Proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 14 September 1818
 










This is the last Will and Testament of me JOHN CORNER of North End in the Parish of Fulham in the County of Middlesex Esquire  

In the first place I give Devise and bequeath all that my Capital Freehold Mansion house Garden Offices Land and Premises which I now occupy at North End aforesaid and also all those my Five Freehold Messuages Gardens and premises situate at North End aforesaid and also all those my Copyhold Lands held of the Manor of Fulham in the said County of Middlesex and also all that my Freehold Lands and premises situate at Berkhamsted in the County of Hartford and also all my Stock money Securities for Money and all other my real and personal estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind so ever unto and to the use of my Brother ROBERT CORNER of the Parish of St Leonard Shoreditch in the said County of Middlesex Esquire his heirs Executors Admons and Assigns respectively according to the several natures and qualities of such Estates and property respectively upon the trusts nevertheless and to and for the ends intents and purposes hereinafter expressed and declared of and concerning the same respectively that is to say upon trust that he my said Brother ROBERT CORNER his Heirs Executors Admons and Assigns do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my Decease make [sale] and dispose of such part of my Freehold Copyhold and personal property as shall not consist of money or Securities for Money either together or in parcels or by public auction or private Contract as to him or them shall soon [                       ] for the best price or [                ] in money that can be reasonably had or obtained for the same respectively and the same respectively when sold be Surrender and Convey unto the person or persons who shall agree to become the Purchaser or Purchasers thereof  And I will and declare that the receipt or receipts of the said ROBERT CORNER his heirs Executors Admons or Assigns for the money for which the same shall be so respectively sold shall from time to time be a sufficient discharge or sufficient discharges to the purchaser or purchasers of the said several premises hereinbefore made Saleable by this my Will or any part or parts thereof for his her of their purchase money or so much thereof as shall be therein acknowledged or expressed to have [received] and that such Purchaser or Purchasers his her or their heirs Executors Admons and Assigns or any of them shall not afterwards be answerable or accountable for any loss misapplication or nonapplication of such purchase money so received or any part of parts thereof and my will further is that this money which shall arise by and from such Sale and Sales as aforesaid shall be deemed to be part of my Personal Estate and that the clear yearly Rents and profits of the said heredits and premises in the mean time and until the same shall be so sold or of a [            ] hereof as shall be remaining unsold shall be deemed to be part of the Annual Income of my personal Estate and that the same monies and rents and profits shall be subject to the dispositions hereinafter made concerning my personal Estate and the annual Income thereof respectively and I give and bequeath unto my said Brother ROBERT CORNER the Sum of two hundred pounds and I give and bequeath unto my Sister in Law MARY RIVERS the sum of two hundred pounds and I give and bequeath to Miss MARY RIVERS daughter of the said MARY RIVERS the sum of two hundred pounds And I give and bequeath unto my Servant ALEXANDER LAW for mourning the Sum of ten pounds and I give and bequeath unto my said Servant ALEXANDER LAW one annuity or clear yearly sum of twenty pounds to be paid and payable to him for and during the terms of his natural life on the four most usual quarterly Days of payment in each and every year the first quarterly payment of the same Annuity to be paid to him on such of the usual quarterly Days as shall next ensure the Day of my Decease and as [           ] my personal Estate remaining after payment of my Debts Funeral and Testamentary Charges and Expenses and the Legacies and Annuity hereinbefore bequeathed I give the same unto my said Brother ROBERT CORNER his heirs Admons and Assigns upon the trusts and for the intents and purposes and under and subject to the powers provisos declarations and agreements hereinafter expressed and [             ] of and concerning the same that is to say upon trust that he the said ROBERT CORNER his Executors Admons or Assigns do and shall place out and invest the same in or upon any of the Parliamentary Stocks or Funds of Great Britain or Real Securities in England at Interest and do and shall vary alter or transpose such Stocks Funds or Securities for others of the like nature when and as often as it shall seem expedient and do and shall as to one Moiety or half part of the Interest and Dividends of the said Stocks Funds and Securities retain and take the same to and for his own use and benefit for and during the term of his natural life and as for and concerning one fourth part of the interest and Dividends of the said Stocks Funds and Securities In trust to pay the same unto my Sister MARY WHITTLE and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life and as to for and concerning one eighth part of the Interest and Dividends of the said Stocks Funds and Securities upon trust to pay the same unto my Brother Major General CHARLES CORNER and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life And as to for and concerning the remaining eighth part or share of the interest and Dividends of the said Stocks Funds or Securities upon trust that he the said ROBERT CORNER his Executors Admons or Assigns do and shall pay the same unto such person or persons only And for such Intents and purposes only as my Sister FRANCES SMITH Wife of Lieutenant Colonel GEORGE SMITH by any writing or writings under her hand from time to time shall direct limit or appoint notwithstanding any Coverture she now is or may be under and in default of such direction or appointment and in the mean time and until she shall make any such direction or appointment do and shall pay the same or so much whereof she shall or may from time to time happen to make no such appointment into the proper hands of my said Sister exclusive of her present husband or of any husband she may hereafter happen to marry who is not to intermeddle therewith nor is the same or any part thereof to be subject or liable to such husbands control forfeiture or Engagements and I will and direct that the receipts of my said Sister the said FRANCES SMITH or of such person or persons as she shall or may from time to time direct or appoint to receive such Dividends or Interest shall notwithstanding any such Coverture be good and effectual Releases and Discharges for the same or so much thereof as in such receipts shall be expressed to be received And in case any or either of them the said ROBERT CORNER  MARY WHITTLE  CHARLES CORNER and FRANCES SMITH shall depart this life in the life time of the other or others of them then I direct that he share and interest of the person or persons so dying shall be paid to the Survivor or Survivors of them in such or the like proportions as they the said Survivor or Survivors of them