Transcript of the Will of WILLIAM LEECE

[given to me by William Leece - from copy in Lancashire RO]

This is the last Will and Testament of me William Leece of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, merchant, made and duly published this first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four.

I give and bequeath to my grandsons George Drinkwater, William Leece Drinkwater and John Drinkwater, sons of James Drinkwater of Liverpool aforesaid and Ellinor his wife the sum of three hundred pounds apiece.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Ellinor Drinkwater the interest of the sum of one thousand pounds for her own use until the attainment of the age of twenty one years or marriage of my grad-daughter Margaret Drinkwater whichever first shall happen, and thereupon trust to stand possessed thereof for the sole use and benefit of my said grand-daughter during her natural life and for the use of her children equally after her death without being liable to the debts, control or engagement of any husband of my said grand-daughter. But in case my said grand-daughter shall happen to die under the age of twenty-one years without leaving lawful issue then I give and bequeath the same sum of one thousand pounds unto and equally between her brothers, the said George Drinkwater, William Leece Drinkwater and John Drinkwater.

I give and bequeath to William Leece, Sophia Leece, Ann Leece and John Leece, children of my nephew William Leece and Sophia his wife of Douglas in the Isle of Man deceased the sum of one hundred pounds each to be paid to them when as they respectively reach the age of twenty one years. Nevertheless, it is my will that if my executrix hereinafter named shall think proper to lay out for their education or other benefit the whole or any part of the said legacy or legacies during their minority, my said executrix has my leave so to do, accounting only for such part or parts of the said legacy or legacies as shall remain unpaid at the time of any or all of the said William Leece's children reaching the age of twenty-one years.

I give and bequeath to my clerk Thomas Kitchen the sum of fifty pounds to be paid to him at the end of twelve months after my decease.

I give and bequeath to my partner in trade, the aforementioned James Drinkwater, all my part, share and proportion of our stock in trade and all the debts due and owing to the said concern subject nevertheless to the payment of all such debts as may affect the name at the time of my demise.

I give and bequeath to the trustees of the public Infirmary in Liverpool aforesaid the sum of fifty pounds to the use and benefit of that charity and to the trustees of the Blue Coat Hospital in Liverpool aforesaid the sum of twenty-five pounds for the use and benefit of that charity.

I give and bequeath to my nephew John Leece of Knock Freigh St Anne's Parish in the Isle of Mann ten pounds.

I give and bequeath to my nephew John Leece of Knock Freigh aforesaid his executors, administrators and assigns the sum of one hundred pounds whereupon trust to place out the same at interest on good security, and apply the yearly interest thereof as the same shall arise and become due to the payment of some person or persons residing in Saint Anne's parish aforesaid for the instructing of children belonging to the said parish (and none other) in reading,. Writing and arithmetic. And all the rest residue and remainder of my estate and effect real leasehold and personal I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Elinnor Drinkwater and during the term of her natural life liable to the control or subject to the debts or engagements of her present and future husband and from and after her decease I give and devise the same unto such person or persons and in such manner of form as my said daughter by an deed or deeds under her hand and seal to be executed in the presence of two or more credible witnesses of by her last will and testament to be executed in the presence of three or more witnesses shale give devise direct limit or appoint the same, his her or their heirs executors administrators or assigns

But in case my said daughter shall not make any such dispositions thereof or the whole thereof then as to such parts of my said estate and effects of which no such disposition shell be made I give and devise the same unto and equally amongst her children living at the time of her decease and the lawful issue of such of them as shall then be dead, their heirs executors administrators and assigns as tennants in common and not as joint tennants the issue of such as then as may then be dead taking the shares which his her of their parents would have taken if living, and hereby revoking all former wills I nominate and appoints said daughter executrix of this my will.

In witness whereof I have to this my will contained of three sides of one sheet of paper to the first and second side thereof set my hand and to the third and last side thereof set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year first forewritten.

Wm Leece

Signed sealed published and declared by the said testator (the world "residing" being first interlined) as and for his last will and testament in the presense of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses hereto in the sight and presence of the said testator and of each other.

George Syces
Daniel Christian, Iuratus
Jane Seloe (?)

[New page]

At an ecclesiastical court holden in the parish of Kirk Patrick on the second day of August one thousand eight hundred and five.

Notwithstanding this will hath been proved but by one witness only yet as the same hath been published in open court and no objection offered thereto, the same is accepted as and for the last will and testament of William Leece the said testator, and James Drinkwater Esq the husband of the executrix therein named is sworn the executor thereof in form of law and hath given pledges for the payment of debts and legacies namely William Brew and Daniel Christian one of the wtinesses of the said will both of the town of Douglas.

Acceptum probatum est

E V Christian

Examined by Wm Kewley Dcpl [? - presumably a contraction of deputy episcopal registrar - see below]

[New page, different hand]

I Evan Christian vicar general and surrogator (?) of the Isle and Diocese of Sodor and Man do hereby testify whom it may concern that William Kewley who attests the before written copy of the last will and testament of William Leece of Liverpool in the county of Lancaster merchant late deceased is the deputy episcopal registrar of the said diocese and that equal faith and credit ought to be had and given to the said copy as unto the original thereof, the (?) testimony thereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this 26th day of August 1805.

Ev. Christian

[Yet another hand]

Oct 9 1805. Ellinor Drinkwater the sole executrix within named was sworn in common form before me.

Wm Nelson surrogate

Under £3,500.

Probate found dated 9th Oct 1805