Oh my word, I've found a STINKER of a will from 1837

[TressiliansStone]

I've been transcribing C18th & C19th wills. They're often fascinating – but this is a corker!

Our testator is not a happy bunny...

Oh I meant to add, the wharf in question is approx where Westminster Pier is now, between the Houses of Parliament and Scotland Yard. Bought from the Stracheys of Sutton Court, the family of Lytton Strachey. Very tasty piece of London real estate to leave a niece!

Rather wonderfully, it's on this 1734 map:
www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/crace/a/largeimage88673.html

Nice inheritance!! I wonder why one niece got so much more than the other.

Fascinating, thank you so much for posting. Making notes of any unworthies that need to be mentioned in my own will.

I have more...

The wife of this C18th testator urgently needs her own MN thread.

“In the Name of God Amen I William Innes of Lime Street Square London Merchant being of perfect Mind and Memory blessed be God for those Gifts and considering the uncertainty of life do make this my last Will and Testament in the manner and form following First I commit my Soul to my Glorious and wonderful Maker trusting to his Mercys and through the Merits of our dear Redeemer Jesus Christ for the remission of all my Sins
[…]
“I give and bequeath to my dear and much beloved Ann my Wife two thousand pounds to her own sole use and disposal together with all my Household Furniture her Jewells and all my Silver Plate in the House of Lime Street Square Trusting to her distributing any part of these Effects or the Value of them at such time as she may think proper or by will to those of my Relations or other Legatees as may be most deserving in her Esteem Item I also give and bequeath to my said beloved Ann the yearly Sum of One thousand pounds to be paid half yearly during her life [...] I expect however that by my putting so much in preferment to my Wife she will distribute what she can spare of her income or forego the regular payment of it as she may think fit Thirdly I acknowledge to have given my Notes several years ago to my Esteemed Friend Mrs Agnes Palmer at No 2 Union Court Broad Street London (Vizt.) to herself for three hundred pounds P[er] Annum to her Children who are also my natural Children William Ann Sophia and Harriot to each of them One hundred and Fifty pounds or one hundred pounds per annum as specified in the said Notes which I hereby acknowledge and Confirm and I also direct that a sufficient Sum of the next and readiest of my Effects shall be invested in the Publick Funds for the punctual payment of these Notes or Annuities after satisfying my dear Wife Ann and before the payment of any other Gifts or Legacies hereinafter to be mentioned Fourthly I hereby also give to the said Agnes Palmer who is a most Diligent sensible agreeable woman One thousand pounds to her sole use and benefit and to her three Daughters a yearly Sum of three hundred pounds amongst them and to the longest liver for which Annuity of three hundred pounds I direct and order that a Sum sufficient shall be invested in the Publick Funds
[…]
“I hereby revoke all Matters and things contained in my Will respecting Mrs Palmer and her Children contained in twenty pages ending and dated the 19th Nov[embe]r 1786 at Blackheath but that the Abstract of said will and whatever now is contained in it shall stand good until I go on to mention all the New Matter I intend when time permits Signed and declared to the above and four preceding pages at Blackheath the twelfth day of December one thousand seven hundred eighty nine. – Will.m Innes
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[...]
“Blackheath 4th Dec[embe]r 1790 I have now to add to this my last will contained in these two sheets together with the Abstract of a Former Will such Abstract being Signed the 17th Oct[obe]r 1789 and continued on the 24th of same Month & year with some Erasures which is to be taken as part of my will although there are repetitions which only mean the same thing or are explanatory of Directions That as Ann Palmer was married to Captain George Hanbury Mitchell on the 14th October last [...] I hereby further declare that Captain Mitchell & his Wife [blank] shall have the preferance[sic] & liberty of taking possession of this House Rent Free with the One hundred P[e]r Annum [...] sign’d this 5th December 1790 – Will.m Innes.

“NB it is to be understood that my dear Wife is to have this House and Furniture during her life and then to Captain Mitchell. W.I.

