Wills and Marriage Settlements

Left house and everything to his wife, Christian for life and then to “Christian and Ann my grandchildren and children of my daughter Ann and to such other children as she shall have at my decease. And my will is that my daughter Ann out of this and my other estatehereafter mentioned for the succour and supply of her necessities and wants shall be alloed monthly and during her life 6/8 (six shillings and 8 pence). I give to said wife the use occupation benefit of profit of my farm.

Will of Richard Hardinge the Elder 1653

The will was shown as signed 10.2.1650. Proved or he died 1653

Summary

I, Richard Hardinge the Elder of Great Packington in the County of Warwick, Blacksmith …

Made 10^th February in the year of our lord according to the computation of the Church of England 1650

Inprimus, I give to my son Richard Hardinge my shop, bellowes, my anvile, my ?? and all my tools and other things belonging to my trade.

I give to my said son, Richard’s 3 sons, Richard, William and Thomas £20 each and to his daughter Joann £10

I give to my son William Harding’s 4 children – Richard, William, Thomas and Susan £5 each

Instructions given as to investment prior to the above reaching 21, marrying or dying before 21 etc

I give to every one of the children of my brother William ten shillings

I give to Margaret .. Sinden sometime my servant three pounds, six shillings and eightpence

Residue to my sons Richard Hardinge and Thomas Hardinge equally

Exors Richard and Thomas Hardinge

Detail

“In the name of the most glorious and blessed trinity I Richard Harding [the Elder] of Great Packington in the county of Warwick Blacksmith being at the time of making hereof in reasonable good health and of sound and perfect memory for which great mercy I desire humbly and heartily thank my most gracious god but being grown into the evening of my age and being well assured that the tyme of my dissolution draweth near and willing to settle those things / secular which god of his goodness hath lent unto me do make and ordain this my last will and testament the tenth day of February in the year of our lord god according to the computation of the Church of England one thousand six hundred and fifty in manner and form following .

First and principally I commend and commit my soul into the hands and protection of the most glorious trinity in the full confidence and assurance through the -mercy of my most gracious god in the -and mediation of his dear son Jesus Christ my only saviour and redeemer after his painful pilgrimage ------.saints in heaven -----My body I desire may in convenient devout and christianlike manner be brought to the earth and buried and as for that worldly estate which the lord of his goodness ------. I give and devise the same as followeth-

Imprimus I give and bequeath to my son Richard Harding my shop bellows my anvil and my (?) and all my tools and other things belonging to my trade.

Item I give and bequeath to my said son Richard's three sons Richard William and Thomas twenty pound a piece and to his daughter Joan(or Joanna?) ten pounds.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son William's four children Richard William Thomas and Susan five pound apiece .

Item my will is that the legacies that the legacies aforesaid given and bequeathed to my said son Richard's children and to my said son William his children before named shall within one year next after my decease be put forth by my executors hereafter named for the good and benefit of the said children to the best advantage that may be ----thereof until the said male children before named shall attain the several ages of twenty one years of age ------and said female children at 21 or within 3 months of their several marriages as shall first happen ----and without any deduction from any of them for their education or any other benefit whatsoever .

ITEM (= accrual provisions to siblings if a grandchild died before inheriting ).

Item I give and bequeath to every one of the children of my brother William Harding ten shillings apiece to be paid to them within one year next after my decease .

Item I give and bequeath to Margaret ?or /(sp) some time my servant three pounds six shillings and eight pence .

The residue of my goods and chattells, debts and funeral expenses paid I give and bequeath to my son Richard Harding before named and to my son Thomas Harding and I order constitute and make the said Richard and Thomas Harding the executors of this my will .

In witness etc. in presence of Richard ?, Thomas ? Ann Wilson her mark

Will proved Westminster 7th February 1653 (CoE).

Settl’t ... Marriage of Mr William Harding with Miss Ann Pickard 24.1. 1669

This Indenture made twenty fourth day of January in the one and twentieth year of the raigne of our Sovraign Lord Charles the Second by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King defender of the faith etc BETWEENE William Harding of Tamworth in the County of Stafford Blacksmith of the one part and William Pickard of Comberford in said County of Stafford yeoman Richard Harding of Great Packington in the said County of Warwick [it looks as if it originally said Stafford and was then overwritten with Warwick] Blacksmith and Anne Pickard of Comberford aforesaid in the said County of Stafford and Spinster daughter of the said William Pickard of the other part WITNESSETH that for and in consideration of a marriage shortly by the grace of God to be had and solemnized by and between the said William Harding and the said Anne And also for and in consideration of a competent sum of money to be paid to the said William Harding as the Marryage Portion with the said Anne And for a competent Joynture etc ...”

Refers to “All that messuage cottage or tenent with the appurtences situate and bein gin Tamworth aforesaid in the said county of Stafford on the north side of a claine (?) Street there called Leichfield Streete and adjoining next to a Tenent of Ralph Gibbons new in the occupation of Richard Poolteney AND all barns buildings houses edifices gardens orchards henplecks backsides advantages and appurtences whatsoever to the said messuage or tenent and premises belonging to or in anywise appertaining which said messuage or tenent and premises are now in the occupation of the said William Harding or his assigns AND the revicon ..?..rents and services thereof and of every .. thereof

Will dated 1681 of Richard Harding the Younger 1681

He is assumed to be the father or William Primus Harding].

Summary

Will made 13.3.1681

Inventory and probate April 1682

Richard Harding of Gt Packington, Warwick, Blacksmith..

