Will of George Verney, labourer, 1887 (proved 1889)

Oxford Probate Registry

This is the last Will and Testament of me George Verney of Winslow in the County of Bucks Laborer I give my china to my Niece Elizabeth French and my furniture and linen I give to her Son William I give my watch to George Rowe the Son of my Niece Lucy Ann Rowe I give all the residue of my estate real or personal whatsoever and wheresoever unto my sister Frances French absolutely subject to the payment of my just debts my funeral and testamentary expenses and “I appoint my said sister Frances French Executrix of this my Will” and revoke all other Wills In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this Thirteenth day of April One thousand eight hundred and eighty seven.
The mark of George Verney X
Signed by the said Testator in the joint presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses the same having first been read over to the Testator by the undersigned William Norris Midgley in our presence who seemed thoroughly to understand the same and expressed to us his full knowledge of the contents thereof.
Wm. N. Midgley [signature] Winslow
E.A. Illing [signature] Winslow   

Proved at Oxford the Thirteenth day of December 1889 by the Oath of Frances French (Wife of William French), the Sister, the sole Executrix to whom administration was granted.
The Testator George Verney was late of Winslow in the County of Buckingham Laborer and died on the Fifth day of June 1889 at Winslow aforesaid
Gross value of Personal Estate    £13 – 8 - 6
Willis & Willis, Solicitors, Winslow

[Separate note entered in side margin referring to text in "..."]
This is the Will referred to in the annexed Oath
The Mark of Frances French the Executrix
Fred(eri)ck Hiller [signature]       A Commissioner

---

Notes

George Verney was aged 72 when he died. He was baptised at Winslow on 16 July 1816, son of George and Frances Verney.

He married Elizabeth Edwin at Winslow in 1838. They were living in the High Street in 1841 with a son George aged 3. In 1851 they had moved to 29 Sheep Street with her mother Susannah Edwin, who already lived there, and had three children: George aged 12, Ann aged 8 and William aged 4. By 1861 George was described as tallow chandler instead of agricultural labourer. Ann the daughter died in 1861, and Elizabeth the wife in 1866 aged 49. By 1861 George the son had gone to live with his uncle Thomas Verney in Bow, Middx. William was married and living at Adstock in 1871. Both sons are omitted completely in the will.

In 1868 George Verney married Esther Hunt at Winslow. She was born at Stroud. They were still at 29 Sheep Street in 1881 with three lodgers, and George is described as general labourer. Esther died in 1884 aged 60.

George Verney's sister Frances was baptised in 1830. She married William French (the Winslow bill-poster) in 1850. Elizabeth Ann French the niece was born in 1858. Her illegitimate son William George Walter French was born in 1884. All four were living together in The Walk in 1891. Lucy Ann French (b.1855), another daughter of Frances and William, married Thomas Rowe in 1877.