The Will of Samuel Willcox of The Grange Bosbury, 1905
I, SAMUEL WILLCOX of “The Grange” Bosbury in the County of
Hereford Civil Engineer hereby revoke all former Wills and Testamentary Dispositions heretofore
made by me and declare this to be my last Will and Testament.
I APPOINT my Son SAMUEL WILLCOX my Daughter MARY EMBERSON and my friend GEORGE BALLARD of
The Lowe Eardiston in the County of Worcester Land Agent (hereinafter called “my Trustees” )
to be the EXECUTORS and TRUSTEES of this my Will. I BEQUEATH the following Legacies and I declare
that the same shall be free of duty (namely)
To my said Daughter Mary Emberson the sum of Ten thousand pounds absolutely
To the said George Ballard the sum of One hundred pounds as an acknowledgment for the
trouble he will have in the execution of the trusts of this my Will
To Elizabeth Ballard who acts as housekeeper at the Grange aforesaid the Legacy
of Five hundred pounds if she shall be in my service at the time of my decease
To my Farm Bailiff Thomas Bottom the Legacy of Fifty pounds if he shall be in my
service at my decease
To my Coachman Dennis Young the Legacy of Fifty pounds if he shall be in my service
at the time of my decease
And to each of my female Domestic servants who shall be living in my service at
the time of my decease and who shall also for the period of two years immediately preceding
my decease have been in my service a legacy equal in amount to one year’s wages respectively
for each such servant.
I bequeath all my Household furniture plate plated articles books pictures and prints
and all other my household effects in and about the Grange House and also all my Hackney
Horses my carriages and the Harness and effects appertaining thereto and also all my
Wines Liquors and consumable stores purchased for household consumption unto my said Son
Samuel Willcox and my said Daughter Mary Emberson in equal shares. AND I DECLARE that
if any question shall arise as to the mode of such division the same shall be determined by
the said George Ballard whose decision shall be binding and conclusive. I DEVISE all my
Capital Messuage known as “The Grange” with the Bailiff’s House farm lands
buildings cottages and appurtenances thereto belonging and all other my lands and Real Estate
(if any) situate in the Parishes of Bosbury and Coddington all of which Real Estate is hereinafter
referred to as “The Grange Estate” unto my said Son Samuel Willcox for his life
And after his decease I devise the same unto all his children who being a son or sons shall
attain the age of twenty one years or being a Daughter or Daughters shall attain that age or
marry in equal shares as tenants in common And if there shall be only one such child I devise
the same to such one child absolutely And in case my said Son Samuel Willcox shall leave no
child who shall acquire a vested interest I devise the said “Grange Estate” to my said
Daughter Mary Emberson for her life And after the decease of my said Daughter and in the event of
my said Son Samuel Willcox leaving no child who shall acquire a vested interest therein I devise
the said “Grange Estate” to my Niece Edith Annie Matcham absolutely And subject
as aforesaid.
I DEVISE AND BEQUEATH all my Real and Personal Estate whatsoever and
wheresoever (not hereinbefore disposed of) unto my Trustees UPON TRUST as and when they shall
in their absolute discretion think fit to sell and convert the same into money and out of the
monies to be produced by such sale and conversion and out of my ready money to pay my funeral
and testamentary expenses and debts and the Legacies bequeathed by this my Will and also all
duties whether Estate Duty Settlement Estate Duty Legacy Duty or otherwise whatsoever on any
Devises or bequests under this my Will And after such payments I DECLARE that my Trustees
shall divide theresidue of the said monies and the residue of my investments into two equal
shares and shall stand possessed of one of such shares UPON TRUST for my said Son Samuel Willcox
absolutely. AND I DECLARE that my Trustees shall stand possessed of the remaining share
of such residue UPON TRUST for my said Daughter Mary Emberson absolutely. AND I DECLARE
that my Trustees pay postpone the sale and conversion of my said Residuary Real and Personal
Estate or any part or parts thereof for so long as they shall fit and that the rents profits
and income to accrue from and after my decease of and from such part of my said Residuary Real
and Personal Estate as shall for the time being remain unsold and unconverted shall after
payment thereout of all incidental expenses and outgoings be paid and applied to the person or
persons and in the manner to whom and in which the income of the proceeds of such sale and
conversion would for the time being be payable or applicable under this my Will such sale and
conversion had been actually made.
IN WITNESS whereof I the said Samuel Willcox the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament (contained on three sheets of paper) set my hand this fifteenth day of April One thousand nine hundred and five.
SAML. WILLCOX
SIGNED and DECLARED by the said Samuel Willcox the Testator as and for his last Will and
Testament in the presence of us both 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.
H. DOWN, Nat. Pro. Bank of Engd. Ld., Ledbury, Bank Manager.
T. T. FUTCHER, Natl. Provl. Bank Ld., Ledbury, Accountant.
This is a codicil to the Will of me SAMUEL WILLCOX of the Grange Bosbury in the County of Hereford Civil Engineer which Will bears date the fifteenth day of April One thousand nine hundred and five WHEREAS by my said Will I have bequeathed to Elizabeth Ballard who acts as Housekeeper at The Grange aforesaid the Legacy of Five hundred pounds if she shall be in my service at the time of my decease AND WHEREAS I am desirous of revoking the said Legacy and in lieu thereof of making the provision for the said Elizabeth Ballard hereinafter contained NOW THEREFORE I HEREBY REVOKE the said Legacy of Five hundred pounds to the said Elizabeth Ballard AND I DIRECT Samuel Willcox Mary Emberson and George Ballard the Trustees named in my said Will to set aside out of my Residuary Estate sufficient securities to produce the annual sum of Fifty two pounds AND I DIRECT that my Trustees shall pay to the said Elizabeth Ballard if she shall be in my service at the time of my decease the annual sum of Fifty two pounds during her life in lieu of the said Legacy of Five hundred pounds bequeathed to her by my said Will AND I DIRECT that the said annual sum of Fifty two pounds shall be paid to her by equal quarterly payments commencing from the date of my decease AND I DIRECT that all duties payable in respect of the before-mentioned annual sum of Fifty two pounds shall be paid out of my residuary estate AND in all other respects I confirm my said Will
IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of April One thousand nine hundred and nine.
SAML. WILLCOX
SIGNED and DECLARED by the said Samuel Willcox the Testator as and for a Codicil to his
last Will and Testament in the presence of us both 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.
H. DOWN, National Provincial Bank of England Limited, Ledbury. Bank Manager.
T. T. FUTCHER, Natl. Prol. Bank of Engd. Ld., Ledbury, Accountant.
