Will dated 14 June 1809

Bettws Evan

Office Copy

Will of David Davies, Gentⁿ Deceased

Extracted from the Registry of the Consistory Court at Carmarthen

This is the last Will and Testament of me David Davies of Glandules in the parish of Bettws Evan in the County of Cardigan, Gentleman Imprimis I give and devise unto my eldest brother Caesar Davies¹ a Cot Garden and four fields belonging to the same called Ponybank Glandules situate lying and being in the said parish of Bettws together with Park Glanyrafon both side of the River Dules in the several parishes of Penbryn and Bettws and the orchard and gardens within the said field with the rent issue and profit thereof To have and to hold the said Cot Gardens and fields unto the said Caesar Davies for and during his natural life immediately after my decease and after my beloved wife’s decease I also give and devise unto my said brother Caesar Davies all those my freehold estates lands tenements hereditaments premises called Glandules situate lying and being in the said several parishes of Penbryn and Bettws with the rents issues and profits of all and singular the said premises unto him the said Caesar Davies² for and during his natural life and after his decease then to the use and behoof of my nephew Caesar Davies (the only son of my said brother Caesar Davies) for and during his natural life and after his decease then to remain to the first second third fourth and all and every other son or sons of the body of my said nephew Caesar Davies lawfully begotten or to be begotten severally and successively one after another as they and every of them shall be in seniority of age and priority of birth the elder of such son or sons and their heirs of his body legally issuing to be always preferred and to take before the younger of such sons and the heirs of his body and for default of such issue I give and devise the same unto my brother Walter Davies³ for and during his natural life in case he should survive and after his decease unto my brother Philip Davies⁴ for and during his natural life and after his decease I give and devise the same unto my nephew Evan John⁵ (the only son of my sister Esther) for and during his natural life and after his decease I give and devise the same unto my nieces Hannah and Mary John⁶ (daughters of my sister Esther) and their heirs lawfully issuing to be held by them as Co partners and for want of all such issue I give and devise the same unto my own right Heirs for ever  Also I give and devise unto my said brother Walter Davies his choice of one of the three cottages on Ponybank aforesaid together with a statute acre of garden annexed to it for and during his natural life immediately after my decease, likewise I give him the small hanging press and the interest of one hundred pounds of lawful British money yearly and every year during his natural life which sum of one hundred pounds is to be laid out at interest for that purpose by my Executrix hereafter named immediately after my decease and after my brother Walter’s decease the said sum of one hundred pounds is to be equally divided between my nephews and nieces  I give and devise unto my brother Philip Davies one of the three cottages on Ponybank aforesaid together with a statute acre of garden thereunto appertaining for and during his natural life immediately after my decease  I give him likewise the interest of one hundred pounds yearly and every year during his natural life and should my said brother Philip happen to die before his present wife then and in such a case I give and bequeath unto his wife the sum of Ten pounds immediately after his decease which sum of ten pounds is to be paid her out of the one hundred pounds which I will to be laid out at interest by my Executrix hereafter named for that intent and purpose immediately after my decease and the remaining ninety pounds (or the hundred pounds in case my brother Philip will survive his wife) I give and devise the same unto my beloved wife after his decease which she may dispose of to whom she may think proper in her last Will and Testament I give and bequeath unto my niece Maria Davies daughter of my brother Walter the sum of ten pounds immediately after my decease I give and bequeath unto my niece Mary Davies another daughter of my brother Walter the like sum of ten pounds immediately after my decease I give and bequeath unto my nephew Evan John (son of my sister Esther) the sum of ten pounds immediately after my decease I give and bequeath unto my niece Hannah John (daughter of my said sister Esther) the like sum of ten pounds immediately after my decease I give and bequeath unto my niece Mary John (another daughter of my sister Esther) the like sum of ten pounds immediately after my decease I give and bequeath unto my niece Elizabeth Davies⁷ daughter of my brother John the sum of ten pounds immediately after my decease I give and bequeath unto Maria Davies daughter of the late Reverend Daniel Davies of Ponybank deceased the sum of ten pounds immediately after my decease I give and bequeath unto Mary Davies daughter of Joshua Davies of Blaenbarre the sum of ten pounds immediately after my decease I give and bequeath unto my nephew Caesar Davies the sum of ten pounds immediately after my decease I also charge my said estate of Glandules with the sum of two hundred pounds which sum of two hundred pounds I give and bequeath unto my nephew Evan John and my nieces above named immediately after my brother Caesar Davies’ decease and my wife’s decease share and share alike, should my said nephew Evan John or any of my nieces above mentioned happen to die before he she or they will receive the above specified legacies then and in such a case the legacies bequeathed to be equally divided amongst so many of them as shall be then alive All the rest residue and remainder I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Davies together with the lands hereditaments and premises secured to her by a deed during her natural life and my will is that she will not fall or sell any Timber growing or may grow on Glandules except what will be necessary towards the repairs of the farm houses I also nominate and appoint my beloved wife Executrix of this my last Will and Testament to recover all dues and demands and to pay off all debts especially the legacies above mentioned hereby revoking all Wills by me heretofore made Lastly I nominate and appoint my friends Mr Joshua Davies of Blaenbarre and Mr Benjamin Davies of Glascoed Executors in Trust of this my last Will and Testament to see the same performed according to my true intent and meaning  In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nine

Signed                    David Davies

Signed sealed and delivered by the above named Testator as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names  as witnesses thereto

Signed                    John James

                             James Thomas

                             Davies James Clk

Proved on the fourth day of March 1811 Before the Reverend Thomas Griffith Clerk Surrogate on the oath of Elizabeth Davies of the parish of Bettws Evan in the County of Cardigan widow the Executrix therein named to whom Administration was granted

Effects Sworn under £300

Register Office, Carmarthen 17 March 1839

Valentine Davis, N.P. Dy Registrar

On the back of the document are some further notes:-

Cottage and Garden and 4 fields given

Caesar Davies – who held it during his life and after his death – his son Caesar Davies held the same premises during the life time of the widow of D^d Davis the Testator for one year – the Son Caesar was in possession – Caesar Davies the Nephew was in possession of the above premises and also of the other premises for upwards of 20 years

The eldest Brother of the Testator was Josiah Davies he died before the former came into possession of the property, his next brother was John Davies he married and had issue a daughter who also married and had issue – The next brother was Caesar.

Caesar the Nephew died unmarried and he was the only child of Caesar Davies

Footnotes:

1. Note in Margin – Then eldest John having died in 1788
2. Note in Margin – 1^st to Caesar his brother for life who took and held … 1818 2^nd to Caesar his nephew for life who took and held ….1838 (Further notes at this point illegible)
3. 3^rd to brother Walter for life never took
4. 4^th to brother Philip never took
5. 6 to Evan John for life who took in 1838 and purchased …. In 1839
6. 7 to Hannah and Mary in tail (further notes illegible)
7. Note in Margin – Now Mrs Stevens