Wills

Wills for individuals with connections to the Spen Valley district. Some names may already mean something to you, others maybe not...

Please notes that these are not exact transcriptions. Wills can be complex and full of legal jargon. The original handwriting can be very poor and plenty of abbreviations are used. These entries have been stripped of the unnecessary detail and just give the general content. There are some Administrations, which means the subject died without making a Will. These are very short and sweet but can give some familiar relationships.

These entries are a research aid only. The majority of these Wills are available for free download from the National Archives should you wish to view the original record. They are currently listed by surname order and there may be some additional notes, in brackets, which have been added from my own research.

NEW additions . These will be transferred to the alphabetical list below when the page is updated again:

BINNS, James - Stone mason of Hightown. Effects under £20.
Will dated 20 Mar 1860 and witnessed by Henry Varley, clerk to Mr. jackson, solicitor and James Fawcett, Currier of Hightown.
Will proved 19 Apr 1860 at Wakefield by Judy Binns (wife).
To Judy Binns, his wife: All personal estate & effects. All his real estate situate at Hightown or elsewhere for the use of my wife, heirs and assigns.

BINNS, Judith - Widow of Hightown. Effects under £100.
Will dated 23 Jun 1860 and witnessed by T. B. Chambers, solicitor, Brighouse and A. Wrigley, clerk to Messrs Higham & Chambers, solicitors, Brighouse
Will Proved 12 Sep 1862 at Wakefield by James Binns (son) & Joseph Shaw.
To James Binns (son) & Joseph Shaw, yeoman of Hartshead Moor: Cottage with water tank and pump at Hightown, now in the occupation of Charles Walton (son-in-law), upon trust to receive rents and profits thereof and to pay the same unto her daughter Hannah, wife of the said Charles Walton during her natural life.
After the decease of said daughter Hannah, equal shares to any child or children surviving at her death and attain the age of 21 years. If no child or children surviving then in trust to sell the cottage by auction or private contract and divide the money arising between her surviving brothers and sisters.
To James Binns (son): residue of the estate, real & personal.
To Joseph Binns (son): The sum of £19 19s.
To Mary (daughter), wife of George Halmshaw: The sum of £19 19s.
To Benjamin Binns (son): The sum of £10.
To Eliza (daughter), wife of Joseph Crossley (sic...should be Crosland): The sum of £25.
To William Binns (son): The sum of £25.
To Sarah (daughter), the wife of George Wilby: The sum of £25.
All the above to be paid 12 months after decease

BROOKE, Richard - Gentleman of Cleckheaton. Effects under £600.
Will Proved 22 Jun 1803 by Thomas Brooke (son), Woolstapler of Cleckheaton.
To the children of his late son Daniel: £300 to be paid when the youngest attains 21 years, with interest in the mean time.
To Jeremiah Firth the younger, son in law: All such monies owing to Testator by Mark Smith upon a mortgage of an estate at Dawgreen, Dewsbury
To the said Jeremiah Firth: £150 payable at 12 months
To Feas? Brooke, son: £300, if Testator's son Thomas should think proper.
To Thomas Brooke, son: The residue.

JEWISON, Christopher - Innkeeper of Heckmondwike. Effects under £300.
Will Proved 6 Jun 1810 by John Brooke, Manufacturer of Heckmondwike, one of the Executors.
To his Executors: All his personal estate whatsoever upon trust to convert same into money.
To Mary, wife of John Mitchell, his daughter: £30 to be paid 12 months after his decease.
To Betty, William & Thomas, his children: £120 equally amongst them as they attain 21 years. Interest to be applied for their maintenance.
To Christopher & Jane Jewsion, son and daughter: The clear surplus or residue equally, as soon as his personal estate shall have been converted into money.

SUGDEN, John - Clothier of Oakenshaw. Effects under £450.
Will Proved 13 Nov 1806 by Joseph Sugden (brother), clothmkaer of Oakenshaw and Squire Firth, farmer of Hunsworth.
To the Executors: All his personal estate and effects upon trust to dispose thereof and pay out of the interest...
To William Sugden, his father: The yearly sum of £9 during his life by quarterly payments.
To Arabella Sugden, his wife: The yearly sum of £10 during her life.
Trustees to apply the residue of such interest towards the maintenance of his Squire Sugden and his natural daughter Sarah Firth during their minorities (followed by plenty of legal jargon!)
Should both children die without issue, then £150 to be paid to his wife if still living.
Any excess should then be equally divided between his nephews and nieces: Joseph Sugden, Jane Stainthorpe, Henry Collingwood, Mary Collingwood, Betty Collingwood & Hannah Collingwood.
To his son: His silver pint.

