[Note: the text below is taken from a copy of the will that was made on parchment for the court of probate.]

 

 

This is the last Will and Testament of me Edward Grimes Abbott of Ipswich in the county of Suffolk Currier of which I nominate and appoint my friend William Garrod of Ipswich aforesaid Ship Surveyer and my Daughter  Harriet Wells of Ipswich aforesaid Widow executors   I direct them my said executors in the first place after my decease to pay and discharge all my just debts and my funeral and testamentary expenses  I give and bequeath to Mary Ann Wilkinson the wife of James Wilkinson of Ipswich aforesaid Master Mariner the sum of ten Pounds  I give and bequeath (subject as hereinafter mentioned) the sum of Fifty pounds to be equally divided by my said executors between all the children of my daughter Mary Ann Howe the wife of Thomas Potter Howell of Ipswich aforesaid Schoolmaster  I give and bequeath (also subject as hereinafter mentioned) to my Granddaughter Harriet Louisa Wells the sum of One hundred pounds  And I direct that the last mentioned legacies shall be paid to the several Legatees as soon as can be next after my decease  I give and bequeath the Oil Painting of myself to my Daughter Harriet Wells for and during her natural life and at her decease I give the said Oil Painting to my Daughter Mary Ann Howe if then living if not then I give the same to my Daughter Hannah Abbott of Ipswich aforesaid Spinster  And case both of them the said Mary Ann Howe and Hannah Abbott shall be dead at the time of the decease of the said Harriet Wells then I give the said oil painting to my said Granddaughter Harriet Louisa Wells  I give and bequeath all my household furniture plate linen and china Books and other household effects in my dwelling house at the time of  my decease unto my said Daughter  Hannah Abbott absolutely  And as to all the rest residue and remainder of my estate and effects whatsoever I give the same unto and to be equally divided between my said three daughters the said Harriet Wells Mary Ann Howe and Hannah Abbott share and share alike  And in case the said Hannah Abbott shall die in my lifetime then I give her share under this will equally to be divided between her two sisters Harriet Wells and Mary Ann Howe  And in case the said Harriet Wells shall die in my lifetime then the legacy of One hundred pounds hereinbefore bequeathed to the said Harriet Louisa Wells shall be void and in lieu thereof I give to the said Harriet Louisa Wells the one third part or share in the residue of my personal estate which her said Mother if living would have been entitled to  And in case the said Mary Ann Howe shall die in my lifetime then the Legacy of Fifty pounds hereinbefore bequeathed to all the children of the said Mary Ann Howe shall be void and in lieu thereof I give to the said children of the said Mary Ann Howe the one third part or share of the residue of my personal Estate which their said Mother if living would have been entitled to   I give devise and bequeath unto the said William Garrod and Harriet Wells all real estates vested in me as Mortgagee or Trustee  To Hold  to them the said William Garrod and Harriet Wells their heirs and executors administrators and assigns according to the qualities and natures of such estates respecively upon such trusts and subject to such equities as the same are now held by me   And I declare that my said executors and each of them shall be chargeable for such monies only as they respectively shall actually receive by virtue of the trusts hereby in him or her reposed notwithstanding his or her giving or joining in giving any receipt for the sake of conformity  And that neither of then shall be answerable for the other of them nor for the acts receipts neglects or defaults of the other of them nor for involuntary losses  And that it shall be lawful for them respectly out of the monies which shall come to his and her respective hands to deduct retain and reimburse himself and herself all costs charges damages and expenses which he or she shall suffer sustain or be put onto in the execution of this my Will or in relation thereto  Lastly I revoke all former wills and declare this to be my last  In Witness whereof I have at the end or foot of this my Will set my hand this fourth day of December One thousand eight hundred and sixty one 

 

                                                            Edward Grimes Abbott

 

Signed by the said Edward Grimes Abbott as and for his last Will and by us as witnesses thereto all of us being present together at the time of said signing (the words "unto my said Daughter" being first interlined and the words "and that" struck through)  /s  H. Chamberlain /s Rachel Chamberlain} both of Ipswich




[separate piece of parchment, attached to will at bottom; printed form with handwritten parts in italics]

 

In her Majesty's Court of Probate.


            BE IT KNOWN that on the twenty ninth day of July 1873 the last Will and Testament hereunto annexed, of Edward Grimes Abbott late of Ipswich in the County of Suffolk Currier deceased, who died on the fourteenth day of July in 1873, in Ipswich aforesaid, and who at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at Ipswich aforesaid within the district of the Easterly Division of the County of Suffolk and the North Division of the County of Essex, was proved, and registered in the Distinct Registry attached to her Majesty's Court of Probate at Ipswich, and that administration of all and singular the personal estate and effects of this said deceased was granted by the aforesaid court to William James (in the Will written William) Garrod of Ipswich aforesaid Ship Surveyer and Harriet Wells of Ipswich aforesaid Widow the daughter of the said deceased the executors named in the said Will they have been being first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same, by paying the just debts of the deceased and the legacies contained in his Will, and to exhibit a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the said estate and effects, and to render a just and true account thereof whenever required by law so to do.                                                                        /s/ GW Tho Dennis (?)

                                                            District Registrar

 

 

Source: Collection of Peter Tiersma