Will of Edwin John French, printer and stationer, 1912 (proved 1915)

Oxford Probate Registry

This is the last Will and Testament of me Edwin John French of Winslow in the County of Buckingham. Printer and Stationer. I revoke all testamentary writings heretofore executed by me and I appoint my friend Edward Robert Mayor of Winslow aforesaid Bank Manager and my Son Ernest Wilfred French Executors and my Daughter Isabel Mary French  Executrix of this my Will. I bequeath to the said Edward Robert Mayor for his trouble in proving my Will he legacy or sum of Five pounds free from duty And I devise all my real estate and the residue of my personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto my said Son Ernest Wilfred French and my said my Daughter Isabel Mary French in equal shares as tenants in common subject nevertheless to the payment of my funeral and testamentary expenses an debts. In witness whereof I the said Edwin John French the Testator have hereunto set my hand this Twenty first day of June One thousand nine hundred and twelve.
Edwin John French [signature]
Signed and acknowledged by the above named Edwin John French the Testator as his last Will in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
W. Gravely W. Willis [signature] Solicitor. Winslow
William N. Midgley [signature] his Clerk

On the Thirteenth day of July 1915 Probate of this Will was granted at Oxford to Edward Robert Mayor, Ernest Wilfred French, the Son and Isabel Mary French, \Spinster/ the Daughter, the Executors.

 It is hereby certified that the foregoing is a correct copy
Dated this Twenty second day of July 1915.

BE IT KNOWN that Edwin John French of Winslow in the County of Buckingham Printer and Stationer who at the time of her death had a fixed place of abode at Winslow aforesaid, within the district of the Counties of Oxford, Berks and Buckingham, died on the 16th day of January 1915 at Winslow aforesaid. 

AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN  that at the date hereunder written the last will and Testament of the said deceased was proved and registered in the District Probate Registry of His Majesty’s High Court of Justice at Oxford, and that administration of all the estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to Edward Robert Mayor of Winslow aforesaid Bank Manager Ernest Wilfred French of 18 High East Street Dorchester in the County of Dorset Stationer the son the Son and Isabel Mary French  of Winslow aforesaid Spinster the Daughter of the Deceased the Executors named in the said Will

Dated the 13th day of July 1915

Gross value of Estate                      £2830 - 7 – 11
Net value of Personal Estate        £429 - 13 - 10
Extracted by W. Gravely W. Willis [signature] Solicitor. Winslow

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Notes

Edwin John French's business was at 22 High Street. He was born at Towcester but grew up at 10 Horn Street, son of Elijah Watson French, and grandson of William French of Buckingham. He was assistant in his parents' bakery business in 1861, but must have changed direction when his mother sold up in 1867, and set up his stationer's shop in 1870, with printing in a workshop at the back. He married Elizabeth Ann Wigley at Bedford in 1871; she was the sister of G.D.E. Wigley the auctioneer for whom E.J. French sometimes worked. She died in 1894. He was assisted in the business by one unmarried sister Flora, and in the house by another, Sarah. His son became a stationer in Dorchester, and the Winslow business passed to his daughter Isabel, who ran it until WW2. He was deacon and treasurer of the Congregational Church, and trustee of the Oddfellows