BROOKE, John - Butcher of Hightown and son of William.
Will proved 22 Sep 1779 by Hannah & Betty Brooke, sisters.
To Hannah & Betty Brooke, his sisters: All his personal estate, goods & effects.
Also specifies that he be interred at Birstall church yard and a proper stone be laid above the grave.
Will is dated 27 Apr 1779.
Witnessed by: Sylvester Wadsworth, Daniel Dex & John Cawthra.
(John Brooke was buried at Birstall 2 May 1779)

BUTTERWORTH, James - Clothier of Oakenshaw. Effects under £600.
Will proved 7 Dec 1804 by Joseph Butterworth, Clothier, Oakenshaw, brother.
To Joseph, Ann & Martha Butterworth, his brother & sisters: The whole of his personal estate equally.

CLAYTON, John - Clothier of Cleckheaton. Effects under £200.
Will proved 8 Dec 1806 by Joseph Clayton, Cleckheaton, cloth maker, the son.
To Sarah, his wife: All household furniture.
To Jeremiah, his son: Unreadable amount a year, charged upon his dwelling for 15 years. First payment 12 months after decease.
To Mary Hodgson, his dau: £20 payable 12 months after decease or marriage of his widow.
To Sarah, his dau: £20 - payment at a like time.
To Joseph, his son: The residue.

COCKILL, John - Dyer of Littletown. Effects under £3,500.
Will proved 5 Dec 1806 by Samuel Lapage, merchant, Leeds; Henry Rhodes, merchant, Little Gomersal & Thomas Cockill, nephew.
To his wife (not named): An annuity of £100 a year charged on real estate.
To his Executors: The residue of Real & Personal estate in trust - 3/5ths for the benefit of his son Joseph and 2/5ths for son John during their childhood.

CORDINGLEY, William - Yeoman of Cleckheaton. Effects under £20.
Proved 24 Feb 1810 by Jonathan Cordingley (son), worsted manufacturer of Cleckheaton.
To Sarah, his wife: during her life all his real estate with the ??? of his household goods.
To Mary, his daughter and wife of Joseph Fawcet: £20 paid 12 months after the decease of his wife out of his real estate.
To Sarah Scorah, his daughter: during her life an annuity of £1 a year, the first payment to be made at the end of 1 year after the death of his said wife. At the end of 12 months from the death of his said daughter Sarah, pay:
To Frances Mary Scorah, his grand daughter: £20.
To Jonathan, his son: The residue.
(William Cordingley is buried at Providence Place, Cleckheaton on 21 Jan 1810, aged 62.)

FEARNLEY, Joseph - Clothier of Drub Hall, Gomersal. Effects under £100.
Will proved 15 Jul 1811 by Benjamin Fearnley, Clothier of Cleckheaton & James Lister, Cardmaker of Hightown.
To Mary, his daughter and wife of Wm Wigglesworth: All his Goods & personal estate etc. Dwelling house or tenement, shop with garden, 2 cottages, moiety of the barn, cowhouse and 2 closes of land called The Ing & The Little Close now in his own occupation situated at Gomersal.
To Benjamin Fearnley and James Lister, his Trustees and Executors: £100 to be paid 6 months after his decease, in trust and to pay the interest to:
Joseph Stead, Hannah Stead, Jonathan Belfield the younger & Benjn Belfield, four grandchildren: See above...towards their maintenance & support during their minorities and to pay the sum equally between them when they attain the age of 21.
To Jane, his daughter and wife of Joseph Walker: Dwelling house or tenement, the other moiety of the aforesaid barn, stable, cowhouse, 3 closes of land all situated in Gomersal.
To Martha, his daughter and wife of George Dawson: £80 to be paid 12 months after his decease.
To Benjamin Fearnley (relationship not stated): £20 to be paid when aged 21 but in case of his prior death without lawful issued then the legacy to lapse.
To Joseph Stead, his grandson: £20 to be paid when aged 21.
(possible burial at Birstall on 1 Aug 1810 for Joseph Fearnley of Great Gomersal, aged 80, died of old age.)

GARLICK, John - Innkeeper of Clifton. Effects under £800.
Will proved 28 Nov 1811 by Thomas Fryer, Merchant, Rastrick, Jonas Gledhill, Malster, Rastrick and James Armitage, Cardmaker, Clifton.
To Thomas Garlick, his brother: £50 - to be paid 12 months after his death and to place £150 in trust and pay the interest thereafter.
To William Garlick, his brother: £200 - also same as above.
To Frances Vickerman, wife of William, his sister: (No amount mentioned) during her life half yearly at her death the sum to her children.
To Thomas, John & Hannah Vickerman, his nephews & niece: £50 each and to place £100 in trust and pay the interest thereafter.
To Mary Eastwood, widow, his sister: (No amount mentioned) during her life half yearly at her death the sum to...
To Hannah Lodge, wife of Francis, his niece: Any surplus remaining after payment of debts and above legacies.
To Eleanor Pratt, wife of George (no relationship stated): All his plate, linen, china and household goods etc.

