Benjamin Crossley

With Elizabeth Hannah: John Crossley, Thomas Crossley, William Crossley

PROB 11/1659/256 - precis.

Benjamin Crossley of the parish of St George in the county of Surrey in the Island of Jamaica Esquire.

To my dear mother Sarah Charlesworth resident in England an annuity of £100 sterling.

To each and every male and female issue of my sister Ann Holliwell £500 sterling on attaining the age of 24.

To each of my three natural children John, Thomas and William Crossley born of the body of Elizabeth Hannah a free woman of colour the first sometime in June 1812, the second sometime in August 1813 and the third in May 1816 £500 sterling on attaining the age of 24. It is my desire that my said three natural children be sent to England under the protection and direction of my brother Luke Thomas Crossley and there be directly educated and maintained at the expense of my estate until they shall respectively attain the age of 24 years, they be brought up to some trade of profession as they may chuse.

To Elizabeth Hannah an annuity of £20 currency [of Jamaica] should her conduct be such in the opinion of my brother as to render her deserving of it.

To my much esteemed friend William Anderson Orgil of St George, Jamaica, £100 in memorial of my friendship and esteem.

All the rest and residue of my estate real, personal and mixed to my brother Luke Thomas Crossley, his heirs and assigns forever but it is to be understood and I do direct that no part of my real estate in this island shall be sold before the expiration of three years after my decease and that during the said term of three years my sugar estate called Linox in the parish of St George and my two pens called Kendal and Industry, the former in St Thomas in the Vale and the latter in Portland, be carried on and conducted as heretofore. I do empower my executors hereafter named to purchase Spanish cattle and mules from time to time and then attain[?] to dispose of for the benefit and advantage of my said estate but this restuction[?] of the sale of my said real estate is not by any means to preclude my said brother from disposing at any time during the said term of three years by his last will and testament of the said real estate as he may think proper or after the expriation of three years to sell and convey the same if in fee, it being my intention to give devise and bequeath my said brother the whole of my real and personal mixed estate subject to the payment of the annuities and legacies herein beinbefore bequeathed.

Patrick Lynch of St Mary Esquire, Philip Jaquet[?] and Thomas Spicer both of St George, planters, and George Mills in the city and parish of Kingston Esquire to be executors to act only in Jamaica. My brother Luke Thomas Crossley executor of my will to act in Great Britain and Ireland exclusively as well as jointly with my executors in Jamaica.

Signed 07/07/1817.

Witnesses Henry Fintch, William Gale, Andrew Sconberg.

Proved in London 20/07/1822 by the oath of Luke Thomas Crossley. The letters of administration of the goods of the said deceased granted in the month of February last to the said Luke Thomas Crossley under the suggestion that the said deceased died intestate having been first revoked and declared null and void.