Episcopal Wills 1775 #2, Braddan, of Thomas Arthur

To the Revd James Wilks & John Moore Vicars General of this Isle

The humble petition of John Quayle of Castletown Esq

Sheweth:

That Thomas Arthur late of Douglas but afterwards of Harrolds Cross in the County of Dublin and Kingdom of Ireland Esquire deceased was in his lifetime seized and possessed and entitled unto certain tenements, mortgages, bonds, notes and other personal assets and effects in this Isle and having duly made and executed his last will and testament appointed Mary Ann Arthur his widow and sole executrix.

That it being inconvenient for the executrix to transact and settle her concerns and affairs in this Isle proposed to this petitioner that in consideration of the legacy bequeathed to him in and by the will and the diverse sums of money stipulated to be paid to her the executrix Mary Ann Arthur granted, assigned and transferred unto your petitioner all the estates, right titles, interest, properties, claims and demands whatsoever which she Mary Ann Arthur had in this Isle either in her own right or as executrix to her late husband to hold into him the petitioner for ever absolutely.

That Mary Ann Arthur also made and executed a power of attorney irrevocable unto your petitioner for the taking out letters of administration with the will annexed for the more effectual carrying the grant, assignments and transfers into execution and for the due administration of the estate and effects of Thomas Arthur deceased as in and by the grant, assignments and power of attorney and also an attested copy of the will ready to be produced as Your Reverences shall direct more fully and at large appear.

Your petitioner therefore prays that Your Reverences be pleased to grant unto your petitioner administration of the copy of the will annexed or otherwise as your judgement shall seem meet and your petitioner ever pray etc.

Ordered that the matters of this petition do come on to be heard at a Consistory Court to be holden at Kirk Michael on Thursday the 13^th inst whereof all proper parties and persons to have ? and legal notice and service.

Given 4^th July 1775

James Wilks

John Moore

I Thomas Arthur of the city of Dublin Esquire do make and publish this my last will and testament in the words following that is to say I order and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses may (as soon as conveniently can after my decease) be paid by my executors hereinafter named

I give and bequeath unto Edward Scriben of the City of Dublin Esquire the sum of £100. Item I bequeath to John Quayle in the Isle of Man Esquire the sum of £100. Item

I bequeath unto my son-in-law Francis Purcell Esquire the sum of £50 sterling. I give and bequeath to the Governors of St Nicholas Hospital in Dublin the sum of £100 for the use of that charity and to all the rest and residue of my personal estate and fortune of what nature or howsoever I give and bequeath the same to my dear wife Mary Ann Arthur her executors, administrators and assigns for ever. And I appoint my said wife Mary Ann Arthur sole executrix of this my will I hereby revoke all former wills by me made and I declare and publish this to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of three subscribing witnesses who have in my presence and at my request subscribed their names as witnesses hereto the eighth day of May one thousand seven hundred and seventy five. Thomas Arthur

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto Jane Corris, Frances Creagh, Felix Davitt.

This will was proved in common form of law and probate granted by the most Reverend Father Richard etc to Ann Arthur widow the sole executrix named in the will she being sworn personally etc.

Dated twenty ninth May seventeen seventy five.

A true copy which I attest.- Henry Upton D Reg.

At a Consistory Court holden at Kirk Michael by the Reverend James Wilks and John Moore Vicars General and the Reverend Christian Episcopal Register on Thursday the fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five.

Matthias Taggart having this day deposed on the Holy Evangelist that he with the assistance and in the presence of Henry Upton Deputy Registrar for His Majesty’s Court of Prerogative in Ireland did collate and compare the beforegoing paper writing with the original last will and testament of Thomas Arthur of the City of Dublin Esquire remaining in the Prerogative Office Dublin and that it agrees and coincides therewith in every respect and that the same is a true and faithful copy thereof. The same is therefore accepted by this court as and for the last will and testament of Thomas Arthur aforesaid so far as concerns the goods and chattels of the testator which are within this Diocese. And whereas Mary Ann Arthur the widow and relict of the testator and the sole executrix named in the will hath by special and duly authenticated power of attorney (an exemplification whereof is hereunto annexed) authorised and empowered John Quayle of Castletown in this Isle Esquire to take out in his own name letters of administration of the effects of Thomas Arthur deceased in this court with the will annexed he John Quayle is thereupon sworn for payment of the debts and legacies of the testator according to law and in every respect duly to administer the goods, rights, credits, chattels and effects of Thomas Arthur which are within this Diocese to which ends and for indemnity of the office he has given pledges in form of law namely Thomas Radcliffe of Knockaloe and Thomas Fargher of Shen? Esq.

Probatum & acceptum est

James Wilks

John Moore

April 15^th 1776

Thomas Moore His Majesty’s Deemster of this Isle enters a claim against the administrators of the goods and chattels of Thomas Arthur of Harrolds Cross in the Kingdom of Ireland for the sum of £23 19s 0d British and craves the law. Ev Christian Ep reg.

June 4^th William Quayle enters a claim ... £ [blank]

August 7^th Michael Dowd enters a claim ... £3 4s 5d British.

June 7^th John Lace enters a claim ... £100 0s 0d British.

Know all men by these presents that I Mary Ann Arthur of Harrolds Cross in the County of Dublin relict and sole executrix of the last will and testament of Thomas Arthur of Harrolds Cross Esquire deceased out of the confidence I have of the ability and integrity of John Quayle of Castletown in the Isle of Man Esquire of the diverse other causes and valuable considerations thereunto moving have made ordained constituted authorised and appointed and by these present do make ordain constitute authorise and appoint him John Quayle to be my true lawful and sufficient attorney for me and in my name place and stead to cause probate to be made of the last will and testament of my late husband in the Isle and Diocese of Man or in his own name to take out administration in the Isle ... [ It goes on for two pages]

Francis Moore and John Lace gentlemen two of the subscribing witnesses to the before written letter or power of attorney personally appeared before me Richard Dawson Esquire Lieutenant Governor of the Isle and made oath on the Holy Evangelist that Mary Ann Arthur the subscribing party to the letter or power of attorney duly signed ... 12 July 1775