- Home
- News / events
- Avenue Road
- Biggin
- Buckingham Road
- Census 1841
- Chapels
- Charities & poor relief
- Church
- Church Street
- Directories / descriptions
- Enclosure
- Families / people
- Farms
- Fire insurance
- High Street
- Horn Street
- Maps
- Market Square
- Medieval & 16th century
- 19th-20th Centuries
- Oral history
- Parish Council
- Photographs
- Pubs
- Railway
- Redfield
- Schools
- 17th-18th Centuries
- Sheep Street
- Shipton
- Station Road
- Tanneries
- Tinkers End
- Turnpike
- Vicarage & Verney Roads
- Western Lane
- Wills
- Windmill
- Winslow Hall
- Workhouse / Hospital
- World War One
- Sitemap
- Links
- Search site
- About us / contact
Will of James Morgan, draper, 1856 (proved 1858)
Principal Registry, 5 July 1858
[pro forma] On the fifth day of July 1858, the Will of James Morgan late of Winslow in the County of Buckingham Draper deceased who died on the 28th. day of October 1857 at Winslow aforesaid was proved in the Principal Registry of Her Majesty's Court of Probate by the Oaths of John Morgan aforesaid Draper the Son Mary Ann Morgan of the same Place Spinster the Daughter and William Wake James of Newport Pagnell in the same County Wharfingers Clerk the Executors therein named they having first been sworn duly to administer
Effects under £450
[p.1] This is the last Will and Testament of me James Morgan of Winslow in the County of Bucks Draper I direct that all such debts as I may justly owe at the time of my death my funeral expenses and the charges of proving my Will may be paid as soon as conveniently may be after my decease I bequeath unto my Wife Mary all my household furniture plate linen china printed books pictures fuel provisions and household furniture for her own absolute use Subject to the preceding bequest I bequeath the residue of my personal estate unto my Trustees hereinafter named Upon trust to convert and get in the same and invest the monies thereby arising in their own names in the public stocks or funds or on government security or good mortgage security with full power to alter and vary such Securities as often as may be necessary or as they shall think proper And to pay the interest dividends and annual income thereof to my said Wife or her assigns during her natural life And after her decease to stand possessed of the same monies after payment thereout of the reasonable charges of my said Wife's funeral Upon trust as to one equal fifth share thereof for my Son John his executors administrators and assigns As to two other equal fifth shares thereof for my daughter Mary Ann her executors administrators and assigns And as to the two remaining equal fifth shares thereof for my daughter Jane her executors administrators and assigns But in case my said daughter Jane shall die under the age of twenty one years without leaving lawful issue living at her death I bequeath the two undivided fifth parts hereinbefore bequeathed to or in trust for my said daughter Jane of and in the monies to arise from the said personal estate and effects after the decease of my said Wife Subject to as aforesaid unto and equally between my said daughter Mary Ann and my Sons James John and George or such of them as may then be living or their respective executors administrators or assigns I appoint my said Son John my said daughter Mary Ann and my friend William wake James of Newport Pagnell in the said County of Bucks Wharfingers Clerk to be Executors and also trustees of my Will and I appoint my said Wife to be Guardian of the person and fortune of my said daughter Jane during her minority I empower my said Trustees to compound or allow time or accept security real or personal for the payment of debts owing to my estate and to adjust by arbitration or otherwise disputes in relation thereto or in relation to or demands against my estate I devise to my said Son John my said Daughter Mary Ann and the said William Wake James and their heirs all the estates if any which may happen at my decease to be vested in me as Mortgagee or Trustee subject to the equities and upon the trusts affecting the same respectively And in case the said William Wake James shall die in my lifetime or afterwards during my Wife’s life or shall become unwilling or unable to act or shall cease
[p.2] to reside in England I appoint my Brother John if living to be a Trustee of my Will in the place of the said William Wake James I direct that the respective Trustees for the time being of this my Will shall be responsible for so much money only as shall come to their own respective hands and that they shall not be answerable for involuntary losses or for the acts or defaults of each other And I empower my Trustees to retain and allow to each other the costs and expenses incurred in the execution of the trusts of my will or in relation thereto Lastly I revoke all other In Witnesswhereof I the said James Morgan the Testator have to each sheet of this my Will contained on two sheets of paper set my hand this twenty second day of May in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty six
James Morgan
This sheet and the preceding sheet of paper were signed by the said James Morgan the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the 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 Th Willis Solicitor Winslow
Thos R Brown his Clerk
This is the original will referred to in our affidavit sworn this twenty eighth day of June 1858
John Morgan
Mary Ann Morgan
Wm Wake James
Before me Fred: Willis
A Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery in England
[p.3] Proved at London 5th. July 1858 by the Oaths of John Morgan the Son Mary Ann Morgan \Spinster/ the Daughter and William Wake James the Executors to whom Adm(inistrati)on was granted
Sladen & Co Proctors
£450
late of Winslow in the County of Buckingham Draper and died \28th Oct 1857/ at the same place
Notes
James Morgan's shop (later known as London House) was at 2 High Street and 1 Sheep Street, which he had run since the 1830s. He was originally from Newport Pagnell. He was 59 when he died. The business was sold to Matthew Fulks, whose family ran it until the 1960s. John Morgan the son married Margaret Veal in 1860 and left Winslow.
This was one of the first Winslow wills to be proved under the new probate system which was introduced in 1858, replacing the eccesiastical courts.