“I hereby declare that what is contained in the inclosed two sheets of paper is the substance and to be attended to as my last Will subject to be put into better order when time permits Blackheath 5th Dec[embe]r 1790 -/- Will.m Innes
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I also hereby declare that it is to be understood that Ann Palmer now Mrs Mitchell and her two Sisters Sophia and Harriot Palmer are to be entitled to all the Residue of my Estate & Effects after payment of all my Debts Legacies & Donations as directed in the inclosed two sheets of paper and that their Brother Will[ia]m Palmer now in Jamaica shall only enjoy any Annuity & shares of Annuity Devised to him by my general Will I have also to repeat that whatever is last ordered by my Will shall have the preferrence[sic] of all former Decrees and that the said three Sisters Ann Sophia and Harriot Palmer are to enjoy the Residue of my Estate and Effects share and share alike also that Mrs Mitchell shall have the possession of my House and Furniture at B[lack]heath failing of her to next Sister This I sign at Blackheath the 16th April 1791 – Will.m Innes
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“I also hereby direct that Capt[ai]n George Mitchell who is married to Ann Palmer shall be one of my Executors together with my dear Wife [...] I likewise direct that the said G Mitchell shall reside at my House in Lime Street Square allowing my dear Wife her Bed Room and free access to the Parlour and Drawing Room while she lives and any part of the Furniture she Chuses to take up with her with all the Silver Plate &c meaning that she is to have the full and sole use of my House at B[lack]heath with all the Furniture belonging to it which is to remain in it for the use of Capt[ai]n & Mrs Mitchell who are to succeed my dear Wife [...] I hereby Sign and declare the above to be taken as part of my last Will at Blackheath this thirtieth day of April One thousand seven hundred and ninety one – Will. Innes.
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“I hereby declare that I have this day burnt and destroyed several sheets of paper alluded to in the inclosed two sheets of paper lest they might perplex what is contained in these two sheets which although there is Erasure in them yet what remains to be understood is to be taken in the full extent of what my Will is I also declare that I have this day again signed the Estimate made and signed the 19th Nov[embe]r 1786 but declaring that William Palmer is not to get the £5,000 stated in that Estimate but in all other Particulars it is to be attended to B[lack]heath 30 April 1791 Will.m Innes.
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[...]
“I hereby confirm what is cont[aine]d in these three sheets and Signed as above dated to be my last Will subject to such alterations additions and amendments as will be enumerated in this and the following pages […] In Page 8th it is mentioned that an Abstract of a will I made and Signed 17th Oct[obe]r 1789 should be taken as part and attended to, which I now alter and direct that no regard shall be paid to that Abstract This so far as my time at present permits which I now Sign at B[lack]heath 23rd March 1793.– Will.m Innes - /~
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“I have now time to add further that in page 8th it is mentioned that Capt[ai]n Mitchell & his wife shall have the preference of living in my House at B[lack[heath next after my dear Wife with all the Furniture Rent Free but to pay the Taxes and for the better support of that House I also give One hundred pounds P[e]r Annum during the Lease [blank] to them or to the possessor of it and I direct that my natural Daughter Sophia Palmer after her to Harriot Palmer her Sister if they Chuse to reside in it should they not that all my Nephews who are married & who may be in or brought to London within three Months after that house is given up by my three natural Daughters shall draw Lotts for the possession of it with all the Furniture Rent Free & the One hundred pounds a year and that Lot No. 1 of the Numbers who are to draw shall be the Gainer to be the possessor of that House In Page 9th I have directed that my three natural Daughters shall be my Residuary Legatees but I now alter and make the amendment that their Brother William Palmer shall have an equal fourth share with them of all the remainder of my Effects after the settlement and payment of all my several bequests or Donations […]

“In the eleventh page it is declared that regard is to be paid to the Estimate made of my Effects but which I now alter & Contradict not to perplex the substance of what is now written in this and the three preceeding sheets which is to be held as my last Will along with what more I shall add to be taken along therewith I hereby give and bequeath to all the Gentlemen of the Goff Society on Blackheath who shall be entered in their Books on the day of Playing for the Silver Club next after my death a Ring of 25s/ Value to each and also Fifty pounds as my Donation to the Fund of that Society to be added to it I hereby give and bequeath to the Blue Parlour Club at the London Tavern ten Rings of 25s/ Value each to be Ballotted for at the next half yearly Meeting and Dinner to such of them as are present that day next after my death I hereby give and bequeath to the Gentlemen of the Tuesday Evening Card Club to which I belong five Rings of 25s/ Value each to be ballotted for by such of them as shall attend the oftenest during the next three Months after my death
[...]
“I hereby attest and declare that I have now burnt and destroyed some papers alluded to in the foregoing 16 Pages and that one sheet remains mentioned to be an abstract and Codicil to my Will Dated at Blackheath 25th No[embe]r 1791 which I mean to preserve to be taken as my last Will in Case this should by any means be lost but that no regard is to be paid to it if this is preserved Blackheath 24th March One thousand seven hundred and ninety three /-/ Will.m Innes -/
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[...]
“Appeared Personally George Hanbury Mitchell of Broad Street Buildings London Merchant and having carefully viewed and perused the papers writing hereto annexed purporting to be and contain the last Will and Testament of William Innes late of Lime Street Square London deceased […] he this Deponent made Oath that in the Evening of the 14th Instant after the death of the said deceased which happened on the said day he this Deponent in examining the said deceaseds papers contained in a Chest within an Iron Safe in his House in Lime Street Square aforesaid found among the same the aforesaid Will of the said deceased together with an Abstract thereof referred to by the 17th page of the said Will wrapped up together a sheet of waste paper and he further made Oath that the said Will is now in the same plight and Condition as when found by his Deponent as aforesaid save and except that the several sheets thereof which were not annexed when he so found the same have since been annexed by a String – Geo H Mitchell – 28th January 1795 The said George Hanbury Mitchell was duly sworn to the truth of this Affidavit before me Th. Ch. Crespigny Surrogate – Pre[s]en[t]: J. Bush N[otary] P[ubli]ck"

It would go something like:

“AIBU to think DH shouldn’t leave my home to OW’s DD while I’m still living in it?”

