1865 James THOMPSON,
Swinford, yeoman
Ref: Bristol 1865/
Proved: 29 Sep 1865 Written: 25 Jan
1864
Transcribed by Marsha Stringer
1865 James THOMPSON Will Index:
The Will of James THOMPSON late of Swinford in the Parish of Bitton in the County of Gloucester, Yeoman deceased who died 26 July 1865 at Swinford aforesaid was proved at Bristol by the oath of Henry THOMPSON of 7 Lyncome-place, Widcombe in the City of Bath Engineer the son of one of the Executors.
Henry THOMPSON Executor - John GRIFFITHS Funerary Commissioner
This is the last Will and Testament of me James THOMPSON of Swinford in the county of Gloucester yeoman I bequeath to my wife Hester the use and enjoyment of all my household furniture and utensils and the plate books pictures and prints of which I shall die possessed during her life if she shall continue my widow and after her death or marriage I direct the same articles to be disposed of as part of my residuary personal estate I devise all my real estate and I bequeath the residue of my personal estate to my said wife for her life if she shall continue my widow-
and immediately after her death or marriage whichever shall first happen I give devise and bequeath the same to my son Henry THOMPSON and my son in law John MEERE their heirs executives and administrators upon trust to sell my real estate together or in parcels by public auction or private contract and to convert and get in any residual estate (crossed out: and to convert and get in my residuary estate) and to pay and divide the monies arising therefrom between such child or children of mine then living and such issue then living of my child or children then deceased as being a male or males shall attain the age of twenty one years or being a female or females shall attain that age or marry as tenants in common or in case of distribution according to the stocks and not to the number of individual objects and so that the issue of deceased children may take by way of substitution the share or respective shares only which the parent or respective parents would if living have taken.
And I empower my trustees after the death or marriage of my said wife to apply the whole or any part of the income of the contingent shares of the respective children and issue aforesaid in or towards their respective maintenance or otherwise for their respective benefit. And I direct my trustees to accumulate the unapplied income and add the accumulations to the capital of the respective shares whence the income shall have arisen. And I also empower my trustees to apply after the death or marriage of my said wife any part of the capital of the contingent shares of the respective children and issue aforesaid in or towards their respective advancement in life.
And I direct (but subject to the provisions for advancement hereinbefore contained) that my trustees shall after the death or marriage of my said wife invest and continue invested in their names pursuant to the general directions herinafter contained the contingent portions of my children and issue aforesaid. And I devise that all such investments shall be made in or upon the public stocks or funds or other Government securities of the United Kingdom of Great Britain or any real securities in England or Wales. And I empower my trustees to vary such investments from time to time limiting them to such stocks funds and securities as last aforesaid. I empower my trustees to give receipts for all monies to be paid to them by virtue of my will and declare that such receipts shall exonerate the persons taking the same from all liability to see the application or disposition of the money or effects therin mentioned. I declare that if my trustees or either of them or any person or persons to be appointed under this clause shall die or disclaim or be unwilling or incompetent to execute the trusts of my will it shall be lawful for my said wife living her widowhood and after her death or marriage for the competent trustees or trustee for the time being (if any)
whether refusing or retiring from the office of trustee or not or if none for the executors or administrators of the last surviving trustee to substitute by any writing by his her or their hand or hands any fit person or persons in whom alone or as the case may be jointly with the surviving or continuing trustee shall trust estate shall be vested under the trustees or trustee for the time being of my wife shall be competent to exercise the powers and discretions given to the trustees herin names . And I exempt every trustee of my will for liability of losses occurring without his own willful default and authorize him to retain and allow to his co trustee all expenses incidental to the trusteeship.
and I appoint the said Henry THOMPSON and John MEERE to be executors of my will. In witness whereof I have herunto set my hand this twenty fifth day of January in the year of lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty four- James THOMPSON
signed published declared by the said testator James THOMPSON in the presence of us present at the same time in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other herunto subscribed our names as witnesses. James DAVIS; Martin Luther DAVIS
Proved at Bristol the twenty ninth day of September 1865 by the oath of Henry THOMPSON (son of the deceased) one of the executors to whom administration was granted - power reserved of making the like grant to John MEERE the other executor
The testator James THOMPSON was late of Swinford in the parish of Bitton in the county of Gloucester
Yeoman and died on the 26th day of July 1865 at Swinford aforesaid
Under £100 Charles S Clarke , Distrect Registrar; Cerified to be a correct copy
Transcriber's Notes
| James Thompson | s/o cousins Sumption/Nancy THOMPSON; m. Hester MEERE, 1820, Bitton. He's buried in Selly Oak, with the notation that he d. in Swinford, nr Bath. Until the discovery of his will, it was thought that he also moved to Selly Oak. |
| Henry Thompson | Son, think lived in Bath, per will and 1881, 1891 censuses |
| John Meere | S/o Hester's brother; m. cousin MaryAnn Meere THOMPSON. Hester with them in 1871 census, Northfield (nr Selly Oak) |
| DAVIS witnesses | James and Martin Luther. Unknown connection as of 08 Aug 2004 |
| Children: | ||
| Edmund | 1821 - 1989 | m. 1) Eiza BRIDEWELL; 2) Ann Palmer BRIGHT. Moved to Selly Oak |
| Richmond | 1823 - ? | Not found in 1841 or other censuses, but no death found |
| MaryAnn Meere | 1825 - 1898 | m. John MEERE; Moved to Selly Oak |
| Sumption | 1827 - 1876 | m. Emma HUMPHRIES; Stayed in Bitton. |
| James | 1829 - 1906 | m. Mary TROTMAN; Moved to Selly Oak |
| Fanny | 1831 - aft 1901 | m. George CHANDLER of Stedham, Sussex, England. He died 1885, Bath. He owned property in Bham |
| Ann Bush | 1833 - 1868 | m. Daniel FRANKLIN of Sherbourne, 1856, Bitton. She's buried in St. Mary's, Selly Oak |
| Coster Scott | 1835 - ? | m. Margaret O'GRADY, 1861, Madras, India, boiler maker. His son, John Orlando, b. 1864, Madras, with Aunt Fanny/Uncle George in 1881 census. No further info re John Orlando or Coster Scott |
| Henry | 1837 - aft 1891 | If correct census find, m. to Sarah A. ? |
| Caroline | 1839 - 1925 | m. Rivers DUNNETT; lived in Northfield. Rivers a will witness or executor for many MEERE wills in Selly Oak |
| Lawson | 1842 - 1844 | Bur Bitton |
| Lawson | 1844 - 1914 | m. Mary Parsons DORE, d/o Daniel/Susanna PARSONS; Daniel a s/o James DORE and Rachel nee THOMPSON, sister of testator, baptized same day. Stayed in Bitton. |