This is the last will and testament of me James Spensley
Newton of Lodge Green Gunnerside in the Township of Mellbecks
Parish of Grinton and North Riding of the County of York
Gentleman made the thirty first day of August in the year
of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty nine
I hereby appoint Mr. James Clarkson of Winterings in Melbecks
and Mr. William Woodward in the Township of Muker and Hamlet
of Satron all of the Parish of Grinton aforesaid the Executors
of this my last Will and Testament And I give to my said
Executors my Copyhold Estate known by the stile and title
of Winterings situate near Gunnerside aforesaid and also
the Dwellinghouse at Gunnerside in which I now reside with
all the priviliges and appurtenances belonging to each of
my said properties all my household furniture goods and
chattels and all money and property - whatsoever and of
whatever kind belonging to me at the time of my decease
or which may or ought to belong to me In trust nevertheless
for the following purposes that is to say
I give to my daughter Ruth Clarkson Widow now of Winterings
one third share of the yearly income of all my estate during
and for the whole term of her natural life
to the children of my late daughter Elizabeth Woodward I
give one third share of the yearly income of my said estate
And to my Daughter Mary Ann Metcalfe Widow now of Gunnerside
I give the remaining third share of the Income of my said
estate during the lifetime
and at the decease of any of my said daughters I desire
my Executors to pay to the Guardians of the children of
such daughter or daughters so deceased the share of the
income of my said property which should have been paid to
their mother the female children of my daughter Ruth Clarkson
to receive the share of their mother for their joint benefit
should their mother die before the final division of my
property and affects
And after the death of all my daughters named above and
when the youngest of my present Grandchildren shall have
attained the age of twenty one years then I desire my executors
to sell to the best advantage all my property within twelve
months allowing any of my grandchildren to have the preference
of purchase if they desire it as I would wish them to do
if they find it convenient
And after paying all my just and lawful debts my funeral
expenses the proving of this my last Will and Testament
and the expenses attending the sale of my property then
I desire the whole of the money arising out of all my estate
and effects to be equally divided amongst my present grandchildren
who may then be alive share and share alike with this exception
namely that only the daughters of my daughter Ruth Clarkson
shall take their share and not the sons of the said Ruth
Clarkson the said sons having their late father's property
amongst them to the conclusion of their [ ? ]
And this I declare to be my last Will and Testament In Witness
whereof I have herewith set my hand the day and year first
above named and written in the presence of the two subscribing
Witnesses
James Spensley Newton
We the undersigned have attested the execution of the foregoing
writing by
James Spensley Newton by him signing the same in the presence
of us who in
his presence at his request and in the presence of each
other all being
present and signing at one and the same time have hereunto
subscribed the
same as witnesses this thirty first day of August in the
year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty nine.
William Sunter Gunnerside
John Boyd Low Row
[James Spensley Newton was the illegitimate son of a Ruth
Spensley, and he married Margaret Hugill. He sometimes appears
as Spensley, later as Newton.]
