Will of George Mayne, gentleman, 1867 (proved 1868)

Oxford Probate Registry

ON the Eighteenth day of January 1868 the Will of George Mayne late of Winslow in the County of Buckingham, Gentleman, deceased, who died on the Thirteenth  day of November  1867 at Winslow aforesaid, was proved in the District Registry attached to her Majesty’s Court of Probate at Oxford,  by the Oaths of Mary Gibbs Morecraft of Winslow aforesaid, Widow, and Elizabeth Dockray, of the same place, Widow, the Daughters of the deceased, the Executrixes named in the said Will they having been first sworn duly to administer,
It us hereby certified that the above is a correct Copy. Dated this Twenty third day of January 1868.
Effects under £450 No Leaseholds
Extracted by Willis and Willis, Solicitors, Winslow, Bucks

This is the last Will and Testament of me George Mayne of Winslow in the County of Bucks Gentleman. I give and bequeath unto my Son George Thomas Mayne, and to Elizabeth Ann his Wife, the legacy or sum of Ten pounds each, to be paid to them respectively within one week after my funeral. And unto my Son John Mayne, the legacy or sum of One hundred pounds, and unto my Son Richard Gibbs Mayne, the legacy or sum of Thirty pounds to be paid to them respectively within Six Calendar Months after my decease. I devise unto my said Son John and to his heirs and assigns for ever All those Two Freehold Messuages or Tenements, situated in Winslow, fronting the Turnpike Road there, and now in the respective occupations of my said Son John, and John Sharp, with a right of way to and from the same along the passage leading out of the said Turnpike Road [182-184 High Street]. Also I give and devise unto my said Son John Mayne and Mary his Wife. All those my Ten Freehold Cottages or Tenements situated in Winslow aforesaid near to the two Messuages or Tenements hereinbefore devised with a right of way to and from the same along the passage leading out of the said Turnpike Road [Piccadilly]. To hold the same unto the use of the said Son John Mayne and Mary his Wife, and the survivor of them during their joint lives and the life of the longer liver of them, they he or she keeping the same in good and tenantable repair and insured against loss or damage by fire to the full value thereof, in the names of the Trustees of my Will, but subject to and charged with the payment of the weekly sums hereinafter mentioned. And from and immediately after the decease of the survivor of them  the said Son John Mayne and Mary his Wife I devise the said Ten Freehold Cottages or Tenements with the right of way and other appurtenances unto my Daughters Mary Gibbs Morecraft Widow, and Elizabeth Dockray, Widow, their heirs and assigns,  subject to the weekly sums hereinafter mentioned, if they or either of them shall then be payable. Upon trust with all convenient speed to sell and dispose of the said Cottages or Tenements, with their appurtenances (subject as

[p.2] aforesaid) together or in lots, either by Public Auction or Private Contract as my said Trustees shall think fit with full power liberty to buy in the same at any Auction and resell the same at some future Auction or Private Contract, without being answerable for any loss to be occasioned thereby, and to receive the purchase moneys thereof, and thereout pay out all charges and expenses of and attending such sale, and to divide the residue of the sale moneys in equal shares and proportions, unto and among all the present and future born Children of my said Sons George Thomas Mayne and Richard Gibbs Mayne, as and when they shall severally attain the age of twenty one years, with benefit of survivorship among all such Children as to the share or shares as well original  as accruing of . . . any of them dying under that age under . . .  minorities . . .  any of my said Grandchildren. I direct my Trustees to invest in their own names in some Bank for Savings or on such other . . . securities as they shall think fit, the share of every such minor Grandchild and to receive the interest and annual produce thereof, and to apply the same for the maintenance of such Grandchild, or accumulate the same for his or her benefit, until he or she shall attain the age of twenty one years at the discretion of my said Trustees. I bequeath unto my said Daughter in Law Elizabeth Ann Mayne, and her assigns, during the term of her natural life, the weekly sum of Six shillings to be issuing as a rent charge

