The Life of Thomas Norris: Wills

Thomas Norris Esq., of Howick House, near Penwortham, formerly of Redvales, Bury, appointed Oliver Omerod Walker of Bury, cotton manufacturer; Thomas Openshaw of Pimsol, Bury, wool manufacturer; John Hutchinson of Bury, cotton spinner; and his nephew Thomas Norris of Howick House, the executors and trustees of his estate, with the following legacies:
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£1500.00		To the Trustees of the Poor Cloth of Croston to invest and use the proceeds to buy cloth for the poor of Croston each Christmas.
£500.00		To the Dispensary at Bury, Lancashire.
£1500.00		Invested for his niece Nanny, wife of James Dobson, and daughter of his late brother John.
£1500.00		Invested for his niece Margaret, wife of George Swarbrick, and daughter of his late brother John.
£1000.00		Invested for the children of his late niece Jane Iddon.
£8000.00		To his nephew Hugh Norris, son of his late brother John Norris.
£250.00		To his nephew Robert Norris, son of his late brother John Norris.
£7000.00		Each to Joseph and Samuel Molyneux, the grandsons of his late half-brother James Molyneux.
£60.00		To his friend Moses Holden of Preston.
£100.00		To his servant Ann Brierly if she is still living with him at the time of his death.
£50.00		Annuity to his servant Alice Turner, paid in half yearly payments.
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The "Mill House End" estate in Croston, "Grayson's Tenement" in Croston including "Swiscoe", "The Well Acre", "The Meer Acre", "The Scite and Garden" and "The Barn and Garden" in Croston; and "Eccleston Fields" and "Cowriding" in Eccleston; to Hugh Norris, son of his late brother John Norris, absolutely and forever. His half part of the Manor or Lordship of Croston, all lands purchased from the Reverend Mr. Master's trustees, lands in Croston purchased from Mr. Riddell, lands in Croston purchased from Mr. Mckie; lands, messuages or dwelling houses, buildings, etc., in Croston purchased from the Misses Nihill; land, buildings and hereditaments in Croston purchased or contracted to purchase from Mr. Kershaw; to hold in trust for his nephew Thomas Norris "who now resides with me" for and during the term of his natural life, then to his heirs and assigns. If his nephew Thomas died without lawful issue, the above mentioned lands would pass to the use of his brother Hugh Norris and likewise his brother Robert Norris. All household goods and furniture, plate, linen, china, beds, bedding, all residue of monies and securities for money, and all other personal effects and estate whatsoever and wheresoever, (except books, pictures, paintings, busts, cabinets, and other articles of taste and virtue) to Thomas Norris, his executors, administrators, and assigns, absolutely and forever. All other real estate, lands, tenements, and hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever not hereinbefore specifically assigned "including the mansion house, lands and premises where I reside" to Thomas Norris, absolutely and forever. All estate was to be catalogued, in two copies, signed by the executors and by the person(s) entitled to the various estates. The Will was signed by Thomas Norris on 18 January 1850 and witnessed by Joseph Walker of Preston, and Robert Worthington of Howick. CODICIL: The next day, 19 January 1850, Thomas Norris added a codicil to his Will, with the only major change being that all lands left to his nephew Thomas Norris (the younger) would be left to him absolutely and forever. The estate of Thomas Norris, formerly of Redvales in Bury, Lancashire, but late of Howick House in the same county, esquire, was proved to Oliver Omerod Walker, Thomas Openshaw, John Hutchinson, and Thomas Norris, his nephew, executors, on 10 May 1852 at York. Sworn under £45,000.00 (about £2,500,000 today)

NOTE:
1:	The above information is taken from a copy of the original Will held at the Lancashire Record Office under reference DDLa 1/16.