Detail

(Inprimus), I give to my son Thomas Harding of Birmingham, Whitesmith £20

To Anne and Joan, daughters of my deceased son Richard …

To William, son of my deceased son Richard my shop of smith’s tools with the proviso that he pays his sisters, Anne and Joan £3…

If William doesn’t want or can’t take on the business, then its my wish that my other grandson, William, son of my son William of Tamworth who will have to pay the aforesaid Joan 20 shillings

To poor of parish of Gt Packington, 20 shillings

To brother, William of Hampton-on-Arden 5 shillings to son, John Harding

Exors son John overseen by son William and son in law William Daniell of Gt Packinton, yeoman

In the name of God amen. I Richard Harding of Great Packington in the county of Warwick blacksmith being of sound and perfect mind and memory praised be God for it though weak and infirm of body do make constitute and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say First and principally I commend my soul unto the hand of almighty God -and trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ my saviour to have free and full pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and to inherit everlasting life and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried in the Church of Great Packington aforesaid and as for that temporal state which hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me I give and dispose of it as followeth.

Imprimus I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Harding of Birmingham Whitesmith the sum of twenty pounds

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Harding the sum of five pounds

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my two granddaughters ?Susan and Joan (the daughters of my son Richard Harding deceased so much money as will with the two five pound bonds which I have already gave for their use with the interest thereof amount to the sums of twenty pounds a piece The said sums shall be respectively paid to each of them one year after my decease .

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my grandson William the son of my son Richard Harding aforesaid all my shop of smiths tools with the proviso and upon this condition that he shall pay unto his sisters Ann and Joann aforesaid the sum of three pounds a piece as they shall severally accomplish the age of one and twenty years or upon the day of their several marriages (which shall happen first) And if my said grandson do not do not make use of my said shop of tools himself or shall die before he be capable of following the trade of blacksmith it is my will and pleasure that my other grandson William son of my son William Harding of Tamworth shall have my said shop of tools he paying to my granddaughter Joan aforesaid the sum of forty shillings

ITEM I give unto the poor of the parish of Great Packington the sum of twenty shillings to be put out for their use for ever.

ITEM I give and bequeath to my brother William Harding of Hampton in Arden the sum of five shillings And all the rest and residue of my personal estate goods and chattels whatsoever my debts legacies and funeral expenses being discharged I give and bequeath unto my son John Harding whom I do hereby make constitute and ordain full and sole executor of this my last will and testament hereby also revoking disanulling and making void all former wills and testaments by - me heretofore made and I desire my son William Harding and my son in law William Daniell of Great Packington yeoman to be overseers of this my present last will and testament to whom I give and bequeath for their pains five shillings a piece

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of March in the (??) four and thirtieth year of the reign of our sovereign lord king Charles the Second anno domini 1681

(Witnesses George Oughton, Mary Harding (each of those by mark) and Solon Smith).

William Harding of Tamworth (Primus), Blacksmith d 1700

Will made 1699, died 1700

Left:

House lived in being in Lichfield St, Tamworth with barns, outhouses, gardens orchards fowlyards etc and all other appurtenances to my eldest son William Harding, his heirs and assigns for ever.

I give to my brother, John Harding of Gt Packington and my said son William and their heirs all those 2 parcels of ground lying and adjoining to or near my garden and called or known by the name of the Leas together with all ??? appurtenances whatsoever to the same belonging upon and trust and confidence I have in them and my mind and will is that the said closes shall be sold to the best advantage to raise portions for my younger children as followeth to wit my mind and will is that the money the said Closes be sold for be equally divided amongst my said children except that my daughter Joannah Harding this is to have ten pounds over and above the rist of my children hereafter named that is to say my son Richard Harding, my daughter Anne Harding my daughter Mary Harding . My will is that my executors do pay interest to my daughter Joannah Harding after ??? till she doth attain the age 21 . My will is that my sonne Thomas have ? 4 shillings as to the rest of my ?? and personal estate my debts being paid and funeral being discharged my will is that the remainder shall be equally distributed by my executors betwixt my said legatees Richard, Anne, Mary and Joannah Harding in two months time next and immediately after my decease; and my mind and will further is if any difference shall arise betwixt my said legatees relating to the parting of the said goods there my desire is the said difference shall be determined by my executors hereafter named and that their determinations therein shall be an obligation each my said legatees and they and any of them shall be absolutely bound by the same and I do hereby appoint make constitute my said loving brother John Harding and my son William Harding sole executors of this my last will and testament .

In witness etc. My will is that if my daughter Joannah Harding do die before the age of 21 that her portion be equally divided amongst my legatees Richard Anne and Mary Harding.

Probate granted to John and William Harding. Inventory of goods incl horseshoes, 30.3.1700.

Summary

His will refers to a brother called John and offspring of:

William, described as oldest son

Richard

Anne

Mary

Joannah who was under 21 when will signed

Thomas who was only left 4 shillings

John Harding of Tamworth, Weaver 1719

Will made 1719. He was 5^th son of Richard Harding the Younger

Wife, Isabella £20

Son, John 5 shillings

Residue to my three children:

Richard Harding

Joseph Harding

Elizabeth Matthews?

Exor son Richard Harding

Inventory taken 4.5.1719

William Harding Secundus of Tamworth 1722

Definitely William Secundus

Could be Primus said somewhere to have died c1700 and to have married in 1669. Secundus dob and dod not known. Wife Anne Blood

Will made 9.10.1722

Land in Tamworth to son William for life, then entailed to eldest sons.

