Will of James Dommett, tallow chandler of Deptford, Kent, 1799

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Dommett Dommitt

This is a transcription of the Register Office copy of the will of James Dommett tallow chandler of St George the Martyr, Surrey written on the 30 August 1790 with a Codicil written on 14th April 1796. It was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 3 July 1799. ^[1]

Persons mentioned

• James Dommett testator
• Roger Dyer of Ricksmansworth in 'the County of Herts Gentleman Trustee and friend of the testator
• Richard Helliar of Birmingham in the County of Warwick an Apothecary Trustee and friend of the testator
• Wilelmina Ray with whom I have long cohabited and by whom I have five children (viz^t)

1. Elizabeth
2. Sarah
3. George
4. Mary
5. and Joan Dyer

• Harriott Ray Daughter of the said Wilelmina Ray
• my Neice Grace Whiley This name is struck out on the will but legible - there must have been a falling out as he writes in a codicil:

I James Dommett
have erased out the above named Grace Whiley
out of this my Will I do not leave one shilling -
Jas. Dommett - April 14th 1796

• my friends:

1. Mrs Joan Dyer
2. Mr George Johnson

• Ant.^y Hillier =
  

W^m Hall - W^m Sealy Strangeways - witnesses to the will

• Elizabeth Wibrow otherwise Wybrow (wife of Thomas Wibrow otherwise Wybrow) residual legatee who took over administration of the will

[folio 373 verso]
In the name of God Amen
I James Dommett of Mint Street in the Parish of
St George the Martyr in the County of Surry
Tallow Chandler being in good health and perfect
understanding thanks be to God for the same do
make this my last Will and Testament in manner
following that is to say First and principally I
commend my soul in to the hands of Almighty God
my Creator hoping through the Merits death and
passion of my Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ to have
remisssion of all my sins my Body I commend to the
Earth to be decently interred by my Executors
hereinafter named And as for and concerning my
Wordly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me
with I dispose thereof as follows

I give devise and
bequeath to Roger Dyer of Ricksmansworth in
the County of Herts Gentleman ^and Richard Helliar
of Birmingham in the County of Warwick an
Apothecary and to the Survivor of them and the
Executors and Administrators of such Survivor All
the Estate both Real and Personal that I may
be possessed of or entitled into at the time of my
decease whether the same is or may consist of
Lands Houses Money in the Funds Stock and
Implements in Trade Plate Linen Household
Furniture Book and other Debts Money due on
Mortgages Bonds Notes Bills of Exchange or
otherwise however To hold to them the said
Roger Dyer and Richard Helliar and the Survivor
of them and the Executors and Administrators
of such Survivor upon the Special Trust and
Confidence in them reposed and to the intent and
purpose that they the said Roger Dyer and
Richard Helliar and the Survivor of them and
the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor
do and shall do soon as coveniently may be
. after my decease and after paying all my Just
Debts Legacies and Funeral Expenses cause all
amount to be taken and an Appraisement made
of all my said Estate and direct that I may be
possessed of or entitled unto at the time of my
decease as aforesaid whereby to ascertain the best?
and Real value thereof that the same may be
applied to the ... intents and purposes herein
after expressed and declared

First my will and
meaning is that Wilelmina Ray with whom
I have long cohabited and by whom I have
five children (viz^t) Elizabeth Sarah George Mary
and Joan Dyer shall be jointly interested with my

[folio 374 recto]
said five Children and all and every other Child
or Children which I may hereafter have by the
said Wilelmina Ray which shall or may be
born before or within nine Months next after
my decease in all my said Estate and Effects
share and share alike But for and towards the
better support Maintenance and Education of my
said Children I will and direct that my said Trustees
do take an Account of my Stock in Trade Implements
and Household Furniture and permit and suffer the
same to remain in the possession of the said
Wilelmina Ray to carry on the said Trade in the
Name of and under the Inspection of my said
Trustees for the Joint benefit and support of herself
and her said children and should there at any
time be any Sum or Sums of Money wanting
by the said Wilelmina Ray to carry on the said
Trade to advantage or to purchase the Stock thereof
it shall and may be lawful and I do hereby
direct that my said Trustees do and shall out of
any Sum or Sums of Money that may come
into their hands by virtue of and under the
Administration of this my Will advance and pay
into the hands of the said Wilhelmina Ray such
Sum or Sums as shall be thought necessary and
sufficient by them and the said Wilelmina Ray
for the purpose of enlarging the said Stock and
carrying on the said Trade to advantage Provided
always nevertheless that if the said Wilelmina Ray
should marry or Cohabit with any man or do or
cause to be done any wilful act or thing which
might endanger the welfare or Interest of my said
Children then and from thenceforth I will and
direct that the said Trade shall be managed and
carried on by such other person or persons as my
said Trustees shall appoint for the joint benefit
of my said Children only until they shall
respectively attain the age of twenty one years
and if it should so happen that the said Wilelmina
Ray should marry or cohabit with any Man or
do any wilful Act or thing whereby the Interest
and welfare of my said Children might be
endangered then and in such case I will and
direct that my said Trustees do and shall pay
over to the said Wilelmina Ray her proportionable
part or share of the neat value of the whole
of my said Estate and Effects to her own sole and
separate use and behoof And my will further is
that as my said Children shall respectively attain
the age of twenty one years it shall and may be
lawful for and I do direct my said Trustees to
pay to such Children so attaining the said age of