shall be entitled to his her or their original share or shares in manner hereinbefore mentioned and from and immediately after the Decease of them the said ROBERT CORNER  MARY WHITTLE  CHARLES CORNER and FRANCES SMITH then upon trust that the Executors Admons or Assigns of the said ROBERT CORNER do and shall as to seven eighth parts or shares (the whole into eight equal parts or shares to be divided) of and in all such principal monies Stocks Funds and Securities pay transfer and Assign the same unto and between my Nephew Sir JOHN GORDON Bart and my Nieces MARY BRANFILL wife of WILLIAM BRANFILL of Midlington Place in the County of Hants Esquire and [     ] HANNAH CROOD the Wife of RICHARD CROOD late of [Hans] Place near Sloane Street in the said County of Middlesex but now resident at Paris in the Kingdom of France Esquire their Executors Admons and Assigns as and for their own use and benefit And as to for and concerning the remaining eighth part of the said principal monies Stocks Funds and Securities do and shall stand and be possessed of the same In trust for FRANCES MARY HANNAH BLOOD Wife of NEPTUNE BLOOD late of Brighthelmstone in the County of Sussex but now of Sloane Street in the said County of Middlesex Esquire for her sole use as hereinafter is mentioned And I hereby declare my Will and meaning to be that the said several shares so hereinbefore by me bequeathed to the said MARY BRANFILL  JESSE HANNAH CROSS and FRANCES MARY HANNAH BLOOD shall be held by the said ROBERT CORNER his Executors Admons and Assigns for their sole use respectively separate apart from and exclusive of their respective present of any future husbands with whom they shall hereafter intermarry and so and in such manner as the same may not be under the Control of their said husbands or subject or liable to their Debts Contracts Forfeiture or Engagements and so and in such manner that the receipts of each of them the said MARY BRANFILL  JESSE HANNAH CREED and FRANCES MARY HANNAH BLOOD respectively or any person or persons to whom they may respectively appoint their share of proportion when due may be good and effectual discharges for the money which shall be thereby expressed to be received  And I do hereby expressly declare that the reasons for which I have bequeathed a less share to my Niece the said FRANCES MARY HANNAH BLOOD than to my said other Nieces and Nephew is because she is already now amply provided for and is possessed of more considerable property and fortune than either of the said other parties and in case either of them the said Sir JOHN GORDON  MARY BRANFILL  JESSE HANNAH CROOD and FRANCES MARY HANNAH BLOOD shall depart this life in [           ] life time or in the life time of either of them the said ROBERT CORNER  MARY WHITTLE  CHARLES CORNER and FRANCES SMITH having lawful issue living at his or her Decease then my Will is and I direct that the share of him and her of and in the said Trust monies Stock Funds and Securities shall be held In trust for and for the benefit of his or her Child if only one and if more than one then for all his or her Children to be equally divided between and among the same Children if more than one in equal shares and proportions as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants and to be vested in each of the same Children respectively being a Son when and as he respectively shall attain his age of twenty one Years or die under that age leaving Issue living at his Death and in each of the said Children respectively being a Daughter when and as she respectively shall attain her Age of twenty one years or Day of Marriage which as to each of them respectively shall first happen and to be payable and paid as soon after the said respective ages of Days shall be attained and also after the Death of his or her parents as conveniently may be And upon this further trust and in case any one or more of the Children and each or either of my said Nephew or Nieces being a Son or Sons shall die under the age of twenty one years and without leaving any Issues of their bodies or respective bodies living at his or their Death or respective Deaths or being a Daughter or Daughters shall die under that age and also before she or they shall have been respectively married then the said ROBERT CORNER his Executors Admons or Assigns do and shall pay assign and transfer the original share or shares of and in the said trust monies Stocks Funds and Securities which under the trusts hereinbefore declared shall belong to the Child or Children respectively who shall die as aforesaid And also that part or share of those several and respective parts of shares of and in the said trust money Stocks Funds and Securities which from time to time belong to or be taken by the said Child or Children respectively so dying as aforesaid under this present provision unto the Brother or Sister or Brothers or Sisters of the Children respectively so dying to be equally divided between or among the same Brothers and Sisters if more than one share and share alike as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants and his her or their Executors Admons or Assigns to be vested at the respective ages Days or time hereinbefore appointed respecting the original share or shares of the same Child or Children and to be payable and paid  at the time or several and respective times hereinbefore appointed for the payment of his her or their original share or shares or as soon after the Death of such respective Child dying as aforesaid as conveniently may be and upon this further trust that the Executors Admons or Assigns of the said ROBERT CORNER of the Trustee for the time being of this my Will do and shall after the Death of the parent or parents respectively of each respective Child pay and apply the Dividends or Interest of the share of shares of such of the said Children as shall not have acquired a vested Interest in the portion or portions hereinbefore provided or intended for him her or them respectively for and towards his her and their maintenance and Education respectively until the same shall respectively become payable And my Will is and I hereby declare that the said ROBERT CORNER his Executors Admons or Assigns or any or either of them shall not be Charged or Chargeable with or accountable for any more of the trust monies and premises than he or they shall respectively actually receive or shall come to his or their respective hands by virtue of this my Will nor with or for any loss which shall or may happen to the said trust monies or premises or any part thereof so as such losses shall happen without his or their wilful neglect and default and shall be answerable only for his and their own Acts Deeds receipts disbursements and defaults And also that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said ROBERT CORNER his Executors Admons and Assigns in the first place by and out of the monies which shall come to his and their hands respectively by virtue of this my Will to deduct retain and reimburse himself and themselves respectively all such costs Damages Charges and Expenses as he or they shall respectively pay bear sustain expend or be put unto for or by reason or [            ] of the trust hereby in him and them [            ] or the management or Execution thereof of any Act transaction matter or thing whatsoever in any manner relating thereto

