- PENNY ELLIS -
THORALBY
THROUGH TIME
Wills -
Thoralby Transcripts
[This section is under construction].
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​Morris Robinson, Baron Rokeby of Littleburn, Thoralby, 1829
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Transcript of Will of Morris Robinson, Baron Rokeby, provided by The Upper Dales Family History Group:
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This is the last will and testament of me MORRIS, Baron ROKEBY of Armagh in that part of the United Kingdom called
Ireland.
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I give and devise one garth lying in Thoralby which I purchased of Mr KAY of Townhead in Thoralby aforesaid, and also
some messuages or tenements formerly a Poor House with the stables and all the other appurtenances belonging to it
in Thoralby which I purchased from the town of Thoralby to my housekeeper MARY PEACOCK her heirs and assigns
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forever which I devise to her in recognition of her infirmities, inability to work and her faithful service and I give and
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bequeath to the said Mary Peacock an annuity or yearly sum of one hundred pounds to be paid half yearly for her
natural life. The first payment to be made at the end of six calendar months after my decease. I also give and bequeath
to the said Mary Peacock two hundred pounds payable immediately after my decease or as soon as possible. I also give
to her seven hundred pounds payable twelve months after my decease and a further two hundred pounds to be paid
eighteen months after my decease. I also give to the said Mary Peacock all plate, china, linen, household goods and
furniture (save Deeds and papers and the boxes containing them) which are in the house which she rents in Thoralby.
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I give and bequeath the messuage or tenement together with all the closes, lands and heriditaments situate in Thoralby
which I purchased off CHRISTOPHER TENANT, called the Hill House [Thoral Cottage] to LAWSON DUNN the elder of
Thoralby, Artist, and his assigns throughout his life without impeachment of waste and after his death to his wife ANN
if she shall be living. After the death of the said Ann to ELIZABETH DUNN, daughter of the said Lawson Dunn the elder, if
she be living, if she should die before the survivor of her parents then I give the said property to LAWSON DUNN the
younger, son of the said Lawson Dunn the elder. I also give to the said Lawson Dunn the elder two hundred pounds
payable immediately after my death as long as the said Lawson Dunn does not interfere or meddle with the said Mary
Peacock in her use and enjoyment of the articles bequeathed to her. I also give to the said Lawson Dunn the elder three
hundred pounds payable to him within 12 months of my decease and an annuity of one hundred pounds payable half
yearly.
After the death of the said Lawson Dunn the elder I give to his wife Ann the annuity of fifty pounds. I give to each of
Elizabeth Dunn and Lawson Dunn the younger the annuity of twenty five pounds as long as their mother shall live and
after her death I give to each of them an annuity of fifty pounds.
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I give to the said Elizabeth Dunn two hundred pounds payable immediately after my decease and the further sum of
seven hundred pounds payable twelve months after my decease.
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I give to Lawson Dunn the younger two hundred pounds payable immediately after my decease and the further sum
of seven hundred pounds payable twelve months after my decease.
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I give to my executor three hundred pounds upon trust, that is to say to invest it in govt funds and to pay the interest
and any dividends to the said Ann Dunn for her life for her own use independent of any present or future husband.
After the death of the said Ann Dunn to pay the principal of three hundred pounds between Elizabeth Dunn and
Lawson Dunn the younger.
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I give to MARY GUEST daughter of BENJAMIN GUEST, formerly of Little Chelsea in Middlesex but now of Battersea three
pounds.
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I give to MARTHA CLAYTON, widow of THOMAS CLAYTON, my late coachman, the sum of fifty pounds and an
annuity of fifteen pounds payable half yearly. I also give to the 2 daughters of the said Martha Clayton twenty pounds
apiece.
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I give to ROBERT WOODING my late gardener the sum of three hundred and fifteen pounds and in case he should die
before me then the said sum is to go to his next of kin.
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I give to JAMES GRAHAM, nephew of MATTHEW GRAHAM, an old and faithful servant in my family exclusive of any debt
which I may owe him.
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For the rest and residue of my estate exclusive of any bequests made to my brother MATTHEW MONTAGU of Portman
Sq subject nether the less to payment of all my bequests and debts.
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I make my said brother my sole executor.
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Signed the 14th Nov 1821
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Witnessed G FAULKENER of Bedford Row, THO PARK, ROBT H HOBBES, Clerks to Messers ADLNGTON, GREGORY and
Faulkener
Codicil: The legacies of two hundred and seven hundred pounds payable to Elizabeth Dunn and Lawrence Dunn the
younger shall not be payable until they have reached the age of twenty one.
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To THOMASIN PEACOCK of Potto two hundred pounds and my executors to provide her with mourning. I also give her
an annuity of 10 pounds.
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To TABITHA PEACOCK of Potto fifty pounds and to BENJAMIN PEACOCK of the same place twenty pounds.
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To ANN MOOR, my servant, ten pounds, and my executor to supply suitable mourning. I also give to her ninety pounds
payable with interest at the rate of five pounds per annum after she reaches the age of 25.
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To JAMES MOOR, brother of the said Ann, ten pounds payable immediately and suitable mourning, plus fifty pounds
payable when he reaches 21
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Signed 14 Nov 1821
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Whereas I Morris Baron Rokeby, residing at Littleburn in Aysgarth made my will on or about the 14th Nov 1821 now
make this codicil.
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The next presentation of the living of Coveney and Manea in Cambridgeshire belonging to me subject to the life interest
of the Reverend Mr KIRK shall be sold and the money added to my personal estate in aid of the payment of my debts
and legacies.