“We don’t have children together, but he does have them with OW. He says he's leaving our townhouse in Lime Street Square to OW’s daughter and son-in-law – while I’m still living in it! He claims this is fine because I’ll still be allowed to use my bedroom!!!

“Obvs I could just live at our country house at Blackheath, but for heaven’s sake, he’s filthy rich and gave OW’s daughter £4000 in shares as a wedding present – he could perfectly well afford to buy new houses for all his illegitimate children (he has four).

“Plus, he’s left me enough to live on but says he expects me to “voluntarily” give some of my share to his other family.

“He won’t even pay for a solicitor to write him a proper will. Keeps claiming he’s too busy with his hobby (too outing to name it’s golf ) and he'll get round to it sometime.”

Whole of MN: “LTB.”

Also whole of MN: “And what’s with the weird controlling thing of making everyone turn up in London to draw lots for a house?”

Meanwhile, this charmer's newspaper obituary described him as, "one of the oldest and most respectable West India Merchants in the city of London, and not more valued for the probity and liberality of his mercantile character, than esteemed and beloved as an excellent and benevolent man."

Right-oh.

A new one, on the Importance of Being Harriett. Or, "Baby Names: If I christen my child Henrietta, what will she get called at school?"

In 1850 there's ~£600 riding on this.

"Appears Personally Jane Jackson of the Town and County of Newcastle upon Tyne widow and Frances Mary Swain of Stockton upon Tees in the County of Durham wife of Charles Swain Esquire London and referring to the authenticated Copy under seal of The Honorable the East India Company of the last Will and Testament of the said Francis Skelly late of Calcutta in the East Indies a Lieutenant Colonel in His Majesty’s Army deceased now hereunto annexed and to the residuary bequest therein purporting to be in favour of the said Testator’s sister “Harriett” also to the contingent reversionary bequest therein purporting to be in favor of the said Testators sister “Harriett” and to her two daughters “Jane” and “Elizabeth” Made oath as follows and first the Deponent Jane Jackson for herself made oath that she is the daughter and Administratrix by the authority of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury of the Goods of Henrietta Augusta (in the said will written Harriett) Tidy wife of The Reverend Thomas Holmes Tidy Clerk deceased whilst living the natural and lawful sister of the said deceased and the residuary legatee named under the said recited name Harriett in the said will [...] And the Deponent Frances Mary Swain for herself made oath That she knew and was acquainted with the said deceased and his said sister the said Henrietta Augusta Tidy [...] And both these Deponents made oath that the said deceased for many years prior to and down to the time of his death was in the habit of calling and addressing his said sister Henrietta Augusta Tidy and who at the period of the date of the said will had two daughters to wit the Deponent Jane Jackson and Elizabeth Isabella Charnley (wife of Emerson Charnley) [...] by the said name of Harriett And they further made oath that the said deceased had no sister named Harriett and no sister whom he addressed or called by the said name of Harriett other than his said sister the said Henrietta Augusta Tidy and they verily and in their consciences believe that by the description and names “my sister Harriett “her two daughters Jane and Elizabeth contained in the said will the said deceased meant and intended his said sister Henrietta Augusta Tidy whom as aforesaid he was accustomed to call by the said name of Harriett and her two daughters the Deponent Jane Jackson and Elizabeth Isabella Charnley (wife of Emerson Charnley) deceased and no other persons And the said Frances Mary Swain further made oath that although the said Mrs Tidy was Christened by the name of Henrietta Augusta she from a dislike when young to being called for brevity “Henny” by some of her friends assumed and went by the name of “Harriett” as nearly resembling Henrietta to the time of her death and that in course of years she was known by no other name by her family and relations. And the Deponent Jane Jackson for herself further made oath that the said deceased died in the East Indies on or about the Thirtieth day of November one thousand seven hundred and ninety three"

Just found this thread and have found it fascinating. @TressiliansStone

Finally enough I was thinking of this thread just as you were typing that, Calling.

I'm transcribing another really lovely will – with an awful lot of teapots!

Might post a few excerpts when it's done.

Finally Funnily

No more transcribing for me today! I'm clearly losing it after all this C18th spelling...

I've added the 1763 sea captain's will of many teapots to my other thread here:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/history_club/4620468-found-another-fabulous-will?reply=129913811

(This thread was starting to feel overlengthy, thanks to the tedious verbosity of William Innes of Lime Street Square London, merchant and golfing twat...)