Laslett family history

Richard Laslett of Wingham - 13 May 1847
(Page 43)

THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me RICHARD LASLETT of Dean Farm in the Parish of Wingham in the County of Kent Farmer I direct that all my just Debts funeral and testamentary expenses be fully paid as soon as may be after my decease And I bequeath the goodwill of my farming business and (subject to the payment of my said Debts funeral and testamentary expenses) all my Property and Effects unto my wife Elizabeth Laslett and my Sons George Laslett John Laslett and William Laslett their executors administrators and assigns upon trust that my said wife and Sons George Laslett John Laslett and William Laslett and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the executors administrators and assigns of such Survivor and other Trustees and Trustee for the time being of this my will do and shall with my said Property and Effects carry on my said farming business in such manner as they she or he shall think proper during the life of my said wife and for seven years after her decease unless during the life of my said wife or within the said seven years after her decease it shall appear to the Trustees or trustee for the time being of this my will to be disadvantageous to continue to carry on the same And immediately after my said farming business shall cease to be carried on do and shall convert into money the goodwill thereof and my said Property and Effects And in case my said wife shall be living when my said farming business shall cease to be carried on do and shall lay out and invest they Money to be produced by such conversion as aforesaid in the names or name of the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of this my will in the Public Stocks of Great Britain or upon Mortgage of Freehold Copyhold or Leasehold Estates in England and do and shall vary and transpose the same Stocks Funds and Securities for any others of the like nature at their her or his discretion and do and shall pay the profits of my said farming business and the dividends and interest of the said Stocks Funds and Securities unto or permit the same to be received or retained by my said wife during her life And from and after her decease do and shall without of the said profits dividends or interest pay unto my Daughter Rachael Gaskin widow the sum of two shillings and sixpence a week for the term of seven years if she shall so long live commencing from the day of the decease of my said wife free from any Legacy duty And I direct that the said weekly allowance shall be paid into the proper hands of the said Rachael Gaskin for her sole and separate use independently of any husband she may marry and so that the same may not be subject or liable to the debts control interference or engagements of any such husband and that she shall no power to sell or dispose of the same in any manner by way of anticipation to the intent that the same may be for her personal benefit And I thereby declare that the receipt of the same Rachael Gaskin only shall be a sufficient discharge to the person or persons paying the same And subject to the payment of the aforesaid allowance to my Daughter do and shall divide the said profits dividends interest trust moneys stocks funds and securities equally between my eleven children George John William Thomas Mary Denne Leonard Jane Ann Charlotte Louisa and Anthony Provided always and I do hereby declare that in case my said farming business shall be carried on after the decease of my said wife Trustees or Trustee for the time being of this my will shall employ my Son Anthony in carrying on the same for so long as it shall be carried on and shall make such annual allowance to him for carrying on the same as may be agreed upon between him and the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of this my will Provided also and I hereby declare my will to be that in case other of my said Sons shall become the tenant or occupier of the said farm and premises now in my occupation and shall carry on the said Farm and Business for his own absolute use and benefit then I hereby direct that such Son shall pay and allow unto my said Daughter Jane an Annuity or yearly sum of Eight Pounds for her life or for so long only as he shall continue to hold or carry on the said Farm and Business as aforesaid by four equal quarterly payments commencing from the time of his becoming such tenant or taking such possession as aforesaid and I hereby charge the share to which such Son shall be entitled under this my will with the payment of the said Annuity or yearly sum And I direct that the said Annuity or yearly sum shall be paid to my said Daughter Jane for her separate use and benefit and that her receipt only shall be a sufficient discharge for the same And I do hereby appoint my said wife and Sons George Laslett John Laslett and William Laslett Executors of this my last Will and Testament and do hereby declare that the receipt or receipts in writing of the Trustees or Trustee for the time being acting in the execution of the Trusts of this my will shall effectively discharge the person or persons to whom the same shall be given from all liability on account of the misapplication or nonapplication of the Money therein respectively acknowledged to be received Provided lastly and I do hereby lastly declare that if the said Trustees of this my will appointed or any of them or any future Trustee or Trustees to be appointed in the stead of them or any of them as hereinafter is mentioned shall die or be desirous of being discharged from or decline or become incapable to act in the trusts hereby created before the same shall be fully executed it shall be lawful for the surviving or continuing Trustees or Trustee for the time being or the Executors or Administrators of the last surviving Trustee for the time being by any Deed or Deeds legally executed to appoint any other person or persons to be a Trustee or Trustees in the stead of the Trustee or Trustees so dying or desiring to be discharged or declining or becoming incapable to act as aforesaid IN WITNESS whereof I the said Richard Laslett the Testator have to this and the two preceding Sheets of Paper set my hand this thirteenth day of May One thousand eight hundred and forty seven.

Richd Laslett

SIGNED by the above named Richard Laslett the Testator in our joint presence and by us signed in his presence.

Robt Sankey John Hooker
Solicitor Servant to Wm Laslett
Canterbury

IN THE CONSISTORY COURT OF CANTERBURY
IN THE GOODS OF RICHARD LASLETT DECEASED

APPEARED PERSONALLY John Hooker of Wingham in the County of Kent Labourer and made oath that he is one of the subscribed Witnesses to the last Will and Testament of Richard Laslett late of Wingham aforesaid Farmer deceased bearing date the Thirteenth day of May One thousand eight hundred and forty seven and now hereunto annexed And he further made Oath that on the Thirteenth day of May aforesaid the said Testator duly executed his said Will by signing his name at the foot or end thereof in the presence of this Deponent and of Robert Sankey (the other subscriber Witness thereto) both of whom were present at the same time and this Deponent and the said Robert Sankey thereupon attested and subscribed the said Will in the presence of the said Testator

John Hooker

On the Ninth day of June 1849 the said John Hooker was duly sworn to the truth hereof Before me
J.P. Francis
Surrogate

The before registered Will of Richard Laslett deceased was proved the ninth day of June 1849 before the Reverend John Pechey Francis Clerk Surrogate to the Commissary General of the City and Diocese of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of Elizabeth Laslett Widow the Relict and George Laslett John Laslett and William Laslett Sons of the deceased the Executors named in the said Will they being first sworn well and truly to perform the same.