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Will of William Matthews, builder, 1862 (proved 1878)
Oxford Probate Registry
This is the last Will and Testament of me William Matthews of Winslow in the County of Bucks, Builder. I bequeath the wines liquors fuel and other consumable household stores and provisions and the household furniture plate linen china and glass of which I shall die possessed to my Wife Agnes absolutely. I devise all the real estate to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease (except estates vested in me a Trustee or Mortgagee) and I bequeath the residue of the personal estate to which I shall be then entitled to my Brother John Matthews and my Brother in Law Thomas Wright their heirs executors administrators and assigns respectively Upon trust to sell my real estate together or in parcels by Public Auction or Private Contract and to convert and get in my residuary personal estate But no sale shall take place of all or any of my real estate during the Widowhood of my said Wife without her written consent The rents of the unsold real estate to be paid to my said Wife during her Widowhood for her own use and to invest the monies to arise from such real estate and the residuary personal estate in the names or name of the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of my Will in or upon any of the Public Stocks funds or securities of the United Kingdom or any real securities in England with liberty for the said Trustees or Trustee with the consent in writing of my said Wife during her Widowhood and after her decease or second marriage at their own discretion to vary and transpose the investment from time to time for any other investment of the description aforesaid. And upon further trust to permit and empower my said Wife during her Widowhood to receive the annual income of the said monies or the stocks funds and securities whereon the same shall be invested. And after the death or second marriage of my said Wife which shall first happen as to the same monies stocks funds and securities and the annual income thenceforth to become due for the same Upon trust for such child or children of mine then living and such issue then living of my child or children then deceased as [p.2] shall either before or after the death or marriage of my said Wife attain the age of twenty one years or previously marry And I empower my Trustees after the death or second marriage of my said Wife to apply the whole or any part of the income of the contingent shares of the respective children and issue aforesaid in or towards their respective maintenance or otherwise for their respective benefit and I direct my Trustees to accumulate the unapplied income and add the accumulations to the capital of the respective shares whence the income shall have arisen And I also empower my Trustees to apply after the death or second marriage of my said Wife or during her Widowhood with her consent in writing any part not exceeding a moiety of the capital of the contingent shares of the respective children and issue aforesaid in or towards their respective advancement in life I declare that the provision hereinbefore made for my said Wife is in satisfaction of the dower and thirds if any to which she shall be entitled out of any real estate of mine I devise all real estates if any which may at my decease be vested in me as Trustee or Mortgagee to the said John Matthews and Thomas Wright subject to the equities affecting the same respectively I empower the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of this my Will to give receipts for all monies and effects to be paid or delivered to such Trustees or Trustee by virtue of my Will and declare that such receipts shall exonerate purchasers and others taking the same from liability to see to the application or disposition of the monies or effects therein mentioned. I empower the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of this my Will to compound or allow time for the payment of any debt or debts due to my estate and to settle all demands against my estate and all accounts between me and any person or persons on such terms as my said Trustees or Trustee shall in their or his discretion think expedient and to refer any matters in difference relating to my affairs to arbitration I declare that if my said Trustees or any of them or any person or persons to be appointed under this clause shall die or be unwilling or incompetent to execute the trusts of my [p.3] Will it shall be lawful for my said Wife during her Widowhood and after her death or second marriage for the competent Trustee or Trustees for the time being if any whether retiring from office of Trustee or not or if none of the executors or administrators or either or any of the executors or administrators of the last surviving Trustee to substitute by any writing under his or their hand or hands any fit person or persons in whom alone or as the case may be jointly with the surviving or continuing Trustees or Trustee my trust estate shall be vested and I exempt every Trustee of my Will from liability for losses occurring without his own lawful default and authorise him to retain and allow to his Co trustee or Co trustees all expenses incidental to the Trusteeship I appoint my said Brother John Matthews and my said Brother in Law Thomas Wright to be Executors and Trustees of my Will and I appoint my Wife she continuing my Widow and after her death or second marriage the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of my Will to be Guardian or Guardians of the persons and fortunes of my infant Children Lastly I revoke all other Wills
In Witness whereof I the said William Matthews the Testator have to each sheet of this my last Will and Testament contained on two sheets of paper set my hand this Eighth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty two William Matthews [signature]
This sheet and the sheet of paper hereto annexed were each signed by the said William Matthews the Testator in the joint presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses D.T. Willis [signature] Thos Price Willis [signature] Solicitors, Winslow, Bucks
Proved at Oxford the Twenty fifth day of September 1878, by the oath of John Matthews, the Brother, one of the Executors to whom administration was granted. Thomas Wright, the other Executor named in the Will having renounced the Probate and execution thereof.
