Yeovil's Virtual Museum

1845 Will of Mary Bradley

Spinster

 

Sadly, almost nothing is known of Mary Bradley as she rarely appears in the records.

That Mary Bradley was a woman of substance is confirmed by the legacies in her will totalling four thousand pounds (in excess of £400,000 at today's value). Her will is also interesting with various snippets such as "I direct that my dogs shall be destroyed within twenty four hours after my decease in a manner calculated to give the least pain" and her choice of bequests, such as the "London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews" and the recently-formed RSPCA.

Mary died in Yeovil on 2 December 1846, aged 76. She was buried in St John's churchyard on 14 December 1846.

 

The notice of Mary Bradley's death in the 10 December 1846 edition of the Dorset County Chronicle.

 

The entry of Mary's burial of 15 December 1846 from St John's burial register.

 

This is the last Will and Testament of me Mary Bradley of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Spinster my first wish is to be buried in the place left for me near to my dearest Mother and Brother and if I shall not erect a monument to their memory I direct my Executors to erect a handsome and appropriate monument to their memory and to mine as near to our Graves as they may be permitted to do I direct that my dogs shall be destroyed within twenty four hours after my decease in a manner calculated to give the least pain I give to the Treasurer for the time being of the London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews for the purposes of the said Society three hundred pounds, to the Treasurer for the time being of the Church Missionary Society for the purposes of the said Society one hundred pounds, to the Treasurer for the time being of a Society called the Royal society for the prevention of cruelty to animals established 1824 for the purposes of the said Society one hundred pounds To the Treasurer for the time being of the Bridgwater Hospital or Infirmary for the purposes of the said Hospital one hundred pounds and I charge my personal Estate alone with the payment of the four several before mentioned legacies I give and bequeath to my present Housemaid Elizabeth Bromfield one hundred pounds if she shall continue and be in my service at the time of my decease to be paid to her immediately after my death To the wife of [illegible] a Boatman living at Langport who was formerly an apprentice of my late brother two hundred pounds To Miss Harriet Day now residing with me one hundred pounds To my Cousins War Bradley and Beadon Bradley one hundred and fifty pounds each To my Cousin Mrs Ann [word illegible] now in America two hundred pounds To my Cousins Mary Parsons and Maria Parsons both residing at Sherborne one hundred pounds each To my Cousin the Reverend James Hooper two hundred pounds To my Cousin Mrs Harriet Axford two hundred pounds To my Cousin Charles Parsons one hundred pounds [half a line illegible] daughter of my Cousin Mrs Greenham one hundred pounds To Mrs Greenham herself one hundred pounds To her son Charles one hundred pounds To my Cousin Mrs Ridout one hundred pounds To my Cousin George Edward Hooper two hundred pounds To my friend Mrs Robins wife of Francis Theophilus Robins of Yeovil aforesaid Gentleman one hundred pounds and to Mrs Edward Watts of the same place Land Surveyor one hundred pounds Also I give and bequeath to my Cousin The Reverend John Parsons a legacy of one thousand pounds and I direct that all the several before mentioned legacies except that to Elizabeth Bromfield shall be paid at the expiration of twelve calendar months next after my decease And as to all other my real and Personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever over which I have a power of disposal by gift devise or otherwise however I give devise appoint and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my Cousin Robert Poole of [Loucham?] in the County of Warwick Gentleman his heirs executors administrators and assigns according to the nature and quality thereof respectively and I make and appoint the said Robert Poole and John Parsons joint Executors of this my Will and hereby revoking all former and other wills by me heretofore made I declare this and this only to be my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty second day of September one thousand eight hundred and forty five

Mary Bradley

Signed sealed and declared by the said Mary Bradley the Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us both present at the same time who at her bequest in her presence and in the presence of each other have attested and subscribed the same as witnesses

Fred[eric]k Geare Clerk at Messrs Batten's Bank Yeovil
Edmund Henning Brewer Yeovil

This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament of me Mary Bradley of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Spinster which Will bears date the twenty second day of September one thousand eight hundred and forty five I revoke the legacy of one hundred pounds thereby given and bequeathed to Harriet Day I confirm my said Will in every other respect In testimony whereof I have to this my Codicil to my said Will set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred and forty five

Mary Bradley

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Mary Bradley as and for a Codicil to her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto set our names as witnesses

Tho Lyon Sol[icito]r Yeovil HS Shasicott Clerk to Messrs Newman & Lyon Yeovil

Proved at London with a Codicil 4th Feb 1847 before the Judge by the oath of Robert Poole one of the Executor to whom Adm[inistrati]on was granted having been first sworn by Com[missi]on duly to administer The Reverend John parsons Clerk the other Executor named in the said Will having [renounced?] the Probate and execution thereof (as by Acts of Court appears).

Transcribed by Bob Osborn