Will of Richard Walker the elder, butcher and dairyman, 1824 (proved 1833)

National Archives, PROB 11/1811/78

This is the last Will and Testament of me Richard Walker the elder of Winslow in the County of Bucks Butcher and Dairy man first I give and devise unto my friends John Morecraft of Winslow aforesaid butcher and Daniel Grace of the same place Schoolmaster all and every my freehold and copyhold messuages cottages closes lands tenements hereditaments and real estate whatsoever situate lying and being in the several parishes of Winslow aforesaid and Kilsby in the County of Northampton or elsewhere together with the respective rights members and app(ur)t(enan)ces to the said premises belonging or in any wise appertaining to hold the same and every part thereof unto the said John Morecraft and Daniel Grace their heirs and assigns for ever Upon trust nevertheless during the natural life of my wife Elizabeth Walker to pay and apply or otherwise to permit and suffer her to receive the rents and profits thereof and of every part thereof to and for her own use and benefit  Also I give and bequeath unto the said John Morecraft and Daniel Grace all my household goods and furniture linen plate China goods chattels cattle stock both alive and dead ready money and securities for money debts (including the sum of one hundred pounds due and owing to me from my son Thomas Walker) and all other my personal estate and effects whatsoever to hold the same unto the said John Morecraft and Daniel Grace their executors adm(inistrat)ors and assigns upon the Trusts herein after mentioned, that is to say, Upon Trust within twelve months next after my decease to collect and get in all debts which shall be due and owing to me at the time of my decease (except the said sum of one hundred pounds due from my said son Thomas Walker as aforesaid) to sell and dispose of all my cattle and stock in trade as a Dairyman and such other part of my personal estate and effects as they may think proper and if necessary also to call in and receive a sufficient part of my money then placed out at interest and thereout pay all such debts as I shall justly owe at the time of my decease my funeral and testamentary expences and the several legacies or sums of money herein after mentioned, that is to say, to my daughter Mary Bull widow one hundred pounds and to my daughter Catherine the wife of James Morecraft one hundred pounds and which I do hereby give and bequeath unto them my said Daughters Mary Bull and Catherine Morecraft respectively accordingly and direct the same to be paid to them within twelve months next after my decease  And upon further trust during the natural life of my said wife Elizabeth Walker to permit and suffer her to have the free and uncontrolled use and enjoyment of my said household goods and furniture linen plate china goods and chattels which shall not have been so disposed \of/ and to

[p.2] receive and take the interest or other produce of the residue of my ready money and securities for money (which shall remain after payment of my said debts funeral and testamentary expences and the \said/ several legacies of one hundred pounds and one hundred pounds by me herein before given and bequeathed) for her own use and benefit and upon further Trust that they the said John Morecraft and Daniel Grace or the survivor of them his heirs executors adm(inistrat)ors or assigns do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after the decease of my said wife Elizabeth Walker sell and dispose of the said freehold and copyhold messuages cottages closes lands tenements hereditaments real estate and premises and also so much and such part or parts of my said personal estate and effects as shall not then consist of money and securities for money for the most money and best price or prices that can be reasonably had or gotten for the same and also to call in and receive all such sum and sums of money as shall then be placed out at interest and out of the monies thereby arising (after paying satisfying and discharging the Costs and charges incident to and attending such sale and disposition) to retain and keep in their own hands the sum of five pounds each for the care and trouble they will have in the execution of this my will and to whom I give and bequeath the same accordingly and the residue of the said monies to pay and divide unto and among my four sons and two daughters the said Thomas Walker William Walker Richard Walker George Walker and the said Mary Bull and Catherine Morecraft equally share and share alike (save and except that whereas I have in addition to the said sum of one hundred pounds so due and owing to me from my said son Thomas Walker as aforesaid become bound jointly with my said son Thomas Walker for the payment of two other sums of one hundred pounds each my mind and will is that the said sum of one hundred pounds due from the said Thomas Walker to me shall be deducted from his share of the monies to arise as aforesaid and also that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said John Morecraft and Daniel Grace or the survivor of them his executors or adm(inistra)tors to deduct and retain out of the share of the said Thomas Walker of and in the monies to arise as aforesaid the said several  \other/ sums of one hundred pounds each with the interest thereof respectively for the payment whereof I now stand bound with the said Thomas Walker as aforesaid or so much and such part or parts thereof respectively as they as Executors of this my will shall be called upon for and actually pay) with benefit of survivorship amongst them my said sons and daughters as to the share or shares of any or either of them dying in the lifetime of my said wife Elizabeth Walker and without issue and which I do hereby also give and bequeath unto them my said sons and daughters