The Testator William Matthews was late of Winslow in the County of Buckingham, Builder and died on the Fifth day of August 1878, at Linslade in the County of Buckingham.
Under £1,500
Willis and Willis, Solicitors, Winslow.
It is hereby certified that the foregoing is a correct Copy.
Dated this Third day of October 1878.
ON the Twenty fifth day of September 1878 the Will of William Matthews late of Winslow in the County of Buckingham, Builder, deceased, who died on the Fifth day of August 1878 at Linslade in the County of Buckingham was proved in the High Court of Justice in the District Registry attached to the Probate Division thereof at Oxford of by the Oath of John Matthews of Guilsborough in the County of Northampton, Carpenter, the Brother of the deceased one of the Executors named (in the said Will) he having been first sworn duly to administer. Thomas Wright, the other Executor named in the said Will, having renounced the Probate and execution thereof.
It is hereby certified that the above is a correct Copy.
Dated this Third day of October 1878.
Notes
William Matthews was aged 56 at his death. He was born on 4 July 1822 according to the Baptist register; he was the son of William (d.1860) and Mary (d.1856) Matthews and his father was deacon and trustee. He was the brother of Thomas Matthews who went to Australia and compiled Reminiscences of the Old Baptist Meeting House. The family builder's business claimed to have started in 1777 (see below), presumably by Thomas Matthews who is listed as a carpenter in 1798. William's brother John, the executor, moved to Guilsborough, Northants. William lived in Horn Street next to the family’s builder's yard with his wife Agnes Wright (from Scotland); they were married in Birmingham in 1849. She predeceased him in 1877 but he did not remake his will. They had two surviving sons who carried on the very successful firm of Matthews Brothers: read more about the family business. The inventory below gives some idea of the layout of the house. The valuation suggests a prosperous business.
1878: Buckingham Advertiser, 10 Aug
A WINSLOW TRADESMAN FOUND DEAD IN THE CANAL AT LEIGHTON.
On Tuesday afternoon last, an inquest was held at the Bedford Arms Inn, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, upon view of the body of William Matthews, a master builder and carpenter, of Winslow, who had been found drowned in the Grand Junction Canal on the previous day (Monday) near Bossington Lock.
J. Fell, Esq., deputy-coroner for Bucks, conducted the enquiry, Mr. W. Carter being chosen foreman of a respectable jury.
T. P. Willis, Esq., solicitor, of Winslow, watched the proceedings on behalf of the relatives of the deceased.
Richard James Matthews, son of deceased, stated that his father, who was a widower, 52 years of age, was last at home on the previous Wednesday evening. He had suffered much from indigestion, and had been medically attended; but he was in his usual state of health when witness last saw him. He had been working on the Wednesday at Swanbourne, came home at 7 in the evening, had tea, went out soon afterwards, and witness did not see him again until he was shown his dead body on Monday. Deceased had never talked as though he were likely to destroy himself. He left home on friendly terms with his family, and witness knew of no special business anxiety. Witness went to bed on the Wednesday night at half-past nine, his father being then out. Witness rose next morning at six, and then found his father (who usually slept with him) had been to bed, by the disarrangement of the clothing. He was not otherwise aware of his father’s presence during the night. The clothes now on deceased were in the room when witness went to bed, so that his father must have changed his suit in the room.
Mr. Henry Sharp, assistant to Dr. Newham, of Winslow, deposed that deceased had suffered from and been treated for dyspepsia, or indigestion, which had a tendency to produce melancholy.
Mr. H. Ingram, butcher, of Winslow, stated that he had particularly noticed the low state of mind in which deceased appeared twice during the day on the Wednesday, and again when he passed him in the street late on Wednesday night. ...
The Coroner briefly recapitulated the evidence directed the jury as to the causes they might take in arriving at a verdict upon the scant evidence before them, and suggested there was no testimony as to the state of the deceased’s mind.
The Jury, after some consultation, returned a verdict of “Found drowned.”
The body was removed to Winslow the same evening.