[folio 374 verso]
of twenty one years his ir her share or proportional
part of the neat value of my said Estate and
Effects and if it should so happen that any or
either of my said Children should depart this life
without attaining the age of twenty one years
them my will and direction is that the share and
proportion of the neat value of my said Estate
and Effects of such Child or Children so departing
this life under the said age of twenty one years
shall go to and be divided amongst the said
Wilelmina Ray and the Survivors of my said
Children share and share alike and I do hereby
give and bequeath to Harriott Ray Daughter of
the said Wilelmina Ray the sum of twenty
pounds to be paid by my Executors within
twelve months after my decease.
[the following is bracketed in the margin and labelled "Orig.^l so"] Item I give to
my Neice Grace Whiley the sum of ten pounds to
be paid her within one Month next after my
decease

Item I give to my friends Mr Roger Dyer
Mrs Joan Dyer Mr Richard Hillier and Mr George
Johnson a Mourning Ring each in Remembrance
of me and as a token of the Friendship and regard
I bear towards them and my will further is that
my said Trustees or either of them their or either
of their Executors or Administrators shall not be
charged or chargeable with or accountable for
any more of the aforesaid Trust Monies or Effects
than they will respectively ^shall actually receive or
shall come to their respective hands by virtue of
this my will nor with or for any loss so as sure
loss happen without their wilful default nor
either of them for the other or for the Acts Deeds
Receipts or Disbursements of the other of them but
each of them only for his own Acts Deeds Receipts
or Disbursements And also that it shall and
may be lawful for my said Trustees and each of
them their and each of their Executors and
Administrators in the first place by and out of the
aforesaid Trust Monies and Effects to deduct and
reimburse him and themselves respectively all
such loss Costs Charges and Expenses as they or
either of them shall respectively sustain expend or
be put unto for or by reason of the Trusts hereby
in them reposed or their Management or Execution
thereof or any other thing in any wise relating
thereunto

And I hereby nominate and appoint
the said Roger Dyer and the said Richard Hillier
Executors of this my last Will and Testament
hereby revoking all former will and wills by me
heretofore made In witness whereof I the said
James Dommett the Testator having to this my

[folio 375 recto]
last Will and Testament contained in two sheets of
paper set my hand and seal to witt my hand to the
bottom of the first sheet and my hand and seal to
the last sheet the thirtieth day of August in the
of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and
ninety - James Dommitt - Signed Sealed and Published
and Declared by the said Testator James Dommitt as
and for last Will and Testament in the presence of us
who at his request in his presence and in the
presence of each other have hereunto subscribed
our respective names as witnesses -Ant.^y Hillier =
W^m Hall - W^m Sealy Strangeways

I James Dommett
have erased out the above named Grace Whiley
out of this my Will I do not leave one shilling -
Jas. Dommett - April 14th 1796

On the third day of July in the year of our Lord
One thousand seven hundred and ninety nine
Administration (with the will annexed) of all and
singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of James
Dommett late of the Parish of Saint Paul Deptford
in the County of Kent deceased was granted to
Elizabeth Wibrow otherwise Wybrow (wife of Thomas
Wibrow otherwise Wybrow) one of the Residuary Legatees
named in the said Will having first sworn duly
to Administer-//- Richard Hillier the surviving ^{Executor and surviving} universal
Legatee In Trust having been first Cited to accept
or refuse the Execution thereof but in no wise apere
appearing Ex^d

Sources

1. ↑ Will of James Dommett 1799: "England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858"
   The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 1326
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 5111 #318497 (accessed 18 August 2023)
   Will of James Dommett, granted probate on 3 Jul 1799. Died about 1799 in Saint George The Martyr, Surrey, England.