The following family history is taken from the Bucks Advertiser & Aylesbury News, 20 Nov 1897, in a review of a book by John Morgan called Hastings by Camera and in Canto:
Mr. John Morgan is a native of Winslow, where his father was one of the leading Nonconformists fifty years ago. The late Mr. Joynson, paper maker of St. Mary Cray, heard Mr. Morgan when a lad of 18, deliver a Sunday-school address in the Institute of St. Mary Cray, and being impressed with the ability he displayed, sent him to College. After two years, however, Mr. Morgan sen., was struck down with paralysis, and the young man was called from College to stand behind the counter, or to see his family sink into poverty. He returned home, and for some years carried on the business of a draper, preaching as he was called in the villages round Winslow. About 1859 he gave up this engagement and went to Paulerspury as assistant preacher to the late Joseph Buckingham. After a year’s experience, however, it became apparent that his views on some subjects were not in accordance with the received doctrines of the Congregationalists. He removed to Sutton in Surrey, and marrying a lady from Winslow (Miss Veal) again entered into business. This time, however, he chose the bookselling and stationery as more congenial. In this London suburb he spent 35 years, serving in nearly every office in the town, culminating as the Chairman of the Local Board, which office he held for seven years. He has now retired from business, and lives at St. Leonard’s-on-the-Sea.
Will of Mary Morgan, widow, 1861 (proved 1887)
Principal Registry, 10 October 1887
[Bold text represents a printed pro forma; the rest is handwritten]
BE IT KNOWN that at the date hereunder written, the last Will and Testament of Mary Morgan late of High Street Winslow in the County of Buckingham Widow deceased, who died on the 17th. day of September 1887 at High Street aforesaid was proved and registered in the Principal Registry of the Probate Division of Her Majesty's High Court of Justice and that Administration of the personal estate of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to William Wake James (in the Will called William James) of Perth House Linslade (Leighton Buzzard) in the same County Corn merchant the sole Executor named in the said Will he having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same.
Dated the 10th. day of October 1887
Gross value of Personal Estate £17.10.0
[p.2] This is the last Will and Testament of me Mary Morgan of Winslow in the County of Bucks Widow I bequeath to my Daughter Mary Ann Morgan the Bed Bedstead and Bedding Washstand and Ware Couch and Clothes Chest in my Bed Room and the Table, Chairs, Small Stand, Writing Desk, Lamp and Carpet in the Sitting Room up Stairs, for her own absolute use and benefit Also I bequeath to my Daughter Jane Morgan my Ottoman Bedstead and Bedding for her own absolute use and benefit Also I give and bequeath unto my said daughters Mary Ann Morgan and Jane Morgan all my prints and pictures linen and clothing to be equally divided between them share and share alike. I give and bequeath all the residue and remainder of my property of whatsoever description not hereinbefore disposed of, unto and between my four children James Morgan John Morgan and the said Mary Ann Morgan and Jane Morgan, equally share and share alike I appoint William James of Newport Pagnell in the said County of Bucks to be the Sole Executor of this my Will and revoke all other Wills by me heretofore made In Witness whereof I the said Mary Morgan the Testatrix have hereunto set my hand this third day of May in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty one.
Signed by the said Mary Morgan the Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the joint presence of us who at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses
M Morgan
Matthew Fulks
Elizabeth Fulks
[Signed in left margin] Wm W James Executor
Richard Ellis A Commissioner & c
On 10th. October 1887 Probate of this Will was granted to William Wake (in the Will called William) James the sole Executor
H.E.F
When she made the will, Mary was still living at the shop, which was then run by the Fulkses, and the rooms mentioned must have been there. Mary Ann the daughter married James Hall, and she and her mother lived with him at Lime Cottage, High Street. Mary Morgan died on 17 Sep 1887 aged 90.
Buckingham Advertiser, 1 Oct 1887
DEATH OF MRS. MORGAN.- This town witnessed on Friday the 23rd inst, the funeral of a lady, who had long enjoyed the distinction of being the oldest inhabitant, Mrs. James Morgan, widow of the late Mr. James Morgan, draper of this place. She had attained the unusual age of 90 years and 5 months. Her maiden name was Mary Dumbledon, and she was born at St. Neots, Hunts, 20th April 1797. Her father died when she was a girl, but her grandfather lived to the age of 91. When about 20 years of age she went to Winslow, to keep the house of her cousin Mr. Thomas [=William] Grant, draper, at the shop in the Square, now known as London House. Mr. Morgan came from Newport Pagnell, as assistant to Mr. Grant, and ultimately acquired his business. Although her parents belonged to the Established church, Mrs. Morgan had been a constant attendant at the Dissenting Chapel in St. Neots, and as Mr. Morgan had been actively engaged in connection with that at Newport, under the Rev. Thomas Bull, they were strongly in sympathy in religious views. They were married on Christmas-day, 1822, and became attendants at the old barn-like structure in Horn Street, which was the first Independent Chapel in Winslow. Mr. Morgan was largely instrumental in erecting the new chapel built in 1831, and only recently removed. He was for many years Deacon of the Church, whilst she supported his efforts, and was long held in remembrance by ministers visiting the Chapel as a kind and attentive hostess. In middle life she endured a serious illness, and was for long afterwards extremely delicate, but by rigid self-control in diet, and carefulness of habit, she passed to a fairly hearty old age. Mr. Morgan died in October 1857, so that she has remained a widow almost 30 years. Eighteen years ago her sight, never strong, began seriously to fail, and for the last twelve years she has been blind. Notwithstanding this she retained her cheerfulness and her interest in what transpired both around her and at a distance. Six weeks before her death she was attacked by sickness, and was subsequently unable to take food. From this time she desired death, and finally sank from pure exhaustion of the system. She had been the mother of ten children, four of whom only survive her. Two of her sons Mr. James Morgan of Cambridge, and Mr. John Morgan of Sutton, Surrey, with other relatives and a number of the tradesmen and other inhabitants followed her to the grave. The coffin was covered with wreaths of choice flowers. The service was performed by the Rev. J. Riordan, Congregational minister