Will of George WASON 14th March 1812
In the Name of God amen, I George WASON of the parish of Ruan Lanyhorne in the County of Cornwall farmer being of a sound memory thanks be to God for the same do make this my last Will and Testament revoking all former Will or Wills in the first place I recommend my soul into the hands who gave it and my body to be decently interred in a Grave nine feet deep and brick up as high as the Coffin (the Coffin to be of oak) then covered over with flat stones then filled with earth to the surface then raised with Moor stone and a Tomb Stone in one piece upon Top / pretty thick in the next place for the due performance thereof as well as to carry this Will into execution I hereby appoint the named Richard Budd Rector of the above parish Henry Behennah of the same parish farmer James Bennett of the Borough of Tregony Gentleman and James Eddy of the Borough of Truro Banker and Merchant and County aforesaid to be Guardians and Trustees in behalf of my Children and in behalf of this my last Will in general in the next place I wish all my debts to be paid soon after my death and I wish that all and every thing belonging to me at my death (save and except what is written mentioned on the back of this my Will) included Corn in and out of the Ground may be sold a few days before Michaelmas day as on that day the Rent becomes due and then give up the Estate of Trethella now held by George Wason unto the Landlord leaving it to the Landlord in giving a trifle to the Guardians and trustees in behalf of this Will in consignment of so much Money laid out upon the Estate by the said George Wason In the next place I give unto Harriott the daughter of James and Ann Bennett of the Borough of Tregony all that share materials that stand in my Name in Wheal Prosper Tin Mine in the parish of St Agnes and County aforesaid In the next place I desire that my son Robert shall have the sum of Thirty pounds a year for his life likewise I give unto my daughter Mary Murly the sum of forty pounds a year for her life subject however to a Ordination as mentioned below and after the death of my Children Robert and Mary Murly I give a sum equal to their annuities if there is so much to be equally divided amongst their Children of lawful Issue upon their becoming twenty one years of age each but should either or both of my Children Robert and Mary Murly die without lawful Issue I desire that Robert and Mary Murlys Annuity is to be given unto my said Sister Harriott as well as any other Interest (if any) to be so given unto my said sister Harriott after this Will is carried into execution for her life and after her death the whole what she did received to go unto my Brothers Children to share and share alike In the next place I desire that my natural Daughter Mary Wason had by Ann Thomas of this parish above shall receive the sum of ten pounds a year for her life and after her death the value of the ten pounds a year to be divided between my Brothers Children and I further desire that the sum of Ten pounds a year to be taken from my Daughter Mary Murly Annuity to be given unto my said natural Daughter Mary Wason had by the said Ann Thomas to go towards bringing up her said Mary Wason to read write and cypher and in learning the said Mary Wason becomes eighteen years of age and then this ten pounds a year to go back unto my said Daughter Mary Murly for her life and after her death to her lawful issue and if no lawful issue then to my Brothers Children and further I desire that my natural Daughter Mary Wason shall assist her Mother Ann Thomas should she be in want in the sum of five pounds a year as long as the said Ann Thomas is in want to be taken from the said Mary Wason Annuity and I desire that the said Ann Thomas shall receive the sum of Nineteen Guineas within a year after my death the shares in Wheal Prosper Tin Mine in the parish of St. Agnes as well as in the Caroline Fishing Sean near Port Isaac within the above County and in the name of Mr Robert J Mitchell Attorney at Law living at penryn the said Shares belongs jointly to the said Mitchell & Wason I wish those shares to be sold soon after my death and lastly I desire that neither my Children or natural Child shall sell dispose Mortgage no part of their Annuities and that they shall receive their annuity half yearly themselves only except any one or all should be far off in that case an order to receive signed by the Minister and Churchwardens of the parish were they reside and any one named in the Will do not apply within six months after their Annuity becomes due the same to go to my Sister Harriott and so on until he she or they do apply for the same when oath of their Dividends are due as mentioned fifth day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred & sixteen George Wason SS Sealed Signed and delivered in the presence of us.
Peter Nankivel – James Heayn – Jno Yeoman
Memorandum made to the within Will I desire the brooch with my poor sister Mary Murly hair and marked W in front her death and age on the back to be given unto my sister Harriot I desire also that the other brooch with my Children hair in front and their Birth Baptism and when born on the back together with my Bible and Hymn Book that my poor mother gave me on my going to Jamaica to be given unto my Daughter Mary Murley I desire also that my other Bible prayer book Silver watch makers name C Penny No 2637 cappers and jewellers Gold Chain Seal and Key to be given unto my son Robert who is never to sell or pawn the same and after his death to his son if lawful issue and I desire that my son Robert shall produce or show the Watch and Chain every time he receives his dividends and if at some distance the said Robert is to produce a Certificate signed by the Minister and Churchwardens stating of his having the said Watch Chain Seal and Key as mentioned above otherwise the said Robert shall pay the sum of Twelve pounds to be deducted from his Annuity to go to my brothers Children I desire that if Mary Bunt be living with me to my death that the said Mary Bunt shall receive the sum of five pounds and a suit of mourning I desire likewise that if John Condy be living with me to my death he the said John Condy shall have the best suit of Clothes I am possessed of vizt hat inside Jacket Shirt Norbloth Stockings pantaloons Coat Waistcoat Boots Shoes also my best black Coat Waistcoat & best great Coat the remainder of my Clothes except my shirts and Norbloths which my son Robert is to have to be divided equally between Stephen Condy and Thomas Rowe And lastly should all my property be insufficient to pay the Legacies it is my desire the same to be paid from my Daughter Mary Murly Annuity In Witness hereof I have set my name and seal this twenty fifth day of March One thousand eight hundred and sixteen George Wason SS Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of us.