If no issue, to his daughter Anne Crossland, entailed

If no issue to:

His brother, Thomas

Sons of late brother Richard (names not given)

Sisters Ann and Mary

Above equally as tenants in common

Land known as Orchard in Bolehall and Blascoat? To daughter Anne Crossland for life and then to her daughter Mary Crossland, entailed

To sister Ann £5 pa

My share of 3 closes or parcels of land in Bonehill or Fazeley to son Samuel Crossland, entailed (presumably son in law)

Residue to sons William Harding and Richard Crossland [must be either meant to be Samuel Crossland, wife of his daughter Anne, or his other daughter, Mary who was not otherwise mentioned in this will, married a Richard Crossland]

To poor of Tamworth, £5

Exors: Richard Batman, clothier and Thomas Vaughton, shoemaker

William Harding of Hampton in Arden, Blacksmith 1727

Will made 27.9.1727

[He appears to be the son of Richard and grandson of Richard the Younger. Richard the Younger had left his blacksmith’s business to his son, William Primus (of Tamworth) unless he didn’t want it, in which case to his grandson].

Son William Harding, tools and implements belonging to my shop adjoining the house wherein I now live.

Son Richard Harding, tools and implements belonging to my shop at Endington? Together with what coals I shall be possessed of being at Endington.

Daughter Mary, wife of Thomas Biddle, £10

Daughter Anne Harding £60

Daughter Joan Harding £60

Wife Mary Harding£10

Exors: Mary (wife), William and Richard (Sons)

Richard Harding of Hampton in Arden, Blacksmith 1731

Will made 19.1.1729. Died or proved 8.10.1730?

Identical will dated 8.4.1731

Son of William Harding of Hampton. Great grandson of Richard the younger.

Brother William Harding £25, implements of shop and shop

Sister Joan? Harding £15

Sister Mary Biddle £9?

Sister Anne Harding 6/- pa

Mother Mary Harding 20/-

Exor: Mary (Mother)

Overseers: Mr Karver and Thomas Fisher

Probate to Maria (sic) Harding

William Sargant signed 1740

Probate of the of [sic] of William Sargant late of Kingsnorton and ?

In the name of god Amen. I William Sargant of the parish of Kingsnorton in the county of Worcester, Yeoman do make this my last will and testament in manner following:

First it is my Will that my loving Wife Mary shall have ? and enjoy the rents ? and profits of all my real estate for an during the term of her natural life and ? and after her ? Then I give and devise all my said ? and assets ?? freehold untio my two sons Isaac and Thomas Sargant their heirs and assignts for ever TO HOLD as tenants in common and not as Joint Tenants upon this condition ??? That if my son William who has been absent from home near sixteen years should ever return into the country where I now live or it should at any time hereafter appear that my son William is alive or hath left behind him any children by him lawfully begotten then my said sons Isaac and Thomas Sargant and their ??s shall pay out of my said freehold and ? estates unto my said son William if living or unto his lawfull begotton children the sum of £300 and ?? make al my said freehold and ?? estates ???with the payment thereof AND as to all my chattels and personal estate I ?? will and appoint that my said wife Mary shall have the use thereof during her natural life and after her death I do give and bequeath the same unto my two sons Isaac and Thomas to equally divide between them share and share alike AND of this my will I do appoiont my Wife Mary sole executrix and ?? by revoking all former will and wills by me made Do declare this only to be my last will and testament ... 5^th September 1740

William Harding of Tamworth, Ironmonger 1757

Definitely William Tertius Harding

Probate granted to his widow, Mary 30.8.1757

Confirms entailed lands from father’s (William Secundus) estate to his son William.

Lands listed, together with who occupies them.

Refers to Wife, Mary

Son William (presumably Quartus)

Daughters Elizabeth, Ann, Mary, Charlot and Sarah

He also had lent £600 interest bearing loan, secured on property in Birmingham belonging to George Bayliss and Joseph Prann?

Also £200 on a bond of Thomas Vaughton the elder and younger

The above £800 left to wife, Mary in settlement of £700 articles of agreement in marriage settlement?

£150 to son, William when he is 21 or earlier if his wife thinks suitable

Wife, Mary to be guardian of children if he dies before they are 21

Exors: Mary (wife) and William Abney

Richard Harding the Elder of Great Packington, Husbandman 1765

Dated, or death 12.10.1765

Can’t find him as being directly related

John, son £25

Joan, daughter, wife of John Smith £5

Eleanor Harding, daughter £40

Every Grandchild 5/-

Residue including cattle to Wife, Alice Harding for life, then to son Richard Harding

Mary Harding nee Bradburn 1708-1799. Will signed 1781

See attachment. What follows is a partial transcript where it could readily be deciphered-

Text of Will including what appears to be addition included for Rings and other chattals

£20 each to my granddaughters

Mary Horsley, dau of dau Elizabeth Horsely

Mary Pagett, dau of dau Mary Pagett

Mary Byng, dau of late dau Charlotte Byng

Mary Harding, dau of son Wm Harding [ie Wm Quartus]

All the residue of my personal estate to

my son and daughters William Harding, Elizabeth Horsley and Mary Paget and my 6 grandchildren John, Mary, Elizabeth, Thomas, Anne and Henrietta Byng, the sons and daughters of my said late daughter Charlotte Byng and to be divided one fourth to William Harding, one other fourth to Elizabeth Horsley, one other fourth to Mary Pagett and thte remaining fourth to the said John, Mary, Elizabeth, Thomas, Anne and Henrietta Byng Charlotte’s sons and daughters.

