Nat Gould

Will of Nathaniel Gould 1756-1820

[Note: The provisions of this Will are summarised in Summary of the Provisions of the Will of Nathaniel Gould 1818.]

This is the last Will and Testament of me Nathaniel Gould of the Crescent in Salford near Manchester in the County of Lancaster Esquire made and published as follows (that is to say) First I do hereby revoke and make void all former wills by me at any time or times heretofore made and declare this to be my last will and testament and I do direct and order that all my just debts funeral expenses and the charges of the probate of this my will be paid out of my personal estate as soon as conveniently may be after my decease and I give and bequeath the following legacies (that is to say) To my brother George Gould of Retford in the County of Nottingham the sum of three thousand pounds To my sister Lydia Lucas now or late of Bolsover near Sheffield in the County of York the sum of one thousand pounds To my late my dear wifes Sister Alice the wife of Mr George Lander of Birmingham the sum of one thousand pounds To my niece Ann Gould of Ardwick the sum of five hundred pounds To my brother John Gould the sum of one hundred pounds To my Cousin Ellen Gould now or late of Uttoxeter the sum of three hundred pounds To my good Friend James Royds and my nephews Joseph Gould and Richard Gould (my Executors hereinafter named) the sum of three hundred pounds each and To my servant John Keeton the sum of one hundred pounds if he be in my service at the time of my decease To the other male and Female house servants who may be in my service at the time of [[my] decease the sum of twenty pounds each and to the Gardener I may then happen to have the sum of twenty pounds And I give and bequeath to the several Treasurers of the Institutions or Establishments hereinafter mentioned the several sums next hereinafter specified which are to be wholly raised and paid from and out of my personal estate and not from my real estate or any part thereof (that is to say) To the Treasurer for the time being of a certain Society called or known by the name of the trustees of the Public Infirmary Dispensary Lunatic Hospital and Asylum in Manchester the sum of two hundred pounds To the Treasurer for the time being of a certain other Institution in Manchester called or known by the name of the House of Recovery the sum of two hundred pounds To the Treasurer for the time being of a certain Institution in Salford aforesaid called or known by the name of the Lying in Hospital the sum of two hundred pounds To the Treasurer for the time being of a certain other Institution in Manchester called or known by the name of the Ladies or Jubilee Charity formed for the education of Females as house servants the sum of two hundred pounds To the Treasurer for the time being of a certain other Institution in Manchester called or known by the name of the Lancasterian School the sum of one hundred pounds To the Treasurer for the time being of the Sunday Schools in Manchester and Salford under the Established Church of England the sum of five hundred pounds To the Treasurer for the time being of a certain Institution in Manchester and Salford intended as an auxiliary Society for educating the Children of the Poor the sum of five hundred pounds To the Treasurer for the time being of a certain Institution in Manchester called or known by the name of the Auxiliary Bible Society the sum of five hundred pounds To the Treasurer for the time being of a certain Society in London formed for the promotion of Christian Knowledge and which Society first met in or about the latter end of the year one thousand six hundred and ninety eight the sum of five hundred pounds To the Treasurer for the time being of a certain Institution in London called the London Bible Society the sum of five hundred pounds To the Treasurer for the time being of a certain Institution in London called or known by the name of the National Society for the Education of the Children of the Poor five hundred pounds To the Treasurer for the time being of a certain institution in London for the relief of poor pious Clergymen residing in the Country the sum of one hundred pounds And I do request and direct that the said several legacies so by me given to the said several Treasurers as aforesaid be applied by them as respectively to and for the benefit of the said several Institutions for which they are such Treasurers respectively And I give and bequeath unto John Cross Thomas Drinkwater Thomas Hardman and Samuel Phillips Esquires trustees of certain Funds subscribed for the benefit of the Children of the late Colonel Young (who died at Manchester some years ago) the sum of three hundred pounds from and out of my personal estate Upon such trusts and for intents and Purposes in favor [sic] of the said Children as they the said trustees are directed to apply the said funds so subscribed as aforesaid and I do direct all the foregoing legacies to be paid within twelve calendar months next after my decease and I give and bequeath unto the Reverend Robert Twedell of Manchester aforesaid Clerk and my Friends Thomas O’Gill of Salford aforesaid Esquire Nathaniel Shelmerdine of Salford aforesaid Esquire and William Simmons of Manchester aforesaid Esquire the sum of five thousand pounds upon trust that they and the said Robert Twedell Thomas O’Gill Nathaniel Shelmerdine and William Simmons or the survivors or survivor of them or the executors administrators or assigns of such survivor do and shall with all convenient dispatch lay out and expend the same (or so much thereof as may be found necessary for that purpose) in and towards procuring a legislative enactment to prevent the introduction and employment of Children under nine years of age in any Cotton Mills or factories within the United Kingdom and to prescribe bounds to the time of daily labour in the said Factories for all Children employed therein who may be under sixteen years of age and for the purposes aforesaid to retain and employ some eminent Counsel to advocate this cause of humanity in the two Houses of Parliament and to pay them such fees thereon as to them my said trustees in their discretion shall seem proper and from Session to Session (if they my said trustees shall deem it expedient) to use their utmost endeavours to accomplish their object in obtaining such an act of parliament as aforesaid and in case the whole of the said sum of five thousand pounds shall not be expended in and about the procuring of the said act then upon trust that they my said trustees or the survivors or survivor of them or the executors administrators or assigns of such survivor do and shall (after deducting and