Will of William MELMOTH
of Shillingstone in Dorset

Proved 1879

Transcribed by Dawn Good from a copy at the Dorset Record Office

I William MELMOTH of the Parish of Shilling Okeford alias Shillingstone in the County of Dorset, Farmer, Carpenter and Wheelwright. First I will and direct the payment of all my debts, funeral and testamentary expenses . Thus I give and bequeath unto my Executor hereinafter named all my household furniture, plate, linen and china, upon trust to permit my wife to have and the use and occupation thereof for and during her natural life. From and after her decease, I give and bequeath such of my household furniture, plate, linen and china as my wife may then be possessed of or belonging to me unto my executor hereinafter named upon trust for him to sell the same by public auction and to divide the proceeds of such sale equally between my surviving children and the issue of such of my children as may be dead, such issue nevertheless taking the same share or shares which his, her or their deceased parents would have been entitled and had she or they been living and a receipt from his or her or their surviving parent shall be a sufficient discharge for the same. Then I give and bequeath unto my executor hereinafter named upon trust all my leasehold dwelling-houses and appurtenances situate lying and being in the parish of Shilling Okeford alias Shillingstone in the County of Dorset and now in my own occupation and in the tenure and occupation of my son Henry MELMOTH, Henry MEADOW and Elizabeth COURAGE to permit my wife to receive the rents and profits during the term of her natural life .subject to the payment of the Lords rent.

After the decease of my wife I will and decree that my Executor hereinafter named shall from time to time let the said leasehold dwelling-houses and appurtenances giving preference to my son To ?? the dwelling-house and appurtenances where I now reside should he feel so disposed and to receive the rents for the same and after paying for all necessary repairs and other expenses to divide the remainder annually and equally between my surviving children during my term and interest therein. Then I give and bequeath to my executor hereinafter named all my live and dead farming stock and all my stock in trade upon trust to sell the same by public auction within a reasonable time after my decease and to invest the net proceeds of such sale and to pay the interest of such monies as shall be so invested unto my wife for use for and during the term of her natural life when such interest may become due and after the decease of my wife then the monies so invested I then bequeath the same unto and equally amongst my children who may be living and the issue of those that may be dead such issue never the less taking the same share or shares as which his or hers deceased parent or parents would have been entitled had they been living and a receipt from the surviving parent shall be sufficient discharge for the same. All the rest and remainder of my estate and effects I give and bequeath unto my wife for her own use, benefit and disposal.

I nominate, constitute and appoint my kind friend Allan LAWRENCE of the Parish Of Shilling-Okeford alias Shillingstone in the County of Dorset, farmer and carpenter executor for carrying this my last will and testament into effect and I do hereby declare that my executor or administrator may at the time the first monies come into his hand my indemnify and reimburse himself of all such damages and charges that may come about the execution of my trusts of this my last will and testament neither shall he be answerable to any loss which may happen to the trust premises unless through wilful neglect or default nor for any loss that may happen from depositing any monies under and by virtue of the Will in the keeping or custody of any Public Bankers neither shall he be answerable for more monies than shall actually come into his hands and this voids all former and other Wills and testaments by me at any time heretofore made. I do declare this to be my only last Will and Testament for witness thereof, the said William MELMOTH the Testator have to this my last will and Testament set my hand this third day of January one thousand eight hundred any sixty six
First showing the omission of the word rents page 2 line twelve [this refers to position in the original document]

Witnessed by Robert Edwin Holdaway and Joseph John Holdaway

 

This is a codicil to the last Will and Testament of me William MELMOTH of Shillingstone in the County of |Dorset farmer and carpenter this being the 3rd of January 1866] and I devise that this be annexed to and taken as part thereof whereas in addition to the various bequests in my Will contained I hereby give unto my grandson Edwin Henry MELMOTH son of my son Henry MELMOTH a new suit of mourning and whereas in my said Will I appointed my friend Allan LAURENCE of Shillingstone aforesaid carpenter as my sole executor and as he is now deceased I hereby appoint my friends William SAVERY and Thomas COX both of Shillingstone aforesaid yeoman, executors of my said Will and to act in all matters and things as decided in my said Will and in the codicil thereto in witness I have to this codicil to my said last Will and Testament subscribe my hand and name this 22nd December 1875. Signed by the above William MELMOTH in the presence of us present who have hereunto signed our names in the presence of the said William MELMOTH.

William CREECH Gentleman of Sturminster Newton Dorset and A.G CREECH Land Agent Sturminster Newton Dorset.
 


Will proved at Blandford with a codicil on the 9th September by the oath of William SAVERY the surviving executor mentioned in the codicil and to whom administration was granted. The testator William MELMOTH was late of Dorset farmer and carpenter and died on the 4th day of June 1879 at Shillingstone aforesaid. . Under £100 extracted by the executor in person

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