GOODALL, Robert - Innkeeper of Littletown. Effects under £200.
Administration granted 28 Jun 1810 to Ann, his widow.
(Robert was landlord of the White Hart Inn for many years. He is buried at St. Peter, Birstall on 11 Jun 1810. aged 57 years. Following his death, his eldest son Joseph took over the pub)

HARGREAVE, James - Yeoman of Hightown. Effects under £3,500.
Will proved 7 Jul 1807 by Charles Hargreave, Sadler, Hightown, Eli Hargreave, clothmaker, Hightown, brothers & William Hargreave, cloth maker, Hightown, nephew.
To Betty, wife of John Smith Jackson, his niece: £500 12 months after his decease.
To George Mann, his nephew: £300 12 months after his decease.
To Benjamin Wraith, his nephew: £300 12 months after his decease.
To Sarah, wife of Jack Simpson, his niece: £100 12 months after his decease.
To Fanny, wife of his brother Eli Hargreave: £100 12 months after his decease.
To Hargreave Wraith Blackburn, his cousin: £100 12 months after his decease.
To all his legitimate brothers & sisters: £200 equally amongst them.
To his Executors: The residue equally.

HIRST, Benjamin - Gentleman of Cleckheaton
Proved at London 3rd January 1822 by George Hirst (brother), George Hirst (nephew) and Abraham Law (nephew).
To Hannah Hirst, widow of his late brother John. £20. To Mary, John, Sarah, Hannah and Joseph, his nephews and nieces and children of said brother John. £50 each.
To William Blackburn, his brother in law. £20. To Sarah and Hannah, his nieces and children of William Blackburn by his late sister Dorothy. £50 each.
To Ann, his sister and wife of Joshua Law. £50. To  Abraham, Hannah, Mary and Ann, his nephew and nieces and children of his sister Ann. £50 each.
To Mary Ann Townend, only child of his late niece Sarah, the wife of John Townend. £30.
To Maria, his sister. £50. To Sarah, his niece and  daughter of Maria, now the wife of George Preston. £50.
To Noah, his brother. £80. To Thomas, Mary, Dorothy and Rachael, his nephew and nieces and children of Noah. £50 each.
To George, his brother. £90. To George, Joseph and Benjamin, his nephews and children of George. £50 each.
To Martha, his sister. £50. To James, Abraham, Elizabeth, Job, Francis, Mark and Ann, his nephews and nieces and children of Martha. £50 each.
The above to be paid within 12 months of his decease.
To Harriett, Sarah, Eliza Jane, Benjamin and Betsey, the children of his late nephew Joshua Law the younger, deceased. £50 to be shared equally and be paid when they attain the age of 21.
Residue etc. to all the above named and also to his brother Richard Hirst and his sons and daughters equally amongst them share and share alike.
(Benjamin Hirst was buried at Whitechapel 3 Nov 1821 and has a gravestone in the churchyard which reads: "Beneath this tomb lie the mortal remains of Benjamin Hirst, Gentleman, son of the late Joseph Hirst of Robertown. His body was wasted by an asthma, which during the last four years of his life, grieviously afflicted him, but he escaped its stifling power October 31st 1821, aged 69 years.  In life, he was the friend, and in death, the benefactor of his numerous relations.")

HORSLEY, William (the elder) - Yeoman of Clifton. Effects under £20.
Will proved 1 Jun 1811 by Thomas Cooper, Gentleman, Brighouse & Joseph Lang, Clothier, Liversedge.
To Mary Horsley, his wife: £10 paid half year during her life and various items of furniture etc.
To William, John & Abraham Horsley, his sons: All the residue of his personal estate equally.
To Joseph Lang & John Bottomley, his sons in law: As above.

LAW, John - Scholes, Cardmaker. Effects under £300.
Will Proved 23 Apr 1808 by Joshua Law, Cleckheaton, Cardmaker & Wm Sharp, Scholes, Clothmaker
To Abrm Law, his brother. £80, also a clock & chest.
To Joshua Law, his brother. £90 and the residue of his estate.
To Hannah Farrow, his niece. £80.
To Matty Farrow, dau of his niece. £32 7s, paid according to time fixed in note of hand from Wm Lindley.