Executor to be my son William and son in law John Byng

Signed ? day of April 1781

I give my mourning ring .. to my son William and desire that my daughter in law Martha Harding will accept of my gold watch chain and my granddaughter Mary Harding and give my diamond ring with a .. to my daughter Elizabeth Horsley and my silver coffee pot, sedan chair, chamber horse and my ..bed with hangings and in bedding belonging to it to my daughter Mary Pagett and give my gold watch and silver.. and the bed quilt to my son in law John Byng and give my .. carpet that is at his house to grandson John Byng. I give the mahogany desk and book case and my will is that all my books be equally divided between him and his brother, my grandson Thomas Byng and their four sisters to whom I give my ..chest of drawers that is to ..Thomas Byng.

To my granddaughter Elizabeth Byng, I give my silver …to Ann Byng my large silver spoon to Henrietta Byng and give my silver bottle table .. and tea spoon to my granddaughter Charlotte Pagett and give my ring which was left me as a mourning ring for my mother Elizabeth Bradburn the rest of my mourning rings with a silver snuff box.. may b .. of towards buying mourning rings with my .. age for my six children, William and Martha Harding, Elizabeth Horsley, Mary Pagett and Mr John Byng and also desire my executors will give mourning rings of . value to …[hard to read from here]

William Quartus Harding, Will died 1802

Exors:

Martha Harding, nee Tuffley, his widow

Thomas Paget

Joseph Paget (brother in law)

Thomas Bartart?

Difficult to read. There is a reference to “being engaged in a banking concern at Tamworth in partnership with Mr Charles Oakes and Mr Thomas Willington”

“I have lately paid or agreed to pay 500 guineas to Mr Benjamin Stoke of Birmingham as an apprentice premium with my son Thomas Harding.” [Thomas Harding died in Hamburg 22.10.1801]

William Sargant died 1821 probate 18.6.1822

Father of William Lucas Sargant, husband of Elizabeth Chance

I William Sargant of Birmingham, ?sailmater and sailors ironmonger ..last will..give and bequeath to my wife Eliaabeth Sargant all my property .. and appoint her executrix. Dated 1804.

Later para saying he trusts his wife...

Later dated 1821, he added his father in law and brother in law, William Chance senior and junior joint exors with his wife.

William Sextus Harding and Anne Harding Marriage Settlement 31.8.1835

Parties:

William Sextus Harding of Birmingham, Gentleman

Edwin Pemberton of Edgebaston, Esquire

Anne Harding of Bolehall, near Tamworth, Spinster

Charles Harding of Bolehall, Tape Manufacturer

Samuel Tuffley Harding of Manchester, Gentleman

Henry Talbot the Younger of Kidderminster, Carpet Manufacturer

24.12.1874 Indenture appointing new trustees Richard Peyton Esq of Edgbaston and George Harding Esq of Styal in place of Henry Talbot the Younger who died on 23.10.1873 and Samuel Tuffley Harding who retired

Source from which Trust Funds are derived, per 1874 Indenture:

1/5^th share of £4,000 given by 1^st Sir Robert Peel to the children of Ellen and Charles Harding £800

Added by William Sextus Harding at time of his marriage £200

½ of £4,000 bequeathed by Samuel Pemberton for the benefit of his daughter and their children, £4,000

1/5^th share of £5,000 settled by Mrs Ann Park upon her daughter Ellen and Charles and their children resettled by Mr and Mrs William Sextus Harding £1,000

1/5^th share of estate of Charles Harding dec’d directed by him to be settled (including £200 directed by Ann to be paid pursuant to his covenant and to be deducted from the said Ann Harding’s share £3,529.

Total £7,529

Charles Harding (son of William Quartus and husband of Ellen nee Willock) 1868

died 15.8.1868

Will dated 11.12.1854 extracts “… I recognize a debt to my daughter Ellen now amounting to £535 And to my daughter Mary A DEBT NOW AMOUNTING TO £585 and secured or intended to be secured on my Freehold houses in Tamworth I give to each of my last mentioned daughters such sum of money as will make up the loss of part of the money (originally £800 each) given to them by the 1^st Sir Robert Peel Baronet and which loss was occasioned by investment in Northern and Central Bank of England unless such loss shall be made good to them from any other source … I give to my son-in-law William Sextus Harding my picture called “the Boy and Girl asking Charity” painted by “Green”. … And I hereby give and bequeath my organ now in Colehill Chapel unto the trustees of the said Chapel for the time being for the use of the same.

1^st Codicil. 11.12.1854 (same date as will!). Having paid the amounts owed to Ellen and Mary, that part of the will is cancelled.

2^nd Codicil 10.1.1861. It seems he had intended Ellen and Mary lived in his house after his death but had then given someone else a lease so he was giving the daughters, Ellen and Mary £40 pa to make up for it. (?)

3^RD Codicil. 16.3.1868. Left, as joint tenants, freehold messuage garden and premises in Bole Hall now in the occupation of John Hinson ..”

William Quintus Harding Will dated 8.1.1857 and codicils, died 1870

WILL dated 8th January 1857:

APPOINTS son William Sextus Harding as sole executor/trustee

Directs debts be paid as soon as reasonably possible.

Directs trustee to have valuation made of furniture etc / effects in and about his house at Copeley.

His son William Sextus to have option to buy such at a discount of 10 percent, paying a half of that to testators daughter Caroline wife of Henry Talbot

If he doesn't so buy, then same option to be given to Caroline.

If neither of them buys, then to be sold in manner agreed in writing by Sextus and Caroline, proceeds to be divided equally between them.

PECUNIARY LEGACIES -

£500 to each of testator's grandchildren then living or thereafter born

£500 to his friend Miss Isabella Giles then residing with him as companion if she survives and remains as such companion up to his death ...to be paid within 12 months free of tax with 4 per cent interest from death.