Bucks Archives, D-WIG/2/7/1878/2: Auction sale poster for 3-4 Bellevue Terrace with building ground in Winslow, with plan of land at Winslow for sale by Gadsden and Sons in 1878 [William Matthews, deceased]
D-X_1036/5/1: Conveyance with covenant to produce deeds, 23 Jun 1879
(1) John Matthews of Guilsborough, Northamptonshire, cabinet maker (on the death of his brother William Matthews)
(2) William Tomblin of Winslow, Permanent Way Inspector
(3) Ferdinand Loffler and Joseph Loffler of Winslow, watchmakers and jewellers
(1) conveys to (2) with (3) covenanting to produce deeds if necessary:
Piece of building ground in Station Road, Winslow (part of Lot 2) having a frontage of 13 yards to the Road, bounded on the south by the road, on the east by the other part of Lot 2, sold to James Walker, on the north by the London and North Western Railway, and on the west by property belonging to Ferdinand and Joseph Loffler
Bucks Archives, D/WIG/2/1/4
- 54 -
Valuation of Household Furniture
Stock in trade of a Carpenter & Builder & Effects at Winslow Bucks late the Property of Mr William Matthews deceased Taken for administration August 12 1878
UpStairs Sitting Room
Mahogany Pembroke table & cloth cover
6 Cane seat chairs & cushions
Brussels Carpet to room & hearthrug
Cane seat American chair with cush(ion)
Round gipsy table & cloth cover
Book shelves & books
Gilt pier glass
Chimney ornaments
Fender & set of fire irons
Round table with crimson cloth cover
Letter scales & weights
Mahogany Curtain Pole rings & pair of curtains
Easy chair in leather
2 tea trays
11 pictures
Small curtain pole & muslin curt(ain)
Q(uanti)ty of china glass & earthenware in closet
2 silver teaspoons, q(uanti)ty of electro-plated spoons & forks
Bed Room No.1
Painted iron French Bedst(ea)d
2 Flock beds
Wool mattress
1 Blanket Counterpane & Sheet
Bedside Carpets
2 Dressing tables
Mahog(an)y Swing Glass
Toilet service
1 Cane seat chair
Commode
Pair muslin curtains & [?]valance
16 – 0 - 0
- 55 -
Back bedroom No.1
Painted French Bedst(ea)d with damask furniture
Straw palliasse
Hair mattress
Wool bed
Feather bed Flock bolster & 2 feather pillows
Kidderminster carpet to room
3 wool mats
Hearthrug
5 Cane seat chairs
1 Blanket 2 sheets & Counterpane
Mahog(an)y chest of 5 drawers
China punch bowl & 2 [illegible] ladles
Painted wash stand & service
Earthen foot pan
Painted dre(ssing?) table & cover
Mahog(an)y dressing glass
Easy chair in cotton damask
Fender fire irons & guard
American clock
Round table & cover
Pair deal curtain poles brass rings & 2 pairs dimity window curtains
Linen chest with cover
Small grain(ed) oak wardr(obe) & cover
Mahog(an)y swing glass
Kidderminster carpet floor cloth & rugs in passage
Front bedroom No.2
Oak French Bedstead
Straw palliasse
Feather bed bolster & pillows
Blanket Counterpane & 2 sheets
Bedside carpet
Dressing table with muslin cover
Swing glass
\Oak/ wash stand with cover & service
Painted towel rail
Pair muslin wind(ow) curtains & valance
2 Cane seat chairs
14 – 13 - 6
- 56 -
Sundries in attic
Back Bedroom No.2
Painted Iron French Bedstead
Damask furniture & poles to d(itt)o
Flock mattress
Fibre mattress
White Count(erpan)e Blanket & 2 sheets
Feather bed bolster & 2 pillows
Eider down quilt
Bedside carpets
Fender & ash pans
Painted wash stand & service
Towel rail
Dressing table with muslin cover
Mahog(an)y swing glass
Mahog(an)y chest four drawers
2 Cane seat chairs
Stool with work top
Pair Muslin curtains & valance
Front Store Room
Linen chest & q(uanti)ty of linen
Deal chest cont(ainin)g 6 blankets
5 white counterpanes & sundry curtains
Childs high chair
2 boxes & q(uanti)ty of wearing apparel
2 pieces of oil cloth & carpet
Hip bath & sponge
Pice [sic] of Kidderminster carpet
Q(uanti)ty of undertaking materials
3 pieces American Cloth
Q(uanti)ty of paper hangings
Carpet & drugget to staircase & 2 mats
Office
Writing desk with 3 drawers
3 Windsor chairs
Windsor arm chair & cushion
Book shelves & drawers
Fender & fire irons
