Joseph Watson of Ling Riggs
Will & Probate (1827-1838)

[line and paragraph breaks added for comprehension] [visual emphasis added e.g. Watson]

This is the last Will and Testament of me Joseph Watson of Ling Riggs in the Parish of Stanhope in the County of Durham Yeoman.

I Give and bequeath to my son George Watson of Ling Riggs aforesaid Miner, my brother Stephen Watson of Sunderland near the Sea Mercer and Draper and to John Hodgson of Ireston in the Parish of Stanhope Miner all in the said County their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns of them and the Survivor of them All that my Customary Freehold Estate situate lying and being at Ling Riggs aforesaid consisting of two Fields or enclosures of Meadow Land and two Houses erected and standing thereon a Stock Yard and Garden and other Out Houses and Offices as Byers Cow houses Stables etc. necessary and convenient for Farming the same of my Moiety or half share of an Allotment on Ireshope Fell within one enclosure held by my brother George Watson and myself but as yet undivided also of one Cattle Gate or Stint on the unenclosed part of Ireshope Fell or Common aforesaid also of Seat or kneeling in a pew in St John's Chapel in Weardale all and every the above premises Lands Tenements and Hereditaments now in my own occupation (excepting the House which my said son George Watson now occupies as Tenant thereof and which House I Give and bequeath to him his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns absolutely To Have and to Hold for ever.

I Give and bequeath to my said Son George my said Brother Stephen Watson & the said John Hodgson the Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns of them and the Survivors or Survivor of them upon Trust nevertheless and to and for the several Intents and purposes hereinafter expressed and Declared of and concerning the same, that is to say, Upon Trust that they the said George Watson Stephen Watson and John Hodgson their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns do secure the payment of all the Rents Interests profits and Dividends arising therefrom into the hands of my Dear Wife Jane Watson for use and benefit and for the benefit maintenance proper Education and bring up of my two younger Sons by her Cuthbert Watson and Joseph Watson until the younger of them or the Survivor of them shall have attained the age of Twenty one years Provided my said Wife continue my Widow so long but at her death or second marriage whichsoever event (if either, first happen before the younger of my said two Sons Cuthbert & Joseph Watson or the Survivor of them shall have attained the age of Twenty one years

I Give and bequeath all the said my Real Estate before described to my said Son George Watson and my said Brother Stephen Watson and John Hodgson Upon Trust that they secure and apply all the Rents Issues profits Interests & Dividends arising therefrom to & for the benefit maintenance and education of my said two Sons Cuthbert and Joseph Watson until the younger of them or the Survivor of them shall have attained the age of Twenty one years

And upon this farther Trust that they they the said George Watson & John Hodgson when or as soon as the younger of my Sons Cuthbert & Joseph Watson or the Survivor of them shall have attained the age of Twenty one years or in case they should both die before having attained the age of Twenty one years do convey assign and transfer to my said Son George Watson in such manner as Counsel shall advise (if the advice of Counsel be necessary) all the rest residue and remainder of my said Customary Freehold Estate and all the conveniences rights appurtenances and privileges thereunto belonging to him the said George Watson his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns to have and to hold absolutely and for ever save and except the House which I myself now occupy which I Give and bequeath to my Dear Wife Jane Watson should she be living & my Widow at the time of the death of my said two Sons or the death of the Survivor of them neither of them having attained the age of Twenty one years or when the younger of them or the Survivor of them shall have attained the age of Twenty one years and to her use during the Term of her natural life or so long as she continue my Widow and at her second marriage or death which event soever shall first take place I Give and bequeath the said House and the remainder thereof it being (part and parcel of my Customary Freehold Estate) unto my said Son George Watson to him his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns to have and to hold absolutely and for ever

I do Give and bequeath to my Daughter Ann the Wife of William Richardson of Low Ireshope Burn in the Parish of Stanhope in the County aforesaid Miner and Shopkeeper the Sum of Sixty Pounds and to my Daughter Sarah the Wife of William Thompson of Low Burn aforesaid Miner the Sum of Sixty Pounds, to them my Daughter Ann & Sarah their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns respectively to be paid then or at the end of the year after my Son George his Heirs Executors Administrators & Assigns shall have come into Possesion of my said Real Estate herein to him bequeathed before whether or not he or they shall have come into Possesion of the House which I myself now occupy & herein bequeathed to the use of my Wife Jane Watson during the Term of her natural life or so long as she continues my Widow to them their Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns out of my said Real Estate and I do hereby charge the same with the Payment of the said Legacies to my two Daughters and authorise my Trustees herein appointed to Mortgage or sell such part or parts (if need be) as to them or the major part of them shall seem necessary for payment of the said Legacies