[p.3] out of the said Ten Freehold Cottages or Tenements hereinbefore devised, and to be paid into the proper hands of the said Elizabeth Ann Mayne, for her sole and separate use, free from the control, debts, contracts, or engagements of my  said Son George Thomas Mayne for which said weekly sum I direct that her receipts alone shall from time to time notwithstanding her coverture be sufficient \discharges/. The first payment of the said weekly sum to commence at the end of one week after my death. I bequeath unto my said Son George Thomas Mayne his assigns from and after the death of his Wife, during the remainder of his natural life, the weekly sum of Three shillings to be issuing as a rent charge out of the said Ten Freehold Cottages or Tenements hereinbefore devised the first payment thereof to be made at the end of one week after the death of the survivor of me, and his said Wife. In case of non payment of the said weekly sums or either of them for the space of four weeks or upwards, I direct that the same may be recovered by distress upon the said ten Cottages or tenements or any part thereof in the same manner as Landlords are by law empowered to recover rents reserved on common demises. I devise unto my Daughter the said Mary Gibbs Morecraft, and to her heirs . . .  all my land and hereditaments and real Estate, situate lying and being in the Parish Great Horwood, in the said County of Bucks, subject nevertheless to any incumbrances affecting the same. I devise unto my Daughter Maria the Wife of John Mayne, and to her heirs . . .  All that my Public House called or known by the name or sign of “the Kings Head” situate . . .  in Cow Street in Winslow . . .  and now let on lease to Edward Terry. And also all that my other Messuage or Tenement situate . . . in the Buckingham Road of Winslow . . . and now in the occupation of Edlin White [not identified], with the rights members and appurtenances to the same premises respectively belonging, subject nevertheless to any incumbrances . . . I devise unto my Daughter Matilda the Wife of Frederick Goodchild, and to her heirs . . .  All those my Six Cottages . . .  situate in the Buckingham Road . . . opposite property belonging to Richard Coxhill, and which Cottages . . . are now in the occupations of John Allen and others [now 46-54 High Street]. And also all that my Close of Arable Land, called the Brick Field situate . . . in Winslow . . . with the Cottage standing thereon [Furze Lane Cottage], and all other, if any, the rights members . . . I devise unto my Daughter Elizabeth Dockray her heirs . . . all those

[p.4] my three Messuages with the outbuildings thereto belonging situate  . .  in the Buckingham Road in Winslow . . . and now in the respective occupations of myself, Joseph Colgrove, and John Mason Scott [75-79 High Street; George Mayne must have lived at 77]. And also All that my Messuage or tenement situate . . . in the Market Square of Winslow . . . and now in the occupation of Matthew Fulks [4 High St, rebuilt by George Mayne in 1845]. And all other my Real Estate, if any, not hereinbefore otherwise disposed of, with the rights . . . I bequeath my household goods and furniture, linen, china and other household effects, unto my said two Daughters Mary Gibbs Morecraft and Elizabeth Dockray, to be equally divided between them . . . I bequeath my plate and the residue of my personal Estate to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease, after payment thereout of my just debts, my funeral and testamentary expenses unto my said four Daughters Mary Gibbs Morecraft, Maria Mayne, Matilda Goodchild, and Elizabeth Dockray, to be equally divided between them . . . I declare . . . that in case the residue of my personal Estate shall be insufficient to pay the legacies hereinbefore bequeathed and my just debts . . .  my said four Daughters Mary Gibbs Morecraft, Maria Mayne, Matilda Goodchild, and Elizabeth Dockray, shall make up for such deficiency in equal shares. I appoint my said two Daughters Mary Gibbs Morecraft and Elizabeth Dockray Executrixes and also Trustees of my Will. I devise all my real Estate, if any, which shall at my decease be vested in me as Trustee or Mortgagee, to my said Trustees, subject to the Trust and equities affecting the same respectively. I declare that the receipts of my . . .  Trustees shall exonerate purchasers, Mortgagees and others paying . . . moneys . .  to such Trustees by virtue pf my Will, from all liability in respect of the application thereof. . . I declare that if my . . .  Trustees or either of them shall disclaim or . . . either of them or . . . any