£ 50 to each house servant who been in his employ for 7 years up to death, £20 for those for 3 years £10 for those more than 1 year.

ANNUITY of £20 to his widowed sister Mary Byng

ADDS £5,000 to £1,000 already promised by the marriage settlement (dated 7th May 1829 .of Caroline with Henry Talbot. This extra is payable to his friends William Henry Lee of Birmingham iron merchant and Henry Hollins of Bolton Lancs Esquire as trustees (Charles Talbot is mentioned as being party to original settlement but now deceased.

DEVISES his 2 freehold houses at Copeley....and to include ground rents as well as freeholds of part of grounds to his son William Sextus Harding for Life. Thereafter for William Sextus Harding's sons, William Septimus Harding and Charles Harding equally.

REST/RESIDUE OF ESTATE TO WILLIAM SEXTUS absolutely.

Witnesses ...? Ingleby solicitor Birmingham and ? Fisher clerk to INGLEBYS WRAGGE and EVANS Solicitors Birmingham.

FIRST CODICIL 24 th November 1857

Contemplated marriage of granddaughter EDITH CAROLINE TALBOT ....so anything she would get is to go to her contemplated marriage settlement.

Witnesses Reuben Taylor /JM Waldron clerk to Mr W.S. Harding Solicitor

CODICIL 7th December 1860...

£1,000 being part of money received from sale of part of Copeley land to London and North Western Railway to be invested as there stated.

Witnesses...? Wm Somerton Lowe 61 New St Birmingham, Richard Mashitashort, Solihull.

CODICIL 22nd June 1864

Moneys left in trust for daughter Caroline Talbot and her husband and daughter now to be for testators daughter outright.

Witnesses: Charles Harding solicitor Birmingham Isabella Giles Copeley.

OATH by Charles Harding Birmingham Warwicks Solicitor dated 14th February 1870 as to the last codicil having been read out to the testator and explained etc nd appeared understood.

[This suggests simply that either the signature looked shakey or badly positioned , maybe due to blindness at age 86]

PROBATE to William Sextus Harding ...Will with 3 codicils ...on 21st February 1870 ....testator having died at Copeley on 31st January1870... [Marked as being "under £30,000", which presumed to be some kind of duty /tax theshold rate of that time...maybe for all estate, or possibly only non realty or exclusive of trust interests].

Samuel Tuffley Harding Will He died 19.6.1880

Will made 18.7.1877, Codicil 13.5.1880 and 24.8.1880

Exors William Wood [STH’s partner] and George Harding [nephew per text of will so the son of John Harding, STH’s brother]

24.8.1880. Will proved by William Wood with power reserved for George Harding

16.11.1880. George Harding disclaimed and revoked his role as exor and trustee

In 1897, William Wood was replaced by Arthur George Evans and John David Whyte

On 1.3.1906, Guy Evans replaced Arthur George Evans

On 1.8.1928, John David Whyte, having died, was replaced by George Arthur Harding and Laurance Harding

Left:

Legacies:

Benjamin Evans, his old clerk £500

Spary and Gaskell and Charles Wilson, clerks £19.19.00 each

Miss Ada Ridpath, [STH’s companion – legacy if still with him at time of death which she must have been as it was paid] £300 + £200 in codicil

Trustees of marriage settlement of Mrs Frances Cripps £500

Miss Ellen Harding, spinster [dau of his brother, Charles Harding] £ 500 and pictures for distribution

Mr Sextus Harding – portrait

George Harding piano if he gives smaller one to Miss Ridpath , otherwise to Miss Ridpath)

Interest in horses etc to Mrs M A Harding [could be Maria nee Ridsdale, wife of STH’s brother John]

Mrs Mary Anne Harding of Chester, Widow [probably same as above] £500 in substitution for earlier ie in will, £200 annuity and 1/6^th share of residue

Mary Simister, formerly Miss Bennett £100 [Not shown as being distributed]

Annuities

George and Margaret Harding £100 revoked by Codicil

Mrs M A Harding £200 revoked by Codicil

Miss Mary Emily Bage [shown as M A Bage in distribution], dau of Robert Bage of Naples £100

Mr John Byng of Gorton 5/- per week [Mary Harding, STH’s older sister married John Byng in 1800. They had a son, John Byng who married Eleanor Tunnicliffe. They had a son, John George Byng b 1837]

Mr F Goodier of Styal 5/- per week [no mention of him anywhere else, so may be a servant etc]

Residue

1/6^th, then 1/5^th each

1. Mr & Mrs George Harding

2. Mr Edward Bage of Melbourne, Australia – trustees of marriage settlement [STH’s younger sister, Anne, married Charles Woolley Bage. Their 3rd son Edward emigrated, via Sierra Leone to Australia]. [Since there had been no marriage settlement, on 22.5.1929, a Deed of Release included a section concerning a family arrangement involving Edward Bage’s wife (Anna Newsom Bage) and her children excl one who died intestate just before he was 21.

