The will of the Reverend John Myers of Somerby
The will of the Rev. John Myers of Somerby. He left £100 to the poor of Somerby, and £100 to the clerical charity of Lincoln. His estates in Wilsford and Morton went to the use of his wife Maria and then her sister Jemima, and then to the use of the Rev Charles John Myers; CJM got the use of the land in Millom straight away. Following his demise, all these lands went to his (CJM's) children. Maria Myers got everything else - lands in Ruskington and elsewhere, and the residue of the estate - except the six and a half shares in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which went to his half-sister's daughters.
In the name of God Amen I the Reverend John Myers Clerk Rector of the Rectory of Somerby in the County of Lincoln being in good health and of sound and disposing mind and memory and understanding (God be praised for the same) to make publish and declare this my last will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) I give and devise unto my dear wife Maria Myers all my manner messuages farms lands tenements and hereditaments in Wilsford and Morton in the said County of Lincoln and in Millom in the County of Cumberland to hold the same unto my said Wife and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after her decease I give and devise all my said Estates in Wilsford and Morton aforesaid unto Jemima Cheney Spinster the Sister of my said Wife in case she shall then be living and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after the decease of the survivor of them (my said wife and her said sister) I give and devise my said Manor Farms hereditaments and premises in Wilsford and Morton aforesaid and from and immediately after the decease of my said Wife I give and devise all my said farms lands hereditaments and premises in Millom aforesaid unto Edward Hawkins Cheney of Gadsby in the County of Leicester Esquire and George White of Grantham in the County of Lincoln aforesaid Gentleman their heirs and assigns to hold the same unto the said Edward Hawkins Cheney and George White their heirs and assigns upon the trusts and to and for the several uses intents and purposes hereinafter expressed and declared of and concerning the same that is to say to the use of Charles John Myers one of the fellows of Trinity College Cambridge and Grandson of my late Uncle the Reverend David Myers deceased for and during the term of his natural life without impeachment of waste and from and immediately after the determination of That estate by forfeiture or otherwise in his lifetime to the use of the said Edward Hawkins Cheney and George White their executors and admons during the life of the said Charles John Myers In trust by the usual ways and means to support and preserve the contingent uses and estates hereinafter Ltd from being defeated or destroyed but nevertheless to permit and suffer the said Charles John Myers during his life to derive and take the rents issues and profits of the same hereditaments and premises to and for his own use and benefit and from and immediately after his decease to the use of the first second third and all and every other the sun and sons of the body of the said Charles John Myers lawfully to be begotten severally successively and in remainder one after another in order and course as they and everyone of them shall be in priority of birth and of the several and respective heirs male of the body and respective bodies of all and every such son and sons lawfully issuing the older of such sons and the heirs male of his body being always to be preferred and take before the younger of such son and sons and the heirs male of his and their body and bodies and in default of such issue then to the use of George Myers Brother of the said Charles John Myers and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life without impeachment of waste and from and immediately after the determination of that Estate by forfeiture or otherwise in his lifetime to the use of the said Edward Hawkins Cheney and George White their executors and Admors during the life of the said George Myers in trust by the usual ways and means to support and preserve the contingent uses and estates hereinafter Ltd from being defeated or destroyed but nevertheless to permit and suffer the said George Myers during his life to receive and take the rents issues and profits of the same hereditaments and premises to and for his and their own use and benefit and from and immediately after the decease to the use of the first second third and every other son and sons of the body of the said George Myers lawfully to be begotten severally successfully and in remainder one after another in order and course as they and every of them shall be in priority of birth and of the several and respective heirs male of the body and respective bodies of all and every such son and sons lawfully issuing the elder of such sons and the heirs male of his body being always to be preferred and to take before the younger of such son and sons and the heirs male of his and their body and bodies and in default of such issue then to the use of William Myers (another Brother of the said Charles John Myers) and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life without impeachment of waste and from and immediately after the determination of that Estate by forfeiture or otherwise in his lifetime then to the use of the said Edward Hawkins Cheney and George White their executors and admors during the life of the said William Myers In trust by the usual ways and means to support and preserve the contingent uses and estates hereinafter limited from being defeated or destroyed but nevertheless to permit and suffer the said William Myers during his life to receive and take the rents issues and profits of the same hereditaments and premises to and for his own use and benefit and from and immediately after his decease to the use of the first second third and all and every other the son and sons of the body of the said William Myers lawfully to be begotten severally successively and in remainder one after another in order and course as they and every of them shall be in priority of birth out of the several and respective heirs male of the body and respective bodies of all and every such son and sons lawfully issuing the elder of such sons and the heirs male of his body being always to be preferred and to take before the younger of such son and sons and the heirs male of his and their body or bodies and in default of such issue then to the use of Henry Myers (another Brother of the said Charles John Myers) and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life without impeachment of waste and from and immediately after the determination of that estate by forfeiture or otherwise in his lifetime to the use of the said Edward Hawkins Cheney and George White their executors and admors during the life of the said Henry Myers In trust by the usual ways and means to support and preserve the contingent uses and estates hereinafter Ltd from being defeated or destroyed but nevertheless to permit and suffer the said Henry Myers during his life to receive and take the rents issues and profits of the same hereditaments and premises to and for his and their own use and benefit and from and immediately after his decease to the use of the first second third and every other son and sons of the body of the said Henry Myers lawfully to be begotten severally successively and in remainder one after another in order and course as they and every of them shall be in priority of birth and of the several and respective heirs male of the body and respective bodies of all and every such son and sons lawfully issuing the elder of such son and sons and the heirs male of his body being always to be preferred and to take before the younger of such son and sons and the heirs male of his and their body and bodies and in default of such issue then to the use of William Lewis son of my Aunt (blank space) Betts Widow heretofore (blank space) Lewis his heirs and assigns for ever also I give and devise unto my said wife Maria Myers all those my Lands tenements and hereditaments in Ruskington in the said County of Lincoln which I lately purchased of the trustees for sale of the Estates of John Bailey late of Thorney in the Isle of Ely in the County of Cambridge deceased and also all that my small piece of freehold land in Thistleton in the County of Rutland to hold the said hereditaments and premises in Ruskington and Thistleton aforesaid unto my said Wife her heirs and assigns for ever Also I give and bequeath unto Phillippa Helen Mary Ann and Jane Hamilton the four daughters of my late half – sister Elizabeth Hamilton of Chapeltown in the County of York widow all those my six shares and one half in the The Leeds and Liverpool Canal and all interest and benefit arising therefrom and all other my right and interest therein to hold the same unto the said Phillippa Helen Mary Ann and Jane Hamilton their executors and admors share and share alike All the Rest Residue and Remainder of my money securities for money and all my household goods and furniture plate linen and China wine and other Liquors and all other my personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind or description soever the same may be subject nevertheless to the payment of all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses and the expenses of proving this my Will I give and bequeath unto my said Wife for her own sole and absolute use and benefit recommending her to secure in such manner as as she may think best the sum of one hundred pounds for the use of the Poor of the Parish of Somerby aforesaid and the like sum of one hundred pounds for the benefit of the Clerical Charity of the County of Lincoln And lastly I do nominate constitute and appoint my said wife Maria Myers sole Executrix of this my Will hereby revoking all former and other Wills by me from time to time heretofore made and do declare this only to be and contain my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof either said testator John Myers have at the bottom of the for first sheets of paper of this my will (the whole of which is contained in five sheets of paper) set my hand and to this fifth and last sheet here of my hand and seal this first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven – John Myers – signed sealed published and declared by the said testator John Myers 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 thereto – Robt Storr – William Taylor – Jno Marshall