[p.5] Trustee . .  to be appointed  under this Clause shall die or decline or become incompetent to act as Trustee . .  . of my Will it shall be lawful for the competent accepting Trustees . . . whether retiring from the office of Trustee or not, or if none, for the executors . . of the last deceased Trustee, to subscribe by any writing under . . .  their hand any person . . . in whom any . . . continuing . . . Trustee my trust estate shall be vested. And I further declare that the clauses hereinbefore contained so far as they concern my Trustees hereinbefore named, shall extend and be applied to the Trustees . . . of my Will.   And I further declare that the Trustees . . . of my Will shall not be answerable for each others acts or receipts, nor the losses happening without their own respective default, and shall be at liberty to retain and allow each other all expenses incident to the execution of the trusts and powers of my Will. Lastly I revoke all other Wills. In Witness whereof I the said George Mayne , the Testator, have to each sheet of this my Will contained in five sheets of paper, set my hand this Eighth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty seven. George Mayne [signature]

This sheet and the four sheets of paper hereto annexed, were severally signed by the said George Mayne, the Testator, in the joint presence of us, who at his request, in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses. Thos Price Willis [signature] Attorney, Winslow. Arthur S. Midgley [signature] his Clerk.     
(21 folios)

Proved at Oxford the Eighteenth day of January 1868, by the Oaths of Mary Gibbs Morecraft \Widow/, and Elizabeth Dockray, Widow, the Daughters, the Executrixes, to whom Administration was granted.
The Testator George Mayne was late of Winslow in the County of Buckingham, Gentleman, and died on the Thirteenth day of January November 1867 at Winslow aforesaid,
Under £450

Willis and Willis, Solicitors, Winslow, Bucks
It is hereby certified that the foregoing is a correct Copy. Dated this Twenty third day of January 1868.

Notes

George Mayne was aged 76 when he died. His wife Ann (nee Hudson) died in 1849 aged 59. They were married at Stony Stratford in about 1814 and lived there for a time. He was postmaster and maltster in 1841, living at 5 Market Square, and farmer and brickmaker in 1851. He also kept The Windmill in the 1820s and the King's Head c.1828-32 (he remained owner of the latter), and he was a carpenter and builder in the 1830s. He was appointed postmaster in 1839, when his other occupation was given as innkeeper, but he was apparently dismissed before the appointment of his successor Grant King in 1845 (British Postal Museum and Archive, POST 58/39). His parents were Robert Mayne and Penelope Gibbs (later Hall). He benefited under the will of his great-uncle Richard Gibbs (1816). He was the grandson of John Mayne, butcher (will proved 1803).

The children mentioned in the will are:

Bicester Herald, 29 Nov 1867
  FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR. CHURCHWARDEN MAYNE, OF WINSLOW.- The remains  of the above gentleman were on Tuesday consigned to the tomb at Winslow.  The cortege left the house at two o’clock, and was headed by the vicar, and Dr. Newham, and T. P. Willis, Esq.  Following immediately after the members of the deceased’s family were a large number of the respectable inhabitants of the town, with several of his humbler friends, all animated by the one desire of showing the greatest possible respect to the deceased gentleman.  In this procession we noticed the members of the late church choir, a body of townsmen for whom the late churchwarden always expressed his esteem, and whose exertions he did his best to encourage.  The late choir had most willingly and gratefully acceded to the wishes of the relatives of the deceased that some piece of music should be performed in the church; but the necessary permission, for some unexplained reason, was withheld by the vicar, and thus the remains of our venerable and venerated townsman were interred without the solemn harmonious sounds which in life he loved so well, and to which, surely, from the office he held, he was entitled.  The funeral service was read by the vicar, and then one and all took a lingering look at the last resting place of a gentleman respected by all classes, and who died as he had lived, a truly Christian man.  “Requiescat in pace.”- COMMUNICATED.

Rev. Alfred Preston's conduct of the funeral was one of the parishioners' grievances against him. Read more.

Buckingham Advertiser, 14 Dec 1867
HIGH STREET, WINSLOW
THE VERY USEFUL HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE,
Feather Beds, Bedsteads, Kitchen Requisites, Glass, Earthenware, Ale Casks, Milk Leads, and other effects,
FOR SALE BY AUCTION, BY MR. JAMES KING
On THURSDAY, December 19th, 1867, at Twelve o’clock, on the premises, High Street, Winslow, lately occupied by Mr. George Mayne, deceased, by direction of the Executors.
May be viewed on the morning of Sale.
  Catalogues may be obtained at George’s Printing Office, and at the Auctioneer’s Offices, Winslow.

Copyright 13 May, 2021