3. Mr William Bage of Cardiff, Engineer [4^th son of Charles Wooley Bage and Anne Harding, STH’s sister]

4. Mr Arthur Evans of Cardiff, Engineer (or if he dies, his sister Gertrude Evans) [Charles Wooley Bage and Anne Harding’s daughter Caroline Marianne Bage married Edward Evans and had 6 children including Arthur George Evans and Gertrude Evans]

5. Mr Charles Bage [___ shown] son of late Robert Bage of Naples [Robert was the 2^nd son of Charles Woolley Bage and Anne Harding, STH’s sister]

(6).Mrs M A Harding – Revoked by Codicil

William Sextus Harding will made 14.3.1883

Very long will. These are notes in pencil that are in the margins:

£2,000 outright to wife

£1,200pa to wife

£7,500 in trust for wife, remainder to Annette

£7,500 outright to Annette

£5,000 to Hilda Gertrude Talbot (Flora’s child)

£5,000 to Emily Maud Talbot (ditto)

“Nest egg” of £100 to each grandchild for pocket money

£1,000 each to Richard Peyton and John Arthur Talbot “in appreciation of their unwearied (?) and devoted kindness to our dear daughters Emily and Flora during their happy married lives and their melancholy and early termination”.

£50 to each of Ward and Goode in office. £10 servants of more than 2 years

£100 to Birmingham General Hospital and General Dispensary Children Hospital

£50 pa to Mrs Giles

Residue to Wm Septimus and Charles Harding equally

Hope expressed that Copely estate be sold as undesirable to be in joint ownership

Advice to wife on pictures – Portraits of selves by ? and 1^st Sir Robert Peel by Sir Thos Lawnence to Septimus. Annette to have furniture . Bolehall tankard to Septimus. Silver Teapot left by our Uncle Tuffley to Annette.

“I have commissioned Mr Munns? To paint replicas of the portraits of my wife and myself which I give to my son Charles. 13.7.1883

Option for Charles to take Harbourne Hall if Septimus didn’t

Laurance Harding and Florence Howe, Marriage Settlement 16.11.1903

Not scrutinised

Will of Charles Perkins who died 25 August 1905

This is the last Will and Testament of Charles Perkins of Carham Hall and Birtley Iron Works Co Durham.

I hereby revoke and cancel all previous wills and codicils.

I hereby bequeath to my wife Edith Law Perkins Eight thousand pounds (£8,000) a year out of my private and business affairs during her life and the use of all my furniture pictures etc after which they shall be equally divided between my two daughters Violet Edith Fenwick and Nancy Burrell.

The whole of the rest of my property with the exception of such legacies and bequests as I may make to be equally divided between the said daughters and their heirs and successors. In the event of no issue the money to revert to the other sister and her issue.

In the event of there being no surviving issue to Violet Edith Fenwick or to Nancy Burrell the whole to revert to my three sisters and their issue Augusta Maude Terry, Ada Tyler, Clare Hext.

To my son in law Herbert George Fenwick fifteen hundred pounds a year as long as he shall manage the Birtley Iron Works and Pelaw Main Collieries. The Pelaw Main Collieries & Birtley Iron Works are not to be sold notwithstanding anything to the contrary in my daughters marriage settlements. Other interests to be sold to meet the requirements of the Trust Act.

I also make the following bequests

Edward Dent.(1). My three guns by Stephen Grant. (2). Three cases of Binet Champagne /92. (3). Ducks in a farm yard by Herring Senr

The Northern Counties Club, Newcastle. (1). A picture of “Fox” by Runninghal. (2). All race horse pictures and Capt Bewicke to decide what such pictures consist of.

To C J Cunningham Esq. (1). My two racehorses (1) Be very wise. (2). Williams Hill. (2). My picture of Letterewe. (3). 5 cases of Binet Champagne /92. (4). And a thousand pounds sterling

To Captain P. Bewicke all the racehorses now in training by him for me a “Foulmart Law”

To M Dobson Peacock my race horse “Galbraith” “Emy Law” and “Torantile”

To Thomas Coulthwaite all my horses he has in training

To William J’Anson all the horses he has in training belonging to me and balance of Loan Acct.

To R. C. Swan the whole of my blood stock at “Thackston” Yorkshire.

To my butler Robert Curry Five Hundred Pounds sterling.

To Robert Torry Five Hundred Pounds sterling.

To R Hardy Five Hundred Pounds sterling.

To Mrs Lister, housekeeper Three Hundred Pounds sterling.

To all servants of more than three years service Twenty Five Pounds each

At Carham Hall and Carham Home Farm and Shed Law Servants at the above named places with only one year service to receive Ten pounds each Birtley and Quayside Offices.

I bequeath to H.L.Wraith One thousand pounds

To T Philip Kirkup One Thousand Pounds

To H.G. Fenwick One Thousand Pounds

To T. Coulson Four Hundred Pounds

To Captain M.W.Burrell Five Thousand Pounds

To my friends Arthur Brumell and Joseph William Luck each Five hundred pounds.

I appoint as my executors Captain Percival Bewicke and Captain Mathew William Burrell and that they shall receive one hundred and fifty pounds per annum as remuneration

Signed by me

Charles Perkins

In the presence of

(1) Madge Ledingham

(2) Herbert Melville

And in the presence of each other

This 24th day of August 1905

Affidavit of due execution filed-

On the 9^th day of November 1905, Probate of this Will was graned at Newcastle upon Tyne to Percival Wentworth Bewicke and William Matthew Burrell the Executors

BE IT KNOWN that Charles Perkins of Carham Hall Coldstream in the County of Northumberland and of Birtley Iron Works in the County of Durham, Esquire who at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at Carham Hall aforesaid within the District of the County of Northumberland died on the 25^th day of August 1905 at Foulmart Law Belsay in the said County of Northumberland

AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament of the said deceased was proved and registered in the District Probate Registry of His Majesty’s High Court of Justice at Newcastle upon Tyne and that administration of all the estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to Percival Wentworth Bewicke in the Will called Percival Bewicke of Foulmart Law aforesaid late a Captain in His Majesty’s 15^th (Kings Own) Regiment of Hussars and William Matthew Burrell (in the Will called Mathew William Burrell) of Carham Hall aforesaid, a Captain in His Majesty’s 12^th Regiment of Lancers, the Executors named in the Said Will.

