This is the last Will and Testament of me Isaac George Manley, Esquire, Admiral of the White, made in manner following, that is to say,
I give unto my Wife, Frances Manley, the use and enjoyment during her life of all my Household Goods and Furniture, Linen, China, Carriages and Horses, and all my live and dead stock, utensils and Implements of Husbandry and other Effects in and about my House at Braziers at the time of my decease, except such part thereof as are of a perishable nature which I give to her absolutely, also the use & enjoyment during her life of all my Ready money and monies at my Bankers in London and Reading, and the use and enjoyment during her life of all my Gold and Silver Plate,
and from and after her decease I give the same and every part thereof (except the Plate) unto my Daughter Anne Jane Pole Salwey ? absolutely, I also give to my said Daughter after the death of her Mother the sum of two thousand two hundred and thirty four pounds standing in our joint names in the three per Cent Consols.. And I give to my said Daughter the Watch usually worn by me with the miniature picture of myself and such of my books of which her Mother has Duplicates, the remainder of my Books I give to my Son, John Shawe Manley, and I also give to my said Daughter the Debenture of the United Service Club House and any half pay that may be due to me at the time of my decease.
All my Gold and Silver Plate after the death of my said Wife, I give equally between my said Son and Daughter.
I give to my Brother, Robert Kendrick Manley, the sum of one hundred pounds. I give one annuity or clear yearly sum of sixty pounds to Elizabeth Lewis during her life, to Richard Carpenter one annuity or clear yearly sum of forty pounds during his life, to Richard Benwell one annuity of clear yearly sum of twenty five pounds during his life and to William Goodchild one annuity or clear yearly sum of twenty five pounds during his life, the said several annuities to commence and be payable at the death of my said Wife, and I give to all the other Servants who may be living with me at the time of my death a years wages and decent mourning.
I give and devise my Warehouse and Cellars, situate in Coopers Row, Crutched Friars in the City of London with the Appurtenances, unto my said Brother Robert Kendrick Manley and his Assigns for and during the term of his natural life, and from and after his decease I give and devise the same unto my said Daughter Anne Frances Pole Salwey and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life, and from and after her decease I give and devise the same unto and to the use of my said Son John Shawe Manley his heirs and assigns for ever.
And I do give and devise and bequeath all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Real and Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto my said Son, John Shawe Manley his Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns, subject to the payment of my debts.
And I appoint my said Wife and Son Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto sat my hand and seal this twenty ninth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six - Isaac George Manley.
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by the said Isaac George Manley the Testator 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 hereto
J J Blandy Attorney Reading Geo. Morton Sam. Hill Kimber Clerks to Mr Blandy.
As Mrs Manley died July 29 1837, I bequeath all the money found in the house at Braziers and at the Bank of Messrs Bainbridges and Newton, 12 St. Pauls Churchyard, London, and in the Bank of Messrs Stephens & Co. Reading, Bankers, and the Bank at Lichfield of Messrs Palmer & Green, equally between my Son & Daughter after debts are paid, Braziers July 31 1837 Isaac Geo. Manley.
Appeared Personally John Jackson Blandy of Reading in the County of Berks. Gentleman, and Samuel Hill Kimber of the same place Gentleman, and made oath that they knew and were well acquainted with Isaac George Manley Esquire, formerly Admiral of the White, but late Admiral of the Red, late of Braziers in the Parish of Checkendon in the County of Oxford, deceased, for several years before and to the time of his death, and also with the manner and character of handwriting and subscription, having often seen him write, and write and subscribe his name, and having now carefully viewed and inspected the writing hereunto annexed upon the last Will and Testament of the said deceased, beginning thus "As Mrs Manley died July 29 1837, I bequeath all the money found in the house at Braziers" and ending thus "equally between my Son & Daughter after debts are paid, Braziers July 31 1837" and thus subscribed "Isaac George Manley" they the deponent further say that they verily and in their consciences believe the whole series and contents of the said writing and the subscription to the same as before mentioned, to be the proper handwriting of the said deceased J.J. Blandy Saml. Hill Kimber On the 26th day of October 1837, the said John Jackson Blandy and Samuel Hill Kimber were duly Sworn to the truth hereof Before me Wm. Crabtree Rector of Checkendon, Oxon.
Proved at London with a Codicil 1st November 1837 before the Judge by the Oath of John Shawe Manley, Esquire, the Son the surviving Executor to whom Admon. was granted having been first Sworn by Commission duly to Administer.
Public Record Office reference no. PROB 11 / 1886
Transcribed by Cliff Thornton, March 2005.