Will of Joseph Colgrove of Winslow, butcher, 1894 (proved 1898)

Oxford Probate Registry

BE IT KNOWN  that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament of Joseph Colgrove of Winslow in the County of Buckingham, Butcher, deceased, who died on the 22nd day of July 1898, at Winslow aforesaid, and who at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at Winslow aforesaid, within the District of the Counties of Oxford, Berks and Buckingham, was proved and registered in the District Probate Registry of Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice at Oxford and that Administration of all the estate which by law devolves and vests in the personal representative of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to  William Norris Midgley, of Winslow aforesaid, Solicitors Clerk, the surviving Executor named in the said Will.
Dated the 25th day of October 1898
Gross value of Estate £1,765-1-10
Net value of Personal Estate £789-8-9
Extracted by Willis and Willis, Solicitors, Winslow.
Resworn July 1899 £1155-13-10

This is the last Will and Testament of me of Joseph Colgrove of Winslow in the County of Bucks Butcher I appoint my Brother in law Thomas Keys and my friend William Norris Midgley of Winslow aforesaid Solicitors Clerk (hereinafter referred to as “my said Trustees”) to be the Executors and Trustees of this my Will I bequeath all Policies of Insurance on my life and the farming stock which at my decease may be upon the land rented by me of the Trustees of the late John Maydon unto my said Trustees Upon trust to call in sell and convert the same into money And out of the proceeds arising therefrom to pay off and discharge any Mortgage or Mortgages which may be existing  at the time of my decease upon the two houses and premises at Winslow aforesaid purchased by me from the late Elizabeth Dockray’s Trustees and also to pay my just debts my funeral and testamentary expenses I bequeath any balance remaining out of the proceeds of my said Life Policies and farming stock after payment of the aforesaid Mortgage . . . debts . . . and testamentary expenses unto my Wife Harriet and I also bequeath to her my furniture book debts stock in trade as a Butcher trade fittings and utensils and I devise to her the house shop building yard and premises now occupied by me and the piece of land  in the rear thereof purchased of George Davys Edward Wigley Upon trust to carry on in conjunction with my Son Joseph the business of a Butcher now carried on by me and to retain one moiety of the profits arising from the said business unto her own use and to pay the remaining moiety of such profits unto my said Son Joseph And from and after the decease of my said Wife or the day of her second marriage whichever shall first happen or when and if my said Wife shall if so desirous retire from the said business  I devise and bequeath the aforesaid house shop . . .  and land and any residue then remaining of the balance of the proceeds of the Life Policies and Farming Stock . . .  Book debts then owing the stock in trade  . . .  unto my said Son Joseph absolutely
[p.2] and for him to receive the whole of the future profits from the said business but subject nevertheless to any Mortgage or Mortgages which may be existing upon the said hereditaments and premises lastly hereinbefore mentioned at the time of my decease and to the payment of the legacy or sum of Thirty pounds to each of my Sons William Thomas, Charles Robert, Arthur George and Albert Henry and to my Daughter Esther Eliza Knight within six calendar months next after my said Son Joseph shall come into possession of the aforesaid property And in the event of my said Wife retiring from the said business I bequeath my said furniture unto and equally between her and my said Son Joseph  I devise and bequeath all the rest and residue of my real and personal Estate unto my said Wife Harriet during her Widowhood subject to her insuring the messuages and out buildings and keeping the same insured against loss or damage by fire to their full value and also keeping the same in good repair and condition And from and after the decease of my said Wife or the day of her second marriage whichever shall first happen I devise and bequeath my said residuary real and personal Estate unto my said Trustees Upon trust to sell call in and convert the same into money or such part as shall not consist of money  And after payment out of the proceeds attending such sale calling in and conversion to pay the balance then remaining unto and equally between and among my said Sons William Thomas, Charles Robert, Arthur George and Albert Henry and to my said Daughter Esther Eliza Knight or the issue of such as shall then be dead such issue taking only the share to which his her or their parent would have ben entitled if living Lastly I  revoke all other Wills In Witness whereof I the said John Elley the Testator have hereunto set my hand this Twenty third day of April One thousand eight hundred and ninety four.
Joseph Colgrove [signature]

Signed and acknowledged by the above named Joseph Colgrove the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses.
G. A. Midgley [signature] Ironmongers Assistant, Winslow
Stanley W. Midgley [signature] Clerk to Messrs Willis & Willis, Solicitors, Winslow.

On the Twenty fifth day of October 1898, Probate of this Will was granted at Oxford to William Norris Midgley, the surviving Executor
It is hereby certified that the foregoing is a correct Copy
Dated this Third day of November 1898 

Bucks Herald, 30 July 1898

OBITUARY.- We regret to record the death of Mr. Joseph Colgrove, one of the oldest, best known, and most respected tradesmen of the town who passed away almost suddenly early on Friday morning, July 22nd. Mr. Colgrove had been in business thirty-six years as a butcher, and had of late years had gone in extensively for farming and rearing prize poultry ; whilst as a businessman and a townsman he was admired by all who knew him for the absolute straightforwardness and rectitude of his character. When the Parish Council was formed he occupied a position very near the top of the poll but he relinquished his seat after the first year. On Wednesday week he attended Winslow market as usual and appeared to be in the best of health and spirits. On Thursday morning he was about his business until about eleven o’clock, and then complained of feeling unwell. Apoplexy set in and he lingered till about midnight, passing away as people were leaving the Flower Show dance. Much sympathy was felt and expressed towards Mrs. Colgrove and family in their severe loss.  The interment took place on Monday, the Funeral Service being held at the Congregational Church, conducted by the Rev. J.G. Evans, and attended by the choir who sang the well-known hymns “ Thy will be done” and “Abide with me.” The mourners included Mrs. Colgrove (widow) ; Mr. Joseph and Mr. Arthur Colgrove (sons) ; Mrs. Knight (daughter) ; Mr. Jno. Colgrove, Swanbourne ; Mr. G. Colgrove, London ; Mrs. Baker and Miss P. Colgrove (brothers and sisters) ; Mr. Knight (son-in-law) ; Mrs. and Mrs. Philpott, Buckingham : Mr. John Keys, Mrs. T. Keys, Mrs. and Mrs. F. Phipps, Mr. C. Langley, Mr. T.P. Willis. Among the townspeople following were Rev. W. Major, Messrs F. Benbow, C. Osborn, W.N. Midgley, Geo. Midgley, R. Coxill, W. Turnham, A.J. Clear, D. Grummitt, A. Watson, C. Watson, J. Elley, jun., Gates A. Neal, &c. Messrs Matthew Bros. were the undertakers. Some exceedingly beautiful wreaths were sent as tokens of the sympathy felt for the family.

Notes

The houses purchased from Elizabeth Dockray's trustees were 75-77 High Street. Joseph Colgrove ran his butcher's business at no.75 from the 1860s, when he was also running the Golden Lion. He was born in Swanbourne in 1838 and married Harriet Keys (daughter of Charles Keys of The Stag) in 1861. The surname was sometimes written as Colegrove. The children mentioned in the will are:

Harriet the widow died in 1916 aged 74.

Copyright 13 January, 2022