This is the last Will and Testament of me Harriet Langford Shier of Bradpole in the County of Dorset, Spinster.
Whereas my Nephew and Executor hereinafter named John Shepherd of Askerswell in the same County is indebted to me on his Bond in the sum of One Hundred and Seventy pounds. Now I give and bequeath to him thereout the sum of One Hundred pounds and the further sum of Ten pounds for his trouble in the carrying out of the trusts of this my Will and the sum of Sixty pounds for funeral and testamentary expenses.
And whereas I am possessed of the sum of Two Hundred pounds in the three percent consols or other Government Stock I give and bequeath thereout to John Shier Knight, Son of my Nephew Edward Sackville Knight, the sum of Nineteen pounds and nineteen shillings sterling.
I give and bequeath thereout unto my servant Maria Salisbury the sum of Forty five pounds sterling to and for her own use and benefit, free of legacy duty, which I request may be paid out of the said Two Hundred Pounds Stock or the produce thereof.
And as I wish the last named legacy and all my just debts and financial expenses to be paid and discharged within one month of my decease. I request my Executor to advance, if requisite, a sum of money necessary for the purpose to the credit of my estate until he can thereout repay himself.
And as to the residue of the said Two Hundred Pounds Stock I give and bequeath the same unto my niece Frances Elizabeth Kerslake, the Wife of Mr Alfred Kerslake, to and for her own use and benefit free and independent of the control debts or engagements of her present or any future husband.
And I direct that the legacies hereinbefore by me bequeathed shall be paid by my Executor as soon as conveniently may be after my decease except that to Maria Salisbury as aforfesaid.
And as to all the rest residue and remainder of my estate and effects both real and personal I give, devise and bequeath the same unto the said John Shepherd his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns absolutely. I give, devise, nominate and appoint unto the said John Shepherd all mortgage and trust estates in me vested. To hold the same unto the said John Shepherd, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns according to the nature and quality of the same respectively and upon the trusts affecting the equities thereof.
And I do hereby declare that the receipt or receipts of my Executor shall be a good and effectual discharge to mortgagees and all other persons paying him any monies under the trusts of this my Will and shall exonerate such mortgagees and all other persons from seeing to the application of such monies.
I direct that George Chard of Bradpole aforesaid do make an Elm shell and Oak Coffin for my remains and I desire to be buried at Loders in the said County in the same tomb as my parents and sisters remains are laid and in the same manner as my deceased Sister Elizabeth was.
And I appoint the said John Shepherd Executor of this Will hereby revoking all former Wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of December One thousand eight hundred and sixty eight
Harriet Langford Shier
Signed published and declared by the said Harriet Langford Shier the Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at her request in her presence and all in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses
Emma Green
Edwin Slade
I Harriet Langford Shier do further declare in this my Codicil to my last Will and Testament executed and bearing date the thirtieth day of December One thousand eight hundred and sixty eight That my Household Goods, Wearing Apparel, Jewellery and Pictures shall be disposed of as follows:
I give to Matthew Knight the pair of Drawers in my Bedroom having received them from him.
I give to my nephew Benjeman the pair of Pictures in the Parlour of Netherbury Church and Melplaish Church.
I give to my niece Mrs Agnes Denziloe my Gold chain and Eye Glass and a Mourning Ring I had for my late Aunt Webber and also all my best Wearing Apparel for her acceptance and disposal for my niece Harriet Jane Knight, who resides with her, which I devise my nieces Mrs Fanny Kerslake and Mrs John Shepherd or either of them will kindly see packed in boxes and sent to Jersey.
I give to me niece Mrs Fanny Kerslake the Mourning Broach I had for my dear parents and also I give her my Gold Spectacles and a pair of my best silver Table Spoons and a pair of Desert Spoons and also six Teaspoons marked H.L.S. and also my Writing Desk and all it contains with my Work box and the Mahogany stand on which it is placed in the parlour
I give, as a remembrance, to my niece Mrs Emily Robertson the Gold mourning Broach I had for my late Godson John Crode also my Gold Bracelets and some white and red coral beads.
I give to my niece Mrs Fanny ???[Caines?], as a remembrance, a pair of Glass Candlesticks and a Work box, which was her late Aunt Shiers, in the bedroom.
I give to my niece Mrs Sarah Roper, if living at my decease, my four post Bedstead and ???[Divinity?] Furniture as she kindly gave me the fringe to trim it also the Bed, Bolster and Pillows.
I give to my Sister Shepherd the large silver watch for her life and then to be her Grandsons John Shepherd.
I give to Annie Risdon, eldest daughter of my niece Mrs Risdon, the Drawing of Melplaish Church in my best bedroom.
I give to Sarah Shier Risdon the Drawing of the Armorial name of Shier in the parlour and a garnet ring also a Picture in the parlour of Osborne House given me by her Aunt Denziloe.
I give to John Shier Knight my small watch, it having been his Great Grandfather Shiers.
I give and bequeath all my common Wearing Apparel to my old servant Maria Salisbury including my black cloth Cloak with a cape attached to it also my Silver Spectacles as they suit her sight. Also I give her the feather bed, bolster and pillow belonging to my second Bedroom and also the bedstead in her own sleeping room with all the bed linen blankets and quilt belonging thereto also the Glass and chair in her room and also all the chairs and tables in the Kitchen with Tea Kettle Saucepans and ??? Jar and the odd Silver Table Spoon for her Broth with the six common tea spoons mark S and common tea and dinner ware for her use with a few knives and forks as my Trust and Executor will see fit with a new suit of respectable mourning as Mrs J Shepherd approves.
And all the rest and residue of my effects and goods I give to my nephew and niece Mr and Mrs John Shepherd with my Books for their acceptance or kindly distributing them according to their wishes both of whom I hope will see accomplished.
If I have forgotten or overlooked any of my relatives or friends I hope they will not attribute it to any unkind feeling on my side in making this Codicil to my last Will and Testament. In witness hereof I here unto subscribe my name this thirtieth day of December One thousand eight hundred and sixty eight.
Harriet Langford Shier
Signed by the said Harriet Langford Shier and acknowledged by her as a Codicil to her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at her request and in her presence and all in the presence of each other subscribe our names
Emma Green
Edwin Slade
??? indicates a word that couldn't be deciphered, sometimes followed by a "best guess" enclosed in square brackets.
Punctuation, some capitalisation and line-breaks have been added as part of the transcription in an attempt to make the document easier to read.
