Transcription of the will of George Hann dated 30 March 1864 (Dorset Record Office PPR/CW:1870/1-290)
This is the last will and testament of me George Hann of Stoke Abbotts in the County of Dorset Carpenter. I give all my Wearing Apparel Watch and Silver Plate unto my two sons Henry and David Hann to equally to be divided between them by my Executors hereinafter named in such manner as that my said Executors shall decide most fair and convenient All my household goods and furniture and all my moneys and securities for money rights credits and other personal estate and effects and all my messuages and Tenements Lands and hereditaments whether freehold leasehold or of any other tenure of which I have power to dispose by this my will I give devise and bequeath unto Peter Cox of Beaminster in the County of Dorset Esquire and John Bascombe of Stoke Abbotts aforesaid Yeoman their heirs executors administrators and assigns according to the respective nature and manner thereof. Upon trust that the said Peter Cox and John Bascombe or the survivor of them or the heirs executors administrators or assigns of such survivor do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease either by Public Auction or by Private Contract and either together or in parcels absolutely sell and dispose of all and singular the real personal and other estate and effects so given devised and bequeathed to them as aforesaid and consisting of money and convey and assure the same when paid unto the purchasor or purchasors thereof and his heir or their heirs executors administrators or assigns with full power for the said Trustees or Trustee for the time being to buy in any part of the said Trust Estate at any Auction and to resell the same without being liable for any loss thereby to be sustained. And do and shall call in and collect all moneys that may be due to me at my decease. And do and shall stand possessed of all the moneys to arise from such sale or sales and collection as aforesaid. And also of the moneys of which I may die possessed Upon trust thereout to deduct and pay my my funeral and testamentary expenses and my debts on Mortgage and other debts and subject to such deductions. Upon trust to pay one third of the said trust moneys after deducting the sum of Twenty pounds (£1,175 at 2000 values) to my son Henry Hann and to divide the remainder of of the said trust moneys (including the said sum of Twenty pounds so to be deducted as aforesaid) equally between my son David Hann and my Grandson John George Hann (son of my late son George Hann deceased). And I direct that the issue of each one or any of my said Sons and Grandson as shall die in my lifetime shall take the share or portion of the said trust moneys which his her or their parent or respective parent would have taken if living at my decease. And I direct that whatever sums may appear written or subscribed by me in any Book or amongst any papers as due in balance of account or otherwise from either of my Said Sons or Grandson shall be considered as a gift to him or them respectively inter vivor Provided and I direct and declare that the receipt of the Trustees or Trustee for the time being under this my Will shall be effectually discharged for all purchases and other monies payable to them or him in conformity with this my Will and exonerate the purchaser or purchasers or other person or persons paying the same form all liability of seeing to the application or responsibility for the misapplication or nonapplication thereof. And I further direct and declare that my said Trustees shall not be answerable or accountable in more moneys or effects than shall actually acrue to their hands by virtue of this my Will nor for any loss or damage which may happen of or to the said trust manager or Trust Estate by reason of the failure of any Banker or other person with whom the same may be deposited in safe custody or otherwise in the execution of this my Will or by any other means without their wilful neglect or default. And that the said Trustees should not be answerable for each other notwithstanding their giving or joining in any receipt for the sake of conformity but each of them for his own acts receipts neglects and defaults only. And that it shall be lawful for them to retain and allow to each other out of the said trust moneys their costs and expenses in the execution of the said trusts or in relation thereto. And I constitute and appoint the said Peter Cox and John Bascombe Executors of this my Will In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this thirtieth day of March one thousand eight hundred and sixty four.... George Hann
Signed published and declared by the above named Testator George Hann as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of we together present with him at the same time who at the request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses the words struck thro' in the 4th & 5th lines of the 2nd side having been first made ... Peter Cox, Frances Mary Chilcott