John Cosens

PROB 11/1333/238 - precis.

John Cosens of Creswell Hall, Staffordshire.

Payment of just debts and funeral expenses out of my personal estate; should this be insufficient then out of the rest of my estate.

By my marriage settlement with Sarah, an annuity of £200 Jamaican currency to her, chargeable on my real estate. By another deed dated August 'now last', to her another annuity of £800 sterling payable out of Elysium Estate in Portland and St George. Confirmation of these settlements. Also to her any coach or four wheeled carriage I may be possessed of together with a pair of horses and harnesses, all my household goods and furniture, plate, linen, bedding, china in England and Jamaica. Also to her 'four of my House Negroes as she shall make choise of'.

To George Hibbert of the City of London, merchant, and Robert Hibbert the younger of Kingston in Jamaica, merchant, all my plantations and sugar works in St Mary named Markham and Sheerness and my pen in St George called Friendship, and one moity of Carlton Wood House with the plantations and pen adjoining called Downes Coves, both in St Mary, and my plantation in St George and Portland called Elysium in trust for the following purposes.

To my wife Sarah an annuity of £360 Jamaican currency for life chargeable on the said plantations.

My executors to invest £10,000 in stocks for the benefit of my daughter Arabella Wilkinson Cosens. The interest to be given to my wife before Arabella reaches the age of 21 or marries, then to be given to Arabella for her sole and separate use. On the death of Arabella the £10,000 to be divided amongst her children in the proportions she shall decide. In default the £10,000 to form part of my personal estate.

To my son John Cosens an annuity of £300 pa for life, to be paid to my wife Sarah Cosens during his minority. Should I have another son born to me, then my executors likewise to invest £10,000 to produce for each additional son an annuity of £300 pa for life. For any subsequent daughters, the sum of £6,000 to be invested for each one under the same terms as for the £10,000 of my daughter Arabella.

In case either of my grandsons William Lambie and John Cosens Lambie, sons of my late daughter Ellen Lambie, shall live to age 21 or be married, my executors to raise the sum of £10,000 - being £5,000 each for them. In case of the death of either before the age of 21 or marriage, the £5,000 to be paid to the other grandson.

To my brother Richard Cosens an annuity of £100 pa for life. Should he have any children under the age of 21 at the time of his death then this annuity to be continued until the youngest child reaches the age of 21.

All my real estate in Jamaica and elsewhere to my trustees for the use and behoof of my son George Harrison Cosens and his assigns for his life. Thereafter to the use of every child of him as tenants in common. In default to the heirs of my son John Cosens, then my daughter Arabella Wilkinson Cosens, then to my grandsons William Lambie and John Cosens Lambie and their heirs as tenants in common...

Executors to be George Hibbert and Robert Hibbert junior, my son George Harrison Cosens and my wife Sarah Cosens. Executors to be guardians to Arabella Willkinson Cosens and John Cosens and for my two grandchildren during their minorities.

Signed 05/02/1796.

Codicil dated 20/01/1797, signed 18/11/1799. Annuity of £100 to my brother Richard revoked; replaced with an annuity of £1 1s. The annuity instead paid to John Robinson of Weston in Nottingham, clerk, and John Robinson of Leicestershire, draper, to be applied to the maintenance and education of Richard's children to age 21.

Proved in London 18/12/1799 by George Harrison Cosens.