paying thereout all costs charges and expences of and attending the obtaining the said act and of attendances & journies of witnesses and otherwise appertaining thereto lay out and expend the clear residue of the same sum of five thousand pounds or otherwise apply the same in and towards the education moral and religious of the Children of the Poor in the towns of Manchester and Salford in such way and manner as they my said trustees shall in their discretion think proper and most beneficial to such Children respectively and I give and bequeath unto my friend the said James Royds of Rochdale in the County of Lancaster Esquire and to my nephews the said Joseph Gould and Richard Gould of Manchester aforesaid Esquires their executors administrators and assigns the following annuities (that is to say) one annuity or clear yearly sum of one hundred pounds during the natural life of my brother John Gould now or late of Wormhill in the County of Derby In trust for to be paid and applied unto and for the exclusive benefit of my said last mentioned brother during his said life by equal quarterly portions and one other annuity or clear yearly Sum of twenty pounds during the natural life of Mrs Gould the Widow of my late Cousin William Gould of Manchester in Trust for and to be paid and applied unto or for the sole and exclusive benefit of the said Mrs Gould during her said life by equal quarterly portions And I do declare and direct that the first payment of the said annuities respectively shall be made at the expiration of three calendar months next after my decease and that as a provision for the said two several annuities my said trustees or the survivors or survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor shall invest or continue in the public stock called the three per cent consolidated bank annuities such a sum or sums of money from and out of my personal estate the dividends interest and annual proceeds thereof will yield sufficient to answer and pay the same annuities respectively and therewith or thereout pay and satisfy the same accordingly and from and after the decease of the said two annuitants I do hereby order and direct my said trustees or the survivors or survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor to stand possessed of the said stocks or funds so directed to be invested to answer and satisfy the same annuities respectively upon trust for and to pay assign and transfer the same and every part thereof unto my daughter Lydia Gould or the person or persons who for the time being shall be entitled to the residue of my personal estate hereinafter given and bequeathed according to the directions hereinafter contained And I give and bequeath unto the said James Royds Joseph Gould and Richard Gould their executors and administrators the sum of thirty thousand pounds upon the several trusts ends intents and purposes hereinafter expressed and declared of and concerning the same (that is to say) upon trust that they my said trustees or the survivors or survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor do and shall with all convenient speed after my decease lay out and invest or continue the said sum of thirty thousand pounds in the public stocks or funds of Great Britain or upon good real security or securities in England or Wales and alter and vary the same securities from time to time as they or he shall think proper and from time to time as the same shall accrue due and become payable pay the interest dividends and proceeds of the same trust sum of thirty thousand pounds unto my said daughter Lydia Gould for her own sole absolute and exclusive use and benefit for and during the term of her natural life and I do declare that the receipt and receipts of her my said daughter for the said interest dividends and proceeds shall notwithstanding her coverture and whether she may be covert or sole from time to time a sufficient discharge and discharges for the same to my said trustees and that the same interest dividends and proceeds shall not in any wise be at the disposal of any husband she my said daughter may happen to have nor in any manner be subject or liable to his controul contracts debts or engagements and from and after the decease of her my said daughter then upon this further trust that they may said trustees or the survivors or survivor of them his executors or administrators do and shall pay and apply the said trust sum of thirty thousand pounds unto and amongst all and every or such one or more of the Child or Children of her my said daughter lawfully begotten or the issue of such Child or Children in such parts shares and proportions and at such ages and times and in such manner and form as she my daughter by any deed or deeds writing or writings (either with or without power of revocation) under her hand and seal to be executed in the presence of and to be attested by one or credible witness or witnesses or by her last will and testament in writing or any writing in the nature of or purporting to be her last Will and Testament to be by her signed sealed and published in the presence of and to be attested by two or more credible witnesses shall direct limit or appoint notwithstanding my said daughter may be then under coverture or whether she be covert or sole and for want or in default of such direction limitation or appointment and in case any such shall be made whereby the said sum of thirty thousand pounds shall not be completely disposed of then subject to the direction limitation or appointment which may have been made and as to such part or parts of the said sum of thirty thousand pounds whereof no such direction limitation or appointment shall be made upon further trust that they my said trustees or the survivors or survivor of them his executors or administrators do and shall immediately after the decease of my said daughter pay and apply the said sum of thirty thousand pounds or so much or such part or parts thereof as may not have been appointed or disposed of subject as aforesaid unto and equally amongst all and every the Child or Children of her my said daughter lawfully begotten and the lawful issue of such of them as may then happen to be dead equally to be divided between them if more than [one] share and share alike and if but one to such only child or issue as when they or he being as [sic] son or sons shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years or being a daughter or daughters as when she or they shall severally attain that age (or which as to each of them shall first happen) be married and the dividends interest and annual proceeds thereof or a competent part of the same to be in the mean time paid and applied for and towards