Will of John Grace, carpenter, 1888 (proved 1895)

Oxford Probate Registry

 This is the last Will and Testament of me John Grace of Winslow in the County of Bucks formerly a Carpenter but now out of business I appoint my Son Henry John Grace and my friend Edwin John French of Winslow aforesaid Printer and Stationer (all which several persons or other the trustees or trustee for the time being of my Will are hereinafter referred to “as my said trustees” [sic]) to be the Executors and Trustees of this my Will I devise unto my said trustees all the real estate and I bequeath unto them all the personal estate of which I shall die possessed Upon trust to sell my real estate by private sale or public Auction and either together or in lots and subject to such stipulations as to title or otherwise as my said trustees shall think fit and to convert and get in my personal estate And out of the proceeds of such sale conversion and getting to pay in the first place my just debts my funeral and testamentary expenses And in the next place to pay one fourth of the clear residue of the said moneys unto my Daughter Arabella Grace absolutely and to pay share and divide the balance then remaining unto and equally among my five other children namely Emily Hill Grace Sarah the Wife of George Barnett Ellen Maria Grace the said Henry John Grace and Elizabeth Esther the wife of William Drury I declare that in the event of the decease of either of my said children leaving issue such issue shall take the share to which his her or their parent would have been entitled if still living and in the event of the decease of either of my said children without leaving issue then I declare that the share to which he or she would have been divided if living shall be divided unto and equally between and among his or her brothers and sisters then living I declare that the shares directed to be paid to such of my children who are married shall be paid to them for their own separate use and benefit absolutely free from the debts control and engagements of their husbands Lastly I revoke all other Wills In Witness whereof I the said John Grace the Testator have hereunto set my hand the Twenty third day of January in the year One thousand eight hundred and eighty eight
John Grace [signature]
Signed and acknowledged by the above named John Grace in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses
A. S. Midgley [signature]   }
W.N. Midgley [signature]  }  Winslow

On the Eleventh day of May 1895 this Will was granted at Oxford to Henry John Grace the Son and Edwin John French the Executors
It is hereby certified that the foregoing is a correct Copy
Dated this Sixteenth day of May 1895

BE IT KNOWN  that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament of John Grace late of Winslow in the County of Buckingham, who died on the 19th day of January 1895, at Winslow aforesaid, and who at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at Winslow aforesaid within the District of the Counties of Oxford, Berks and Buckingham, was proved and registered in the District Probate Registry of Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice at Oxford and that Administration of the personal estate of the said deceased was granted to  Henry John Grace of 40 Charrington Street, Oakley Square, Camden Town, London, Carpenter, Son of the deceased, and Edwin John French, Printer and Stationer of Winslow, the Executors named in the said Will, they having been first sworn to well and faithfully administer
Dated the 11th day of May 1895
Gross value of personal Estate            £688 - 9 - 2
Net      “          “          “                      £584 -16 - 2

Extracted by Willis and Willis, Solicitors, Winslow

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Notes

John Grace was aged 74 when he died. He was born at Great Horwood and was apparently the nephew of Daniel Grace the schoolmaster/farmer and cousin of John Grace the schoolmaster, who was a similar age. His daughter Sarah was born in Worksop and he apparently settled in Winslow in 1851, when he was living in Station Road (also in 1861). His wife Jane came from Kingston Blount. He had moved to Isleworth by 1871, and in 1891 he was recorded with his daughter Elizabeth Drury and her family at the Sun Dial, East Finsbury, although he was clearly in Winslow in 1888 when he made his will. The 1895 Kelly's Directory lists him as a private resident in Buckingham Road (which could mean High Street).

The sale of his property was advertised on posters. The houses appear to be 83-85 High Street, which John Grace must have bought in 1893 after the death of William Keys (but if so, the flower gardens must have been "in front" of the kitchen gardens, not of the houses).

Two brick & slated semi-detached COTTAGE RESIDENCES,
WITH Gardens & very convenient Premises,
PLEASANTLY SITUATE IN THE HIGH STREET.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY MR. GEO. WIGLEY
On Wednesday, March 25th, 1896,
At the Bell Hotel, Winslow, at Four o’clock in the afternoon, by direction of the Executors of the late Mr. JOHN GRACE.

The Property comprises two semi-detached Houses, brick and slated, situate in the High Street, Winslow, each containing two sitting rooms, kitchen, three bedrooms, boarded and slated wash-house and coal-house; there is a gateway entrance with work-shop over, a pump, and joint use of well, a kitchen garden, neat flower garden in front, inclosed with dwarf ornamental iron fence on wall.
One Residence is let to Mr. T. J. Burbury, on lease for 5 years ending 24th June, 1898, at a Rental of £10 per annum: and the other to Miss A. D. Burrows at a Rental of £10 per annum.
For further particulars apply to Messrs. WILLIS & WILLIS, Solicitors, Winslow, or to Mr. Geo. Wigley, Auctioneer and Land Agent, Winslow.