Edmund Greaves will dated 1860 died 1867

This is the last will and testament of me Edmund Greaves of the Manor House Haversham in the County of Buckingham Esquire I Appoint Henry Pike of Haversham aforesaid Gentleman and William Payne of Little Linford in the said county of Buckingham Gentleman Executors of this my Will I devise All Estates will shall at my decease be vested in me upon trust or by way of Mortgage unto and to the use of the said Henry Pike and William Payne their heirs and assigns Upon and subject to the trusts and equity of redemption affecting the same respectively give and bequeath unto my dear wife Charlotte the use and enjoyment of such part of my household furniture and effects as she may select during her natural life with the out any accountability for any diminution or depreciation in quality or value thereof And I give and devise Firstly All that my Manor of Haversham and the Messuage or tenement farm Land and hereditaments with all fixtures and appurtenances there to belonging situate in Haversham aforesaid and in Wolverton in the said county of Buckingham now in my own occupation And Secondly All those my several Cottages or tenements with the outbuildings gardens and appurtenances there to respectively belonging situate and being in Haversham aforesaid unto the said Henry Pike and William Payne and their heirs Nevertheless To the Uses following that is to say To the use intent and purpose that my farm shall be carried on for the benefit of my personal Estate until the Lady day or Michaelmas which shall first happen next after my decease upon the same principle as if I had been a Tenant thereof at rack rent and liable to manage the same according to the custom of the Country And to the further use intent and purpose that the said Henry Pike shall and may occupy the said first mentioned hereditaments for the term of Fourteen years if he shall so long live commencing at the Lady day or Michaelmas which shall first happen next after my decease at which time he shall be entitled to enter upon the same with all the rights and privileges of any incoming tenant and as if my Executors were actual outgoing Tenants are liable to leave accordingly to the custom of the Country under the yearly rent of Seven hundred and sixty pounds payable by two equal half yearly payments unto the person or persons for the time being entitled to the same hereditaments under the limitations hereinafter contained subject nevertheless to the said Henry Pike being allowed out of such rent the Land tax and rent charge in lieu of titles  and Landlords property tax if and when paid and subject also to his doing the usual tenants repair damage by fire or tempest excepted and two his managing and cultivating the Land according to the custom of the Country And to the further use intent and purpose that the Widow of my late Brother Thomas Greaves shall and may occupy the Cottage and premises now occupied by her rent free during her life And subject as aforesaid as to all the said hereditaments To the use of the said Henry Pike and William Payne their executors administrators and assigns for the term of One thousand years commencing from the day of my decease Upon and for the trusts and purposes herein after expressed and declared of and concerning the same And subject as herein before mentioned To the use of my Nephew the Rev. John Albert Greaves and his assigns for the term of his natural life without impeachment of waste And from and immediately after his decease To the use of his eldest Son Alban Greaves had and his assigns during his natural Life without impeachment of waste And from and immediately after the decease of such eldest Son To the use of the first and every other Son of the body of such eldest son lawfully begotten according to priority of birth in tail male successively the elder of such Sons and his issue male taking before the younger of such Sons and his issue male And for default of such issue To the use of the second and every other Son of the body of the said John Albert Greaves lawfully begotten according to priority of birth in tail male successively the elder of such last mentioned Sons and his issue male taking before the younger of such last mentioned Sons and his issue male and for default of such issue To the use of my Great Nephew Edmund Greaves the eldest Son and of my deceased Nephew Edmund Greaves tail male And for default of such issue To  the use of my great Nephew William Alfred the second son of my said deceased Nephew Edmund Greaves in tail male And for the default of such issue To the use of my great Nephew James Albert the third son of my said deceased Nephew Edmund Greaves in tail male And for default of such issues To the use of my own right heirs for ever And I expressly direct and declare that the picture in my dining room supposed to represent Bellona and Tea Service presented to me by the of Haversham and Castlethorpe Friendly Society and the Testimonial presented to me as chairman of the Market Room at the Cock Hotel Stony Stratford shall and so far as the Rules of Law will allow go and be held as the heirlooms with my Estate at Haversham aforesaid And as to the said