Family Matters - 12.The Will of Mary Ann Goninan
The Cornwall Records Office website has a search facility on their catalogue and although I was confident I had already found anything of consequence I can never resist a search box. I was stunned to find a reference to a will of Mary Ann Goninan as I wouldn’t have thought that she would have had two brass farthings to rub together given that she had been widowed for perhaps 25 years and was left to cope with a large family. Her maiden name was Tellam and she married Richard Goninan in 1810 at Camborne Church. Richard and Mary Ann are the founders of the Gwithian Branch and they had nine surviving children, Edward, Richard, Matthew,William, Henry, John, Jennifer, Ann and Mary. Their descendents are now spread liberally around the globe. She died in 1865 aged 78.
It was certainly worth a visit to the Records Office so off I trudged. What they have is not the original will but a hand written copy which along with many others is contained within a huge bound ledger. I think these were copies made at the time of probate. Only four of Mary Ann’s children get a mention, William, Richard, Jennifer and Ann. Below is what the will says – I have left the spelling as it was although I have tidied up the punctuation as there seems to have been an aversion to commas and fullstops. A ‘fether (or feather) tye is a mattress. I am slightly confused about the dwelling as Mary Ann says that it should not be sold but also that the ‘high rent’ due must be paid promptly. My theory is that perhaps the land was owned by a third party on which a ground rent had to be paid but the dwelling was owned by Mary Ann. A three lives lease was quite common – three people were named and the lease lasted all the while one of the three people at least was alive:-
This is the last will and testament of me Mary Ann Goninan of the Parish of Gwithian in the County of Cornwall being very sick but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God. I give and bequeath to my well beloved son William Goninan one fether tye, also I give unto my well beloved daughter Jenefer Chegwin, the wife of John Chegwin, one fether tye and quilt. Also I give unto the foresaid William Goninan and the foresaid Jenefer Chegwin and also Richard Goninan my son and also Ann, my daughter, the equal part of this dwelling house and garden and premises now in the occupation of myself at Connor Downs. This foresaid Dwelling House and garden and premises is not to be sold but to be keapt until the term of three lives or the term of 99 years, also the aforesaid dwelling house is to be keep in good repair, also the high rent is to be paid in due time to the freeholder then the remaining part of the money of the rent is to be divided between the foresaid names. But if anyone of the foresaid names do refuse in paying their part in the burying of my body or my other expenses that may be they are not to have any part of the money of the rent of the foresaid premises. Also I make the foresaid Ann, my daugher, the wife of the late Thomas Williams, the executor of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of April one thousand eight hundred and sixty five
Mary Ann Goninan
signed by the aforementioned testator in her presence and the presence of each other have been hereunto subscribers our names as witness
Thomas Michell
John Carkeek
Frank Sando Chlew
proved at Bodmin the 9th day of June 1865 by oath of Ann Williams, widow, the daughter, the sole executrix named in the said will to whom administration was granted. The testatrix, Mary Ann Goninan, was late of Connor Downs in the Parish of Gwithian in the County of Cornwall, widow, and died on the 21st April 1865 at Connor Downs
under £100