Will of William George, grocer and stationer, 1886
Oxford Probate Registry
ON the First day of July 1886, the Will of William George late of Winslow in the County of Buckingham, Grocer, Stationer, and Glass and China Merchant, deceased, who died on the Fourteenth day of April 1886 at Winslow aforesaid, was proved in the District Registry attached to Her Majesty’s Court of Probate at Oxford by the Oaths of Henry George of Fenny Stratford, in the County of Buckingham, Stationer, the Son of the deceased, and Elizabeth Victoria George, of Winslow aforesaid, Spinster, the Daughter of the deceased, the Executors named (in the said Will) they having been first sworn duly to administer.
It is hereby certified the above is a correct Copy. Dated this Eighth day of July 1886.
Personal Estate Gross £888 : 12 : 09.
Net £430 : 3 : 4.
No Leaseholds.
Extracted by Willis and Willis, Solicitors, Winslow.
This is the last Will and Testament of me William George of Winslow in the County of Bucks Grocer, Stationer and Glass and China Merchant. I appoint my Son Henry and my Daughter Elizabeth Victoria Executor and Executrix of my Will. I bequeath to my said Daughter Elizabeth Victoria and my Daughter Louisa in equal shares and proportions all my stock in trade as Stationer and my Fancy trade business in connection therewith I bequeath to my Son William Thomas George all my stock in trade in connection with my glass and china business I bequeath to my Wife Louisa all my household goods and furniture plate linen china pictures prints and other household effects my stock in trade as a Grocer and Wine and Liquor Merchant my book debts the Policy of Assurance on my life and the residue of my personal Estate including my ready money and any moneys I may have at my Bankers Subject nevertheless to the payment of my just debts my funeral and testamentary expenses I devise my houses in Winslow aforesaid and all other my real estate if any To the use of my said Wife Louisa and her assigns during her life she insuring and keeping the houses and buildings insured against loss by fire to the full value and also keeping the same in good repair and condition reasonable wear and tear excepted And from and after the death of my said Wife I devise the same houses and real estate unto my said Daughters Elizabeth Victoria and Louisa in equal shares and proportions as tenants in common and not as joint tenants subject nevertheless to their paying within six calendar months after the death of my said Wife To my Daughter Harriett Carling [i.e. Harriett Carling George, b.1852] Two hundred pounds To my Son Henry Seventy five pounds And to my said Son William Thomas Seventy five pounds In Witness whereof I the said William George, the Testator have hereunto set my hand this Twelfth day of April One thousand eight hundred and eighty six
William George [signature]
Signed by the above named William George as his last Will in the presence of us both being present at the same time who in his presence and the presence of each other have hereto subscribed our names as Witnesses
Thos Price Willis [signature] Solicitor, Winslow.
Arthur S. Midgley [signature] his Clerk.
Proved at Oxford, the First day of July 1886, by the Oaths of Henry George, the Son, and Elizabeth Victoria George, Spinster, the Daughter, the Executors to whom Administration was granted.
The Testator William George was late of Winslow in the County of Buckingham, Grocer, Stationer, and Glass and China Merchant, and died on the Fourteenth day of April 1886 at Winslow aforesaid.
Personal Estate Gross £888 : 12 : 9.
“ “ Net £430 : 3 : 4.
Willis and Willis, Solicitors, Winslow.
It is hereby certified the foregoing is a correct Copy. Dated this Eighth day of July 1886.
Buckingham Advertiser, 24th April 1886
THE FUNERAL OF MR. WM. GEORGE, who died on April 14th, took place on Saturday last. After a short service at the house, the procession moved towards the churchyard, where the ceremony was conducted by the Revs. J. S. Poulton (pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle, of which deceased was a senior deacon), A. Walker, of Houghton Regis, F. J. Feltham, of Luton (former pastor of the Tabernacle), and J. Riordan (Congregational). Amongst those who joined in paying a last tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased were- Mr. T. P. Willis, Mr. G. D. E. Wigley, Messrs. G. O. Tite (of Witney), J. H. Cox, Matthew Fulks, and F. Benbow (deacons of the Tabernacle), Messrs. J. Elley, W. Minter, Starkey, Parrett, East, J. Loffler, J. Hawley, A. G. Stevens, W. Turnham, E. L. Sear, Buckingham, T.Saving and E. Gibbs. Most of the business establishments were partially closed during the ceremony.
Notes
William George was 70 when he died. He was born at North Newington, Oxon, and lived at Woburn before coming to Winslow. His wife Louisa, nee Carling, was born at Woburn. In the 1841 Census they are at 10 High Street, Winslow and he is described as a grocer. They lived at 34 High Street from about 1842. He bought the property ("two messuages and a barn") in 1859. He also bought part of nos.36-40 in 1872.
In 1891, his widow Louisa, daughter Elizabeth (stationer aged 53) and son William (china dealer aged 37) were living together at 34 High Street. Henry and Louisa were running a stationer's and newsagent's shop in Aylesbury Street, Stony Stratford.
Louisa the widow died in 1901 aged 87. See also the will of her sister Catherine Carling (d.1898). Elizabeth the daughter carried on the business until she died in 1912; see her will.