Will of Matthew Robinson, shopkeeper, 1836 (proved 1837)

National Archives, PROB 11/1888/194

Matthew Robinson Will
This is the last Will and Testament of me Matthew Robinson of Winslow in the County of Bucks Shopkeeper First I give and devise unto my son Francis Robinson All my undivided moiety or half part the whole into two equal parts or shares to be divided of and in all that copyhold messuage or tenement situate in Winslow aforesaid and wherein I and my brother Joseph Robinson now dwell with the right members and appurt(enance)s thereto belonging or in anywise appertaining To hold the same and every part thereof unto and to the use of my son Francis Robinson his heirs and assigns for ever Subject nevertheless and I do hereby charge and make liable the same to for and with the payment of the legacy or sum of seventy five [margin: original so] pounds of lawful British money to each of my daughters Elizabeth Robinson and Mary Robinson within twelve calendar months next after my decease if they shall then have attained their several ages of twenty one years and if they shall have not attained that age when and so soon after they shall respectively thereto to whom I do hereby give and bequeath the same accordingly And I give and bequeath unto my said son and daughters Francis Robinson Elizabeth Robinson and Mary Robinson All money and securities for money household goods and furniture beds bedding plate linen household and other effects which shall at the time of my decease belong solely to me and not jointly with my said Brother and co-partner Joseph Robinson equally to be divided between them part and share alike Also I give unto my said brother Joseph Robinson my moiety share and interest of and in the bed furniture belonging to the bedstead in the new room of our present dwelling house Also I give and bequeath unto my said Brother Joseph Robinson and my Brother in law Philip Haines all my part share and interest of and in all ready money and securities for money book debts household goods and furniture utensils stock in trade both alive and dead corn grain hay And all other the personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever the same may be which I may die possessed of interested in or entitled to jointly or as a copartner my said brother Joseph Robinson and not hereinbefore specifically disposed of To hold the same and every part thereof unto the said Joseph Robinson and Philip Haines their executors adm(inistrat)ors and assigns Upon trust as soon as conveniently may be after my decease to effect a sale of the whole of the said joint stock and effects or such part thereof shall not consist of money \and securities for money and shall be saleable for the most money/ & best price or prices that can be reasonably obtained for the same and to collect and get in all debts and sums of money which may be due and owing to me and my said brother at the time of my decease and out of the same and the ready money belonging to the said copartnership account to pay the expences of such sale and conversion into money and the debts due from the said copartnership and out of my share of the net residue of the said monies to pay all such debts as I may justly owe on my own private account my funeral and testamentary expences And to pay share and divide the clear overplus of such unto and among my said son & daughters Francis Robinson Elizabeth Robinson and Mary Robinson equally part and share alike as and when they severally and respectively attain the age of twenty one years with benefit of survivorship amongst them as to the share or shares of any or either of them dying under that age and without issue And in the mean time if I should decease during the minority or minorities of either or any  of my said son & daughters I direct authorise and empower the said Joseph Robinson and Philip Haines and the survivor of them his executors or adm(inistrat)ors to put place out and continue his her or their share or shares of and in the said monies at interest in the names or name of [p.2] them the said Joseph Robinson and Philip Haines or the survivor of them his executors or adm(inistrat)ors in the public stocks or funds or on government or good mortgage securitys with full power from time to time to call in and receive the said monies and again place out the same on any new or other security or securities as often as may be necessary or \as/ they or he may think proper and to pay apply and dispose of the dividend interest and proceeds thereof for the maintenance or support of such minor child or children or permit and suffer the same to accumulate for their respective benefits as the said trustee or the survivor of them his executors or adm(inistrat)ors shall think fit And in case my said brother shall be desirous of taking the whole or any part of the said stock and utensils belonging to him and me jointly I direct that he shall be at liberty to do so at a valuation to be made by two indifferent persons one to be named by the said Joseph Robinson and the other by the said Philip Haines and that my said brother shall pay and account for one equal moiety half part or share of the amount of such valuation in like manner as hereinbefore directed touching the residue of the personal estate belonging to the copartnership subsisting between my said brother and myself And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Joseph Robinson and Philip Haines joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament and also Guardians of my said children during their respective minorities as well of their persons as of their fortunes And I declare and direct that my said Executors and Trustees shall each of them be answerable for his own acts deeds receipts defaults and disbursements only And that they or either of them shall not be answerable or accountable for any more monies or produce of my Estates than shall be actually received by them or come to their respective hands or use or for any loss or reduction therein without their or one of their wilful neglect or default And also that they shall retain all their loss costs charges damages and expences in the trusts or executorship of this my Will out of the estate and effects in them respectively vested by virtue thereof or out of the monies arising therefrom In Witness whereof I the said Matthew Robinson the testator have to the first two sheets of this my last Will and Testament contained on three sheets of paper set my hand only and to this the third and last sheet thereof my hand and seal this second day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six Matthew Robinson [signature] Signed sealed published and declared by the said Matthew Robinson the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereof the word “five” being first erased on the twelfth line of the first sheet

Dav Tho Willis [signature] John King Jun(ior) [signature] William Turnham [signature]

Proved at London 11th December 1837 before the worshipful William Robinson Dr of Laws & Surro(gate) by the oath of Philip Haines the surviving Executor to whom Adm(inistrati)on was granted having been first sworn duly to administer.

Notes

Matthew Robinson was the son of Francis Robinson (d.1812). He married Martha Mead of Winslow in 1814. The children were baptised in 1816 (Elizabeth), 1818 (Francis) and 1820 (Mary). The property referred to in the will is 24 High Street.