Will of Leah Walker, spinster, 1893

Principal Probate Registry

I LEAH WALKER of Winslow in the County of Buckinghamshire hereby revoke all former Wills and testamentary instruments heretofore by me made and declare this to be my last Will whereof I appoint Maria Hamp of High Street Winslow Bucks and Henry K Byard of Buckingham Rd  Winslow Bucks to be the EXECUTORS I direct my Executors to pay my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses I give and bequeath to William Walker son of my nephew Frederick Walker one elm four legged table one chest of drawers an American clock a horsehair couch two china dogs a gold lady’s watch No. 633 \++/ and a gold lady’s chain & key attached All the rest of my property of every nature & description to be equally divided between my nephew Frederick Walker and his son William herein named To Maria Hamp my clothes of every nature & description also a pair of gold earrings Witness my hand this twenty fourth day of October 1893
LEAH WALKER [signature]
SIGNED by the testator in our joint presence and signed by us at her request and in her presence and the presence of each other – HENRY KERBY BYARD [signature] Baptist Minister Winslow Bucks NIMROD CHARLES BENBOW [signature] Confectioner Winslow

On the 20th of November 1893 Probate of this Will was granted to Maria Hamp Spinster and Henry Kerby Byard the Executors

BE IT KNOWN  that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament of Leah Walker late of High Street Winslow in the County of Buckingham, Spinster, deceased, who died on the 27th day of October 1893, at High Street aforesaid was proved and registered at the Principal Probate Registry of Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice at Oxford and that Administration of the personal estate of the said deceased was granted to  Maria Hamp of Winslow aforesaid, Spinster, and Henry Kerby Byard of Buckingham Rd  Winslow Baptist Minister the Executors named in the said Will, they having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same.
Dated the 20th day of November 1893
Gross value of personal Estate            £258 - 4 - 1

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Notes

Leah Walker died in 1893 aged 72. The 1891 Census lists her as a mangle woman, living with her lodger Maria Hamp and Maria's son George in the High Street (it seems to be 70 High Street). Her nephew William Walker was living with her in 1881 as well as the Hamps. In 1871 she called herself a lacemaker, and had Maria Hamp and Maria's daughter as lodgers.

Leah was the daughter of Thomas (d.1851 aged 75) and Sarah (d.1869 aged 82) Walker. She had a child, Sarah Ann Smith, baptised in 1840 (she is in the 1841 Census as Sarah Walker). Leah was living with her mother Sarah in 1861, and both were recorded as lacemakers.

It's surprising that Leah had a personal estate large enough to make it worthwhile to make a will. She had presumably become a Baptist by this time.