Will of John Lawrence of Regent Street, Birmingham 1854

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Lawrence Birmingham

The Will of John Lawrence of Regent Street, Birmingham. It was signed on 28 January 1853 with a codicil signed on 1 April 1854. It was proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in London on 15 December 1854. ^[1]

Transcription is as per the original spelling and punctuation. Line breaks and bold text are inserted for ease of reading.

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This is the last Will and Testament of me John Lawrence Regent Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick

First I direct that all my just debts funeral and testamental expenses shall be paid by my Executors hereafter named as soon as conveniently may be out of my personal Estate

I give and bequeath all my household goods and furniture plate linen china books prints and pictures watches trinkets money in the house and all my household stores provisions and effects whatsoever unto my dear wife Margaretta Sophia absolutely to and for her own use and benefit

I also give and bequeath unto my friends Henry Notton and George Smith of Birmingham aforesaid a legacy of twenty five pounds each for their undertaking the trusts of this my Will and which I direct to be paid out of my personal Estate

I hereby give devise and bequeath to the said Henry Notton Manager of the National Provincial Bank of England in Birmingham and and George Smith Clerk in the said Bank their heirs executors administrators and assigns all and singular my money securities for money leasehold dwellinghouse in Greenway Terrace Birmingham and all other my Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresover real or personal Upon trust to invest the monies upon mortgage of freehold or leasehold land or

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buildings or in the funds and to the the interest and dividends thereof and the rent of my said messuage and premises to my said Wife for and during the term of her natural life and from and after her decease

I declare that my said Trustees shall hold the whole of my said trust property to invest the same on interest in manner before mentioned and to pay the said interest dividend and rent in equal proportion to my daughters Sarah Anne Jane and Mary for and during the term of their natural life and after the decease of either of them the survivor or survivors of my said three daughters to receive the share of the deceased daughters and after the decease of the only surviving daughter I declare that my said Trustees shall hold the whole of my said Trust property subject as hereinafter mentioned In trust to divide the same equally between such of my Sons John Lawrence Thomas [----] Lawrence Roger Ireland Lawrence and William Irving Lawrence as shall be living at the decease of my last surviving daughter and the issue of such of them as shall be then dead such issue taking their parents share But in case either of my daughters aforesaid should marry and leave issue then I give to such issue in equal proportion one third of the whole amount of my said property at their respective ages of twenty years the interest to be applied to their benefit during their minority and the remaining two thirds to be divided between my Sons as before mentioned

I devise all trusts estates and estates in mortgage vested in me to my said wife and the said Henry Notton and George Smith their heirs executors administrators and assigns on the respective trusts on which I hold the same

I appoint my said dear wife and the said Henry Notton and George Smitth Executrix and Executors of this my Will hereby revoking all former Wills by me made I declare this to be my last

I witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty eighth day of January One Thousand eight hundred and fifty three
John Lawrence
Signed and declared by the said John Lawrence the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses
Thomas Naish Paper Dealer No. 20 Snow Hill Birmingham
William Moody Clerk to ditto

This is Codicil to the last Will and Testament of me John Lawrence of Regent Street Birmingham
In case of the death of any one or more of my daughters without leaving lawful issue her surviving I direct the one third part the income whereof such daughter so dying would have been entitled to if living to be invested as in my said Will mentioned and the interest and dividends thereof (not exceeding twenty shillings per week) to be paid to my son John Lawrence during his life and subject thereto I direct the principal monies so directed to be invested as aforesaid and the residue of the income thereof to be divided between my Sons in Equal proportions
And I ratify and confirm my Will in all other respects except that as Henry Notton is my Debtor I revoke his appointment as one of my executors In witness whereof I have to this codicil set my hand the first day of April one thousand eight hundred and fifty four
John Lawrence
Signed by the said John Lawrence in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses
J. Bartleet Sol'r Birmingham
Thomas Suckling clerk to Mr Bartleet

Proves at London (With a Codicil) 15th Dec'r 1854 before the

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Judge by the oath of Margaretta Sophia Lawrence Widow the Relict and George Joseph (in the Will written George Smith) the executors to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn by [----] duly to administer.

Sources

1. ↑ John Lawrence will in: Will registers of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 2202 Vol· 19, Quire Numbers 901-950 (1854). Accessed 29 January 2021 Free Ancestry sharing image