Testator: CROOK, Richard of Aldbourn, Gentleman

Will Proved: 11^th June 1805 in the Archdeacon of Wilts’s Court at Marlborough and 17^th December 1806 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury at London

Will Signed: 21^st September 1803

Witnesses: Geo[rge] RYLEY, Cath[erine] RYLEY, & W[illia]m POTTER

Codicil Signed: 31^st October 1803

Witnesses: Geo[rge] RYLEY, Joseph COLEMAN, & Richard HEDRICK

Original held by: Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre Ref: P3/1805/14

This is the last Will and Testament of me Richard Crook of <Aldbourn in the County of Wilts Gentleman First I will and direct that all my just Debts Testamentary and Funeral Expences be paid and discharged by my Executors herein after named – I give and devise All and every my Freehold Messuages or Tenements Lands Closes Grounds Hereditaments and real Estate of what Nature soever and wheresoever with the Appurtenances unto my good Friends Robert Wells of Newbury in the County of Berks Gentleman and Thomas Brown of Idston in the Parish of Ashbury in the said County of Berks Gentleman and their Heirs In Trust and to and for the several Uses Ends Intents and Purposes hereinafter mentioned expressed and declared of and concerning the same (that is to say) As to All that my Tenement or Dwellinghouse with the Garden Outbuildings Land and Premises now in my own Occupation situate and being in the Parish of Aldbourn aforesaid with their and every of their appurtenances And also all those Tenements and Gardens with the Appurtenances situate in Aldbourn aforesaid now in the several occupations of John Mudge & William Milsom Also all that stable in Aldbourn aforesaid in the occupation of Thomas Goddard And also all those three acres of Land lying in Aldbourn Field now in the Occupation of John Sheppard with the appurtenances To the use of my great Nephew Richard Read Son of Thomas and Ann Read and his Heirs for ever And thereby declare it my Will that my said Trustees and the Survivor of them shall during the Minority of my Nephew, Let all such Messuages or Tenements Land and premises in any manner they shall think most beneficial and the Receipt of my said Trustees and the Survivor of them and his Heirs shall at all times be a good Discharge to the Tenants thereof respectively for the Rent reserved thereon, and which Rent or other Produce I direct shall be applied during the Minority of my said Nephew Richard Read for & towards his Maintenance and Education And as to all other my said Freehold Messuages or Tenements Land Hereditaments and Premises so devised In Trust as aforesaid I hereby direct my said Trustees to let the same and every part thereof for the best and most improved Yearly Rents which can be got for the same during the term of the natural Life of my Niece Ann Read Mother of the said Richard Read and receive all such Annual Rents or other Produce thereof as the same shall accrue due and pay the same into the proper Hands of my said Niece to whom I give and bequeath the same for and during the term of her natural Life And I hereby declare that such Annual Rents and Produce of my said residuary real Estate shall not be liable to the Debts intermeddling or Control of the said Thomas Read her Husband but that the Receipts of my said Niece shall (Richard Crook) at all Times be a good and sufficient Discharge to my said Trustees and from immediately after the Decease of my said Niece I give and devise All those my Tenements situate at Aldbourn aforesaid with the Appurtenances and the Land thereto belonging which formerly I purchased of Thomas Smart, unto William Read Son of my said Niece Ann his Heirs and Assigns for ever And I give and devise All those my Tenements situate at Aldbourn aforesaid with the Land and Appurtenances which I formerly purchased of John Neuth unto Thomas Read the third son of my said Niece Ann Read his Heirs and Assigns for ever – I give and bequeath unto Richard Read my said great Nephew and his Brother William All my Goods of Household and Wearing Apparel Plate Linen China and Household Utensils in my use at my Decease equally betwixt them Share and Share alike – I give and bequeath unto my Nephew Richard Crook Son of my Brother Barnabas Crook the Sum of Two hundred Pounds to be paid him within Twelve Months next after my Decease Also I give and bequeath to the said Richard Read and William Read his Brother the sum of One hundred Pounds apiece to be paid them respectively when William attains his age of Twenty one Years – I give and bequeath unto the said Robert Wells and Thomas Brown the Sum of Two hundred Pounds which I direct them to apply in a Way they shall think best in the Education and towards apprenticing of the several Children of the said Thomas and Ann Read & as they shall from time to time think most for their or any of their Advantage without reference to an equal Distribution thereof – And as to all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my personal Estate Money in the Funds or on other Securities Debts Dues and Demands whatsoever and wheresoever I give and bequeath the same unto the said Robert Wells and Thomas Brown and the Survivor of them his Executors and Administrators In Trust to receive the Dividends Interest and other Produce annually arising therefrom and pay the same unto my said Niece Ann Read during the Term of her natural Life or otherwise authorize and impower her to receive the same And I hereby declare such Annual Produce shall be deemed her seperate [sic] Estate and not to be liable to the Debts or intermeddling of her said Husband, and that her Receipt shall be at all times notwithstanding her Coverture be a good Discharge And from and immediately after the Decease of my said Niece I give and bequeath the Sum of One thousand Pounds unto the Children of the said Thomas and Ann Read Viz^t. Unto Richard, William and Thomas the Sum of One hundred Pounds a piece, to Ann Two (Richard Crook) hundred Pounds and to George and Edward Two hundred and fifty Pounds apiece And I direct the same to be paid to them respectively within Six Months next after the Decease of their Mother But in Case any of my said Legatees last mentioned shall die before they shall become intitled to receive such their respective Legacies then I hereby direct that the Share or Legacy of such one or more do dying shall be deemed as lapsed And I direct such Legacys or Shares to be divided in equal Shares amongst the Survivors of them – I give unto the said Robert Wells and Thomas Brown the Sum of Ten Pounds apiece if they will accept it as an Acknowledgment for the Trouble they may have in the Execution of the Trusts of this my Will Provided always and I hereby declare that it shall and may be lawful to and for my said Trustees and Executors to deduct and retain All such Costs Charges and Expences as they or any of them may be put unto in the Execution of the Trusts of this my Will And that my said Trustees and Executors shall not be answerable or accountable for the Acts Deeds and Receipts of each other but each for his own Acts and Deeds only Nor for any Loss which may happen to my Estate unless the same arises or happens from his her or their wilful Neglect or Default And lastly I hereby revoke annul and make void all and every Will and Wills by me at any time heretofore made and declare this only my last Will and Testament and nominate and appoint my said Niece Ann Read and my Brother William Crook joint Executors hereof In Witness whereof I have to the two preceeding Sheets set my Hand and to this third and last sheet my Hand and Seal this twenty first Day of September in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and three – Richard Crook –
 