[p.3] Thomas Walker William Walker Richard Walker George Walker Mary Bull and Catherine Morecraft respectively accordingly and my mind and will is and I do declare and direct that the receipt or receipts of the said John Morecraft and Daniel Grace or the survivor of them his heirs or assigns shall be a good and sufficient discharge or discharges to the purchaser or purchasers of my said freehold and copyhold estates for his or their purchase money and after such receipt or receipts such purchaser or purchasers shall be absolutely acquitted and discharged of and from the same and they or any of them shall not be answerable or accountable either in law or in Equity for any loss or damage which shall or may happen for or by reason of any misapplication or nonapplication of the said purchase money or any part thereof and also that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said John Morecraft and Daniel Grace or the survivor of them his executors or adm(inistra)tors from time to time to call in and receive all and every sum and sums of money which shall be due and owing to me at the time of my decease or be placed out by them as executors and trustees of this my Will on any security or securities whatsoever and if necessary from time to time to again lay out place invest the same monies at interest on Government real or other securities as they or he may think proper and do and shall stand and be possessed of and interested in the said securities upon which the same monies or any part thereof shall be placed out and the interest and annual produce thereof be and for the several uses trusts intents and purposes herein before mentioned and expressed of and concerning the same  And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said wife Elizabeth Walker and the said John Morecraft and Daniel Grace joint Executrix and Executors of this my last Will and Testament and my mind and will also is and I do hereby direct that my said Executrix and Executors and trustees shall each of them be answerable for her and his own acts and deeds only and not the one of them for the other or others of them and that they or either of them shall not be answerable for any more monies than shall be actually received by them or come to their hands respectively for any loss or reduction therein without their or one of their wilful neglect or default and also that they shall retain all their 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 Richard Walker the elder and Testator have to the two first sheets of this my last will and Testament contained on three

[p.4] sheets of paper set my hand only and to this third and last sheet thereof my hand and seal this seventeenth day of April in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand eight hundred and twenty four. 

Richard Walker

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Richard Walker the elder and 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  Char(les) Willis  Dav(id) Tho(mas) Willis  Richard Allen

Proved at London the 25th January 1833 before the Judge by the oaths of John Morecraft and Daniel Grace two of the Executors to whom adm(inistratio)n was granted having been first sworn by Com(missi)on duly to administer power reserved of making the like {the like} Grant to Elizabeth Walker widow the relict the other Executor when she shall apply for the same.

Notes

Richard Walker (bap.1767) was probably the son of William Walker, butcher, d.1815, who moved from Winslow to Buckingham. Richard's wife Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas Brandon of Rands Farm (d.1810). They were married on 14 Sep 1790. Their children baptised at Winslow were:

Richard's house and shop were at 12 High Street, which remained a butcher's until the 1970s; Richard's son-in-law James Morecraft took it over after his death.

Some accounts concerning Richard Walker's illness, death and funeral have survived for unknown reasons in a scrapbook compiled later by Dr Newham (CBS, D-X/58). He appears to have died in London after being attended by a surgeon there between Nov 1831 and his death in Jan 1832.

The Executors of the late Mr Walker D(ebitu)r
To J. Browne Surgeon
1831
Nov-18
 Pill & Draught 1 6
22
 The Same 1 6
1832
    
Jan-08
 Pill    6
Draught 1 0
A Mixture 2 6
Pill    6
Draught 1 0
10
 Pill & Draught 1 6
11
 Attendance in Night 5 0
14
 Attendance & Examination of Body 1 1 0
  -------------
1 16 0
Received the above [signed] John Browne July 12th 1832
 
[no date]
 The Executors of the Late Mr Walker
To R Walker
Spirits while Dissecting 5 6
Searchers & Certificate 2 6
Given to the Undertakers Men 6 4
Coach Hire   2 6
 