The deceased died domiciled in England

Noted pursuant to Order dated 17^th March 1908

Dated the 9^th day of November 1905

Gross value of Estate £489,480-2-9

Net value of Personal Estate £478,563-17-6

Extracted by Griffith & Co Solrs, Newcastle upon Tyne

William Septimus Harding Will d. 10.9.1915

Will made 23.10.1907. Codicils 14.4.1911 and 15.8.1915

(proved by Harding & Harding of 50 Lincolns Inn Fields)

Exors: Laura Harding, Reginald Tuffley Harding, Cecil Redfern Harding and Laurance Harding.

Legacies to:

£500 and various chattels to Laura Harding, some for life and then to be shared between his sons, except as below

“I give the Bole Hall silver tankard with the portrait of my father and mother painted by Munns also the portrait of the first Sir Robert Peel to my son Reginald Tuffley my other sone to select in order of seniority any picture they may like.

Birmingham General Hospital, Birmingham Childrens Hospital £100 each

Grandchildren Nora Maye Laura Devereux Harding and Joan Harding £50 and same for any further grandchildren living at time of death

Nephew Charles Copeley Harding £50

Nieces Ethel Mary Harding, Hilda Gertrude Thompson and Emily Maude Thompson £50

Servants etc

Residue to his surviving sons. Trusts in favour of his daughter in law (Nora, William Grosvenor’s widow) and her daughter, Nora Maye and to Laura, his wife. House (Englefield which was leasehold?) and some freeholds to Laura but later freeholds were sold and proceeds to her. Etc

1.5.1934 Appointment of new trustee – JGL Harding. The following had happened since the Will and codicils were signed:

George Arthur Harding not in England at the time of testator’s death

Reginald Tuffley Harding died 5.4.1917

Nora Maye Laura Harding “intermarried” with and became the wife of Allan Arthur Dams on 3.9.1925

Laura Harding died 2.4.1926

Cecil Redfern Harding died 26.4.1927

Nora Harding never remarried but received ½ the income of the Trust Fund to the date of her death ie 28.2.1934

13.4.1967 Appointment of new trustee – David Alexander Philips. Since last appointment:

Laurance Harding died 25.12.1966

It also refers to the granddaughter as Nora Maye Laura Dams

Laura Harding nee Sargant, will. Died 2.4.1926

18 Marlborough Road, St Johns Wood.

Exors: George Arthur, Cecil Redfern and Laurance Harding

Legacies:

£50 each to:

Step sister Elizabeth Maud Sargant

Companion Emilie _ Adamson

£10 each to servants

£20 each to my daughters in law:

Nora Harding

Alice Harding

Florence Harding

£50 to each of my grandchildren other than Nora Maye Laura Deveraux Harding who is otherwise provided for

Remainder equally to her 3 sons or their descendants per stirpes.

Elizabeth Maud Sargant d 8.9.1944

52 Ombersley Road, Birmingham. Spinster

Exors Millicent Chance Poole and Laurance Harding, referred in will as being niece and nephew. Almost certainly, Elizabeth Maud Harding, who died a spinster, was the only issue of William Lucas Sargant’s 2^nd marriage, to Theodosia Nash. Thus the exors were from his 1^st marriage, to Maria Redfern.

Beneficiaries:

Chattels to Millicent Chance Poole

Some small bequests

Residue to:

¾ to St Albans Bordesley Birmingham Day Schools

¼ St Alban Bordesley Birmingham Parish Church

Francis William Sargant, Will made 4.1.1955

Exors Laurance and JGL Harding

Annuity of £150 pa for life to Arthur Patrick Valence

Legacies:

£100 to RNIB

£200 to Chelsea Arts Club

“I devise...to The British School of Rome all my freehold property known as Nos. 1 and 2Smolletta Studios being 19 and 21 Cheyne Row Chelsea aforesaid and I request such School (but without ..) to use such property for the purpose of providing studios for students on their return from the School at Rome for limited periods to enable such students time to obtain studios for themselves. I give to the said school at Rome all my sculptures and works of art contained in my said studios absolutely it being my hope that the said School at Rome will be able to sell or otherwise dispose of them rather than that they should be disposed by a forced sale”

Residue in 5 equal portions, four of which in trust for such of my nieces and nephew Alix Strachey, Millicent Nourse, Janet Brown and Henry Edmund Sargant as shall survive me ... and I direct .. the remaining one fifth upon trust for such of my great nephews Noel Secor Sargant Florence and Anthony David Sargant Florence children of my nephew Philip Sargant Florence ...”

Codicil 24.7.1955

Give to Sir Evelyn Shaw my small bronze figure on a boat with said which I call “Golden Galleon”

Give to .. Canterbury Cathedral m water colour sketch of “Canterbury Cathedral under the blitz” by Aubrey Waterfield.

Codicil 28.11.1956

Will to be read as if Janet Alice Brown and Henry Edmund Sargant had predeceased me

Revoke clause 10 and declare ...

Codicil 28.5.1957

“I give to each of my nieces and Nephew mentioned in clause 9 .. any one sculpture or work of art done by me from those in my studio at 21 Cheyne Row ..”

Will of Herbert George Fenwick who died 1 January 1937

I HERBERT GEORGE FENWICK of Harbrook Ramsbury in the County of Wilts Esquire hereby revoke all Wills and testamentary dispositions herebefore made by me and declare this to be my last Will and Testament.

