Transcription of Will (Transcribed by Tina Kelly 2020)

I, James Cowmeadow of the Victoria Hotel at Cinderford in the Parish or Township of East Dean in the County of Gloucester do this Thirty first day of December One thousand eight hundred and forty three make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following 

First I give and bequeath unto my Son John Cowmeadow all any right title and interest of and in the Boiler making of one third share with my two Sons, William Cowmeadow and James Cowmeadow, and as to the Machinery Working Tools to which wholy belongs to me I give and bequeath to my said Sons, William, James and John Cowmeadow in equal proportions share and share alike. 

Second I desire to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named. 

Thirdly I give and devise unto my dearly beloved Wife Elizabeth Cowmeadow all that my Freehold House, Garden, Land and premises called the Victoria Hotel and wherein I now reside, and also all that my piece or parcel of Land now in my own occupation situate at Cinderford near thereto. Also my House and Land Blacksmiths Shop Hereditaments and premises called or known by the name of the Meen Patch situated at Drybrook in the said Parish or Township of East Dean. Also all that my Freehold House, Garden and two Orchards situate lying and being in the Parish of Walford in the County of Hereford and called or known by the name of Pewstey. Also all and every my Collieries and Coal and Iron Mines, Stone Quarries, Steam Engines, Tramplates with their and every of their appurtenances whereof I am seized in fee or that I may die possessed of or entitled to situated in Her Majestys Forest of Dean in the County of Gloucester to have and to hold the said Freehold Houses, lands, Coal and Iron Mines, Stone Quarries, Engines, Tramplates, tenements, Hereditaments and premises with their and every of their appurtenances situate as aforesaid to have and to hold unto her the said Elizabeth Cowmeadow her heirs Executors Administrators and assigns absolutely for ever but subject nevertheless to the proviso’s herein after contained.

Fourthly I give and bequeath all my Household Furniture, Money, securities for Money, debts, rights, credits, wearing apparel, Plate, Linen, China, Glass, Books, Pictures, Live and dead Stock and all other moveable chattels that I may die possessed of or entitled to in or about the premises wherein I reside or wheresoever else the same may be found to have and to hold unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Cowmeadow her heirs Executors administrators and assigns absolutely for ever, but subject nevertheless to the proviso’s hereinafter contained. 

Fifthly And as to all the rest residue and remainder of my Real or personal estate and effects, whatsoever or wheresoever I give devise and bequeath the same unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Cowmeadow her heirs executors administrators and assigns absolutely for ever.

Sixthly And it is hereby expressly provided and I do order and direct my Executrix hereinafter named to pay and discharge all my just debts, Funeral and Testamentary expenses and the expenses of proving this my Will, with all convenient speed not exceeding three years from the day of my decease.

Seventhly And it is expressly provided in case my said Wife should Die intestate and in the enjoyment or possessed of or entitled to any of the property contained in this my Will, or derived therefrom either real or personal I do hereby give devise and bequeath the same unto and among the whole of my children by my said Wife Viz. William, James, Mary Ann, John and Elizabeth Cowmeadow or the survivor or survivors of them in equal proportions share and share alike as tenants in common and not as joint tenants their heirs executors administrators and assigns for ever.

Lastly. and I do hereby constitute and appoint my said Wife Elizabeth Cowmeadow sole Executrix of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all wills and testaments by me at any time heretofore made In witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament set my hand the day and year first above written.

 James Cowmeadow

Signed and declared by the within names James Cowmeadow as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time, who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses

?

John Edward

? Edward

21st December 1844

Appeared personally Elizabeth Cowmeadow of Cinderford in the Township of East Dean in the County of Gloucester Widow and alleged upon oath that this paper writing contains the true original last Will and Testament of James Cowmeadow late of Cinderford aforesaid deceased who died on the 20th day of January 1844 leaving goods chattels and credits wholly within the Diocese of Gloucester and Bristol under the value of One Hundred pounds That she is the sole Executirx therein named That she will and faithfully perform the same and render an inventory and account.