--------
16 10
Recd [signed] R Walker
 
1832
 Mrs Walker
D(ebitu)r to Revd Mark Kerr & Mark Bunce Parish Clerk
Jan(uar)y 17
£
s
d
Burial fees for the Interment of Mr Richard Walker Deceased.  8 6
Digging the Grave extra 6 feet 6 0
Tolling the Bell extra when Corps brought from London   1 0
 
-------------
15 6
Paid Jan(ua)ry 23 1832 M. Bunce
 
The Funeral of Mr Walker
£
s
d
1832
 Jan(uar)y 11th
A 5ft 7 242 double lid Coffin prepared for Plumbers Covered with fine Black Cloth Close drove with 2 rows all round of the best black Nails & ornamented with a double borderd plate of Inscript(io)n Glory &c & 4 pair of large patent handles with wrought Grips drops &c. 6 6
a superfine shroud pillow & winding sheet
1
15
a ledd Coffin solderd up compleate 
6
10
a loose mattress   10 6
a lead plate with inscription soldered on 5 0
paid men with Coffin to Hoxton 17 6
paid men to put Body in Hearse 17 6
Attending d(itt)o   5 0
  ---------------
17 6 6

 

Richard Walker had trouble with thefts of his horses:

Northampton Mercury, 15 July 1820

Two Rewards of Five Guineas each.
W I N S L O W   A S S O C I A T I O N, For the PROSECUTION of THIEVES, &c.

LOST, supposed to be STOLEN, on MONDAY NIGHT the 3d, or TUESDAY MORNING the 4th of JULY, 1820, from a CLOSE in the Parish of SWANBOURNE, Bucks, in the Occupation of Mr. RICHARD WALKER, a Member of the above Association, and adjoining the Turnpike Road leading from Winslow towards Whitchurch,

A   B L A C K   G E L D I N G,

Between the nag and cart Kind, five Years old, about 14 Hands and a Half high, with a cut Tail, but grown long (if not altered) very full of Bone, no White about him, except a small Star in his forehead, and has a trifling Swelling upon one of his hind Legs.

If stolen, whoever will discover the Offender or Offenders, shall on his or their Conviction, receive a Reward of FIVE GUINEAS of Mr. CHARLES WILLLIS, Winslow, Solicitor and Treasurer of the above Association; and if strayed, any Person giving such Information as may lead to the Recovery of the Horse, will, on the Horse being restored receive a like Reward of FIVE GUINEAS of the said RICHARD WALKER, Butcher, Winslow.

A Man of suspicious Appearances, aged about fifty Years, about five Feet nine Inches high, and of a dark Complexion, who had on a dark green Coat, corduroy Breeches, and light kerseymere Gaiters,  left the George Inn, Winslow, the same Night, about Half-past Ten o’Clock, with a Saddle, and is supposed to have stolen the said Horses.

Oxford Journal, 15 Dec 1821

S E V E N   G U I N E A S   R E W A R D.
WINSLOW ASSOCIATION,
For the Prosecution of Thieves, &c.

LOST, supposed to be stolen, on Monday night the 10th, or Tuesday morning the 11th of December, 1821, from a Meadow in the parish of Swanbourne, near Shipton Bridge, and adjoining the turnpike road leading from Winslow towards Whitchurch,- A DARK BROWN NAG MARE, seven years old, about 14 hands high, with black legs, mane, and tail;  principal part of the mane lies on the near side;  had a switch tail, brown muzzle, and no white about her;  the hair off the inside of the off hind heel, from a quitter;  has lately had both her knees broken, and the near knee is not healed.

If stolen, whoever will discover the offender or offenders, will, on his or their conviction, receive a Reward of FIVE GUINEASS of Mr. Charles Willis, Winslow, Solicitor and Treasurer of the above Association;  and a further Reward of TWO GUINEAS OF Mr. Richard Walker, butcher, Winslow;  and if strayed, any person giving such information as may lead to the recovery of the mare will, on her being restored, receive a Reward of ONE GUINEA of the said Richard Walker, and be paid all reasonable ex-expences [sic].                   Winslow, Bucks Dec. 12, 1821.

 

Copyright 30 January, 2023