term of One thousand years here in before limited to the said Henry Pike and William Payne their executors and administrators and assigns I declare that the same term so limited to them Upon trust as to such of the principal sums hereinafter mentioned which shall be payable within six Calendar months next after my decease immediately upon the expiration of such period and as to the other principal sums when and as the same respectively on any part thereof respectively shall from time to time become vested in some person or persons for an absolute beneficial interest by dimising as signing mortgaging selling or otherwise disposing of the aforesaid hereditaments comprised in the said term of One thousand or any of them or any part thereof for the whole or any part of the said term to raise and levy the several principal sums of One thousand years or any of them or any part thereof for the whole or any part of the said term to raise and levy the several principal sons of One thousand pounds One thousand pounds One thousand pounds One thousand pounds One thousand pounds Two thousand pounds and three thousand pounds and by and out of the rents and profits of the said hereditaments or by bringing actions against the tenants or occupying the same hereditaments or any of them for the rents in arrear to raise and levy from time to time intended at the rate of Four pounds per centum per annum upon so much of the said several sums as shall for the time being remain unpaid such interest to commence and be computed from the expiration of the six calendar months next ensuing my decease And I hereby declare that it shall be competent for the person or persons for the time being entitled to the aforesaid hereditaments under the limitations hereinbefore and contained to require the trustees or trustee for the time being of the said term of One thousand years to accept payment of all or any of the said principal sons notwithstanding that such sums shall not have become absolutely vested in any person or persons interested therein and such trustees or trustee shall be bound to accept the same accordingly and to assign the benefit of the trust or charge hereby created as to such sums so paid unto or by the direction of the person or persons for the time being entitled as aforesaid And I hereby declare that it shall be lawful for the trustees or trustee for the time being of the said term of One thousand years to sign an give a receipt or receipts in writing for the sums of money so to be raised by them or him as aforesaid or for the monies which shall be paid to them or him in satisfaction or on account respectively and taking such receipt or receipts shall not be answerable or accountable for the loss miss-application or nonapplication thereof or be in any wise bound to see to the application thereof or to enquire into the regularity of any transaction relating thereto And I also declare that in the event of any of the said sums here in before mentioned come into the hands of my said Trustees or trustee before the same shall be payable to any person or persons absolutely such sons shall in the meantime by invested by such trustees or trustee upon real or Government Security or upon Security of any debentures Bonds or Mortgages issued by any Incorporated Company or in the purchase of any preference or guaranteed stock or shares of or in any such Company or upon any other Security of a similar nature which my said trustees or trustee shall in their absolute discretion think proper to accept with power to vary any such securities from time to time And I direct that my said trustees or trustee for the time being shall stand possessed of the several principal sums here in before mentioned and of the interest and annual income thereof respectively Upon the trusts herein after expressed that is to say as to one of such sons of One thousand pounds (and which I expressly declare shall be deemed to include a sum of Four hundred pounds placed in my hands by Mrs Ann Coles to be applied at my entire discretion for the benefit of my Niece Elizabeth Small) and of the securities on which such One thousand pounds may from time to time be invested Upon trust during the natural life of my said Niece Elizabeth Small to pay the annual income thereof to her for her separate and inalienable and her receipts alone after the same shall have become due to be a good discharge for such annual income And from and immediately after her decease Upon trust to pay the Capital thereof unto and equally between Arabella Louisa Ann Alexander James Albert Elizabeth Mary Jane and Agnes the Children of my said Niece or search of them as shall attain the age of Twenty one years share and share alike with power to apply the income of the presumptive share towards his or her maintenance of any Child being a Minor towards his or her maintenance education or support during and notwithstanding minority As to one other of such sums of One thousand pounds Upon trust for my Nephew Oliver Greaves to whom I give and bequeath the same accordingly payable within six calendar months next after my decease As to one other of such sons of One thousand pounds Upon trust for my