their respective maintenance and education and the residue or su[r]plus thereof to be also in the mean time permitted to accumulate and be added to the principal in the nature of compound interest for the benefit of such Child or Children or his her or their Issue respectively such issue however taking per stirpes and not per capita But in case there shall not be any Child or Children of her my said daughter lawfully begotten or the Issue of any such Child or Children who shall be living at the time of her decease Then it is my will and mind and I do hereby direct that my said trustees or the survivors or survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor do and shall (after my said daughters decease) pay and apply the said sum of thirty thousand pounds unto and for the benefit of such person and persons and in such parts shares and proportions and at such time or times and in such manner and form as she my said daughter by any deed or deeds writing or writings (with or without power of revocation) or by her last will and Testament in writing or any writing in the nature of or purporting to be her last will and testament to be respectively executed and attested in the manner hereinbefore prescribed notwithstanding my said daughter be then under coverture or whether covert or sole as aforesaid shall direct limit or appoint and for want and in default of such last mentioned direction limitation or appointment and in case any shall be made whereby the said sum of thirty thousand pounds shall not be completely disposed of then subject to the direction limitation or appointment which may have been made and as to such part or parts of the said sum of thirty thousand pounds as shall not be completely appointed or disposed of by the same upon further trust that my said trustees or the survivors or survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor do and shall pay and apply the said sum of thirty thousand pounds or so much or such part and parts whereof as may not have been appointed or disposed of or as may have been incompletely appointed or disposed of as last aforesaid (subject as hereinbefore mentioned) unto the executors administrators and assigns of her my said daughter and I do hereby give devise and bequeath all my freehold and leasehold messuages tenements lands buildings rents hereditaments and real estate whatsoever situate lying arising and being in Manchester and Salford aforesaid and in the Counties of York and Durham or elsewhere in Great Britain together also with all the rest residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects not hereinbefore by me otherwise specifically given and bequeathed or otherwise disposed of (subject as hereinbefore is mentioned) unto her my said daughter Lydia Gould her heirs executors administrators and assigns absolutely and for ever provided always and I do hereby declare that it shall and may be lawful for her and I do particularly recommend to them the said James Royds Joseph Gould and Richard Gould or the survivors or survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor to lay out and invest so soon as a fit opportunity shall in their or his discretion present itself either the whole of the said sum of thirty thousand pounds or any part or parts thereof in the purchase of lands of inheritance or chief rents or both in Lancashire Cheshire Derbyshire and Staffordshire or any or either of those counties or elsewhere in England or Wales to be conveyed settled and assured to them my said trustees or the survivors or survivor of them his executors or administrators to for and upon such and the same trusts ends intents and purposes and the rents issues and profits respectively to be applied and disposed in such and the same manner as are hereinbefore expressed and declared of and concerning the said sum of thirty thousand pounds and the interest dividends and produce thereof respectively or as near thereto as the nature of the estates and other existing circumstances may admit of and from and after the said purchase or purchases shall be made then the trusts hereinbefore declared as to the placing out at interest or investing upon securities of the money which may be laid out in such purchase or purchases and the application of the interest dividends and produce thereof shall cease any thing herein contained to the contrary thereof notwithstanding and I do hereby constitute and appoint them the said James Royds Joseph Gould and Richard Gould together with my said Daughter Executors and Executrix of this my will and lastly I do hereby declare that it shall and may be lawful for my said Trustees and Executors respectively to retain to themselves reimburse pay and satisfy themselves respectively from and out of the rents monies and effects which may under this my will come to their hands or possession all such costs charges expences and trouble as they may respectively sustain expend or be put unto in or about the execution of this my will and that they my said trustees and executors shall not be answerable or accountable for any more money than they shall respectively actually receive under this my will nor for any loss or losses deficiency or deficiencies which may happen in or to the said trust monies effects or premises or any part thereof either from the insufficiency of any security or securities insolvency of tenants failure or default of any banker or broker or other person with whom or in whose hands the said trust monies and premises or any part thereof shall or may have been deposited or lodged for safe custody or otherwise in the execution of the trusts hereinbefore reposed in them respectively or in relation thereunto unless the same shall happen by or through their or some or one of their own wilful neglect or default and then and in such case such person or persons shall separately and alone be answerable and accountable for such loss or damage as shall arise from their or his own wilful default respectively and that they my said trustees respectively and their respective executors and administrators shall in no case be answerable or accountable the one for the other or others of them or for the acts deeds receipts neglects or defaults of the other or others of them but each of them only for himself his executors and administrators acts deeds receipts neglects and defaults respectively In witness whereof I the said Nathaniel Gould the testator have to this my last will and testament contained in seven sheets of paper set my hand and seal (that is to say) my hand to the first six sheets thereof and my hand and seal to this seventh & last sheet thereof this third day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighteen

