LS Ref: 007

Verbatim Transcript of:

The Will of William Woollett (the engraver)

Proved 17th June 1785

In the Name of God Amen

I William Woollett of north street in the parish of Saint Pancras in the County of Middlesex Engraver being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding (thanks be to Almighty God for the same) do make this my last Will and Testament as follows I give and bequeath all that my leasehold messuage or tenement wherein I now dwell situate in north street aforesaid with its Appurtenances unto my Dear Wife Elizabeth Woollett and her assigns for and during so many years of the term to come therein at my decease as she shall happen to live and from and after her decease I give and bequeath the said messuage or tenement and Premises unto Joseph Ellis of the Parish of Saint Mary Islington in the said County of Middlesex Engraver his Executors Administrators and Assigns for all the rest and residue of the term that shall be then to come therein and unexpired In that he or they shall and do with all convenient speed after the decease of my said wife sell and dispose of the said messuage and Premises for the most money and best price that can be had or gotten for the same and shall and so pay apply and dispose of the money to assist by such sale (after payment thereout of the Costs Charges and Expenses attaining such sale) unto and amongst such of my Children as shall be living at the time of the decease of my said Wife share and share alike the parts and shares of such of them as shall be under the age of twenty one years at the time of the decease of my said wife (this next piece was written in the border) to be paid to them respectively when and as soon as they shall attain their ages of twenty one years and I will and direct that the * and profits of the said messuage and premises in the meantime and * * * shall from and after the decease of my said wife (end of massage in the border) be paid unto or applied for the maintenance and support of my said children and I do hereby declare that the purchaser or Purchasers of my said messuage and Premises shall not be accountable for the missapropriation or non application of the purchase money and I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Ann Woollett the use of the * * * said dear wife Elizabeth Woollett and the said Joseph Ellis all the rest and residue of my Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever Entrust that they shall and do with all convenient speed after my decease sell and dispose of all my Copper Plates Prints Goods and Effects and convert the whole into Money and thereout in the first part to pay and discharge all my just Debts funeral Expenses the legacy herein before given to my Daughter Ann Woollett and the Charges of proving this my will and all other Charges and Expenses they shall be put to in the Execution of this my Will and then I will and direct that the residue and remainder thereof shall be divided into four equal parts or shares out full fourth part and share thereof I give and bequeath unto my said Dear Wife Elizabeth Woollett for her own use and benefit out other fourth part and share thereof I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Ann Woollett * * given to her * * I give and bequeath unto my son George Woollett to be paid or transferred to him at his age of twenty one years and the remaining fourth part or share thereof I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Woollett to be paid or transferred to her at her age of twenty one years or day of marriage which shall first happen and I do hereby empower my dear Wife and the said Joseph Ellis to put and place out the parts and shares of the moneys bequeathed unto my said son George and Daughter Elizabeth at interest upon Government Securities in their joint names and I so will and direct that the Interest and Dividends thereof shall be received and paid to my said wife until they shall respectively become intitled to the Principal for their respective maintenances and

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxrows of crosses across the pagexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I do also empower my said Wife and said Joseph Ellis to pay and apply so much of my said Sons share of the Principal Money bequeathed to him as so shall be necessary to put him out apprentice where he shall be of a proper age and in case my said Son George or my said Daughter Elizabeth or either of them shall happen to die before they shall become intiteld to their shares of the principal moneys bequeathed to them as aforesaid Then I will and direct that the share of my said Son or so much thereof as shall not have been applied for putting him out Apprentist as aforesaid and the share of my said Daughter so dying as aforesaid shall be paid or transferred to my said Wife and my surviving Children in equal Shares and Proportions and I so hereby appoint my said Wife Guardian of my said Son George during his minority and of my Daughter Elizabeth during her minority or until she shall be married and I do hereby nominate and appoint my said Dear Wife Elizabeth Woollett and the said Joseph Ellis Executrix and Executor of this my Will and I do hereby revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore made and I so hereby direct that my said Executors shall not be answerable or accountable for any involuntary loss of any part of my Estate which shall come to their hands by virtue of this my will nor for the failure of any Bankers with whom the same or any part thereof shall be placed for safe Custody nor shall the one of them be accountable for the acts or deeds of the both of them but each of them for his and her own acts and Deeds only In witness whereof I the said William Woollett have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth Day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four.

Signed Wm Woollett Esq.

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator William Woollett as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have here unto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.

Signatures look like Jn. Emes and Wm. Saylewre (spelling?)

This Will was proved at London the seventeenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty five before the Worshipful William Scott Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Elizabeth Woollett Widow the relict of the deceased and one of the Executors named in the said will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to administer power reserved of making the like grant to Joseph Ellis the other executor named in the said will when he shall apply for the same.

Reproduced by Les Sullivan who transcribed the original documents.

Chart derived from the will:


More about William Woollett from other sources:

Engraver to King George III.

There are extensive notes available for William Woollett in a separate document "William Woollett (1735-1785)" compiled from various biographies.

This page last updated 19th June 2004