Caius CollegeBy Seandalai, via Flickr

The will of Robert Darling Willis

Robert Darling Willis left consols to his brothers Francis (£3000), Thomas (£10000) and Richard (£5000) in his will, but they all pre-deceased him. Apart from a small legacy to his servants, everything else went to his brother John. There was nothing for his illegitimate children or common-law wife.

This is the last Will and Testament from me Robert Darling Willis of Tenterden Street Hanover Square in the County of Middlesex Doctor of Physic I give and devise unto my Brother John Willis of Greatford in the County of Lincoln Doctor of Physic the Messuage or dwellinghouse with the appurtenances in which I now reside and situate in Tenterden Street aforesaid and also all my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments and parts and shares of Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments situate lying and being in Braceborough and Shillingthorpe or elsewhere in the County of Lincoln and all other my Real Estates of what nature or kind soever to hold all the said Hereditaments and Premises with their respective Appurtenances unto and to the use of my said Brother John Willis his heirs and assigns for ever I give and bequeath unto my Brother Francis Willis the Reverend Thomas Willis Doctor of Laws and Richard Willis Admiral in his Majestys Navy the following legacies or sums of money that is to say to the said Francis Willis the legacy or sum of three thousand pounds three per cent Consolidated Bank Annuities to the said Thomas Willis the legacy or sum of ten thousand pounds like annuities and to the said Richard Willis the legacy or sum of five thousand pounds like annuities all which legacies I direct to be paid or transferred to the respective Legatees at the end of three Calendar months next after my demise I give and bequeath unto all such Servants as shall have lived with me at the time of my decease four years a year's wages over and above such wages as shall be due to him her or them at my decease and to such of them as shall have lived with me five years a year and halfs wages over and above such wages as aforesaid and do bequeath unto each of them proper mourning and direct their legacies to be paid free from any deduction whatsoever all my personal Estate of every description I give and bequeath unto my said Brother John Willis his Executors or Administrators subject to the payment of my debts and the foregoing legacies and I appoint the said John Willis together with Willoughby Rackham of Lincoln's Inn in the County of Middlesex Gentle man joint Executors of this my will and do give and bequeath unto the said Willoughby Rackham a legacy or sum of two hundred pounds In Witness whereof I the said Robert Darling Willis have hereunto set my hand and Seal the twenty eighth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one - Robert Willis - Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Robert Darling Willis as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who were at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto - H. A. Raymond - A. C. Orme - Thomas Stafford - Clks to Messrs Still Strong and Rackham

Proved at London 13th of July 1821 before the Worshipful John Pembury Doctor of Laws & surrogate by the oaths of John Willis Doctor of Physic the Brother & Willoughby Rackham Esq. the Exors to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn duly to admr.