Will of William Gresham 1885
BE IT KNOWN, that at the date hereunder written, the last Will and Testament of William Gresham late of 8 Canterbury Villas Croydon in the county of Surrey Solicitor deceased who died on the 13th day of June 1885 at 8 Canterbury Villas aforesaid was proved and registered at the principal Registry of the probate Division of Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice and the Administration of the personal estate of the said deceased was granted to Emily Martha Van Baerle of 8 Canterbury Villas aforesaid widow the daughter the Sole Executrix named in the said will she having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same. Dated 25th day of July 1885
Gross Value of Personal Estate 7608.15.7.[pounds sterling] resworn 1887 8960.2.0 [pounds]
WILL OF WILLIAM GRESHAM DIED 1885.
This is the last Will and Testament of me William Gresham of 8 Canterbury Villas London Road Croydon in the county of Surrey, Solicitor. I give and Bequeath all my pictures furniture ,linen, plate and all articles and things which may be in my dwelling or elsewhere at the time of my death to my daughter Emily Martha Van Baerle for her own and absolute use and benefit. I also give and bequeath to my said daughter absolutely the ‘sum’ of one thousand five hundred pounds free of legacy duty as a compensation for the sums she advanced on account of my son Thomas Gresham. And as to all the rest residue and remainder of my property of what ever kind or nature and wheresoever situated I give devise and bequeath the same unto and for the use of my said daughter upon trust, to sell and convert the same into money –with power to postpone the conversion and to settle all matters in dispute and other payment of all my debts funeral and testamentary expenses and all other expenses to stand possessed of one moiety of the net residue for her own absolute use and benefit free from any trust whatsoever. And as to the remaining moiety upon trust to appoint a trustee or trustees with all such powers and authorities as she may in her absolute discretion think proper but so that the income of the investments of the said moiety shall be paid to Ellen Gresham the wife of my son Thomas Gresham for her life and at her decease the investments which for the time being represent such moiety shall be equally divided between all the children then living or leaving issue surviving at that time of my said son Thomas Gresham and with powers to invest in the purchase or on mortgage of land in England or any of her Colonies or Dependencies [but not in Ireland] or in any of the public stocks or funds of any country or colony or in the shares or debentures of any railway or public company wheresoever and with power to vary such investments from time to time for others of a like nature and upon trust after making such appointment as aforesaid to invest the said moiety upon or in securities as aforesaid in the name or names of such trustees as aforesaid upon the trusts aforesaid when such trust as respects my said daughter Emily Martha Van Baerle of such moiety shall cease and be at an end. And I hereby revoke all former wills heretofore by me made. And I appoint my said daughter Emily Martha Van Baerle sole EXECUTRIX of this my will. In witness thereof I have here unto set my hand this fourteenth day of November one thousand eight hundred and eighty four- William Gresham-signed by the said William Gresham the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other [all being present at the same time] have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
-{Robert Fell Julia Fell} Thornton Heath