Elizabeth 1787-1861, widow of William Davis (1772-1822)
“This is the Last Will and Testament of me Elizabeth Davis of Abingdon in the County of Berks., widow. I give and devise unto My son James Morris Davis his heirs and assigns for ever, all those my cottages or Tenements with the garden orchard and appurtenances thereunto adjoining situate and being at Thrupp in the parish of Radley in the said County of Berks. I give and bequeath unto Mary Strange, Caroline Strange, Creswell Strange, Lawrence Strange, Vincent Strange and Fanny Strange, the six children of my late Daughter Mary Elizabeth Strange, the sum of £100 three per cent reduced annuities each to be paid and transferred to them on their respectively attaining the age of twenty one years together with the accruing dividends to become due thereon in the meantime. And in case any or either of them shall die under the age of twenty-one years and without leaving issue then I direct that the shares of such of them so dying shall be equally divided between the survivors of them. I give and bequeath unto my Goddaughters Mary Strange, Elizabeth Swann, Harriet Davis, Elizabeth Davis and Alice Davis the sum of nineteen guineas each and to my God-sons Creswell Strange, William Swann, Gabriel Davis and Newton Davis the sum of nineteen guineas each, and I do hereby direct my Executors hereinafter named to pay to my said God-children their respective Legacies of nineteen guineas each not withstanding that they may be Minors at the time of my decease and I declare that the receipts of the Fathers of my said Godchildren who shall be Minors for such Legacies shall be good discharges to my said Executors for the same. I give and bequeath unto my old Servant Martha Bells the sum of nineteen guineas and after payment of my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses 1 gave and bequeath all the rest and residue of my estate and effects of every nature kind or tenure the same shall be or consist unto My Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of Henry Swann, my Sons Gabriel Davis, William Henry Davis, Creswell Davis and James Morris Davis their heirs executors administrators and assigns equally to be divided between them and share alike. Lastly I revoke all other Wills and appoint my said Sons EXECUTORS of this my Will in witness whereof I have to this my Will subscribed my name the Second say of December one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven,
The Mark of X Elizabeth - signed by the said Elizabeth Davis the testatrix in the presence of us present at the same time who in her presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses: J. B. Sedgefield - John Box.
On the third day of March 1863 the Will of Elizabeth Davis late of Abingdon in the County of Berks., Widow deceased who died on the seventh day of December 1861 at Abingdon aforesaid was proved in the District Registry attached to Her Majesty’s Court of Probate at Oxford by the Oaths of Gabriel Davis of Abingdon aforesaid Maltster and James Morris Davis of Radley in the County of Berks., Farmer, Sons of the Deceased, two of the Executors therein named they having been first sworn duly to administer. Power being reserved of making a like Grant to William Henry Davis and Cresswell Davis, Sons of the Deceased, the other Executors named in the said Wills.
Effects under £7,000. No Leaseholds. Extracted by Sedgefield and Sons solicitors Abingdon Berks.. It is hereby certified that the foregoing is a correct Copy dated this Twelfth day of March 1863.”
This Will refers to the following in the Family Tree:
Elizabeth herself 1787-1862
Her sons and daughters: Gabriel 1809-1889 William Henry 1816-1894 Cresswell
James Morris 1822-1869 Mary Elizabeth Strange 1810-1856 Elizabeth Swann
The children of Mary Elizabeth above: Mary Strange Caroline Strange Creswell Strange Lawrence Strange Vincent Strange Fanny Strange
Her godchildren: Mary Strange Creswell Strange Elizabeth Swann William Swann
Harriet Davis Elizabeth Davis Alice Davis Gabriel Davis Newton Davis
It is interesting that Gabriel is Maltster at Abingdon and James Morris Farmer at Radley. This confirms the dual interests of the family. The June 1841 Census is also significant for confirmation. It shows, in East St Helen's Street, Elizabeth and Morris in one
WILL OF
ELIZABETH 1787-1861
ELIZABETH 1787-