Signed sealed published and declared by the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the Presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses, Geo: Ryley – Cath: Ryley – Wm: Porter –
 

Whereas I have omitted by said Will to dispose of a Freehold Cottage and Garden at Avebury, Wilts – Now I do hereby give and devise the same unto my Nephew Richard Crook his Heirs and Assigns for ever – And I confirm my said Will in all respects and declare this a Codicil thereto Dated this thirty first Day of October 1803 – Richard Crook –
Witness – Geo: Ryley – Joseph Coleman – Richard Hendrick –
 

A true copy taken from the Original and examined therewith by us –
Jos.Warden Acty etc Wm: Hayward
 

This Will and Codicil were proved at Marlborough on the 11^th Day of June 1805 before the Revd. & Worshipful William Coxe Clerk M: A: Archdeacon of the Archdeaconry of Wilts And by him Ad[ministrati]on of the Goods Ch[att]les & Credits of the dec[eas]ed & so forth was granted unto Ann Read Wid^w. lawful Niece of the dec[eas]ed & W^m. Crook the joint Ex[ecut]ors within named being first duly sworn of the truth of the sd. Will to perform the same & pay the Debts & Legacies of the dec[eas]ed &c. And to make a true Inv[ento]ry. & render a just Acc[oun]t. when required Saving the Rights of all Persons

Charles by Divine Providence Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Metropolitan To all and singular Clerks and literate persons whomsoever and wheresoever in and throughout our whole province of Canterbury Greeting Whereas the Worshipful Herbert Jenner Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Honorable Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper and Commissary of our Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted rightly and duly proceeding at the petition of the Proctor of Ann Read Widow alledging that Richard Crook late of Aldbourne in the County of Wilts deceased having whilst living and at the time her death Goods Chattels or Credits in Divers Diocesses or peculiar Jurisdictions sufficient to found the Jurisdiction of our own Prerogative Court of Canterbury did some time since and whilst living make and duly execute his last Will and Testament in writing and therein named Ann Read Widow and William Crook Executors who erroneously proved the same in the archdeaconry Court of Wilts in which Registry the said original Will now remains. Hath interposed his decree for the transmission of the original Will of the said deceased Justice so requiring We do therefore hereby authorize empower and strictly enjoin and Command you jointly and severally peremptorily to Monish of cause to be monished the Right Worshipful the Archdeacon of Wilts his Vicar General Official Principal his Surrogate Register or actuary in Special and others in general in whose Custody power or possession the said Original Will of the said deceased may or doth remain to transmit or cause to be transmitted the said original Will of the said deceased into the Registry of our aforesaid Prerogate Court within three days after they shall be so monished under pain of the Law and Contempt thereof at the promotion of the said Ann Read Dated at London this twenty ninth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six.

This Will was proved at London with a Codicil the seventeenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six before the Right Honorable Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Ann Read Widow the Relict of the deceased and surviving Executor named in the said Will to whom administration was granted of all and Singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased she having been first sworn by commission duly to administer.