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Whereas I hold a promissory note for £500 of my tenant JOHN DIXON now due payable to me with interest I give an
abatement of 100 guineas which he shall receive when he pays the debt
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I give to Mary Peacock, spinster of Littleburn £400 above the previous bequests in my will to be paid as soon as there
are funds in my personal estate.
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To Lawson Dunn the younger I give £700 payable in the same manner to Elizabeth Dunn, his sister £600 payable in
the same manner, to Ann Dunn, wife of Lawson Dunn the elder £300, payable in the same manner, to Lawson Dunn
the elder £100 payable in 4 instalments.
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To NATHANIEL SCOTT my servant £40 over and above any wages due.
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To Mary Guest aforesaid £30 payable above the previous bequest, also a further £150 payable once there are funds
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available in my personal estate
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To JANE PALEY £5 immediately and a further £30 payable once there are funds available in my personal estate
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To ANN DAVY, my servant, £5 over and above any wages due and a further 20 guineas payable once there are funds
available in my personal estate
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To ALICE LUPTON £5 over and above anything I owe her and £15 payable once there are funds available in my personal
estate
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To THOMAS GILL £5 over and above his wages due and 60 guineas payable once there are funds available in my
personal estate
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To MARY PALEY daughter of MARY PALEY of Burton I give £5 immediately and a further 25 guineas payable once
there are funds available in my personal estate
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To ANN WILSON daughter of HUMPHREY WILSON 10 guineas payable once there are funds available in my personal
estate
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To BETTY SARGINSON of Thoralby £10 paid in like manner, to Miss JANE SADLER of Thoralby 100 guineas payable in
arrears of a debt I owe her payable once there are funds available in my personal estate
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Whereas I am owed money from my suits in the court of Chancery I direct these sums be paid into my personal estate.
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(next part talks of arrears in annuities based in France and Italy) No one is to attempt to impeach these legacies
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Signed 21 March 1829
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Witness JAMES WILLIS, J TERRY, surgeon
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Further Codicil
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There is money which the Chancellor of the Exchequer in conjunction with Sir THOMAS ROBINSON owes me. My
executors to add this to my personal estate
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My stock of cattle of various sorts, on my estate at Monks Horton near Hythe in Kent to be sold and the money raised to
be added to my personal estate
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Mr BURHAM of Conningsby in Lincolnshire has transacted business with me and has to settle his account that money to
go into my personal estate
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The wood at West Layton which needs cutting to be cut and sold and any money raised to be used for developing the
plantation at Barford in the county of Durham and the residue thereof to my personal estate
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To the Reverend ABRAHAM PURSER of Monks Horton £10 and £10 to his wife payable as soon as possible.
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To JOHN BUTTERFIELD of Thoralby £5 in like manner and £25 payable once there are funds in my personal estate. I
also give him an annuity of £6/
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To Miss MARY PHILLIPS of Leeds £10 payable once there are funds in my personal estate
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To ANN COATES of Reeth £20 payable once there are funds in my personal estate
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To MRs WOOD of Askrigg, the widow of the Rev JEFFERY WOOD of West Burton I give £10 payable once there are
funds in my personal estate
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To the Rev RICHARD WOOD her son £10 payable once there are funds in my personal estate
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To Mrs WALTER of Burton the daughter of the late Mr PURCHAS £5 payable once there are funds in my personal
estate
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To Mrs SADLER of Thoralby the widow of the late ROBERT SADLER £5 payable once there are funds in my personal
estate
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To JOHN SADLER her son 1 guinea payable once there are funds in my personal estate.
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Signed 23 March 1829
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Witness J Willis and Wm Purchas
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Another Codicil
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RICHARD CARTER has sold lots of wood for me in Kent, Cambridgeshire, Yorkshire and Durham and Thomas Burham of
Coningsby has also done so my executor is to demand the outstanding payments.
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To my eldest nephew EDWARD MONTAGU the manor of Bowes with all its rights etc held to me in fee simple to support
the rights of the freeholders for his life and after his decease to my second nephew and so on. I expressly declare that
this bequest is not made out of any disrespect for my brother, their father but for reasons which they all know. After the
death of all my nephews in succession to their heirs male and in want of any male heirs to the heirs male of my eldest
niece now the wife of OLDFIELD BOWES (details of the need to prevent the entail being broken)
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To Ann Dunn, wife of Lawson Dunn the elder, 50 guineas
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To Mary Paley, wife of JOHN PALEY a further £20
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To LYDIA BOTHAM widow of HENRY BOTHAM, Esq, steward, 10 guineas
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To PHILIP GOLDSMITH of Leyburne, Doctor in Medecine, 100 guineas and 50 guineas to his present wife
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To my cousin SARAH HOUGHAM, widow of WILLIAM HOUGHAM of Barton Court in Kent 200 guineas
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50 guineas to LUPTON TOPHAM, clerk of the peace in Richmondshire North riding of Yorkshire
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5 guineas to HESELTINE MYERSBANK Esq, and the like sum to his sister.
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Signed 10 April 1829
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Witnessed: WILLIAM HAMMOND farmer, JOHN RAW farmer, both of Thoralby, JOHN BUCKTON Attorney at
Canterbury
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Proved 18th June 1829 at London by his brother Matthew Baron Rokeby, heretofore Matthew Montagu Esq
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For a digital copy of the will see below, courtesy of: Yorkshire, England, Probate Records, 1521-1858 - West Yorkshire
Archive Service.