FAMILY HISTORY: MORTON
THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM & DOROTHY WEIGHTS
INFORMATION FROM WILLS:
| William Weights |
| William Weights, of Garstang, Coach Proprietor, appointed his son James Weights and Thomas Noble
of Garstang, his executors. In a long and rather complicated Will, he gave his "dear wife Dorothy" all household goods and furniture for her natural life or "chaste widowhood". He directed that his executors hold all mortgages, bonds, securities, etc., and pay the interest to Dorothy for her support and for the support and education of their children until the youngest child turned 14 years old - provided his wife remained chaste and unmarried. After his youngest child turned 14 the principal estate was to be re-invested with an annuity of £20.00 paid to his wife during her chaste widowhood in half yearly installments. His daughter (by his first wife) Susannah Weights was to receive £100.00, then the residue of the estate was to be divided between their living children aged 21 or older. Any amount due to a child under the age of 21 years was to be invested and used for their education and upbringing. If a child died before receiving his or her share and had lawful issue (i.e. legitimate children), their share would be divided between those issue. If the deceased child had no lawful issue their share of the estate was to be divided between the others of his children, "by my present wife". If Dorothy remarried she would receive no further benefit from his Will and her share of his estate would be divided between his children living at the time of her re-marriage. The Will was signed and sealed by William Weights on 15 April 1818, and witnessed by Jane Noble and Grace Noble. William Weights died on 8 July 1821, aged 63 years. William's son James Weights died on 27 June 1824, and Thomas Noble renounced his executorship of the estate on 15 October 1830. Administration of the estate then passed to his widow Dorothy - but she died on 15 March 1853 before having the estate properly wound up. Administration was finally granted to his daughter Dorothy Weights, spinster, "one of the natural and lawful children" on 20 March 1869. William's daughter Dorothy Weights signed the probate papers along with her brother Joseph Weights of Preston, bookkeeper, and John Turner of Preston, Gentleman. When proved on 14 January 1822 the estate was valued at under £1500. An Administration document dated 15 October 1830 valued the estate at under £800.00 and in 1869 the estate was valued at under £450.00 with no leaseholds. |
| NOTE: | The papers relating to William's estate are confusing in many respects. One area of confusion is the date of his death. One document records the date of death as 8 June 1821, the Administration document from 15 October 1830 gives the date as 18 July 1821, but the most likely date is given in papers dated 14 January 1822 - when the date of death is recorded as 8 July 1821. William was buried on 11 July 1821. |