This is the last Will and Testament of me, Richard Derwas of Kader Cottage, near Ford in the County of Salop, Farmer, made this eighth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and eighty five.
I do hereby revoke all former Wills and Testamentary depositions made by me, and declare this to be my last Will and Testament.
I appoint my nieces, Martha Derwas Jones, and Mary Anne Jones, and my friend, Thomas Barrett of Cross Gates near Ford aforesaid, the Executors and Trustees of this my Will.
I devise and bequeath all my real and personal estate (including the Household effects and Furniture which belonged to my wife) to my brother John Derwas for his life without impeachment of waste; I devise all my part, share ,estate, and interest of and in all these two cottages or dwellings, and gardens, with their appertinances, situate in the township of Bausley in the County of Montgomery, and in the several occupations of Richard Vaughan and John Vaughan, from and after the decease of my said brother, unto and to the use of my niece Elizabeth Margaret Derwas, her heirs and assigns for ever. I bequeath to Sarah Anne Barrett and Mary Elizabeth Barrett, the two nieces of my late wife, all such of the Household effects and Furniture which formally belonged to her, as shall be in my possession at the time of my decease, to be divided between them in equal shares at the death of my said brother.
I bequeath to John Menlove Platt, son of my late niece Margaret Maria Platt, deceased, at the death of my said brother, my half part of the debt of £500, due from him to me and my said brother, and secured by mortgage dated the 29th day of Sept. one thousand eight hundred and seventy seven; and all interest in such half, from the death of my said brother; I bequeath to Elizabeth Derwas Jebb (daughter of my said late niece Margaret Maria Platt, deceased) at the death of my said brother, my half part of the debt of £400 due from her to me and my said brother and secured by mortgages dated the twenty first day of June, one thousand eight hundred and seventy three, and all interest on such half from the death of my said brother.
I bequeath to Robert Edward Platt and Anne Maria Platt (children of my said late niece M. Platt, deceased) in equal share at the death of my said Bro. my half share of the debt of £300 due from their father, Robert Platt, to me and my said brother, and all interest on such half from the death of my brother. I bequeath to my said nieces, Martha Derwas Jones and Mary Anne Jones, in equal shares at the death of my said brother, my half part or share of all the Furniture and other Household effects and of all live and dead agricultural and garden stock and effects (and of all) in and about or belonging to the House, land and premises situate in the Parish of Ford aforesaid, now occupied by myself and my said brother, or of such of the said same furniture, effects and stock as shall be in existance at his death.
I give and bequeath all the residue of my property, whether real or personal, at the death of my brother, to my said 3 nieces, Elizabeth Margaret Derwas, Martha Derwas Jones, and Mary Anne Jones, in equal shares.
I declare that my Trustees or Trustee shall, with the consent of my said brother during his life, retain or realise my invested personality and with the like consent, realise my uninvested personality and invest the proceeds in or upon any public stocks, funds or securities (not being Irish or Foreign) and may, from time to time, with such consent as aforesaid, vary such investments for others of any kind hereby authorised.
I declare that in case of any of my said Legatees should die before me or before my said brother, then the bequest or bequests to every Legatee so dying shall endure in favour of his or her executors or administrators for the benefit of his or her estate. In Witness whereof I have to this my Will contained in this and preceding sheet of paper, set my hand the day and year first before written.
(signed) Richard Derwas.
Signed by the said Testator, Richard Derwas, as his last Will, in the presence of us, being present at the same time, who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other, subscribe our names as witnesses.
(signed) Chas. D. Craig, Solicitor, Shrewsbury.
William Gough, clerk to Messrs C.D.
and A.S. Craig, Solicitors, Shrewsbury
Will proved by Martha Derwas Jones, spinster, and Mary Anne Jones, spinster, nieces of the said deceased, two of the Executors, on 26th Oct. 1888.
Gross value of Estate sworn at £2,267 - 17 - 0. Examined with the Probate by me, H.M. Morris (Steward) Manor of Ford, County of Salop.
Inrolled the 23rd day of January 1889.
(signed) H.M. Morris, Steward.
Document re Copyhold of Kader Cottage, Ford.