1. I Appoint Captain Edward Ward and Sir Arthur Wood Executors and Trustees of my Will and bequeath to each of them who shall prove my will and act in the trusts thereof the sum of fifty pounds free of Duty

2. I bequeath to my Wife, Constance Winifred Fenwick all my furniture books plate linen china consumable stores and other household effects for her absolute use and benefit

3. I bequeath the sum of Four Thousand Pounds free of duty to Mary Verity Ward. Provided that if the said Mary Verity Ward shall be under the age of twenty one years or a spinster at my death the said legacy shall be invested by my Trustees in or upon any of the securities hereinafter authorized and that upon the said Mary Verity Ward attaining the age of twenty one years or marrying under that age the investment representing the said legacy and the income of the same or so much thereof respectively as shall not have been applied under any power herein contained or by statute implied shall be transferred or paid to the said Mary Verity Ward but if the said Mary Verity Ward shall die under the age of Twenty one years without having been married the same shall sink into and form part of my residuary estate

4. I devise and bequeath all the residue of my property whether real or personal unto the said Edward Ward and Sir Arthur Wood thereinafter called my Trustees upon trust to sell call in and convert into money my real and personal estate at such time and in such manner as they shall think fit (but as to any reversionary property and until it falls into possession unless it shall appear that an earlier sale would be beneficial) with power to postpone the sale calling in and conversion of the whole or any part of my real or personal estate (including leaseholds and other property of a terminal or wasting nature) during such time as they in their uncontrolled discretion shall think proper and so that the income arising from any property unconverted shall as from my death be applicable as income of my residuary estate.

5. Subject to the payment thereout of my debts funeral and testamentary expenses and the legacies and annuities given by my Will or any Codicil thereto and the duties on all legacies given free of duty I direct my Trustees shall invest in manner hereinafter authorized the proceeds of the sale calling in and conversion of my said real and personal estate and shall stand possessed of the same and any part or parts of my unconverted real and personal estate and the stocks funds and securities for the time being representing the same and the income thereof (hereinafter called the Trust Fund) Upon trust to pay the Income of the trust fund to my said Wife during her life so long only as she shall continue my Widow and after the death of my Wife or subsequent marriage whichever shall first happen Upon trust to stand possessed of the trust fund the income thereof Upon trust for my Daughter Rachel Fenwick absolutely but failing her surviving me then subject as aforesaid In trust for my other children who may survive me if more than one in equal shares.

6. And I hereby declare that all moneys requiring investment under the trusts of this my Will may be invested by my Trustees in their or his names or name in or upon any securities authorized by Law for the investment of trust funds but at such a price as shall not exceed the price of the redemption of the investment and may at their sole discretion from time to time vary such stocks funds and securities into or for other of any nature hereby authorized.

7. And I declare that any Executor or Trustee of this my Will may instead of acting personally employ and pay a Solicitor or other person to transact any business or do any act required to be done in connection with the administration of my estate or the trusts hereby declared including the receipt and payment of money and any Trustee being a Solicitor or other person engaged in any profession or business shall be entitled to charge and be paid for all professional or other charges for any business or act done by him or his Firm in connection with the trusts hereof.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this Eighth day of October One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty Five

Signed by the Testator in the presence of him and of each other

Pryce Harrison, 37 St James St, London, Agent

Bury Street SW, Gentleman

[CODICIL]

I HERBERT GEORGE FENWICK declare this to be a Codicil which I make this Twenty Seventh day of September One thousand nine hundred and thirty four to my Will which bears date the Eighth day of October One thousand nine hundred and twenty five

1. I DESIRE that my body shall be cremated

2. I BEQUEATH the sum of One hundred pounds free of duty to my valet Henry Johnson if he shall be in my service at the date of my death and not under notice to leave whether given or received

3. SUBJECT as aforesaid I confirm my said Will

IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year first above written

SIGNED by the Testator in our presence and attested by us in the presence of this of of each other:- H G Fenwick

Edith Preston. Royal Albion Hotel, Brighton. Married Woman

Beatrice Collings. Book-keeper. Royal Albion Hotel, Brighton

Probate

In His Majesty’s High Court of Justice

The Principal Probate Registry

Be it known that Herbert George Fenwick of 26 Trevor Square, Westminster in the County of London and Wicklow Lodge Melton Mowbray in the County of Leicester

Died on the 1^st day of January 1937 at 26 Trevor Square aforesaid

AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament with a Codicil (a copy whereof is hereunder annexed) of the said deceased was proved and registered in the Principal Probate Registry of His Majesty’s High Court of Justice and that Administration of all the Estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said document was granted by the aforesaid Court to:

Sir Arthur Nicholas Lindsay Wood of the Hermitage Chester-le-Street in the County of Durham, Baronet (in the Will called Sir Arthur Wood) the surviving Executor named in the said Will

And it is hereby certified that an Affidavit for Inland Revenue has been delivered whereas it is shown that the gross value of the said Estate in Great Britain (exclusive of what the said deceased may have been possessed of or entitled to as a Trustee and not beneficially) amounts to £24,524-17-4 and that the net value of the personal estate amounts to £7,165-18-5

and it is further certified that it appears by a receipt signed by an Inland Revenue Officer on the said affidavit that £825-8-9 on account of Estate Duty and Interest on such duty has been paid

Dated the 12^th day of March 1937

Registrar

Probate Extracted by Farrer & Co, 66 Lincolns Inn Fields, WC2