The Life of Hugh Norris: Information from Wills

Hugh Norris

This is the last Will and Testament of me Hugh Norris of Southport in the County of Lancaster, yeoman, made this ninth day of January in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven.

First I direct my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid by my Executors hereinafter named as soon as conveniently may be after my death.

I bequeath to John Norris of Croston in the said County of Lancaster, son of Thomas Norris the elder of Croston aforesaid the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds.

I bequeath to Thomas Norris the younger, the son of the said Thomas Norris the elder the like sum of two hundred and fifty pounds. And I also give and devise unto to the use of the said Thomas Norris the younger, his heirs and assigns the annual chief rent of seven shillings and six pence arising from and chargeable on the (horse?) stone house situate and being in the township of Eccleston in the said County of Lancaster.

I bequeath to Jane, Wife of William Chadwick of Croston aforesaid, Miller, the sum of three hundred pounds and direct my Executors hereinafter named to pay the sum into the proper hands of the said Jane Chadwick and her assigns for her sole and separate use and benefit and not subject to any husbands debts, control, contracts or engagements.

To Ellen Bramwell, daughter of my late sister Jane Iddon, I give and bequeath the sum of four hundred pounds and I direct the same to be paid into the proper hands of the said Ellen Bramwell and her assigns for her sole and separate use and benefit and not subject to any husbands control, contracts or engagements.

I bequeath unto Ellen Norris, daughter of my nephew the said Thomas Norris the elder, the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds and I direct the same to be paid into the proper hands of the said Ellen Norris and her assigns for her sole and separate use and benefit and not subject to any husbands debts, control, contracts or engagements.

I give and bequeath unto Henry Norris, Thomas Norris, and Hugh Norris, natural sons of my sister Ann Dobson, each the sum of four hundred pounds.

I also give and Bequeath to Richard Cottam, son of my said sister Ann Dobson, the like sum of four hundred pounds.

I give and bequeath unto each of the four children of my sister Margaret Swarbrick, namely William Swarbrick, John Swarbrick, Elizabeth Hull, and Mary Hayes, the sum of four hundred pounds.

I give and bequeath onto each of the four daughters of the late James Norris, natural son of my said sister Margaret Swarbrick, namely Jane Norris, Catherine Norris, Margaret Norris, and Elizabeth Norris, the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds and direct the same to be paid into the proper hands of the said Jane, Catherine, Margaret and Elizabeth Norris and their assigns and for their sole and separate use and benefit and not to be subject to their husbands debts, control, contracts or engagements.

I give and bequeath unto John Cottam, natural son of a deceased daughter of my sister Ann Dobson and his assigns the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds.

I give and bequeath unto the trustees of the Croston Poor Cloth Charity for the time being the sum of five hundred pounds upon trust to invest the same as they the said trustees may deem most advantageous and employ the interest or dividends arising from such an investment in purchasing woolen cloth for the purpose of clothing such of the deserving poor resident in the township of Croston aforesaid as they the said trustees may select.

I also give and bequeath to each of my Executors hereinafter named free from legacy duty the sum of twenty pounds.

I give, bequeath and devise unto my brother Thomas Norris of Howick house in the parish of Penwortham and County of Lancaster, Gentleman, The Reverend Lawrence Preston of Longton in the said County, Clerk, and my friend William Roper Wright of Croston aforesaid, schoolmaster, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, all and every the messuages, lands, tenements, and hereditaments and all the real Estate whatsoever and wheresoever of or to which I am seized or entitled and not already hereinbefore otherwise devised, To hold the same unto and to the use of the said Thomas Norris, Lawrence Preston and William Roper Wright, their heirs and assigns upon trust - as to all that my newly erected Mansion or dwelling house in Croston aforesaid with the pleasure grounds, outbuildings, orchards, croft and the appurtenances thereinto belonging and now in the occupation of William Ogle and also the farm house known by the name of the Mill House End together with the gardens, barn, shippons, stable, and other outbuildings occupied therewith and also all the land, plantations and cottage belonging the same situate and being in the township of Croston aforesaid and Eccleston in the said County of Lancaster and now in the occupation of James Silcock, upon trust for John Norris of Croston aforesaid in the County of Lancaster, son of the said Thomas Norris the elder and his heirs and assigns forever.

And as, to, for and concerning all that my messuage or dwelling house situate and being in Croston aforesaid together with the croft garden and closes of land known by the several names of Niche Acre, Great Sarscough, and Well Acre occupied therewith and now in the occupation of David Iddon, upon trust for the said Thomas Norris the younger, son of the said Thomas Norris the elder of Croston aforesaid, and his heirs and assigns for ever.

And also as, to, for and concerning all those my two freehold houses with their appurtenances situate and being in London Street, Southport and numbered respectively forty and forty two and now in the occupation of Ann Bowker and Jane Ray upon trust for the said Ellen Bramwell, daughter of my late sister Jane, her heirs and assigns for ever.

