| Description | DSCAM/3/335/1: Probate (14 June 1837) of the will (dated 3 Nov. 1832) of John Pratt of the Liberty of Hatherton, parish of Wolverhampton, Staffs., miller.
'I have made ample provisions for my eldest son Henry Pratt and become liable to the payment of several large sums ... as his surety with a view to promoting his advancement in the world but through his wild and extravagant speculations in spite of the urgent remonstrances of myself and his other friends he has become embarrassed in his circumstances and entailed upon me many serious losses to the injury of my other children I shall therefore take no other notice of him in this my will...'; all losses beyond £2500 which son Thomas Pratt suffers on account of the debt of £5000 of the late firm of Henry Pratt to Messrs Hordern and Company, bankers, Wolverhampton, to be paid by his trustees, making, with sums already advanced by testator to him, an equivalent to the shares to be received by the other children; Sardon Mill and other copyhold premises at Hatherton, to son James, charged with £3000 to trustees, and 4 freehold messuages with the warehouse, wharf etc. at Bloomfield Bridge, parish of Tipton, his interest in a lime and coal wharf, and in Deepmore Mill at Great Sardon, parish of Shareshill, and in a farm held under Mathew Robinson Boulton; £3000 to son Frederick, and tenancy of farm at Great Sardon, parish of Shareshill; £1500 to be invested and income paid to daughter, Ann Pratt, for life, with power of appointment, thence capital to her children, with remainder, in default of children, to all of the testator's children except Henry; £1500 on same terms for daughter Matilda; annuity of £100 to wife, with provision for its payment as to £20 p.a. by each of his 5 beneficiary children; household effects to wife for life; the Great Sardon estate (86 acres) and all other real estate theree, and steam flour mill and other premises at Stoke upon Trent, steam flour mill and other premises at Bloxwich in the Foreign of Walsall, lands and premises at Pelsall Wood, parish of Wolverhampton, and all personal estate, upon trust for sale/realisation, with proceeds to bedivided between his 5 children; options to children to purchase real estate as specified at valuation.
Executors: John Crockett of Handsworth (brother-in-law) and Edwin Bullock of West Bromwich.
Codicil (14 May 1833); cancels assistance to son Thomas, reciting money testators has borrowed, the £2000 he has advanced to Thomas and the arrangemenst made with the bank; £500 apiece to 4 other children. |