Will of John Morecraft, butcher, 1856 (proved 1859)

Principal Probate Registry

On the 23rd day of November 1859 the Will of John Morecraft late of Winslow with County of Buckingham Butcher deceased, who died on the 12th of September 1859 at Winslow aforesaid, was proved in the Principal Registry of Her Majesty’s Court of Probate, by the Oath of Thomas Morecraft of Winslow aforesaid \Farmer/ the Son the sole one of the Executor therein named he having been first sworn duly to administer

Effects under £1000

This is the last Will and Testament of me John Morecraft of Winslow in the County of Bucks Butcher I devise unto my only son Thomas Morecraft and to his heirs and assigns for ever all the real estates of which I may be beneficially seized at the time of my death I bequeath unto Thomas Dobson Marsh (Son of my late Wife Mary by her former husband) and to his executors administrators and assigns absolutely all the household goods and furniture which belonged to his late Mother before our Marriage and all the plate in and about my present dwelling house and also such principal and interest monies as may at my decease be due and owing upon or by virtue of a Bond dated the 4th day of June last and given to me as a Security for money originally advanced by my said Wife I devise unto my said Son Thomas Morecraft all the estates which at the time of my decease may be vested in me as Trustee or Mortgagee subject to the trusts and equities affecting the same respectively I bequeath unto my said Son Thomas Morecraft the rest of my household goods and furniture and other Personal Estate of which I may be possessed at the time of my death subject to the payment of all my just debts my funeral and testamentary expences I appoint my said Son Thomas Morecraft Sole Executor of my Will and revoke all other Wills In Witness whereof I the said John Morecraft the Testator have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of September in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty six John Morecraft [signature] Signed by the said John Morecraft 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

Dav Tho Willis Solicitor Winslow  T.P. Willis his Clerk

Proved at London 23rd November 1859 by the Oath of Thomas Morecraft the Sole the Sole [sic] Executor to whom Adm(inistrati)on was granted

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Notes

John Morecraft was the eldest son of Thomas Morecraft, butcher (d.1807) and Ann Morecraft, nee Gibbs (d.1828). He inherited the family property in Church Street which by the 1851 Census he had divided with his son Thomas. He also inherited from his aunt Ann Morecraft Fountain. He was described as a grazier in the 1851 Census. His first wife hasn't been traced. He married his second wife, Mary Marsh, a widow, in 1835; she died in 1856 which is presumably why he (re)made his will. John died on 12 Sep 1859 aged 74 followed by his son Thomas on 17 Dec aged 45.