Will of William Keys, gentleman, 1890 (proved 1891)

Oxford Probate Registry

This is the last Will and testament of me William Keys of Winslow in the County of Bucks Gentleman I appoint my Brother Charles Keys of Winslow aforesaid (hereinafter referred to as ”my said Trustee”) to be the Executor and Trustee of this my Will I give to Marianne Thornhill at present residing with my [sic] my large painted box in the small room upstairs the Looking Glass Photos Fender Carpet Hearthrug Bedstead and Bedding in the side parlor and the large Easy Chair the large Round Table and four cane bottom chairs in the room with the bay window I give to Edward Elgar Philpott of Buckingham my Bureau in the kitchen and to Sarah Ann his Wife I give my new green Iron Bedstead with brass fittings and my Down Bed I devise all the real Estate (if any) and I bequeath the residue of the personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever to which I shall be beneficially entitled at the time of my decease unto my said Trustee Upon trust to sell call in and convert the same into money or such parts thereof as shall not consist of money And shall with and out of the arising from such sale calling in and conversion and the ready money of which I shall be possessed at my decease pay my just debts my funeral and testamentary expenses and divide the residue unto and equally between and among John Keys, Charles Keys, Harriett Colgrove, Eliza Phipps, Sarah Ann Philpott and Thomas Keys children of my said Brother Charles Keys, Catherine Mary Beasley of 5 Cavendish Road London Niece of my late Wife Ann Keys and the said Marianne Thornhill or the children of such shall then be dead such children taking only the share to which his her or their parent would have been entitled if living Lastly I revoke all other wills In Witness whereof I the said William Keys Testator have hereunto set my hand the Third day of November in the year One thousand eight hundred and ninety

William Keys [signature]

Signed and acknowledged by the above named William Keys the Testator as his Will in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and the presence o each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses
William N. Midgley [signature] Winslow
Arthur S. Midgley [signature] Winslow

Proved at Oxford the Seventh day of August 1891, by the Oath of Charles Keys, the Brother, to whom Administration was granted.
The Testator William Keys was late of Winslow in the County of Buckingham Gentleman and died on the twenty sixth day of June 1891, at Winslow aforesaid.
Gross value of personal Estate £148-17-10
Willis and Willis, Solicitors, Winslow
It is hereby certified that the foregoing is a correct Copy
Dated this Thirteenth day of August 1891

BE IT KNOWN  that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament of William Keys late of Winslow in the County of Buckingham, Gentleman, deceased, who died on the 26th day of June 1891, 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  Charles Keys of Winslow aforesaid, Gentleman, the Brother of the deceased, the sole Executor named in the said Will, he having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same.
Dated the 7th day of August 1891
Gross value of Personal Estate £148-17-10
Extracted by Willis and Willis, Solicitors, Winslow

 

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Notes

This obituary was printed in the Bucks Herald on 4 July 1891.

We have to record the death, on Friday, June 26, of Mr William Keys, of this town, at the age of 81. Mr. Keys was the second of three long-lived brothers - Messrs. Stacey, William, and Charles Keys, who all spent their days in their native town. Mr. S. Keys died in 1889, aged 82, and Mr C. Keys still survives. Mr William Keys was formerly in business as coal dealer, but retired about 25 years ago on a competence.

1881: Census
High Street

William	Keys	Head	married	70	Grazier, 14 acres	b. Mursley
Ann	Keys	Wife	married	71		b. Bradwell
Marianne	Thornhill	Boarder	unm	52	Annuitant	b. Holborn, Middx
Herbert	Bullock	Lodger	unm	32	Solicitor	b. Radwinter, Essex

William was born at Mursley but had arrived in Winslow by 1841 when he was a cordwainer living in Tinkers End. In 1851 he was a "domestick servant" living in Church Street. His first wife Ann (born at Quainton c.1803) died and by 1861 he had a second wife, also Ann, born at Bradwell c.1810 (d.1890). He had moved to 85 High Street and become a coal merchant. He bought 83 & 85 High Street from Thomas Allen in 1860. In 1871 his occupation had become "farmer 23 acres employing 1 boy".

William's brother Charles Keys (d.1892) kept The Stag.

1891: Buckingham Advertiser, 11 July
THE WHOLE OF THE NEAT HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE
Contents of 3 Bedrooms, comprising
MAHOGANY Round, and Pembroke Tables, Sideboards, Couch, Easy Chairs, Cane-seat and Windsor Chairs, Oak Double Chest of eight Drawers, Mahogany Chest of Drawers, Washstands, Iron and French Bedsteads and Bedding.
KITCHEN REQUISITES &c., &c.,
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY Mr. GEO WIGLEY,
On WEDNESDAY, July 15th, 1891, on the premises, High Street, Winslow, by direction of the Executor of the late Mr. William Keys.
The Furniture may be viewed the morning of Sale.
The Sale will commence at Three o’clock.
  Catalogues may be had at the Offices of the Auctioneer, Winslow and Fenny Stratford.