The Family of Robert Caunce Norris: Wills

Ellen Norris

Ellen Norris, first wife of Robert Caunce Norris and daughter of the late Humphrey Miller of Ulnes Walton, died young and did not leave a Will.

Administration of her estate was granted to Robert Norris, miller, of Croston; Thomas Hardiker, shopkeeper, of Croston; and Thomas Smith, bricklayer, of Croston; on 20 November 1778:

'The Administration papers do not state the exact date of Ellen's death, only that she died in November 1776.

Know all Men by these Presents, that we Robert Norris of Croston in the County of Lancaster & Diocese of Chester Miller, Thomas Hardiker of Croston aforesaid Shopkeeper, and Thomas Smith of the same place Bricklayer are holden and firmly bound unto the Right Reverend Father in God Beilby by divine permission, Lord Bishop of Chester in the sum of one hundred and Sixty pounds, of good and lawful money of Great Britain, to be paid unto the said Right Reverend Father, his lawful attorney, executors, administrators, or assigns: To which payment well and truly be made, we bind ourselves, and Each of us, severally, for and in the whole, our heirs, executors, and administrators, and the heirs, executors, and administrators of Each of us, firmly by these Presents. SEALED with our Seals, and dated the Twentieth day of November in the Eighteenth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord George the Third by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the faith, and so forth, and in the year of our Lord God, one thousand seven hundred and seventy Eight.

The Condition of this Obligation is such, that if the above bounden Robert Norris Husband of Ellen, Daughter of Humphrey Miller late of Ulnes Walton Deceased, ADMINISTRATOR of all and singular the goods, chattels, and credits of the said Ellen Norris Daughter of the above said Humphrey Miller late of Ulnes Walton Deceased, do make or cause to be made, a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods, chattles, and credits of the said deceased, which have or shall come to the hands, possession, or knowledge of Him the said Robert Norris or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons for Him and the same, so made, do exhibit or cause to be exhibited intp the Registry of the Consistory Court of Chester at or before the Twentieth day of May next ensusing: And the same goods, chattles, and credits, and all other the goods, chattles, and credits of the said deceased, at the time of Her death, which at any time after shall come to the hands or possession of the said Robert Norris or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons for Him do well and truly administer according to law; and further do make, or cause to be made, a true and just account of His said administration, at or before the Twentieth day of November which shall be in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and Seventy Nine and all the rest and residue of the said goods, chattles, and credits, which shall be found remaining upon the said Administrators account, the same being first examined and allowed of by the judge or judges for the time being of the said court, shall deliver and pay unto such person or persons respectively, as the said judge or judges, by his or their decree or sentence, (pursuant to the true intent and meaning of an act of parliament, made in the two-and-twentieth and three-and-twentieth years of the reign of his late majesty King Charles the second, entitled, An act for the better settling Intestates estates) shall limit and appoint. And if it shall hereafter appear, that any last will and testament was made by the said deceased, and the executor or executors therein named, do exhibit the same into the said court, making request to have it allowed and approved accordingly, if the said Robert Norris above bounden, being thereunto required, do render and deliver the said letters of administration, (approbation of such testament being first had and made in the said court) then this obligation to be voiod and of none effect, or else to remain in full force and virtue.

(signed) Robert Norris (with wax seal)
(signed) Thomas Hardiker (with wax seal)
(signed) Thomas Smith (with wax seal)

Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of (signed) Wm Iön (signed) Ellen Iön

The Twentieth Day of November 1778 Robert Norris within named took the usual Oath of an Administrator in common form
before me, Wm Iön Surrogate

The Intestate Died in November 1776

Admon issued 22nd of same.

Robert Caunce Norris

'In the name of God Amen I Robert Norris of Croston in the County of Lancaster Innkeeper Do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say First I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved Wife Jane all my Household goods and furniture stock in trade and personal Estate whatsoever subject nevertheless to the payment of all my just Debts funeral expences and the charges of the probate hereof and also subject to the payment of the sum of Twenty pounds within the space of Twelve months after my decease to be applied in the manner hereinafter mentioned -

And as to for and concerning all my share or forth part of the Messuage and farm situate in Ulnes Walton in the said County now in the occupation of James Rigby as tenant thereof I give devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof with the appurtenances unto my daughter Nancy otherwise Nanny now Wife of Thomas Rigby her Heirs and assigns forever.

And as to for and concerning all my share or forth part of one other Messuage and farm situate in Ulnes Walton aforesaid known by the name of Ormerods and now in the occupation of Thomas Sumner as tenant thereof I give devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof with the appurtenances unto my said daughter Nancy otherwise Nanny her Heirs and assigns forever

And as to for and concerning all my share and Interest into and from those two cottages or dwelling Houses situate in Euxton in the said County and now in the occupation of Richard Robinson and William Hart as tenants thereof I give and devise the same with the appurtenances unto my said Daughter Nancy otherwise Nanny her Heirs and assigns forever together with all other my Lands Tenements and real estate wheresoever the same may be found.

And as to for and concerning the Twenty pounds to be paid by my Wife Jane out of my personal estate as aforesaid I give and devise the same unto my Executors hereinafter mentioned upon Trust that they will place the same out at Interest and the Interest arising therefrom pay yearly unto my grandson Robert Rigby until he shall attain the age of Twenty one years and upon his attaining the age of Twenty one years upon Trust that they my Executors hereinafter mentioned or the Survivor of them the Executors and administrators of such Survivor will pay unto my said grandson Robert Rigby the principal or said Sum of Twenty pounds together with all Interest that may then happen to be due for the same.

And Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my Kinsman John Norris of Croston aforesaid Farmer and William Cookson of the same place Farrier Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Will or Wills by me at any time heretofore made, and publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament. As Witness my hand and Seal this nineteenth Day of October in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight Hundred and two

X (with wax seal) The Mark and Seal of Robert Norris

Signed Sealed published and declared by the within named Robert Norris as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as Witnesses hereto in the presence of each other and the Testator

(signed) Josiah Dickinson
(signed) Henry Varley
(signed) Hump'y Miller

The 16th Day of November 1813 John Norris of Croston, Farmer, and William Cookson of Longton, Farrier, the Executors in this Will named were sworn in common form, and they further made Oath that the personal Estate & Effects of the Testator within the Diocese of Chester, were under the value of £600, before me, Streyn. Master, Surrogate.

The Testator died August 12th 1813

Probate Issued Dated 16th Nov. 1813'.

Jane Norris

Jane Norris, widow of Robert Caunce Norris and his cousin John Norris, died on 11 February 1843 at the age of 77. She left no Will and there is no record of any administration for her estate.