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Nathaniel Gould the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses – Thomas Choat of Brighton Sussex – Thos Benson Stationer Brighton - H Bellingham Solicitor Brighton



I do by this Codicil to my annexed will revoke and [[make] void the legacy or sum of five thousand pounds by such will bequeathed to the therein named Robert Twedell Thomas O’Gill Nathaniel Shelmerdine and William Simmons upon the trusts and for the purposes therein mentioned and I do also revoke and make void the legacy or sum of three hundred pounds thereby bequeathed to the therein named James Royds and likewise the appointment of him the said James Royds as one of the trustees and Executors of and under my said will and I give and bequeath the said sum of three hundred pounds unto my nephew William Gould of Manchester and do nominate and appoint him the said William Gould to be a trustee and Executor of and under my said will in such and [in] the same manner as if he (instead of the said James Royds) had been originally appointed such trustee and Executor with my other nephews Joseph Gould and Richard Gould within named and I do declare that the several sums of money by my said will bequeathed unto or placed under the care of the said James Royds Joseph Gould and Richard Gould in the character of trustees shall be deemed to have been thereby bequeathed unto or placed under the care of the said Joseph Gould Richard Gould and William Gould Upon the trusts and for the Purposes therein expressed and declared concerning the same respectively and I do hereby ratify and confirm my said will except so far as the same is hereinbefore expressly revoked or altered In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty third day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and nineteen

Signed sealed published and declared by Nathaniel Gould the testator as and for a Codicil to his last will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses - Will Sergeant – James Weston – Saml. White.

Proved at London with a Codicil 3d. June 1820 before the Judge by the oaths of Joseph Gould and Richard Gould the nephews two of the Executors named in the will & William Gould the nephew the Executor named in the Codicil to whom administration was granted being first sworn by commission duly to administer power reserved to Lydia Gould Spinster the daughter the Executrix named in the said will