Q(uanti)ty of window cord, sash lines sand papers
34 – 19 – 6
- 57 -
Sitting Room
Cocoa matting
6 Windsor chairs & one elbow d(itt)o
Deal table & cover
Eton Stool
Oak corner cupboard
Q(uanti)ty of earthenware & teapots [?]&c
Iron Kitchen Fender & set of fire irons & iron stand
Oak folding table & green cloth cover
Couch with horse hair & feather cushions
3 Benzoline chamber lamps & 1 Paraffin D(itt)o
Bread tray & [?]waiter
2 Dish Covers, Pair Brass Candelabra, 2 Teapots, Cruet stand & Cruets, 6 Tumblers,
Sundries, Sundry china & earthenware
Pantry
Meat safe (perforated grille)
2 galv(anise)d washing [?]tr(ou)ghs, bread pan & cover
Double corn bin
Parlour
Sofa with horsehair cushion & squab
Feather pillow & 3 antimacassars
Fender & set fire irons
Kidderminster carpet to room & hearthrug
Pice [sic] of India matting & 2 door mats
6 cane seat chair with damask cushion
Easy cane seat chair with cushion
[deletion] easy chair in leather
Side table (ash) & crimson cover
Mahog(an)y centre table on pillar 2 claws
American clock
10 – 16 – 6
- 58 -
Mahog(an)y curtain pole with rings
Pair of Muslin Window curtains
Oak Bureau & Book Shelves
\Plated/ cruet frame & cruets, q(uanti)ty of books, glasses
Store Room
Deal painted table
Paraffin lamp
Sundry stores
Front Passage
Pieces floor cloth
Door mat
Carper Drugget & Brass rods to Staircase
Wheel Barometer
Kitchen
Deal Kitchen table
Deal Dresser with Cupboard & [?]3 Drawers
2 Window curtains
Fender & fire irons
[illegible] copper [illegible]
Sundry tin ware, salt box, meat [?]safe, [?]betty, [?]pair water [illegible], [?]American [illegible] Chest, coal box
Pantry
Q(uanti)ty of blue & white ware
[?]3 meat covers, 5 saucepans
Q(uanti)ty of white & yellow ware & sundries
Iron mongery Stock in hand
Q(uanti)ty of foreign deals, battens, floor boards, rafters & [illegible] &c
Q(uanti)ty of elm & oak coffin boards
Q(uanti)ty of [?]oak scantlings
20 scaffold planks
Q(uanti)ty of paints & materials
Q(uanti)ty of window glass
149 – 11 – 6
- 59 -
[deletion]
Q(uanti)ty of iron spouting
Q(uanti)ty of sundry wood
Q(uanti)ty of lime & cement
Sundry doors, frames, chimney pieces &c.
\Patent/ [?]Morticeing Machine by Weigh
Q(uanti)ty of carpenter’s tools, carp benches & sundries
Q(uanti)ty of ironmongery, window fittings, nails, hinges, screws
Horses Carriages etc
Bay Horse aged
Set of thill harness
Black nag horse [illegible] 5
Set of trace harness
Corn bin
Bay mare age [?] in foal
Set of thill harness
[Illegible]
Q(uanti)ty of Staffordshire & other pipes
\4/ Pairs of Steps
4 Ladders
Spring day cart
Hand truck on springs
Timber carriage & chains
Light spring cart
Grass Field Timber Yard
Post & Boarded Shed 25 yards long
4 inch wheel cart on iron arms
Q(uanti)ty of Scaffold poles, 2 ash butts, 1 oak butt
1 d(itt)o
2 elm butts sawn in boards
Q(uanti)ty of sawn elm boards
3 Foreign deals oak planks
English oak planks
2 sash sill planks
1 Deal Plank
15 Scaffold Planks
3 lengths oak scantling
Rick poles
157 – 13 – 0
- 60 -
2 beech butts & 2 beech [?]tops sawn in planks
Elm butt sawn in boards
Q(uanti)ty of oak tops
Q(uanti)ty of rough ash planks
Q(uanti)ty of oak [?]quartering
7 scaffold planks
Q(uanti)ty elm boards
Oak \Elm/ Butts
ft
1 25
2 17
3 60
4 20
5 8
6 8
7 8
8 22
9 20
10 8
11 20
12 18
13.14 12
100 346
10 Elms tops 100ft 9
1 Elm 20
1 D(itt)o 12
1 D(itt)o 14
46
Ash Butts
1 20
2 20
3 30
4 28
98 2/- 9 -16 – 0
Q(uanti)ty oak tops
Q(uanti)ty oak Elm & Ash slabs & tops
5 morticed oak Posts
Q(uanti)ty ash rails
Rick of new hay 15 x 14 x 9
2 Bridge centres
64 -10 – 0
- 61 -
Station Road yard
6,000 Blue Slates 40 - 0 – 0
2,000 Stafford Bricks 4 - 10 – 0
1,200 Rubbing Bricks 5 - 0 – 0
Stafford Pipes
100 6 in
18 Junctions
11 small d(itt)o 4 – 10 – 0
12 9 in d(itt)o
2 d(itt)o Junctions
Sundries 1 - 10 – 0
Oak Timber purchased at Swanbourne 40 - 0 – 0
D(itt)o at Winslow 30 - 0 – 0
125 – 10 – 0
Wearing apparel
Silver watch 16 – 0 – 0
14 – 13 – 6
34 – 19 – 6
10 – 16 – 6
149 – 11 – 6
157 – 13 – 0
64 – 10 – 0
573 – 14 - 0