MANN, William (the elder) - Joiner of Hightown. Effects under £200.
Will proved 21 Sep 1810 by James Washington, Bookkeeper, Lightcliffe, Brother in law and William Briggs, farmer, Lower Wike.
To his son William: Messauge, garden & land at Hightown Also household furniture & effects, except a part given to his son Thomas.
To his Executors: £300 owing to him by his sister Hannah, widow of Thomas Brittain late of Hull or from his late estate upon trust. £100 or such part for payment of debts etc and remainder in trust to his son William during his life. After his decease the remaining to children of the said William equally or to issue of such of them then dead to be paid when 21 years.
To his son William: The residue absolutely.

PEARSON, Thomas - Cloth maker of Cleckheaton. Effects under £100.
Will proved 28 Oct 1806 by James Pearson, cloth maker, Cleckheaton, brother & Thomas Firth, cloth maker, Wike.
To John Pearson, his son: £30.
To Thomas & Richard Pearson, his sons: Residue of personal estate subject to maintenance of younger children
To his Executors: His real estate in trust for the benefit of children until the youngest attains 21 years.
To Joseph, Daniel & Stephen Pearson, his sons: £10? each to be paid when Stephen attains 21 years.
To Hannah & Sarah Pearson, his daughters £20 each, paid at the same time.
To Mary Pearson, his daughter: 30 Shillings a year during her life to commence when Stephen attains 21 years.

RHODES, John - Innkeeper of Hightown. Effects under £600.
Will proved 13 Jul 1802 by William Rhodes, farmer, Shipley & Joseph Briggs, cotton manufacturer, Thornton.
To his Executors: All his money, securities, goods, stock in trade etc in trust for the benefit of his wife (not named) during her widowhood and after her decease or remarriage upon trust...
To William, James, Thomas, Abraham, Joseph, Benjamin, Sarah, Mary & Grace Rhodes, his brothers & sisters: ...equally & to representatives of such should they die before his said wife or her remarrying.
To William, Joseph, Sarah & Betty Briggs, his wife's brother's & sisters: As above.

SUGDEN, John (the elder) - Cloth maker, Oakenshaw. Effects under £200.
Will proved 6 Mar 1811 by Joseph Sugden, clothmaker, Oakenshaw, nephew and William Brooke, cloth maker, Wike, son-in-law.
To William Sugden, his son: His best bedstead & bedding.
To Matthew Sugden, his son: Rest of household goods & furniture, farming utensils and crops.
To Hannah Brooke, wife of William, his daughter: Interest of £50 for her life, half yearly. If she should died, then to her son John Brooke at his age of 21 years and if he should die then equally to his brothers & sisters. Also £40 to be paid 12 months after his death.
To Joseph Sugden, his son: 2 Leasehold cottages in Wike wherein his said son & John Collins now dwell.
To Matthew Sugden, his son: 6 Leasehold cottages in Wike in the occupation of John Bolland executors.
To Alice & Mary Birkby, his grand daughters: £40 to be paid when they attain 21 years.
To Hannah Brook, his daughter: £20 to be paid 12 months after his death.
To William & Matthew Sugden, his sons: The residue and stock trade, utensils of trade and all ready money and his stand at the White Cloth Hall at Leeds equally.

SUGDEN, William - Cloth maker of Oakenshaw. Effects under £450.
Will proved 12 May 1809 by Joseph Sugden (son) of Oakenshaw.
To Joseph Sugden, his son: £400 upon trust, pay the interest thereof to:
Jane, his wife: during her life or widowhood half yearly. After her death or marriage again as follows:
To Mary, his daughter and wife of Ed. Collingwood: £150 to be paid 12 months after the decease or marriage of his said wife.
To Squire Sugden, his grandson: £100 when he attains 21 years of age, provided his wife he then dead or married again.
To Jane Stainthrop, his grand daughter: £150 to be paid as above, also bed & bedding.
To the said Joseph, his son: All his farming stock, household furniture & personal estate subject to debts as aforesaid.
(William Sugden was buried at Whitechapel on 15 Dec 1808. He was aged 68 and the cause of his death is recorded as "bile on ye liver.")

THORBURN, William - Gentleman of Cleckheaton. Effects under £300.
Administration granted to Mary, his widow 9 Jan 1804. 

WAITE, Richard - Innkeeper of Cleckheaton. Effects under £200.
Administration granted 11 Oct 1811 to Mary, his widow.
(Richard was landlord of the Nags Head (George Hotel). He was buried at Whitechapel on 9 Oct 1811, aged 48. The cause of his death being recorded as "excess.")