Being part of a larger Sum of mine now Standing in my Son William Dickens's name) in the three per cent Consols of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England.

In the second place I give and bequeath to my youngest Son John Dickens the sum of four hundred and fifty pounds stock (Being the remainder of my property now Standing in my son William Dickens's name) in the three per cent Consols of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England.

(The reason that I make this difference between my two Sons is that my Son John Dickens having had from me several sums of money some years ago)

But if it should please God that I should survive my eldest Son William Dickens in such case I do give and bequeath my property as follows

That I do appoint Thos Paul Esqr of Trevor Square Knightsbridge to be one of my Executors to this my last Will and Testament and my Daughter in Law Sarah Dickens to be the other Executrix to this my last Will and Testament and I give and bequeath to the above named Executor Thomas Paul Esq the Sum of Ten Guineas for the trouble he may be at in Executing this my last Will.

In the first place I give and bequeath to my Son John Dickens the Sum of Five Hundred and fifty Pounds Stock in the three per cent Consols of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England.

In the second place I give and bequeath to my Daughter in Law Sarah Dickens the Interest of Four Hundred Pounds Stock in the three per cent Consols of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England for her Natural Life and at her Decease I request that the said Four Hundred Pounds Stock in the three per Cent Consols be Sold out and equally devided [sic] amongst my surviving Grand Children of John and Elizabeth Dickens.

As to my wearing apparel I give and bequeath the same to my two sons William Dickens and John Dickens share and share alike.

Revoking all former Wills made by me I do hereby declare this to be my last Will and Testament whereunto I have set my hand and Seal this Twenty fourth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty four.
Signed Elizabeth Dickens
Signed, Sealed and Declared in the presence of us
James Douglas witness
Catherine Douglas witness

On the fourth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty four this Will of Elizabeth Dickens was late of Oxford Street in the parish of Saint Marylebone in the County of Middlesex widow deceased was proved at London before the Worshipful John Trenchard Pickard Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the Oath of William Dickens the Son of the deceased the sole executor to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn in to administer.

William Dickens the Son of the Deceased the sole Executor named in this Will was sworn duly to administer and that the Personal Estate and Effects of Twenty Pounds before me. [signed Pickard]

Shepherd, Isherwood & Shephard £20

Transcript © Ros Haywood.