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In the Name of God Amen. I John Cree the elder of the town of Plymouth Port in the County of Devon Gentleman being in health of body and sound and perfect mind memory and understanding do for avoiding of all controversies after my death make publish and declare this my last will and testament in mannor following this twenty fifth day of January one thousand and eight hundred and nineteen hereby revoking and making void all former will and Wills by me at any time or times heretofore made. First I commend my Soul unto Almighty God in humble hope of its future happiness […] Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and my body to be buried in a decent frugal manner at the direction of my beloved wife hereafter named and as to any remaining[?] my worldly estate and which I now own and such as at the time of my death I shall be possessed of interested in or in any wise intitled.unto I give and bequeath and dispose of the same in manner and form following that is to say I give and bequeath to my Son in law William Hancock of Plymouth Port aforesaid Draper and my son John Cree of the same place Draper and the survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such survivor all and singular my monies … for money debts due owing or belonging to me stock in Government or in any other fund or funds chattles [sic] real or chattels [sic] personal household goods and furniture and all other my testamentary estate and effects what soever and wheresoever and of whatever value kind or quality soever the same or respectively are or shall be where I now am and where at the time of my death I shall or may be possessed of interested in or in any wise intitled unto and during all my term or terms estates and interest thereon respectively upon trust nevertheless to get in recover receive and possess themselves thereof respectively and from time to time to receive and take the interest dividends rents and profits and other etc. etc. … my dear and beloved wife Cecelia Cree to have the free use of all or so much of my household goods and furniture as she my said wife shall desire or make (?) of after my death for and during her natural life and if such choice shall not be to have the use of the whole thereof then as soon after my death as may be to sell and dispose of so with and such part thereof as my said Wife shall not.... ....pay unto my said Son John Cree the sum of five hundred pounds for his own proper (?) and benefit.........shall after the death of my said Wife divide all the residue and remainder of the said trust monies and estate as shall then remain in their........into four equal parts and pay out full and equal parts to wit Robert Cree Ann Hancock Elizabeth Giles and Harriot Mattock ........appoint the said William Hancock and John Cree executors of this my last Will and Testament....... (Signed John Cree) |
I have left out much of the routine introduction but the will is quite interesting since it is clear that John Cree does not seem to favour his eldest son Robert Cree. It seems that his other living son, John Cree, receives £500. He mentions his "beloved wife Cecilia" which would indicate that she was still alive on his death and indicates his affection for her. The remainder of his estate, after his wife's death, seems to be initially divided equally between Robert Cree, Ann Hancock, Elizabeth Giles and Harriet Mattock (three daughters). However a later codicil request that the Hancocks give up their share because that family has done very well, and that that share be divided equally between the children of Robert Cree, Mrs Giles and Mrs Mattock. It seems that a small amount of money is left to the Chapel at Mount Street, Samuel Parrott, and suits to a Mr (Say?) and a Mr Godfrey. |
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[Codicil] I hold a bill value £40 bearing interest at the rate of four percent ....trustees of the Chapel in Mount Street Devonport I give to the (deceased) Samuel Parrott the sum of ten pounds as a mark of my esteem and friendship to Mr (Say?) my best suit of black...to Mr Godfrey my second best suit as God has blessed Mr Hancock in his providence it is my wish that he should withdraw his claim to that part of my property left to him that the aforesaid should be left to the Children of Mr Robt Cree Mrs Giles and Mrs Mattock and her child Cecelia to be equally divided and that Mr Robt Cree Mrs Giles and Mrs Mattock have the use of the same until the children become of age (Signed John Cree) 22 April 1826 Proved at London with a Codicil 21st July 1826 before the judge by the oaths of William Hancock and John Cree the Son |