I do Give and bequeath to my said Son George Watson my said Brother Stephen Watson & the said John Hodgson all the Ready money of which I may die possessed all Debts due and owing to me whether by Specialty or Simple Contract Upon Trust nevertheless and to and for the intents and purposes hereinafter expressed and Declared of and concerning the same, that is to say, Upon Trust that they the Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns of them and the Survivor and Survivors of them to thereout pay all my just Debts the expences of my Funeral and Costs of proving this my last Will & Testament and that they vest the residue and remainder thereof in the Public Funds of Great Britain or on Mortgage or on such other Security as to them or the major part of them shall seem good and sufficient & that they pay into the proper hands of my said Wife to and for her use and for the benefit maintenance and proper education of my said two Sons Cuthbert and Joseph Watson until the younger or the Survivor of them shall have attained the age of Twenty one years provided always that my Wife continues my Widow so long, the Interests profits and Dividends arising from and out of the said Sum or Sums of money by them so vested or put out at Interest and Upon this farther Trust that when the younger of my two Sons Cuthbert and Joseph or the Survivor of them shall have attained the age of Twenty one years that they do pay into the Hands of my said Dear Wife for her own use and benefit the Interest profits and Dividends arising from and out of the said Sum or Sums of money aforesaid during the Term of her Natural life or so long as she continue my Widow

I do Give and bequeath to my Son George Watson my said Brother Stephen Watson And John Hodgson aforesaid All my Household Furniture Plate and Jewels, Farming Utensils Stock and Crop and all my Culinary and Dairy Vessels Upon Trust nevertheless as hereintofore expressed that they or the major part of them to Dispose of the same as to them or the major part of them shall seem good or best for procuring and receiving the use and benefit of them to my said Wife & my said two younger Sons until the younger or the Survivor of them shall have attained the age of Twenty one years provided always that my said Wife continue my Widow so long and for securing and procuring the use and benefit of them to and for the sole use and benefit of my said Wife during the Term of her Natural life or so long as she continues my Widow after the younger or Survivor of my said two Sons shall have attained the age of Twenty one years

And in case of the second marriage or death of my said Wife before the younger or Survivor of my said two Sons shall have attained the age of Twenty one years then the Interests Profits Dividends and advantages of my whole personal Estate Upon Trust for the use benefit and advantage of my said two Sons or for the use benefit & advantage of the Survivor of them until he attain the age of Twenty one years And in case my said Wife shall have died or have contracted and entered into a second marriage when the younger of my two Sons Cuthbert and Joseph Watson shall attain the age of Twenty one years I do Give and bequeath to my said two Sons Cuthbert & Joseph all & every & singular my Personal Estate my Personal Estate to be divided equally between them share and share alike to them their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns respectively But if when the younger or the Survivor of my two said Sons shall have attained the age of Twenty one years my Wife shall be then being and my Widow, then at the death or second marriage of my said Wife which event soever shall first happen or take place I Give and bequeath to my said two Sons Cuthbert & Joseph Watson all every and singular my Personal Estate as above bequeathed to them & to their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns respectively

my Will is that my said Dear Wife shall for the benefit and use of herself & my said two Sons mutually possess and enjoy all of the Interests profits Issues and Dividends benefits & uses of all & every my Personal Estate until the younger or Survivor of them shall have attained the age of Twenty one years provided she continue my Widow and for her own sole use & benefit after that time or so long as she survives them & continues my Widow

And my Will is that in case either of my two younger Sons should die before he be entitled according to this my last Will and Testament to his Moiety or half share of my Personal Estate aforesaid leaving no Issue of his body, that his Moiety or half share shall at such time as he would have been entitled to it had he been living shall be equally divided among my surviving Children or the Heirs Equals in Right Executors Administrators & Assigns of them and every of them and in case they should both die without Issue of their bodies respectively then that the whole of my Personal estate shall be divided among my surviving Children & their Heirs Equals in Right etc. as above directed

And I do nominate and appoint my said Son George Watson my said brother Stephen Watson & the said John Hodgson Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and annulling all and every other Will or Wills by me at any time heretofore made and Do Declare this to be my last Will which is written upon six sheets of paper and to which In Witness hereof I have set my Hand and Seal, that is, I have set my Hand to the former five sheets and my Hand and Seal to this the Sixth and last sheet of this my last Will and Testament this Nineteenth Day of September in year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven

Joseph Watson (SS)

Signed Sealed published and Declared by the Testator Joseph Watson as and for his last Will and Testament in presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have set our Names as Witness thereto, all interlineations and alterations having been first made.

Joseph Waite, Curate of St John's Weardale
Jane Waite
Joseph Gibson


Proved at Durham on the 8th Day of June 1838 by George Watson the surviving Executor to whom Adm'on was granted he having been first duly sworn as usual.

Sub £450 (23.56)


Source: Durham Wills & Administrations, 1838
Thanks: Gordon Torrie