Nephew Thomas Greaves to whom I give and bequeath the same accordingly by payable within six calendar months next after my decease As to one other of such sums of One thousand pounds Upon trust for my Nephew the Rev. James Greaves To whom I give and bequeath the same accordingly payable within six calendar months next after my decease As to one other of such sums of One thousand pounds the securities for the same Upon trust to pay the E annual income thereof to my Niece Maria or during her natural life for her separate and inalienable use and her receipt alone notwithstanding coverture to be a good discharge of such annual income And from and immediately after  her decease Upon trust for and to be equally divided between all and every her Children who shall live to attain the age of twenty one years share and share alike with power to apply the income of the presumptive share of any Child being a Minor towards his or her maintenance education or support during and notwithstanding minority As to the sum of Two thousand pounds and the securities for the same  Upon trust at the entire and uncontrolled discretion of my said trustees or trustee to apply the annual income thereof for the benefit and towards the maintenance and support of the Children of my deceased Nephew Edmund Greaves during their respective minorities and also any part of the Capital thereof towards putting or placing out such Children or any of them in or to any profession or business or otherwise for his or her or advancement And subject and without prejudice there to Upon trust for and to be equally divided between such of the Children of my said  deceased Nephew Edmund Greaves as shall live to attain the age of Twenty one years as yet so nevertheless that any child for whose benefit any part of the Capital may have been advanced shall bring such capital into hotchpot And as to the said sum of Three thousand pounds and the securities for the same Upon trust to apply the annual income of One thousand pounds part there of unto Harriet the Widow of my deceased Brother John Greaves for her natural life and subject there to the whole of the said Three thousand pounds and the securities for the same Upon trust for my Nephew John Greaves (the Son of my said deceased Brother John) to whom I give and bequeath the same accordingly And I expressly direct and declare that during such time as my said Nephew John Albert Greaves now in Australia shall remain abroad and also from time to time when and as often as any person for the time being entitled to the said hereditaments Firstly and Secondly herein before mentioned under the limitations herein before contained shall be under the age of twenty one years it shall be lawful for and I expressly authorise and the trustees or trustee for the time being of this my Will without prejudice to the power or trusts hereinbefore contained and to receive and take the rents and profits of the same hereditaments power to let such hereditaments from time to time at their annual rents and out of the rents and profits aforesaid to keep the same hereditaments in good and tenable repair and condition and insured against losses by fire and then to pay the interest of any sums being or remaining a charge upon for the aforesaid hereditaments or any part thereof And subject there to pay the surplus of such rents and profits are two or in case of a Minor apply the same at the absolute discretion of such trustees or trustee for the benefit of the person for the time being entitled as aforesaid yet so nevertheless that in the case of a Minor any rents not applied for his or her benefit shall be invested and accumulated and such accumulations may be subsequently applied for the benefit and advancement of such Minor or retained until he shall attain the age of Twenty one years or previously die in which the latter event such accumulations shall be deemed part of the personal Estate of such Minor It my express wish that my Wine shall not be sold I give to my Executors the said Henry Pike and William Payne the sum of One hundred pounds each payable within six calendar months next after my decease And subject to the bequest to my said Wife and the direction as to my Wine hereinbefore contained and to the payment of my Debts and funeral and Testamentary expenses and the said two Legacies of One hundred pounds I bequeath all the residue of my personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto my said Nephew John Albert Greaves absolutely I also devise All that my Close of Land at Abthorpe aforesaid and all other my real Estate not hereinbefore devise unto my said Nephew John Albert Greaves his heirs and assigns for ever And I also expressly declare that any statement or statements which shall at any time or times be made out and signed by my said Executors or trustees or executor or trustee for the time being relating to or concerning my said real and personal estate or any part thereof respectively or the monies arising therefrom respectively or the payments allowances or deductions thereout or therefrom or the dealings therewith respectively or any rents profits interest dividends or annual income thereof respectively