Peter Nankivel – Jno Yeoman – James Heayn
Should ever the 3 per Cents Consols be so high from £70 to 80 I wish the whole to be sold out & laid out upon freehold Land Security to be paid half yearly George Wason The following is to be inscribed on my Tombstone “George Wason late of Trethella of this parish and many years of Kingston in Jamaica aged years An honest man George Wason was born 5th August 1766”.
I George Wason of Trethella in the parish of Ruan Lanyhorne in the County of Cornwall farmer being of sound memory blessed be the God of all worries for the same do make this second Memorandum to my last Will and Testament dated the twenty fifth day of March one thousand eight hundred and sixteen Wherein I mentioned of my wish to deliver Trethella Estate up at Michaelmas after my death into the Lanlords hands but I now declare it to be my last wish and desire not to deliver Trethella Estate before the end of the term but carried on by Executors Guardians and Trustees for the benefit of my Estate such so the Landlord or Landlady will pay the sum of fifty pounds (or leave it to arbitration) into the hands of my Executors Guardians and Trustees in behalf of my Children Mary Mury and Robert for the different Buildings that I laid out on Trethella Estate likewise it tis my wish that my Landlord or Landlady shall take the Thrashing Machine and the Cyder Press at a fair valuation and likewise it tis my wish and desire that John Nankivell Senr his executors and Assigns shall keep the Meadow he now holds for and during the full term I agrees with him for the said John Nankivell Senr his Executors and Assigns by paying the same yearly rent which he now pays and again it is my wish that James Tregigion shall keep the Moors under the fourteen Acres for the full term he took the same from from me by me the said James Tregigion paying the yearly sum of six pounds ten shillings therefore it tis my last wish that the said John Nankivell Senr his Executors and Assigns and James Tregigion shall have their takes in the said Land they now hold to be made good to them by the Landlord or Landlady of Trethella before my Executors Guardians and Trustees do give up Trethella to my Landlord or Landlady and again it tis my wish that my Executors Guardians and Trustees shall keep back the sum of ten shillings and eight pence of the first money they pay unto my Daughter Mary Murly and pay the same unto Mrs M Pawley of Tregony Shopkeeper being the amount of my Daughter Mary Murly can in debt unknowing to me in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen In the last place I mentioned in my Will of the Twenty fifth day of last March that my son Robert should have my Silver Watch Makers Name C Penny Bristol No 2637 Cappers and Jewellers with the gold Chain and key and Gold Seal but I now declare it to be my last wish and desire that Mr Robert Holditch Surgeon who married my Daughter Mary Murly shall have my said silver watch makers name C Penny Bristol No 2637 Cappers & Jewellers with the Gold Chain gold key and gold seal In witness wherein I have set my hand and seal this eight day of August one thousand eight hundred and sixteen George Wason SS Seal and signed in the presence of us.
Elizabeth Miners – Dorcas Bennett
In the goods of George Wason decd Thirty first day of December 1817.
Appeared Personally Samuel Yeoman of Ruan Lanyhorne in the County of Cornwall farmer and Peter Nankivell of Ruan Lanyhorne in the said County farmer and being sworn upon the holy Evangelists to depose the truth in an oath that they knew and were well acquainted with George Wason late of the parish of Ruan Lanyhorne in the County of Cornwall deceased for several years before and to the time of his death and also with his manner and character of hand writing and subscription having often seen him write and also subscribe his name and having now carefully perused the following memorandum appraising written under the writing endorsed on the last Will and Testament of the deceased hereunto annexed and purporting a codicil thereto to be the first of the memorandums being in the words following (to wit)Should ever the three per cents Consols be so high from 70£ to 80£ I wish the whole to be sold out and laid out upon freehold Land Security to be paid half yearly and this subscribed “George Wason” and the further Memorandum being in the words following “The following is to be inscribed on my Tombstone George Wason late of Trethella of this parish and many years of Kinston Jamaica aged years an honest man George Wason was born 5 of August 1766” They must possess do further depose that they do verily and in their conscious believe the whole body series and contents of the said scribed memorandums to be the proper hand writing and subscription of the said deceased. Saml Yeoman, Peter Nankivell same day the said Samuel Yeoman and Peter Nankivell were duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit by virtue of the Annexes Commission before me Edward Rodd Commissioner.
Proved at London with two Codicils 15th January 1818 before the Judge by the oaths of the reverend Richard Budd clerk Henry Behenna and James Bennett three of the executors to whom admon was granted having been first sworn by Commission duly to administer power reserved of making the like grant to James Eddy the other Executor when he shall apply for the same.
Transcribed by Carol Hughes