Last Will and Testament of Mary Cox of Croydon (National Probate Calendar: 3 June 1867, folio number 401)

Summary

The will of Mary Cox of Croydon was made on 6 December 1862 and proved on 3 June 1867. The executors were her children Mary Brookes Cox, Eliza Cox, and Thomas Cox. Another son, James Cox, had been named as executor in the will, but was not mentioned in the grant of probate, perhaps because he had died. According to the probate register copy, Mary left:

• £100 each to Thomas and James for their work as executors.
• £50 each to her god-daughters Susan Mary Beckford and Mary Bottomley.
• Her part-share of leasehold and freehold property in Southwark to Thomas and James as tenants in common.
• Everything else to her daughters as tenants in common, including:
  • Her home and its grounds (the Broad Green Place estate)
  • Two leasehold cottages on St James’s Road
  • Any public stock in the names of her or her late husband

Below is my transcription of the probate register copy of the will. Bold and italic formatting reflect the different writing styles used in the document, and I have added paragraph breaks to make it easier to read.

Transcription

This is the last Will and Testament of me Mary Cox of Croydon in the County of Surrey Widow

I appoint my daughters Mary Brookes Cox and Eliza Cox and my sons James Cox and the Reverend Thomas Cox Executors of this my Will

I give and bequeath to my said two sons the sum of one hundred pounds each in acknowledgement of their trouble in executing the office of my executors

I give the sum of fifty pounds (free from legacy duty) to each of my two God daughters Susan Mary Beckford and Mary Bottomley

I give devise bequeath and appoint all my share estate and interest of and in an estate part freehold and part leasehold situate in the Parish of Saint John Southwark in the said County of Surrey and of and in all other freehold and leasehold estates in the Borough of Southwark in which I am interested with the rights members fixtures and appurtenances to all the estates included in this devise bequest and appointment belonging or in anywise appertaining Unto and to the use of my said sons James Cox and Thomas Cox their heirs executors administrators and assigns according to the several tenures thereof respectively for their own absolute use and benefit as tenants in common

And I give devise bequeath and appoint all that messuage or tenement in which I now reside and the outhouses gardens land and hereditaments thereto belonging situate at Broad Green in the Parish of Croydon aforesaid and my two leasehold cottages in Saint James’s Road Croydon aforesaid with the rights members fixtures and appurtenances to all the hereditaments and premises included in this devise bequest and appointment belonging or in anywise appertaining and all stock in the public funds now standing in my name or in the names of my late husband James Cox and myself and all other my real and Personal Estate whatsoever and whereso ever not hereinbefore disposed of Unto and to the use of my said daughters Mary Brookes Cox and Eliza Cox their heirs executors and assigns according to the several tenures thereof respectively for their own sole and separate use and benefit as tenants in common

And I revoke all other Wills In witness whereof I have at the foot hereof set my hand this sixth day December one thousand eight hundred and sixty two — Mary Cox — Signed by the said Mary Cox as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who were together present at such signing and who at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses — John Drummond – Wm Drummond } Solicitors Croydon.

Proved at London 3rd June 1867 by the oaths of Mary Brookes Cox Spinster and Eliza Cox Spinster the Daughters and the Reverend Thomas Cox Clerk the Son the surviving executors to whom Admon was granted.