shall be deemed the correct for all purposes and shall be binding and conclusive upon all parties whomsoever the claiming any interest therein respectively under this my Will or the trusts or provisions herein contained and such parties shall not be at liberty to question the propriety or the regularity of any act or transaction payment allowance deduction or other matter noticed in or appearing upon the face of any such statement or statements Provided always and I declare that if any person hereby named or hereafter being a trustee of my Will shall either in my lifetime or at any time after my decease die or go to reside or be resident out of or be absent for a year from England and Wales or suffer his Estate and effects to Assignment for the benefit of Creditors or disclaim neglect refuse or be incapable to perform or desire to retire from the Office of trustee whether he shall have acted or not it shall be lawful for the surviving or continuing or other trustees or trustee if any or in case of the death of an only trustee for such trustee by his or her Will or in difficult thereof and if there be no such trustee for the acting legal personal representatives or representative of the last surviving or continuing Trustee or if there be no such person for my acting Executors or administrators to appoint by writing attested by one witness or trustee in the room of such person and that it shall not be necessary to supply several vacancies at the same time and that every instrument purporting to be made in pursuance of the foregoing power and not appearing on the face of it to be invalid shall though not so made by valid for all purposes and that every trustee appointed under this power shall immediately have all the powers of a trustee although the trust property be not then invested in him And that’s the acting legal personal Representatives of and only trustee may exercise all the powers of such trustee And I declare that the trustees or trustee for the time being of this my Will may exercise any power or discretion the hereby given to the trustees here in named I declare that the receipts in writing of the trustees or trustee for the time being acting in the execution of the trusts or powers of this my Will for any monies which shall be paid to them or him under such trusts or powers or any of them shall effectually discharge the person or persons paying such monies from responsibility or enquiring as to the application thereof or the propriety or regularity of the payment thereof or of any transaction leading thereto And I expressly declare that no trustees shall be chargeable with or for any more money than he shall actually receive or for any less which may happen in the execution of the trusts hereby created unless the same happen through positive neglect and that each Trustee shall be answerable only for losses arising from his own default and may retain and allow to his Co trustees all expenses arising from or incurred in the execution or otherwise incident to their performance of the powers and trusts hereby created or any of them or in any wise relating thereto And I expressly declare that my executors and trustees for the time being Mason permit any matters in dispute to arbitration vary any of the Security which for the time being may be vested in them for others of a like nature take Securities or give time for payment of any debts accept a composition on or omitted to sue for debts reasonably deemed doubtful bad or desperate pay claims on such proof of evidence as their he may reasonably deem sufficient and otherwise act in all respects as they may deem beneficial for my estate And I hereby revoke all former Wills In testimony whereof I have to the first six sheets and seventh and last sheet of this my Will set my hand this fifth day of October One thousand eight hundred and sixty

Signed and declared by the said Edmund Greaves the Testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presents at his request and in the presence of each other have here unto subscribed our names as Witnesses

Edmund Greaves

John Parrott Solr Stony Stratford
Thos. Glidewell his Clarke

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Greaves Family History by Sue Brooker nee Greaves

Edmund Greaves died 23 July 1867
Buried 27 July 1867 Haversham

Edmund was Lord of the Manor, and his mother’s favourite

He was of medium height and weighed 17 stone

He played truant a lot from school and had no ambition except to be a good neighbour

Edmund’s cheerfulness and good common sense made his companionship much sought after

He declined offer of nomination to be a magistrate

He was not a boastful man

Edmund was guardian of the church, and church warden

He was a Tory

Edmund became a communicant after his marriage

He left the Manor to John Albert Greaves (b 1829)

1841 – Grazier, living at the Manor House, Haversham, with mother Jane (b1765) and Jane’s sister Ann Coles (b 1771)25

1851 – Living at the manor House, farming 600 acres and employing 22 labourers 14

1861 – Married to Charlotte. Also living with them at the Manor House is Arabella Hooper, Charlotte’s sister.

Employing 7 men and 3 boys on 316 acres