And as to all the real residue and remainder of my estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever both real and personal I give, bequeath and devise the same unto and equally among the several parties before named as recipients of specific legacies under this my will, namely:

John Norris, son of Thomas Norris the elder,
Thomas Norris the younger, son of the said Thomas Norris the elder,
Jane, wife of William Chadwick of Croston, Miller,
Ellen Bramwell, daughter of my late sister Jane Iddon,
Ellen Norris, daughter of my nephew the said Thomas Norris the elder,
Henry Norris, Thomas Norris and Hugh Norris, natural sons of my sister Ann Dobson,
Richard Cottam, son of my said sister Ann Dobson,
William Swarbrick, John Swarbrick, Elizabeth Hull, Mary Hayes, children of my sister Margaret Swarbrick,
Jane Norris, Catherine Norris, Margaret Norris, and Elizabeth Norris, daughters of the late James Norris, natural son of my sister Margaret Swarbrick, and
John Cottam, natural son of a deceased daughter of my sister Ann Dobson,

To hold the same as tenants in common and not as joints tenants. I further direct that each person's share of the said residue shall be subject to the same restrictions and be considered as if it had formed part of the specific legacies already bequeathed. And I declare that if any legatee or legatees herein before named shall died before me leaving such children, such children shall together and as tenants in common stand in the place and be entitled to the legacy or legacies or other interest hereinbefore given to such legatee or legatees so dying before me.

I devise and bequeath all the estates which at my decease shall be vested in me upon any trust by way of (working?) unto and to the use of my said brother Thomas Norris, Lawrence Preston, William Roper Wright, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns respectively subject to the trusts and equities affecting the same respectively. And I appoint my said brother Thomas Norris, Lawrence Preston, and William Roper Wright Executors of this my Will and authorise the acting Executors or Executor for the time being of this my Will to satisfy any debts claimed to be owing by me or my estate and any liabilities to which I or my estate may be alleged to be subject upon any evidence they shall think proper and to accept any compensation or security for any debt and to after such time for payment either with or without taking security as to the acting Executors or Executor shall seem fit and also to compromise or submit to arbitration and settle all accounts and matters belonging or relating to my estate and generally hold in regard thereto as they or he shall deem expedient without being responsible for any loss thereby occasioned. And I declare that the receipts of my said trustees or trustee for the time being for any money payable to them or him under this my Will shall effectively discharge the person or persons to whom the same shall be respectively given from being obliged to see to the application or from being obliged to answer for the nonapplication or misapplication of the money therein respectively mentioned to be received. And I further declare that my said trustees or any of them or any trustees or trustee to be appointed under this provision shall die or become unwilling or unable to act as trustees or trustee of my Will it shall be lawful for the trustees or trustee for the time being whether continuing or declining to act or if none, for the Executors or administrators of my deceased trustee to appoint any fit person or persons to be a trustee or trustees in the place of any trustee or trustees so dying or becoming unwilling or unable to act, And I declare that the trustees or trustee for the time being of this my Will shall be competent to exercise all of the powers, authorities and directions hereby confided to the trustees herein named, And I lastly declare that my several trustees and every of them and their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns of them and every of them shall be charged and chargeable respectively for such money only as they respectively shall actually receive by virtue of the trusts hereby in them reposed notwithstanding their or any of them giving or signing or joining in giving or signing any receipt or receipts for the sake of conformity and any one or more of them shall not be answerable or accountable for the other or others of them nor for any Banks or other person with whom the said trust moneys or any part thereof may be deposited or lodged for safe custody nor for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security or securities in which any of the trust money may be invested under any of the trusts or powers herein before contained nor for any other involuntary loss and also that they may with and out of the monies which shall come to their respective hands by virtue of the trusts aforesaid retain to and reimburse themselves respectively and also allow to their co-trustees all damages, charges and expenses which they or any of them may sustain, disburse or be unto in the execution of the aforesaid trusts or in relation thereto.

In Witness whereof I the said Hugh Norris have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of January in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven -

Hugh Norris

Signed by the said Hugh Norris the testator as his last Will and testament in the presence of us being present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other subscribe our names as witnesses which Will is written upon two sheets of paper -

Isaac Beswick of Southport, Lancashire -

Lawrence Preston junior of Whalley, Lancashire.

Proved at Liverpool the 9th December 1868 by the oaths of Thomas Norris the brother, The Reverend Lawrence Preston, Clerk, and William Roper Wright, the Executors to whom administration was granted.

The testator Hugh Norris was late of Southport in the County of Lancaster, yeoman, and died on the 23rd October 1868 at Southport aforesaid.

Under £9000. Pilkington and Walker Solicitors, Preston.

On the 9th day of December 1868 the Will of Hugh Norris, late of Southport in the County of Lancaster, Yeoman, deceased, who died on the 23rd day of October 1868 at Southport aforesaid, was proved in the District Registry attached to Her Majesty's Court of Probate at Liverpool by the Oaths of Thomas Norris of Howick House in the Parish of Penwortham in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman, the Brother, The Reverend Lawrence Preston of Longton in the said County, Clerk, and William Roper Wright of Croston in the said County, Schoolmaster, the Executors therein named they having been first sworn duly to administer.

Effects under £9000 Including Leaseholds.

Extracted by Pilkington and Walker, Solicitors, Preston.

Resworn at the Stamp Office under £12000 March 1874.

NOTES:
1:	A total of £5900.00 left to his nieces, nephews, and other family members, plus the £500.00 left to charity and the £60 left to the Executors.
2:	A grand total of cash legacies: £6,460.00, about £315,000 today.
3:	The above information is taken the original Will held at the Lancashire Record Office.