SKELTON - IN - CLEVELAND
IN HISTORY

The Will of Stephen Emmerson the Elder: 1736 – 1833.
Of Hollybush Farm, Skelton.
Registered January 28th 1834 Northallerton.

Kindly contributed by Josie Bland of Skelton.



This is the last will and testament of me, Stephen Emmerson the Elder, of the Parish of Skelton in Cleveland in the county of York, yeoman, made the thirty first of day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Whereas my younger son, William, having lately married and being minded to emigrate to some part of North America, I have advanced and given to him the sum of three hundred pounds previous to his emigration in part of the provision or sum of five hundred pounds which I intended for his portion.
Page about William here.
I give all my household furniture, plate, linen, china, glass and earthenware (except for what is next hereinafter specifically disposed of) unto my wife Alice Emmerson to be at her own disposal.
And I give my kitchen furniture, one bed and bedstead with the bedding thereto belonging, my dairy utensils, implements of husbandry and all other my personal estate not herein aforementioned unto my older son Stephen Emmerson, his executors, administrators and assigns - charged with the payment of the sum of ten pounds to my said wife Alice Emmerson, within ten days after my death, for her immediate subsistence.
Stephen became the "Miners Friend". Page about him here.
I give and devise the messuage or dwelling house and the closes or parcels of ground purchased by me of Joseph Thompson.
And the close or parcel of land called Knagg’s Close late belonging to James Gowland with the gardens, buildings, ways, common rights and other rights and appurtenances to the same retrospectively belonging situate in the township or parish of Skelton aforesaid.
And the inside or half part of a pew in the new gallery of the Parish Church of Skelton aforesaid – purchased by me of John Taylor unto and to the use of my daughters Jane Emmerson and Hannah Emmerson in equal shares as tenants in common and not as joint tenants, their respective heirs and assigns forever.
And I give and devise the messuage or dwelling house wherein I reside and all my messuages or dwelling houses, lands, tenements and hereditaments in the township or parish of Skelton aforesaid or elsewhere not here before devised unto. And in the life of my said son Stephen Emmerson, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns according to the nature and tenure thereof, subject to, and charged and chargeable with, the payments of the debts which I will owe at the time of my decease and my funeral and testamentary expenses.
And subject to, and charged and chargeable with, the payment of the annuity or yearly sum of twenty pounds to my said wife Alice Emmerson or her assigns during her life, free of taxes and clear of all other deductions whatsoever, to be payable and paid on the thirteenth day of May and the twenty third day of November in every year by equal payments.
And the first payment thereof to be made on such of the said days as shall happen next after my death, with a proportional part of the said annuity or yearly sum to be computed to the day of the decease of my said wife from the then last preceding day of payment, to be paid to the executors or administrators of my said wife.
And subject to, and charged and chargeable with, the payment of the sum of two hundred pounds to my said son William Emmerson at the end of twelve calendar months next after my decease, with interest from the time of my decease until the actual payment thereof after the rate of four pounds to a hundred pounds for a year, as the residue and remainder of the provision which I intended for my said son William Emmerson.
And also subject to, and charged and chargeable with, the payment of the sum of Two Hundred pounds to my daughter Alice Young, her executors, administrators or assigns within twelve calendar months next after my decease, with interest for the same from the time of my decease until the actual payment thereof, after the rate of four pounds to a hundred pounds for a year.
And likewise subject to, and charged and chargeable with, the payments the sum of a hundred pounds to John Emmerson,
[the illegitimate] son of the said Alice Young on the eighth day of December which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight – if he shall be then living: but if the said John Emmerson shall depart this life before the said day, then subject to, and charged and chargeable with, the payment of the said sum of one hundred pounds to the said Alice Young, her executors, administrators and assigns within twelve calendar months next, after the death of the said John Emmerson, with interest for the said sum of one hundred pounds from the time of my decease until the actual payment thereof, at a rate of four pounds to a hundred pounds for a year.
The said interest to be paid and applied by the said Alice Young for the maintenance and benefit of the said John Emmerson, until the said sum shall become payable, or in the case of her death during that time, then the said interest to be paid to, and applied for, that purpose by William Young, husband of the said Alice Young.
And the receipt of the said Alice Young notwithstanding her being married shall be always a sufficient discharge on the payments thereof taken. I appoint my son Stephen Emmerson as the sole executor of this my last will and testament. And I give to my said wife Alice Emmerson and her assigns, such powers of distress and entry upon the said messuages or dwelling houses, lands, tenements, hereditaments or any part thereof, hereby charged with the said annuity, or yearly sum, of twenty pounds for securing and enforcing the payment and recovering thereof as landlords have by law for rent in arrears. And I declare that the provision I have made for my said wife Alice Emmerson is intended to be in her recompense and full satisfaction of her dower, or thirds, and of every other claim, right or interest which she can, or may, or might otherwise have claim, demand, or be entitled to, out of my real and personal estates, or either of them, or any part thereof retrospectively, and shall be accepted by her accordingly.
And I hereby revoke all my former wills.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first within written. The mark of X Stephen Emmerson Signed sealed and published by the testator Stephen Emmerson as, and for, his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who, as witnesses, thereof have hereunto subscribed our names in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other.
Leonard Dixon.
Thomas Johnson.
Thomas Ellerby Dixon> (sworn)

The within written Will was entered at length in the Registry Office at Northallerton the Twenty seventh day of June Eighteen Hundred and Thirty three at Two in the afternoon in Book GB page 3 and number 2 M Walker.
Deputy Leger.

Under 200 Exchequer Died 22 June 1833
Passed 21st February 1834 under 200.

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