And I do hereby make ordain constitute and appoint my said Brother ROBERT CORNER sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this to be my last Will and Testament  

In Witness I the said JOHN CORNER have to this my said Will contained in nine Sheets of paper to the first eight Sheets thereof set my hand and to this last Sheet thereof my hand and Seal the fifteenth Day of August in the fifty seventh year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen – JOHN CORNER – Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Testator JOHN CORNER as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereto and the words “Sir JOHN GORDON” being first initialled in the eleventh line of the sixth Sheet hereof – J R COCKERJ COCKERT TIERNAY

I JOHN CORNER being in sound Mind as a Codicil and in addition to my former Will I do leave to my faithful Servant SARAH TIMS one hundred pounds of lawfull Money  Dated the twenty first Day of August one thousand eight hundred and eighteen – JOHN CORNER  

11 September 1818 – Appeared Personally The Reverend FRANCIS RIVERS Clerk of North End in the County of Middlesex and JOSEPH DAVIS of the East India House London Gentleman and severally made oath that they knew and were well acquainted with JOHN CORNER late of North End in the Parish of Fulham in the County of Middlesex Esquire deceased for several years preceding and until the [            ] of his Death and that during such their acquaintance with the said Deceased they have on many occasions seen him write and subscribe his Name and are thereby well [            ] with the manner and Character of the handwriting and Subscription of the said Deceased And these Deponents having attentively perused the paper writing hereunto [            ] the same purporting to be and contain a Codicil to the last Will and Testament of the said Deceased the said annexed paper writing or Codicil beginning thus “I JOHN CORNER being in sound mind” ending thus “this twenty first Day of August one thousand eight hundred and eighteen” and thus Subscribed “JOHN CORNER” further made oath that they verily believe the words “twenty first Day of August one thousand eight hundred and eighteen” and also the Subscription “JOHN CORNER” to be all of the own proper handwriting and Subscription of the before mentioned JOHN CORNER Esquire deceased – FRANCIS RIVERSJOSEPH DAVIS – Same Day the said Rev. FRANCIS RIVERS and JOSEPH DAVIS were duly Sworn to the trust of the foregoing Affidavit before me – J. PARSON [            ] – prost THOS. POYNTER not pubs.

Proved at London with a Codicil 14th Sept 1818 before the Worshipful Samuel [            ] Parson Doctor of Laws and [            ] by the Oath of ROBERT CORNER Esquire the Brother and sole Executor to whom Admon was granted being first Sworn duly to Administer