Be it remembered that on Weds. the 23rd day of January 1889, Mary Anne Jones of Kader Cottage nr Ford in the County of Salop, spinster (the heir, according to the custom of the said Manor, of Richard Derwas of Kader Cottage aforesaid, Farmer, decd.) in her own proper right person came before Henry Meeson Morris, Gentleman, the Steward of Mary Eliza Tatham Warter, widow and Lady of the said Manor, and desired to be admitted Tenant to the Lady of the said Manor, to all that copyhold house and buildings wherein Thomas Baldwin once lived, with part of Welshman's Ford, (containing with the sight of the said house and buildings about 30 perches). Also all that piece of land called Moor Leasow, containing 6 acres and 22 perches (there being now no right of road across this piece to the adjoining land); the Gladstones or Ash Coppice (in two pieces divided) containing 4 acres and 25 perches (less about 2 roods and 25 perches, the quantity therefrom by the Potteries, Shrewsbury and North Wales Railway), part of the Upper Gladstones or Moor Meadow containing 2 roods and 38 perches, all which herediments are situate in the said Manor of Ford in the said County of Salop, and now or late in the occupation of John Brown, to which said premises (with other herediments) the said Richard Derwas and his deceased brother, John Derwas, were admitted Tenants at a Court holden in and for the said Manor on the 19th day of June, one thousand eight hundred and seventy five:- together with the rights, members and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any way appertaining: To whom the Lady of the said Manor, by her Steward aforesaid, granted All and Singular the said premises with their appurtenances; and seizing thereof by the rod according to the custom of the Manor aforesaid: To have and to hold the premises aforesaid with their appurtenances.
Subject to such right or equity of redemption therein as is mentioned and referred to in the said admittance thereto of the said Richard Derwas and John Derwas, unto the said Mary Anne Jones and her heirs customary, as the will of the Lady, according to the custom of the said Manor by the rights, heriots, duties, customs and services thereof due and of the right accustomed: And she gave to the Lady, for a fine for such her Estate and admittance, TWO shillings, and was admitted Tenant according to the custom of the Manor aforesaid, and fealty is respited.
(signed) Mary Anne Jones.
Examined with the Original by me.
H.M. Morris. Steward.
(The Tenant has to present a rod or twig to the Lady of the Manor or her Representative).
From a Mss Book in the County Records Office (per Mrs. Halford, County Archivist) re Tenancy of Kader Cottage, Ford.
Copy of Declaration. (Signed 12. 1. 1889)
I, Martha Derwas Jones, of Kader Cottage, near Ford, in the County of Salop, Spinster, Do solemnly and sincerely declare as follws :-
1. I am of the age of 44 years and upwards.
2. I have been informed, and verily believe, that my Grandfather was John Derwas, of Pentre, in the Township of Bausley, in that part of the Parish of Alberbury which is in the County of Montgomery, and was a farmer and that he married Elizabeth Brown at Alberbury aforesaid, on the 25th day of Sept. 1795.
3. They had 6 children and no more, all born at Pentre aforesaid :- namely (1) Thomas, born 30.5.1796, and died in childhood; (2) Thomas, born 14.11.1799, who died at Upper Bausley 29.7.1867, without issue; (3) Richard, born 19.4.1802, died at Kader Cottage aforesaid, 9.6.1888, without issue; (4) John, born 28.9.1804, who died at Kader Cottage aforesaid, 20.4.1887,a bachelor; (5) Elizabeth, born 4.2.1798, who married John Menlove, and died at Worthen in the County of Salop on 22.2.1875; (6) Margaret Martha, born 21.1.1808, who married Edward Jones of Llanfyllin at Alberbury aforesaid, on 18.4.1838, and died at Bachia, near Llanfyllin in the County of Montgomery on 17.4.1860.
4. My mother, the said Margaret Martha Derwas, and my father, the said Edward Jones, had issue of their marriage, 5 children and no more, all born at Bachia aforesaid, namely :- (1) Elizabeth Nargaret Jones, born 22.4.1839; (2) Edward Derwas Jones, born 6.8.1840, who died in childhood; (3) Edward Jones, born 4.3.1842, who died in childhood; (4) Myself, Martha Derwas Jones, born 30.6.1844, and (5) Mary Anne Jones, born 26.4.1846.
And I make this solemn Declaration, concientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the Provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act, 1835.
(signed) Martha Derwas Jones.
It is believed the above declaration was made necessary for inheritance purposes. In the above it is noticed that all important words start with a capital letter, thought to be not so much for emphasis or importance as for truth. Note how Vicars proved wills in those days.